Time for Cake

The very pale Buzz cake.

Dan was so excited to get a Buzz cake this year, even if it wasn't decorated too well. When it was time to get the candles out I realized we were all out. Such a disappointment. We found a few waterproof matches (they burn longer) and used them instead of candles. He was very impressed with the blaze they made. He also really liked that the fact that he got the entire Buzz head. It's so cool being the birthday kid.

I'm not sure what this face is all about, but I just thought it was so cute.

He was a little unsure about his candles at first.

He was really surprised by the flames and thought it was cool.

Blowing out the candles.

He was so excited to get the entire Buzz head all to himself.

Eating time.

Happy Birthday Dan

Dan with all his presents.

My little man turned 5 in June. Dan has always been such a quite boy who likes to watch, but over the past year he has really come alive. He's become extreemly funny, he loves to tell jokes and to goof around with his siblings. He will play video games all day, everyday if I let him, but as I've forced him to play outside more, he's learned to enjoy being outside as well. He still really, really loves the water and anything out in nature. He's great at giving hugs and kisses and hes just an all around sweet boy.

For Dan's birthday this year he got to go to Build a Bear with grandma and grandpa Gass. He got his shark, named Batman Newbry who plays the theme from Star Wars, and he had to have it with him while he opened the rest of his presents. We threw a little party at home for him with presents and a cake. He loved it and even though he's not going to school this year, he's still very excited to be turning 5.

His favorite present, Dash for the Disney Infinity.

Opening his magnifying glass.

Opening up his circus Lego set.

He was very excited to get the Lego Movie.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Grandma with all the kids (minus Charlie who didn't want to be in the picture.)

We decided to stop off at my parents house on our way home from seeing Mike and Sarah. It was my mom's birthday and I thought it would be fun to surprise her. I called my dad a few days before to make sure he would have her home and, well, he decided to make it a bigger surprise. He got a cake and ice cream, called my Aunt and Uncle, cousin, my grandpa, and my brother even came from Salt Lake. We all showed up at roughly the same time and surprised her for her birthday. It was a great surprise that was so unlike my dad, but he did well.  :)

Blowing out the candles with a little help from the kids.

Yummy chocolate cake.

Adam with his great grandpa Reid.

Dad got mom an IPod Mini. Another huge surprise from him.

It's Great To Be 8!

Hannah with all her gifts.

Hannah turned 8 on a Sunday this year and she we had a very busy day. We opened presents before church and then when we got home from church Grandma and Grandpa Gass came over to see us. They had just returned from their 2 week trip to Singapore and they brought the kids some presents. They stayed and shared some of Hannah's cake before they had to go. It was a busy and fun day and she felt very loved. Now she can't wait to be baptized in a few weeks.

Monster's Inc dolls from Grandma and Grandpa Newbry.

Hannah loves Dr. Suess and she love the book of many stories we got her.

I love this shot and even though Gracie is blurry I had to include her.
Both girls were so excited that Hannah got Anna for Disney Infinity.

Hannah was so excited to get the horse stable. I love that my kids love Lego's.

This is the face that says, "I got roller blades? I've always wanted roller blades."

Playing with the Lego's while waiting for church.

Grandma and Grandpa Gass giving the kids all their spoils from their trip to Singapore.

The cake. (She likes the color pink.)

Singing Happy Birthday to my sweet Hannah.

Blowing out the candles. All 8 of them.

12th Birthday While Moving

Group picture with the birthday girl.

Sometimes we do the best we can and are just really, really grateful that we have such wonderful kids who forgive us when we fall short. Sarah's 12th birthday was an example of this. She turned 12 on March 5th which happened to fall right during our move. We started moving on the 1st, but it took way longer than expected (moving always seems to) and we were still moving when her birthday came. She missed out on a party with friends this year and had a little party of sorts at home with the family, but it wasn't much. I didn't even get to make her a cake because I didn't know where anything was. Not only that but the camera battery was dead so we had to take pictures on my phone. She was very sweet about it and was very understanding. It just reminds me how blessed we are to have the kids we have. She opened presents and had cake and ice cream and she was happy with that. What a good girl.

When we asked Sarah what she wanted for her birthday she said a
blanket. She has a silly obsession with blankets.

Bracelet making things and a note for a date with mom or dad. She's such a sweet girl.

She was very surprised to find her long board hiding behind the curtain.

Sarah with her new long board.

Singing to miss Sarah.

And this is apparently how we eat cake as a 12 year old.

Blowing out the candles.

Everyone enjoyed the cake, even if it was store bought.  :)

Ben is 10

Ben with his gifts!

My kids decided it would be fun to have birthday's right when we're trying to move. How rude.  :)  It made for some crazy times and some not so awesome birthdays, but sometimes you just have to do what you can and learn to be happy with it.

Ben was the first birthday during our move and the only birthday in our North Salt Lake house. We threw him a little family party at home complete with presents, cake and ice cream, and plenty of play/build time. He was a really good sport and this is one of those times I'm reminded of what good kids I have. I know he was disappointed not to get a friend party, but he never once complained.

Opening his Skylander

Opening his Lego castle. He was so excited and so surprised.

Building the castle with some help from dad.

Ben's total non exciting cake.

Blowing out the candles.

At least he was happy.

Eating yummy cake.

Showing off his finished castle.

Playing with the castle.

Happy Birthday Old Man

Kenny and his presents.

Kenny's birthday was a little crazy this year. Kenny found out a few weeks before that he had gall stones and would need surgery to remove his gallbladder. By the time his birthday came he was in quite a bit of pain and was in no mood to celebrate. He did well to come downstairs and open his presents and eat his cake, but between having to still go to work and the pain he was in, there wasn't much happy in him. Lucky for him he went in for surgery 2 days later and it went very well. He had a little bit of a hard time waking up, but I guess that's normal for him. He went back to work the following Monday (the surgery was on Friday) and it took him about a week before he was really starting to do better. We're glad he was able to get all fixed up and now he's better able to enjoy his birthday presents.

While walking in Walmart a few days before his birthday, I
asked Kenny what he wanted. He pointed to the nearby
display of Pringles. So that's what he got.  :)

Kenny also got a nifty sound bar. 
(He also got a table saw to replace the one we sold years ago.)