Austin is 11!

Austin's choice of "birthday cake"

My favorite food is: spaghetti

My favorite sport is:  skiing

The best show on TV is:  

The coolest person in the world is:  me!

My best subject in school is: science

I’m really awesome at:  reading

If I could change my name, it would be: I wouldn't

My favorite color is:  orange

When I grow up I want to be:  rocket engineer 

My parents are too strict about:  chores

My favorite song is:  

My favorite book is:  The Phantom Tollbooth

When we stop for a treat, I get this:  mint oreo shake

4 words that describe me are: smart, kind, awesome, helpful

When I was little, I used to:  like candy better than toys

My favorite scripture story is:  Nephi building a boat

My favorite primary/church song is:  Once there was a Snowman

My favorite game is:  Killer Bunnies

My favorite season is:   Fall because my birthday is in it!

The best snack ever is:  crackers

My favorite superhero is:  Hawkeye

The food that makes me want to barf is:  lasagna 

The car I would love to drive when I turn 16 is:  yellow corvette

My best friends are: Will B, Will S, James, Relic, Joel, 

The cutest girl/boy I know is: Do I have to answer that?  I don't have one.

The most memorable day this year was:  cruise to the Bahamas!

If I had one wish it would be: my own computer for playing games

One thing I want to learn to do this year is:  more about space

The thing that scares me the most is:  starving!

One thing I need to work on is:  physical stuff - getting strong

If I could go anywhere it would be:  Universal Studios

The most important lesson I’ve learned this year is:  

If I could meet one person from history it would be:   Thomas Edison

Austin's favorite - spaghetti, no sauce

Austin's birthday was the last day of school before Thanksgiving break.  At school they had colonial days and got to make candles, "milk a cow", make bread, etc.  So fun!

Austin was pretty lucky and got double celebrations! We went out to Grantsville that evening to stay over to plan a surprise retirement party for grandma Cindy.  Pretty happy to eat a special cake made by grandma Liz and play video games!

We sure love our Austin!  He is so easy to get along with.  George said when can sit anyone in the family by Austin in the van and not have fights.  That's a big deal.  He loves to read and is an incredible memorizer.  He's especially patient with Erik who adores him and wants to follow him everywhere.

2. What is your favorite toy?   Legos
3. What is your favorite show/movie?  Wall-E
4. What do you like to do with your family?  play board games
5. What is your favorite outfit?  t-shirt and jeans
8. What is your favorite animal? lizard
12. What makes you happy? computer games
13. What makes you sad?  chores
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside?  swing in the backyard
15. What is your favorite drink? grape soda
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas and Thanksgiving because it is focused on food.  I like to eat.
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night?  book
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? waffles


BONUS:
1. What is your happiest memory?  Disney Cruise!
2. Why do you like being a kid? less responsibilities
4. What advice would you give your parents? 
5. If you could be any animal, which one would you be and why?  Well, a lot of animals I like (spiders, snakes), people want to kill them when they see them.  So, probably lizard.
6. What is your favorite thing to do with your friends? coding with James' minestorm 
7. What was the nicest thing you did for someone?  play with my brothers
8. What do you think you will be doing 10 years from now? dating
9. What would be the ideal allowance? Tell me how you would use it. $5 per month, I'd save it up to buy legos and a turtle
12.  What do you like to do with dad?  play video games
13.  What do you like to do with mom?  playing board games - King of Toyko, Risk, Killer Bunnies

Lucy is 14!

Our Lucy is such a great girl!  She has been waiting and waiting for this birthday because...cell phone!  Yay!  But I had to make it a little more difficult with a string maze and presents along with way.  Kinda hard to capture in a picture, but I had fun watching her roll it all up.

Her birthday was the week of tennis tryouts (good news there...yay!).  She had tryouts in the morning, tennis lessons in the afternoon and young women in the evening.  I showed up with some sort of a cake at those places but...I'm not sure she loved that.  ha!  You win some, you loose some.  She doesn't love being the center of attention.

My favorite food is: chicken enchiladas

My favorite sport is: tennis

The best show on TV is:

The coolest person in the world is:

My best subject in school is: math 

I’m really awesome at: sleeping

If I could change my name, it would be:  

My favorite color is: green

When I grow up I want to be: medical engineer 

My parents are too strict about: 

My favorite song is: Bad Day

My favorite book is: The Book Thief

When we stop for a treat, I get this: ice cream

4 words that describe me are: tired, sleepy, drowsy, yawny

When I was little, I used to: make birthday cakes out of oreos

My favorite scripture story is: joseph in egypt

My favorite primary/church song is: How Firm a Foundation

My favorite game is: 5 crowns   

My favorite season is: spring

The best snack ever is: muddy budies

My favorite superhero is: spiderman

The food that makes me want to barf is: mushrooms 

The car I would love to drive when I turn 16 is: a slug bug

My best friends are: olivia, addie, ryann

The cutest girl/boy I know is: 

The most memorable day this year was: region tennis

If I had one wish it would be: school starting at 9

The best thing that has happened to me this year is: i learned to like guac

One thing I want to learn to do this year is: braid hair

The thing that scares me the most is: talking to people

One thing I need to work on is: being less grouchy

If I could go anywhere it would be: rome

The most important lesson I’ve learned this year is: not to worry as much  

If I could meet one person from history it would be: abe lincoln

Addie, Lucy, Ryann, Olivia

The next day I took a few of her close friends to an escape room (Countdown) and ice cream (Coldstone).  They are darling girls and it was fun listening to them laugh.  Sadly, we didn't escape.  I felt like they were super close, but time ran out.  I just kinda stood around and watched, but I don't think I would have been much help anyway.  It was pretty tricky.

3. What is your favorite show/movie? avengers   
5. What is your favorite outfit?  jeans and a sweatshirt
7. What is your favorite snack or fruit? grapefruit
8. What is your favorite animal? dove 
12. What makes you happy? going to bed
13. What makes you sad?  my alarm clock
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? play tennis  
15. What is your favorite drink? strawberry lemonade
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? a pillow
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? cereal/grapefruit/smoothie
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? ravioli
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? 

BONUS:
1. What is your happiest memory? waiting in the line for a ride at disneyland  
4. What advice would you give your parents? stop telling me to do softball
6. What is your favorite thing to do with your friends?  laugh
7. What was the nicest thing you did for someone?  made them dinner when they were going through something hard
8. What do you think you will be doing 10 years from now? in exactly 87600 hours i think i will be asleep
12.  What do you like to do with dad?  play ping pong/tennis
13.  What do you like to do with mom? play ping pong/tennis 

Lucy is fun to talk to, responsible, a great tennis player and pianist, smart, spiritual (so impressed at her scripture reading habit - but she doesn't like people to know about that...shhhh!)  We sure love our Lucy girl!

Erik is 6!

Yay for Erik!  Between getting ready for Cole's baptism and the end of school craziness, I wasn't quite ready for Erik's big day.  Cole was baptized on Erik's actual birthday and he did a pretty good job of sharing the spotlight.  But I laughed when I saw his addition to the baptism sign.  hahahaha!

My favorite food is: mac & cheese

My favorite sport is:  football

The best show on TV/movie is:  Infinity War.  I haven't seen it, but dad told me about it.

The coolest person in the world is:  Captain America

My best subject in school is: recess

I’m really awesome at:  climbing, 

If I could change my name, it would be: Captain America

My favorite color is:  red, white & blue

When I grow up I want to be: Captain America

My parents are too strict about: 

My favorite song is:  Utah: This is the place!, 

My favorite book is:  Captain America Seek & Find

When we stop for a treat, I get this:  ice cream, donuts

4 words that describe me are: awesome, cool, funny, scared

When I was little, I used to:  fight my brother

My favorite scripture story is:  David & Goliath

My favorite primary/church song is:  I am a Child of God

My favorite game is:  Lego Marvel

My favorite season is: summer because its my birthday

The best snack ever is:  fruit snacks

My favorite superhero is:  Captain America

The food that makes me want to barf is: potato soup

The car I would love to drive when I turn 16 is:  race car and a razor

My best friends are: Tate, Asher, Chase, Sierra, Madyn, Anna, Ky, Captain America

The cutest girl/boy I know is: Sierra

The most memorable day this year was:  my birthday!

If I had one wish it would be: to be a gorilla

The thing that scares me the most is:  Austin. When I am in baby gorilla mode, I scare him.  I scare myself too

One thing I need to work on is:  tieing my shoes

If I could go anywhere it would be:  Utah and Idaho and Africa

The most important lesson I’ve learned this year is:  Don't lie to your mommy

If I could meet one person from history it would be: Captain America

1. What is your favorite color? black and red
2. What is your favorite toy? superheroes  
4. What do you like to do with your family?  watch shows
5. What is your favorite outfit?  Captain America shirt
8. What is your favorite animal? gorilla, python 
12. What makes you happy? my mommy
13. What makes you sad?  when my daddy says something mean to me
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? play Avenger 
15. What is your favorite drink? Fanta
16. What is your favorite holiday? birthdays
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night?  gorill-y
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? gorilla pancakes 

Three birthday kids in one week!

Erik's big present this year was a new Batman room! (mural & dresser painted by our friend Zach...pretty cool!)

Thor Hammers

Captain America shield

Because of baseball, swimming lessons and who knows what else, we didn't hold Erik's friend party until June 28!  Yes, I struggle a bit.  But it certainly didn't disappoint!  I love that my girls help me with all the fun details.  It makes the event more of a family thing and they are so good and helpful!  Elise especially gets right in there and helps the kids go down the slide and whatever else

started the day with a gift from the tooth fairy...lucky!!!

redneck waterslide and water games with some great buddies!

 We sure love our wild and crazy boy!

BONUS:
4. What advice would you give your parents? mom should start playing video games  
7. What was the nicest thing you did for someone?  helping them up when someone throws someone down
8. What do you think you will be doing 10 years from now? driving a race car
9. What would be the ideal allowance? Tell me how you would use it.  $100 for each job. Buy 100 snowcones for everybody
12.  What do you like to do with dad?  play Lego Marvel
13.  What do you like to do with mom?   convince her to play Lego Marvel, snuggle her

And then, later that evening... Austin was jumping on the tramp with a new neighbor friend.  The kid landed on Austin's shoulder and broke it.  Erik broke a bone in his foot last year and Austin is the second broken bone in the family.  Not a surprise on Erik, big surprise on Austin.  Poor kid!   I tried to take his shirt off and he screamed in pain...that's how I knew it was time to get George.  Austin is not real dramatic and really did pretty well with the whole thing.

8 is great! Happy birthday Cole!

Big Birthday for Cole...#8!  In our church, people have the opportunity to be baptized at that age, so it's kind of a big deal.  That was Cole's choice and he was so excited about it.

A few celebrations... cold cereal and dodge ball party with his friends.  One of the best parties I've hosted...ate cold cereal (with rice krispie cake) in the church courtyard and played dodge ball til those boys were good an sweaty!  It helped that George and Lucy were there to lead some fun dodg eball games.

Party #2 at grandma's with the family (most folks were out for Memorial Day).  Cole's requested dessert...lemon bars!  Yum!!!

Party #3 was in honor of Cole's baptism.  I think I'll do a separate post on that one.

Happy Birthday Cole!  We sure love our little snuggle bug!

My favorite food is: pizza

My favorite sport is:  baseball

The best show (TV or Movie) is:  Ninjago

The coolest person in the world is:  my mom

My best subject in school is: math

I’m really awesome at:  math

If I could change my name, it would be: Super Cole!

My favorite color is:  red

When I grow up I want to be: pilot 

My parents are too strict about:  

My favorite song is:  Thunder!

My favorite book is:  Diary of a Minecraft Zombie, Magic Treehouse

When we stop for a treat, I get this:  donuts

4 words that describe me are: smart, good at reading, loving, weird (in a good way!)

When I was little, I used to:  make my dad launch me in the air

My favorite scripture story is:  David and Goliath

My favorite primary/church song is:  I Will be what I Believe

My favorite game is:  Scrambled States of America, Tenzi

My favorite season is: Spring because it has my birthday in it

The best snack ever is:  saltine crackers with cream cheese

My favorite superhero is:  Dr. Strange

The food that makes me want to barf is:  cheese soup 

The car I would love to drive when I turn 16 is:  sports car

My best friends are: Grant, Grant, Beau, Basin, Grayson, Tate, Beckam, Lachlan

The cutest girl/boy I know is: Avee

The most memorable day this year was:  my baptism!

If I had one wish it would be:  to be like Dr. Strange.  He can do like lots of cool stuff like multiplying himself, shoot lightning bolts, and make portals

The best thing that has happened to me this year is:  my baptism

One thing I want to learn to do this year is:  tie my shoes and untie them

The thing that scares me the most is:  movies like The Great Mouse Detective

One thing I need to work on is:  learning to tie my shoes and riding a bike

If I could go anywhere it would be:  Japan.  I want to learn Japanese

The most important lesson I’ve learned this year is:  how to do the breast stroke

If I could meet one person from history it would be: George Washington

5. What is your favorite outfit?  sweats and a t-shirt
8. What is your favorite animal?   fierce little crocodile

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside?  playing on my swing
15. What is your favorite drink? Orange Crush or Orange Fanta
16. What is your favorite holiday? my birthday!
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night?  stork-ie
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? cold cereal

2. Why do you like being a kid? you don't have to work a lot
4. What advice would you give your parents?  No advice.  I think they're perfect
6. What is your favorite thing to do with your friends?  eat snacks, play board games with them
7. What was the nicest thing you did for someone?  help our neighbors move
8. What do you think you will be doing 10 years from now? doing some high school or maybe college, drive a car
9. What would be the ideal allowance? Tell me how you would use it.   $1000.  Buy my own house
12.  What do you like to do with dad?  slug him
13.  What do you like to do with mom?  snuggle her