Cupcakes with the Grands!

It's a tradition that around my birthday me and the grands make cupcakes.  I love our little tradition and the grands do too.  Today one of them said: "Gramma.....your house is the funnest".  I am so glad they like to come and that we can have fun together.  I sure do love these little ones!

Before we made cupcakes I put a few pizza's in.  While the pizza's were cooking the girls painted their toenails.  I planned on painting them but they wanted to and so I let them.  They did pretty good.

When they were finished we took some pictures like the big girls do. ;)  Zaden wanted a picture of his toes too and his truck.  Zaden always has a truck or motorcycle in his hands.  He's such a funny kid.

Parker is just funny.  I love his cheesy smiles!

So we had some pizza and then got to work on making the cupcakes.  This year we made two different kinds. . . . chocolate and confetti ones.  That way everyone can help more and there's more for them to take home. :)

All the kids were really big helpers this year and they all got into it.  They are so patient with each other and willing to share and take turns.

I took a lot of pictures since I think these kids are so cute.  I also took a lot of pictures because the grands like seeing themselves in my book.

Licking the beaters is part of the fun right?  Everyone got one except Parker got a spoon with batter on it and he didn't seem to mind.  Oh....I remember loving to lick the beaters.....I still do when the kids aren't around.

Everyone got a cupcake pan to line with papers.  It's fun for me to watch how each child goes about filling their pan.  Kamryn was super fast putting her papers in  her pan.

I usually let the kids fill the pans but this year they got busy doing something else and I hurried and did it.  (it was a lot less messy)  While the cupcakes were cooking I painted the little girls fingers.  They chose the colors and I helped them this time.  Seeing the picture of their little hands makes me smile......I love these hands!

I love these faces.  Each "little" has such a cute personality.  Oh my goodness I love them so much!

Also while the cupcakes cooked and cooled the grands enjoyed cleaning the kitchen floor.  They all took turns with the brooms, and mops.  They danced and spun and just had fun.  I thought about putting water on the mops so they could really clean but chose not to since I bet someone might have slipped and got hurt.  I still think the floor is cleaner....at least the crumbs were moved around.

Even the little boys got into it.  In fact, Parker loves sweeping and mopping and usually plays with the broom and mop while he is over.

I get a kick out of the kids decorating their cupcakes.  They load them up as much as possible.  This year I just had sprinkles, m&m's, skittles, and marshmallows to put on them.  I think they used it all!

Everyone did a great job decorating their cupcakes.  They got to take home the cupcakes they made.  It was a fun time!

Finally they got to go out and play.  They love playing outside on the toys and lately they have loved wearing the helmets we have in the garage.  I felt bad that Kamryn had to leave since she is the one that wanted to go out and play the most.  She got to ride a bike around quickly and then she was gone.

I absolutely love having the grands over to play and make memories.  They truly make my heart smile!
(I'm not going to lie by the end of the day I was wore out!  All worth it though! I think we need to plan another cousin sleep over soon.)

Ivy is home and is fluent in Spanish!!!

Ivy has been in Mexico for nine.....long......weeks and we have all missed her!  We decided to go to the Airport and welcome her home.  She had asked her mom if we would be there and we all wanted to so we were.  We got there about the time her flight landed.

We had posters and balloons to welcome her home.  The grands were so excited and had a hard time waiting.   Mya kept asking me where Ivy was and when were we going to see her.  I knew it should be any minute and so we kept watching and waiting.

We were ready!  We were ready and gathered together like this for 15 min.....then 30 min....and still like this for 45 min.

We decided that Customs must have held them up.  We were getting antsy and couldn't believe it should take so long.  Larry finally decided to go ask someone what was going on.  One guy told him there was a Customs terminal just out the door and across the street. DANG!!!

Ivy and her other family were all in there.  They missed our greeting as much as we missed greeting them!  But seeing little miss Ivy was our reward regardless if we had been in the wrong place for so long.  What a cutie Ivy is.

Ivy went around and hugged and greeted everyone on both sides of her family.  I stood back on purpose so I could watch.  I loved seeing her embrace her Mommy and little brother!  They truly missed her most!  Zaden wanted to go to Mexico and get his Ivy.  Trichelle checked out flights a few times but held back.  She allowed her little girl to go and enjoy her fathers family and learn all that she could.  Ivy did learn a lot!  The other family told me that she is fluent in Spanish now and how well she did.  I love the Monroy family!

I loved watching Ivy hug everyone.  Everyone was so excited to see her.  Zaden was so happy!  Ivy was so happy to see Zaden.  Every now and then she would go back to Zaden and kiss him.  I didn't get a picture but she did it quite often in between all the hugs and greetings.

 Oh the love of family!  It's the best kind of love!  To be reunited again is wonderful and awesome!

 What a happy, happy day for all of us!  Welcome HOME our sweet Ivy!!!

 I love how great my daughter is.  Trichelle is an awesome mom and has handled her situation very well.  I can only imagine what her heart must go through.  Whatever it goes through is kept to herself and she keeps smiling for everyone else.  I am so proud of her and her wonderful example to each of us.

 I am so thankful that Ivy was able to have this wonderful experience.  I am glad that the other grand parents were able to enjoy Ivy and Alan this summer.  I know it must be hard on them to only see their grands a few times during the year.  They are a wonderful family and we love them all.

We are so happy to have you home little Miss Ivy Bones!  We Missed  YOU and are glad you are safely back home to us!

Pedicures!

Ummmmmm this picture is missing someone.  I feel bad because Kimi had wanted to go with us all this year.  When I first mentioned it to her she said she really didn't want to go and I believed her since she hasn't wanted to the last few years.  I even mentioned it to the guy giving me my pedicure.  So it wasn't like I forgot her or wasn't thinking of her.  When I got home she "glared" at me like she is so good at doing and I wondered what they heck did I do now?

I talked to her about it later and tried to explain to her my side as well as listen to her side.  She really does want to be a part of the big girls now and I am glad.  We talked about being happy and just enjoying the time we do have together even though she might not like the activity.  She agreed and I am glad she wants to be included.  I have always wanted her to be included but was okay with her decision since she was making fun memories with the grands at those times.  She told me that sometimes she just gets a little jealous and envious  . I am glad we were able to talk about it.

I had to remind her that in a few weeks she will be left behind again since the other girls and I will be going to "Wicked" together.  I reminded her that it was her choice and that I did ask her a year ago when I was getting the tickets. (she didn't remember and I'm sure it's because she didn't care or want to go) The tickets were for each of their birthdays and Kimi didn't want that for her birthday. (It was her 16th and so I understand.....funny though I can't remember what she got now except for having a big party)

I love making memories with my kids and this is a fun thing to do with my girls.   I will be painting the little grands toes on Monday while be make cupcakes together!

Taggarts!

It's Friday and so I thought going out for dinner was a great idea.  (did you know that cooking isn't my favorite thing to do?)  We gave the Malone's a call and thank goodness we did.  It is there 30th Wedding Anniversary tomorrow and their AC went out today....they needed to get out!  Matt suggested Taggarts and we liked the idea.  It would take longer to get home and by then the Malone's house shouldn't be so hot!  It was nice visiting with them.  We always have a good time with Matt and Kathy.  We laugh a lot and enjoy our time with them.  We got to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and the peacocks.  What a fun place to go.  

When we first got to Taggarts and after seeing the dessert display I thought we should get our desserts first.  Yep~ we should have got them first because after dinner there just wasn't room or the desire!  Probably a good thing!  I'm glad the Malone's are spur of the moment people like us.  It was a great date!

Fort Fun....

Today we had some extra fun in our house.  Zaden and Kam came to play.  Zaden is coming again for awhile until Trichelle is officially through working and back to school.  He is so much fun and loves coming and playing with Jared and Kimi.  It's been nice having him again.  He laughs so much and I love hearing that in our home.  Kam got to come play for a little bit while her parents went on a date.  The cousins really do love each other and have such fun together.

It was so hot outside that we talked them into staying in by building a fort for them.  They were happy with that for a while but did talk Kimi into going outside with them.  They crack me up!  They each wanted to wear a helmet to ride their bikes......I'm sure that wasn't hot!

Each one of my cute grands are my favorite!  I love them all so much and just enjoy watching them play and use their imaginations.  They are each so creative and smart and make me smile! :)

Who knew that grands were such blessings?  I had no idea but boy have I found out!  Oh the Joy these "littles" add to life!  So stinkin thankful for them all!

Boating with the YM & YW

One of the funnest activities of the year is the boating activity for the Young Men and Young Women.  They love it and we usually have a pretty good group.  I think they had four boats out there today....so plenty of fun going on!  When I saw all the girls crowded in our boat I did give Larry and call reminding him that there were rules and limits that he probably should follow.  He didn't get a ticket or pulled over so all was well.  I had Zaden and so he even got to go out with the first group of kids.  My grands love boating.  He told me that he even drove with Papa.  Larry is a patient man and enjoys making fun happen and sharing it with others.  I stayed on the beach so I wasn't taking up a seat. (not near as fun)  Zaden and I left after a few hours which was kind of nice.  Boating is one of my most favorite things to do with our family and others.  I am so grateful that we are able to have a boat.