Live in the present. Haha

This continues our Utah trip activities. Still Sunday with both families for my birthday.

 Arlee, Kasiah and Brock

 Arlee, Landon, Me, Brock, Kasiah and Lydia- After this picture you better believe I thought it was hot in that room.

 Arlee blowing out my brownie cake- not a fan of regular cake.

 Opening my presents

 This picture I am laughing because, my niece, Kasiah got me a very thoughtful present. She made a bracelet out of a rubber band and a paper clip. And she gave me $1.69 in change from her piggy bank. She is so cute! I thought it was a very thoughtful present and truly made my day.

 I know I am weird, but I really wanted a food chopper. I hate cutting onions so that was my want for sure!

A jewelry organizer... seriously didn't think I would use it, but I am loving it! I can find everything so quickly.

After the party was over we watched the thunder and lightening storm. The girls would yell: "Go lightening GO!!!!!!!!!!" over and over again. Usually interrupted my laughing and giggling, but it was nice watching them cheer on the storm.

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

Another year has past and that means that I am once again, a year older! I am  now 25 years old!!!

My birthday was on a Friday this year and that meant it was date night. We didn't have to pay for a sitter and I could rest assured my kids were having fun playing with their friends. 

Hans and I went to dinner at the TAJ. It is an Indian restaurant.

 Hans was being a goofball! He hurt his thumb... doors are not kind when your finger is found a little bit inside the car. This happened a while ago, but it is now looking colorful.

 I am giggling and he caught me in the act. HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!

 There's the birthday girl!

 More silly pictures

 AH at last... FOOD! We were so hungry, which completely explains the earlier pictures. Doesn't it?

 Naan, butter chicken, chicken curry and some rice.

 After dinner we got some frozen yogurt at our favorite "ice cream place" in town.

 This is not staged, he does look that good.

And then there is me... I am silly and now old!

North Bend, Washington

For my birthday present, Hans took me shopping. I really wanted some new tennis shoes, but I couldn't find any that I really wanted. They were a little too brightly colored for me. I decided on getting clothes instead. 

As we were shopping, Arlee kept asking if she could ride these as we were passing them. We told her if she kept being good and patient then we would let her before we left. She was prefect! I kid you not she is a super star shopper. Shopping with Arlee and a stroller work out perfectly. 

 She was one happy girl

 Hans was happy as well... haha

Lydia was happy I was holding her and I was happy to have found a few things that I loved. It was a successful shopping trip.

Arlee's Little Miss Dress Up Birthday Party.

Since Arlee just turned three and we don't have family around to celebrate with us, I thought that we should have a little party for her and celebrate it girly style.

She invited for 4 little friends that we met at church.

We told them to come in dress up clothes. 

As you can see they all looked so cute. I seriously had so much fun. So did the girls, but my fun was seeing them all in their dress up clothes and trying to walk in their princess shoes. 

 Once they were all there I hurried and got a picture of them. Since they are 3, I did my best trying to get them to all look. Trust me I took a few and I took what I could get. L to R: Lucy, Arlee, Zoey, McKinley and Lily.

 They were coming down the stairs and they saw me with my camera and Lucy said, 'another picture lets sit on the stairs so she can get all of us.' She cracks me up. Her mom took Lydia's pictures when she was smaller.

After the picture they came down and we decorated hats-missed the pictures of that one; and sang Happy Birthday to Arlee.

 Arlee listening to everyone sing.

 blowing out candles

 eating their cup cakes. I offered them forks, but no one wanted them.
After cake we opened presents

 I really needed to get a video of them- they were so funny.

 After presents Arlee gave everyone their presents. This is something that I learned. Don't give little 3 year old  a ring pop in the wrapper and expect them to understand that they can open them when they get home. Sorry to their mothers if they were bugging them as soon as they saw them. I didn't want sucker all over my house so they stayed in the wrappers, until their mom's opened them. Haha.

 The girls with their pearls, gloves, hats they they decorated, purses and their ring pops that they couldn't open. Talk about MEAN! Anyway, don't they look so cute?

 The goodies minus the pearls... Arlee was still wearing them and I didn't make her take them off so I could get a picture. The girls told me where to put their flowers, while decorating their hats and I hot glued them on. They were surprising really certain where they wanted them too. Another thing that made me laugh during the party. They also picked out what flowers they wanted too.

 Check out that ring!!! Talk about a snagger!

 Miss Arlee all dressed up- minus her shoes.

 my little model

Ahhhhh... finally, the coveted RING POP!

Thank you to the little girls for coming and the parents for raising such adorable girls. Arlee loves them and had so much fun being with them today.

Arlee is 3!

Arlee turned 3! I am so lucky to have her in my life. She teaches me so much all the time. She helps me realize my habits by doing and saying everything that I say. Sometimes I am proud and other times 'I have no idea where she got that from.' I have said this to a few people, but I would like to remind myself and others of it on here. If you want to realize your habits, just have a toddler. Man talk about an eye opener. Arlee isn't swearing or anything, but you will just have to spend some time around us both and you will understand perfectly.  Aside from being a parrot she is loving and caring to those around her. She absolutely loves her friends and family. Adores Lydia and is always helpful with her. She is a little mommy to her baby dolls. She has just started role playing by herself and is usually playing with up to three toys and doing voices for each one. It is pretty entertaining to witness. 

Usually it is someone going:

 aaaaaaaahhhhhh! 

OH NO! 

Are you okay?

I will save you. 

High-yah! 

Run away! 

Thank you for saving my life. 

MUAH! 

We kissed on the lips! -that is because we are married.

The last one came from Hans and I telling her that we don't kiss on the lips with her. You only kiss on the lips when we are married. I know that some people that read this kiss their little ones on the lips, but that isn't how  Hans and I grew up and I can't start it now. That would be weird for us. Anyway when she sees people kiss on the lips she will tell us: 'They kiss on the lips, because they are married.' She is a funny little girl.

 Arlee playing with her dishes.

 'Mom, I need help. My shirt is stuck.' I tried really hard to hold in the laughter and did a pretty good job, I think. Apparently, while she was up getting her toys she decided to change her shirt too. This is what it ended up like. She has changed her pants, but this was a first for her shirt. Maybe we need her to practice more?


For Arlee's birthday we gave her a few choices of where she wanted to go for her birthday. She chose Applebees She loves that place so much!

 Pretty dark, but you can tell we had a great time.

 I loved this picture in B&W. It is a memory that we will have forever. Especially since I brought my camera to capture the tale.

After dinner we went home, got the girls in bed and started Arlee's birthday cheesecake for her actual birthday. This year it ended up on a Sunday. Normally we have a family party for our birthdays, but we don't live by any. So we invited the Moon Family over to help us celebrate.

 We decided to make the cheesecake pink, because it is Arlee's favorite color. This is an Oreo Cheesecake. I have to say that Hans and I make an awesome cheesecake.
For dinner we had spaghetti- Arlee's favorite, Herb pull apart rolls- new recipe and will be using it again, salad, and pink jello salad-another Arlee favorite. We also had pink juice. Can you say PINK!!!! Did I mention it is her favorite color?

 Zoey and Arlee. Don't you just love the candle? I forgot to put them on my list. It works... maybe I will just use that candle every time.

After dinner and cake, we opened presents.

 Dumbo

 Pumba and she got Goofy, but I didn't add it to this post for some reason.

The Moons gave her chalk, and a device to put the chalk in so your hands don't get all dirty. I have to say that both Arlee and I love it. Used it the other day while it was nice and it kept us pretty clean. They also gave her nail polish. All those items Arlee loves.

Arlee's Birthday was a lot of fun and she even got up to bare her testimony... twice. Here is the story, there is a little boy that gets up and every time, Arlee feels that she needs to go up after. He must have a pretty strong testimony. Anyway, she'll ask me if it is her turn and I told her that if she wants to go up there she has to do it herself. I am not going to help her. So I thought that would work. Nope, she marched right up there and then looked at me and said, 'Mom can you come help me?' I just shook my head no. then she came back down and sat for a little. A few adults went up and then she asked me again, 'Mom, is it my turn now.?' I told her the same thing. Then she went up there and got up to the mic and froze. She wasn't really sure what she wanted to say. So by this time I was all sorts of hot and sweaty. My heart was pounding like mad and I walked up there to help her. I know what a push over... I just told her to tell them about Heavenly Father and Jesus. (Earlier that day she was talking to my mom and told her out of nowhere she says, Jesus walked on water. My mom asked if she was looking at her book and she told her no.  I was shocked she said it.) Sometimes she will tell me and Hans, 'Jesus got owiesArlee said, 'Heavenly Father, Name of Jesus Christ Amen.' She did say that Jesus walked on water, but it wasn't loud enough for people to hear.

She is my little girl and I love her so much. Hans and I are always impressed with her. We enjoy seeing her with Lydia and the great example she is already for her.

For Arlee to read in the future-

Arlee,
I love you so much. I am so happy that you chose me to be your mom. You are a highlight in my life. Thank you for being a great daughter and sister to Lydia. You are truly a child sent from Heavenly Father and I know that to be true. You are 3 years old now, but I can already see the person you are. You are strong-willed and completely adorable. You are independent and a confident little girl. Make sure that you are not led to make bad choices by anyone, but be the one to lead those around you to make good choices. Keep being your own person that I love.
Love you so much,
Mom.