Early Birthday!

So, both of our kids are born in December. Addi is the 9th and Von is the 12th. Instead of celebrating during all of the Holiday chaos, we decided to throw a duel birthday bash for the both of them last weekend.
Ian grew up with a guy that is an actual magician. He has a membership to The Magic Castle in LA, so we hired him, hence the magic themed everything. It was quite the preparation. I made all of the desserts and food (110 enchiladas plus Spanish rice, salad, etc., etc.), magicians capes for all of the kids (I scored fabric for $1 a yard!), and all of the decorations. Looking at the rather large pictures of them I asked, "and I wonder why our children think the world revolves around them?" Maybe because it does. We love them though and were so excited to celebrate them!
I was the total party Nazi. I made everyone pose for pictures as they walked in.
The birthday girl.
The birthday boy!
Addi's BFF Luke.
Family pic.
Jones family minus Max.
Jason and Richelle.
Leckey family.
Jaime is going to kill me for posting this picture. She is due any day, so why wouldn't she have a plate of food in the picture?
Stephanie is also due any day. That is the third pregnant person. There must be something in the water.
Morphys
Jacobs family.
Beutler kids.
Hexburg fam.
Bunnells.
Brad, Koko and Tanman.
Ian's sister Shandra and Tristan.
Nama and Papa, Shandra and Tristan
My cousin Mikelle, Blake and Scarlet.
Kate with the magician, Seth.
My little Bubba.
Charlie, magician in the making.Addi was so cute. After every trick, she would yell, "Wow! That was so magical!"
Pure magic!
My babies.
Von still doesn't get the whole blowing out the candles thing.
Love him.
The kids got so many nice gifts! They were so happy.
Until Ian tried on this gift...
and Von got a little upset.
The aftermath. Addi was asleep on the couch by 9. It was a great party. I am so glad it is over with.

Utah

After a very busy week last week, Ian and I hopped on a plane on Friday and made a quick trip to Utah for Ian's mission reunion. We were exhausted by the time we got there, but made the most of it. On Friday night we went to his reunion mainly to see his best friend Chris who he lived with in the MTC and then lived together going to school in Hawaii and his Mission President and his wife the Crayks. Saturday we were up early for Carson's soccer game and then we headed out to Riverton to see Ian's grandparents.

Saturday night we met up with Heidi and Ben for dinner and a movie. We showed up in matching outfits unplanned.
Sunday my cousin Mikelle blessed her beautiful baby girl, Scarlet. She was angelic all day. I was so glad we could be there, it was a very special day!
All of my grandma's granddaughters. My sister Katie, Me, Mikelle, Kim and Chelsey.
Us with our 92 year old grandma.
The Nyborg women. Chelsey, my aunt Kathryn and Mikelle.

First day of school

Addi started he second year of preschool today. Finally. She has been looking forward to it all summer and so have I! When we got to school, I asked her to sit on the bench so I could take a picture. This girl knows how to pose.
One more year until Kindergarten. She is just a week too young to go this year which is a blessing and a curse. It would be awesome to have her in school all day, five days a week, but I know she will be even more prepared after this year. She makes friends so easily, but sitting still is much of a challenge. Within five minutes of being there, she had a new friend named Max who she was paling around with. I also signed her up for a gymnastics class that starts this week in an effort to wear this girl out!

Murder Mystery

Last weekend, Brad and Kori hosted a murder mystery party. It was a 20s theme and a lot of fun. The guys got really into it, surprisingly, talking like mobsters all night. It was hilarious.
Jenny and Susie.
The girls: Susie, Kay, Nora, Jenny, Me and Kori. The cigarets are fake by the way. We were all just playing our part.
The guys: Jim, Baker, Adam, Brad, Ian and Matt.
Brad and Kori, the hostess with the mostess.
Kay and Matt, the bouncer.
We were Vicki and Big Jim Ravioli. Ian got the award for being the best actor at the end. He can pull off quite the mobster accent.
Jenny and Baker. It was a fabulous evening with good friends, good food and good entertainment.

Sun Diego

We went and stayed with Jaime and Dan last weekend in their brand new house. Yay for them and entering the world of being a homeowner!
We christened their grass with a little slip and sliding.
It was really funny, the kids did not understand how to actually use the slip and slide. I guess that is what happens when you grow up in a concrete jungle as we do.
So, Dan literally threw the kids down the slide. They loved it.
All smiles!
The weather was perfect. Not too hot at all, so we decided to hit up the San Diego Zoo.
Addi and the snakes.
Addi and Luke doing their best poses.
Von was such a good boy in his stroller as usual.
They really love each other. They held hands voluntarily.
And probably the coolest animal ever, the black panther.