Spring Flag Football

This season has been a blast so far. The best season ever up to this point, I think. Both of the boys are playing hard, and they have great teams. It is fun to watch them get into the game and do their best. Hayden gets to be one of the quarterbacks for his team and he loves it. He is taking his position very seriously and is outside throwing the ball around every chance he gets! Although I am not sure how good of practice it is throwing the ball around with silly old Mom, but hey it is fun! Ethan is fast and has pulled lots of flags. And every time he does he does a little dance and he swings the flag over his head. Yes, we are working on being modest, but admittedly it is pretty funny to watch and inwardly I am doing a little dance with him! Shhhhh don't tell!

On a different note Shawn is getting ready to do a job for clowns. No seriously two real clowns! He came home with a bag full of balloon swords, poodles, ladybugs and hats. It has entertained all three of them all day long!! Who knew a balloon sword could be so entertaining?

Easter

This was Libby's first Easter that she was really into. She loves bunnies and likes to pretend she is a bunny and hop around. She love LOVED looking for the eggs. She couldn't believe there was actually candy inside, and she got to eat it! A lot of it! The boys enjoyed the hunt too, anything for chocolate bunnies and candy; the Easter bunny brought them both hats that they have worn everyday since.

Grandma and Papa had us over for a very special dinner, and even Shawn's brother, Glen, was there. She also dyed easter eggs with the boys after church AND had an easter egg hunt for the kids. Sheesh these kids are so spolied!! So fun, we love it!

General Conference Weekend

I love General Conference weekend. Being able to stay home all weekend with the family watching church on TV is always the best. Of course it helps that we always have yummy treats, and not having to prepare a lesson is always a bonus too! Shawn made chocolate chip cookies with the kids. Ethan had a flag football game that Grandma and Papa came to cheer him on. Hayden and Libby tried out one of the fun experiments that has been floating around on pintrest. It was pretty cool, you just fill a tray with baking soda and then with a little dropper you squirt dyed vinegar onto the baking soda and it bubbles. Pretty cool. I made a pink bunny banner for a certain little girls birthday for etsy. And during the men's priesthood session I took Hayden and Libby to the park to meet up with some other Moms, other then a close call with a scorpion, it was soooo fun.

Happy Weekend!

An Easter Table

You know me, I love an excuse to decorate. Easter is no exception. One of my favorite things about Easter decorating are the bird nests. I am not really sure why I have always been so drawn to nests, but I love them. Maybe it has something to do with the twigs, or maybe its the robin colored eggs. Whats not to love?

I am trying to decide how we should decorate the table for Easter dinner and I love these ideas. I like that they are small and could be used as place settings. Don't you think the kids would love having candy before dinner, waiting at their seat? I would!

Check out the Sources for directions: brown bag baskets chocolate nests papier-mache baskets  egg shell place setting

Easter Banner

I have a new banner in the shop. YAY! This banner has lots of fun layers! It is finished and ready to ship in time for Easter.

You can find it in my shop, A Lovely Party.

Thanks for looking!!

Best Weekend Ever

My Mom and Step Dad, and Amberly and her family and dont forget Becca Boo, all came out this weekend to celebrate Ethan's birthday. It was so nice of them to come out even though they were only able to stay for a short time. I loved having them here and was plotting ways of making them stay longer. Slashing tires, locking the doors, kicking and screaming? But summer is right around the corner and we will be making a trip out there soon. It was fun packed weekend, as always. Ethan had a flag football game, there was a fun shopping trip to target, lots of eating, late night conversations and laughing, lots of jumping on the tramp, a walk to the park. And the highlight of the trip (next to Ethan getting the preisthood, who can compete with that?) was going to the movies. Ethan, Shawn and I (and even becca on one car trip) read the Hunger Games together. We have been waiting for over a year for the movie, ever since we found out the movie rights had been sold. And we were not disapointed. It was so good! And to make it even more of a perfect night we ate at Chipotle, Yummy!

 For Ethan's Birthday I wanted to make a banner that was more boyish and less fussy then my normal. So for this banner I used washi tape, a SMASH pad of paper, and just used clothes pins to attach to a ribbon. It was the easiest banner ever. Using more washi tape I put up several pictures of Ethan over this last year.

 My adoreable nephew Radley, ating yummy banana chocolate chip pancakes...made by Amberly. Yum!

 I put these two ladies to work cooking and baking! We had lots of hungry tummies to feed!

 Amberly made Libby the cutest birthday box. Inside the box is a list of questions that we will ansewr every year on her birthday to see how much she changes and grows over the year. I love the idea. She also gave her the cutest little pair of yellow shoes. I want some in my size!

The girls made a trip out to Target. My happy place! Yes Libby is entertaining herself with soda and popcorn. What? Dont judge me! JK!

Taryn and family we missed you...Next time you have to make the trek out here!!

Twelve Years Old

Can you believe my Ethan is TWELVE? I can't, how the heck did this happen? But he is definitely a tweener. He is all about hanging out with his friends, texting, gaming, (being obnoxious!). I absolutely adore him, and couldn't be more proud of the young man he is becoming.

On his big day Ethan requested the Bagel Shop for lunch, and laser tag with his friends. We piled 9 boys in the car and drove down to Laser Quest for pizza and a few games. It was a blast, Ethan was beaming the whole night. I am usually all about the homemade parties, but this was so easy, all we had to do was show up!! We would definitely do it again.

Happy Birthday Ethan! I love you!