Weddings and More Weddings

We just got home from a VERY long trip to Utah.  This was the 1st time I have attempted to drive to Utah. I enjoyed the flexibility of being able to leave Houston when I wanted and drive home when I wanted. In the long run it probably saved us some money because we didn't have to rent a car. Next time though I think we will just fly.

We left Houston in the middle of July. My sister, Valerie, and I caravan-ed out with us so I wasn't alone.  She had driven it many times and knew the way really well. I loved just blindly following her. One time I told her that I would take the lead for a bit and about 5 minutes later we switched back because I had no idea where I was going.

one in SLC I stayed at a hotel becasue my parents just sold their house and now live in a one bedroom apt.  the next day was MY BIRTHDAY!!  it was so fun to have everyone try and make it a great day for me. My sister Emily made an amazing pumpkin Birthday cake. I think it has been about 10 years since someone has made me a birthday cake.    (Just kidding Sheena made me a cupcakes last year)

The next few days were busy with me and my kids trying to stay out of the way. which is hard when there are all kinds of wedding  preparations going on.

    The big day of my brothers wedding JOhn and I got all ready and went to the Payson, Ut LDS Temple.    John and I got to go inside and my in laws, Kari, Terri and Maria watched the kids outside.    Billy and Becca were the cutest couple and we loved seeing them get married.  That night we went to the reception that was at a beautiful home.

 
The next day we drove up to Yellowstone.  john's brothers Kaylon and Kenny came with us  as well as Kaylon's girl friend Gene.

We froze the 1st night but after that we had a really fun time.

  It was probably a little too much driving right after our 24hr roadtrip, but we saw some really cool stuff.

we stayed the night at Jakes house and then went to Cedar city.  It was nice to be settled for a few days.   I was feeling overwhelmingly tiered and needed to take a few naps I assumed it was my body needing recovery from all the traveling. Unfortunately my condition worsened I was up all night with fever and chills. I was super achy and had no appetite. I am not sure what it was but either food poisoning of flu.  I tried to help as much as I could to get ready for the 2nd wedding. I stayed up really late the night before and so the morning of the wedding I woke up sicker than I had been all week.
   I was still determined to make it to the wedding.  I began having nausea and severe stomach cramps. I was concerned that something more serious might be happening.  John was telling me that we were going to ride in Jake's car to the wedding. I started throwing up and that was the end of the discussion. After traveling 1,500 + miles I could't make the 50 miles to the St George Temple.  Everyone left and I spent the next 6 hrs sleeping and resting.   I got up and saw a few people at the reception, but mostly I stayed away.   My parents and sister Hillary and her boyfriend had driven down for the wedding and I think they were a little disappointed that I couldn't spend more time with them.  

   Shari and Jordan were a very cute couple and I was glad that John and my boys were able to be there the whole day.

    The next week we stayed in Cedar I recovered and we went on a few hikes and did other fun things.

We went down to Mesguite NV where we visited our long time friends Keith and Julie.  They got married a few months before John and I and we have Always been close. Rocklond and their son Iigen were inseparable and had a really fun visit.

Soon it was time to head back up to SLC. We stayed up at John's Aunts house and had a great time seeing some of his cousins.

We still had 1 more wedding. this one was of JOhn's cousin Maddy.  Since we weren't one of the siblings for this wedding we didn't go to the temple sealing at the Payson temple. But we did get to go to the lunch in adn the reception. It was nice to be able to just show up and not have any part in planning or setting up for the wedding. Rocky made a lot of friends and had a great time. He also liked showing off his dance moves.  

     We stayed in Salt lake on Sunday, and then started the long journey home to Houston.  I was caravanning with Valerie again. Hillary was with her this time and she road in my car for most of the day. the first day we drove 14 hrs.  It seemed like much less because Hillary let me listen to  the book Figherflight on her Ipad.
   the next day Valerie and I split ways. she went on to North Carolina and I went south to Houston. It was a 9 hr drive and I did it in 10 which is really good for traveling with 2 kids.  We were Ecstatic to be home.  Gretta was so happy to see us.   Thanks to everyone who let us stay at their house and all who helped us have a great trip.

3rd birthday for Knoxx

Knoxx is now 3. We had his birthday party yesterday and he LOVED his party.  I loved planning his party. Knoxx Loves Spiderman and that was so nice because Spiderman stuff is really common and easy to find.

We did the party on a Friday morning. We had so many of Knoxx’s friends come.  He was really happy to see everyone. We played with play dough while we waited for everyone to arrive. Then our first activity was a punching to get a prize.  I took paper bowls and put a toy inside and then taped tissue paper over the front. The kids had to punch hard enough to rip the tissue paper so they could get their prize. I got this idea off Pinterest and I didn’t get a chance to take a picture of it but I think the kids loved the Idea. Also 3 year olds aren’t super strong and so it took then a few tried to break the tissue paper. The prizes were candy necklaces and sunglasses.

Then we had a visit from our friendly neighborhood Spiderman. He took all the kids up stairs and taught them how to shoot bad guys with silly string.  Knoxx was hugging Spiderman and just loving life.

After the excitement died down we went outside for a Spiderman piñata.  I filled it with candy and fruit snacks.  

Then it was time for cake. I had made the cake that morning. Again I went with a regular frosting one instead of fondant.  I think we had about 4 kids licking the frosting right off the cake before I was able to cut it.

Then Knoxx got to open all the presents. He Was super excited and loved everything.

The party went by really fast. Knoxx crashed early that day and then was up all night like from midnight to 3 am.   I guess he just wanted to start celebrating his birthday early.  Of course when we tried to tell him that today was his actual birthday He would tell us that his birthday is over.  He also insists that he is no longer 2 and is now 5. 

earlier this week I took Knoxx to the Zoo.  I did this same thing when rocky turned 3 and let him be in charge the whole day.  Knoxx loved it! we saw elephants fighting, snapping turtles fighting,  goats eating, I let him feed the giraffes.  It was the perfect Zoo trip. He walked the whole time and slept the whole way home and then some.  We love you Knoxx Happy Birthday. 

Rocklond Turns 6

I Had so much fun helping Rocklond plan his birthday party this year.  I was talking to my friend Sheena and she was telling me about a place called Little Beakers. It is a newer place for kids can go and do little science experiments. They also do Birthday parties, but the closest one to us is about a 20 min drive. and I didn't want to spend too much on a party.  I Love Science. I have always loved studding it in school. 

I knew I wanted to make my house look like a lab. 

I got some cheep shower curtains at the dollar store and taped them up over the doorways of my house. 

then I printed out a few signs. I think the signs actually worked because the kids really did stay out of the rooms that had been blocked off. 

Once I started making sign I had a hard time stopping. If I didn't have so many other things on my plate right now I probably would have made a mural of a periodic table and maybe a few molecule diagrams out of balloons. 

This was my favorite sign. Rocklond and Knoxx loved going out side to "test it out"  if you can't tell in the picture when the child puts their hand on the paper it rings the door bell. 

We had about 11 kids ranging from 7-2 years old most were 5&6 years old.   The first science experiment we did was with baking soda in a balloon and then vinegar in a bottle.  Then you put the balloon on the bottle and the balloon inflates.  The kids all loved it. 

next we Split the kids in half and John took half in the back yard and let them help with shooting off rockets. 

I took the other kids inside and they all made snow. You put about a table spoon of this snow powder in a little beaker and then add a half a cup of water and the snow comes growing out of the beaker and out onto the table.  This was my favorite experiment probably because it was really easy for the kids to do by themselves. 

We had some yummy food sitting out for the kids to snack on. I had two Bags of Cheetos and the first one was gone in seconds.  6-year-olds LOVE their Cheetos.  

Then we made slime.  the kids liked playing with it.  But most lost interest and went to get more Cheetos. : )

Then it was time for cake. I LOVE to make cakes. I love to look online to see all the different ideas and then combine those into my own idea. I used to make the kids birthday cakes with fondant, but now I am starting to lear to work more with just regular frosting.  I  like that because people actually eat frosting. 

the Mind craft cake didn't go with the Science theme of the party, But it sounded more fun to make then a beaker cake.  

ROcklond was happy when he saw the creeper and the TNT.   ROcklond had rarely ever played mindcraft.  He has only played it at friends houses or if my brother billy is visiting. I didn't want Rocklond to play it all the time if we owned the game, but all Rocklond does when he gets any time one the computer or phone is watch other people play mind craft on Youtube. So I gave in and we bought him the game.  He had such a great time building a cave and filling it with torches. and spawning lost of strange animals. 

the cake had a # 6 baked into it.  I wish I had made the pink a darker red so it would have showed up better. But it lookes cool anyways.  I learned how to make a surprise cake from this blog. 

The party was really fun. ROcklond had a great birthday and is Really Happy to be six.  I have to keep reminding him that now that he is six I expect him to do a few things differently.  

He is always such a good brother to Knoxx. He helps Knoxx reach things and they are always so sad when Rocky has to go to school because they have to stop playing.  Rocklond has a big imagination and loves to make up little stories with his toys.  He also loves friends and is constantly asking if he can go play over at somebody's house. 

Rocklond is growing big and strong. He also has 2 loose teeth that are close to falling out. John asked him what will happen when the tooth fairy comes and Rocky said "she will bring me a book"   

ROcklond we love you Happy Birthday