Happy Birthday, Katelyn!

Katelyn finally entered double digits and is so excited about it.  At ten years old, Katie . . .

*Loves to help Mom cook and try new recipes
*Loves to hang out with her friends and talk on the phone with them
*Loves to babysit with Clark and take care of Carlee
*Loves to play the guitar
*Loves to sing, act, and dance
*Loves to create and make things--crafts, sewing projects, artwork
*Loves Paris
*Hates to wear the clothes that Mom picks out and especially collared shirts
*Loves to look at clothes online and put them in shopping bags for Mom to look at and purchase
*Loves to snuggle up to Daddy
*Loves to roller-blade
*Loves to listen and sing to music.  Always needs to charge her iPod
*Loves to read
*Worries about everything--homework, being picked up on time, getting to and from places, etc.
*Is a wonderful helper to Mom
*Loves to look up cute hairstyles and ways to paint fingernails
*Loves to have home spa treatments
*Loves to put on "shows"
*Loves her little sister and is willing to do anything Carlee wants, including dressing up, and playing house
*Loves Just Dance Wii games
*Loves spaghetti, soup, salads, and cold cereal
*Loves watching the Disney Channel
*Loves Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez
*Has these amazing dimples that make anybody smile
*Has an infectious laugh when she gets silly
*Is starting to want to be a part of big girl and "mom" conversations
*Is a peacemaker and wants everyone to be happy

 She had a wonderful birthday and celebrated with our family at home after Activity Days and all other after-school activities were done.

 Here is our Top 10 List of Reasons Why We Love Katelyn:

After her favorite dinner of spaghetti, garlic bread, and tossed salad, we opened presents and had cake and ice cream.

The best part of birthdays

I'm not sure who is more excited about receiving hair stuff, Kate or Clark?

A cute charm bracelet with all of her favorites, hobbies, and talents

         

Wonderful birthday gifts:  new books, nail polish, charm bracelet, hair accessories (blow dryer, flat iron, brushes and combs, mirror, elastics, and a cute bag)

Happy Birthday, Katie-bug! Love you!

Labor, uh, Fun Day

Labor Day in our family is usually spent doing something FUN to celebrate Clark and Katelyn's birthdays.  This year, Jim, Steph, Ty, and Madi joined us for a day of fun.

Katelyn has been obsessed with Paris, France for about a year now.  I think it all started when she tried crepes at The Original Pancake House.  She loved them so much and asked where the name came from and what it meant.  That spurred conversations about France and Paris, in particular.  She started studying different countries in school and that was the one she picked.  She read books, looked at pictures, and to top it off, her friend had a French-themed birthday party.  Needless to say, Paris is all she talks about and her dream is to visit the Eiffel tower on her 16th birthday.

Luckily for us, we have a smaller scale Paris Hotel and Casino right here in Las Vegas, so it was obvious that we would visit it for her 10th birthday.  The restaurant, Mon Ami Gabi, came highly recommended so we ate there for lunch.  The food was great and we loved the atmosphere walking through the Paris Hotel.  Katelyn was in heaven and kept asking if this was really what Paris was like. 

 

After lunch and touring "Paris", we stopped at the Sugar Factory for a little dessert and were on our way to the Premium south outlets to finish up birthday and school shopping.  Then we headed home for a night of fun in our backyard.

The kids had a wonderful time playing in the pool and roasting marshmallows.  They did flips and tricks off the side while Steph and I judged their routines and accuracy.  They played King of the Floating Tube, had races, dived for glowsticks, warmed up in the hot tub, and shot each other with squirters.  It was definitely a really fun day.

 Clark and Tyler catching the football while the girls jump in all together.

Sunday Play

I love to listen to my children play on Sunday afternoons.  Most of the time they get along really well and will play together.  They have Kids' Club meetings, play school, play board games, and use their imaginations.

One game that I enjoy is when they tie their belts around a stuffed animal's head like a leash and walk them all around the house.  They play with their animals and pretend they are real pets.  They even get out small pieces of crackers and water bowls to feed them.

One afternoon, the boys were playing with Legoes and the girls were playing together while I was blogging.  Kate and Carlee each had their American Girl dolls in a stroller with purses on their shoulders, pretend phones to their ears, and my high heels on.  I was secretly listening to their conversation . . .

K:  "Let's meet at the Armadillo Restaurant by the Eiffel Tower.  You will love the crepes in Paris!"
C:  "OK.  Just text me and I'll come."
(They arrive at the "restaurant" (dining room table) and start their meal.)
C:  "I had all my babies at the same time."
K:  "Wow!  That was fast!"
C:  "Yeah, I was so fat I couldn't even make dinner!"
K:  "They are so cute."
C:  "I know."
K:  "Did you know our husbands work together?"
C:  "Yes, I know that."
K:  "Chad came home from work and said that he had talked to . . . what's your husband's name again?"
C:  "Matt."
K:  "Oh, ya.  Chad said that he talked to Matt and they are friends at work."
C:  "That's funny."

Yes, that is funny.  I was laughing so hard.  I love moments like this.  They make me so happy.

Back to School

The kids headed back to school on August 29.  We were all pretty excited.  We love gearing up for the new year by getting new clothes, buying and organizing new school supplies, seeing old friends and making new ones, and learning from new teachers.

Clark started middle school this year and was more concerned about riding the bus than any of his 6 classes or teachers.  He was worried he would get on the wrong bus or miss it after school due to getting things from his locker.  But the worst part is that he doesn't have a cell phone to call me!  He is, after all, the only 6th grader in the whole world without one.  He really needs a phone, just in case he misses the bus!  No one goes to the office anymore to call their moms.  And apparently it's not cool to ask anyone walking by to borrow theirs. 

The bus driver was wondering why I was taking pictures but luckily I wasn't the only nerdy mom.  Several other parents were taking pictures too and waiting on the sidewalk to see their kids get on the bus.  Clark is standing on the curb and is still a head shorter than the rest of the kids.  He is really hoping for a growth spurt this year.

Katelyn entered 4th grade and is thrilled to be in a class with a wonderful teacher, Mrs. Montgomery, and two of her best friends, Mia and Aspen.  They also split the day with another teacher and two of her other best friends are in that one, Sara and Audrey.  I hope that she doesn't get into trouble gabbing with all of her BFF's.

 

Jake is in 2nd grade with half of our ward that is his age.  His best friend, Cole, is in his class and his teacher is Mrs. Evans.  We know her from teaching Kindergarten at our first Las Vegas elementary school and we adore her.  Jake also has some fun girls in his class that are his friends.

Jake and Kirsten are in the same Primary and school class.  Jake used to crush on her but he has moved on to "liking nobody".  I think he likes her (only as a friend) because she giggles at his antics. 

Carlee is in Miss Julene's "Smart Little You" preschool again.  She attends with Ella and is super excited to be with Miss Julene.  Another wonderful teacher that we love and adore.

Carlee and Ella on their way to Miss Julene's

I made these cute little after school treats from Family Fun and we delivered some to our neighborhood friends to welcome everyone back to school.  The kids loved the surprise when they got home from their first day.  It's going to be a great year!