Eight is GREAT!

One of the highlights of our recent trip to Utah was being able to have Ammon's baptism while we were there. It was a beautiful day, made even better by having so many family members be able to attend. I feel blessed to be married to a worthy priesthood holder who was able to baptize Ammon. I am also so proud of Ammon for his decision to be baptized. The day of the baptism my heart was so full of gratitude. I am so grateful for this gospel in my life and for the knowledge that I have a Father in Heaven who is mindful of me and knows my joys and my sorrows. I am so grateful for my children and the happiness they bring into my life. I am so grateful for our families and for the love and support that they willingly give. I am also finding it hard to believe that we have an EIGHT year old.... I still feel like I'm 20. Even though it makes me feel OLD that I have a kid who's old enough to be baptized, I am really enjoying Ammon at this age and I am so glad we were able to celebrate this milestone with him.

Colby and Ammon

Colby, Ammon, Grandma and Grandpa Stewart and cousin Kalii

Dad, Mom and Ammon

Colby, Ammon and Grandma and Grandpa Frost

Our family (I think Ammon was getting tired of smiling for pictures!)

Our three, crazy, kids.

Trying to display a little more "Sunday appropriate" behavior.

After the baptism, we had a luncheon at the church. Thank you to everyone who made soup, salads and desserts. The food was almost as good as the company.

Taylor, Grandma, Colby, Dan, Logan and Marcie

Kalii and Carter

"Abbi-Cadabi" and Hazel

Great-Grandma Frost, Ammon, Great-Grandma Cisney and Aunt Carolann. We were so glad that Ammon's Great-Grandma's were able to make it to the baptism.

Aunt Carolann is always so sweet to remember the kids on their birthdays, Christmas or even "just because." She is such a fun aunt and the kids always look forward to seeing her.

Abbi, Mom, Great-Grandma Stewart, Carter, Ammon and Great-Grandpa Stewart. We were also so grateful that Great-Grandma and Grandpa Stewart were able to make the long trip up North for the baptism. A big "thank you" to Uncle Sam for spending the day driving Grandpa and Grandma. And a big "thank you" to everyone for your help and support.

Oh Utah!

In March we were able to go to Utah and spend two FABULOUS weeks with family and friends. Some of the highlights included:

SNOW!! The day we arrived there was still some snow on the ground (by day two it had melted and let me tell you how bugged I am that it didn't snow again until we were on our way to the airport. I hear it is Winter again in Utah now that we are back in Texas- isn't that just the way it goes?) The kids had a blast playing with grandma and grandpa Stewart in the snow.

Throwing snowballs,

and building a snow fort.

As luck would have it, my brother Scott and his family were in Utah for a couple days while we were there. We got to spend some time babysitting their adorable kids and went bowling with the Stewart family.

Aleese and Lily

Scott and Liam.

Abbi, Grandpa Stewart and Kalii.

Mom and Abbi bowling.

Grandma Stewart and Abbi.

We had lots of lunch dates and dinner dates with cousins, aunts, uncles and friends.

(many of which I failed to get pictures of).

Girls (and kid's) Day Out with my mom and sisters.

Icecream with cousins.

We went to the Living Planet Aquarium with Leslee and Kalii- and the kids LOVED it.

Especially this giant frog that reminded them of our dear Sea Monster.

We celebrated LOTS of birthdays. Ammon and Carter share their birthday month with Grandpa Frost and Grandpa Stewart, Uncle Taylor, Uncle Daniel, Hazel, Megan, and Isaac.

I guess when you're eight you get to light your own candles??

We had a big birthday celebration for all the Frost March birthdays.

And celebrated with Grandpa Stewart down on Great Grandpa's farm.

Colby and I went on a hot date to the Champions League game, where Real won 2 to 0!

Ammon built a trap for a leprechaun on St.Patricks day.

And last, but not least, Colby and I hit the slopes and had a great day of skiing.

It had all the makings of a great ski day; new snow, not too cold, not too busy, good company, good times and a bright yellow turtle fur.

Thanks everyone for the hospitatlity and good times. It was a great trip.

March

March came and went quickly for us this year. Partially due to the fact that we spent two weeks visiting family and friends in Utah. (more on that when I have time to go through the bazillion pictures that I took and do a seperate blog post). Other than our fun trip, these were the highlights of March 2011. (in no particular order!)

Someone learned how to cross his eyes,

and likes to do it every time I get the camera out.

Someone turned SIX

and was happy as a little clam about it.

Someone turned EIGHT,

and got his first skateboard.

Ammon was also baptized when while we were in Utah.

It was a great day (with another bazillion pictures which will also be a seperate blog post).

I threw a baby shower for my friend Megan Campbell, who is finally having a girl!

Our little finger food was delicious (thanks to Becca)

and the decorations would have made Martha Stewart proud.

Becca, Megan and I at the shower.

Someone got to start cub scouts.

Someone got her costume for her dance recital.

and will show anyone who is willing to watch her "dance moves."

and did I mention that the weather is beautiful in Texas in March? We are loving it. Life is good.

An All Boy Birthday

On Saturday we celebrated TWO big birthdays. This month, Ammon is turning eight and Carter is turning six. Because we are spending the next couple of weeks in Utah, we decided to celebrate both birthdays early- with a 100% BoY party. We had the party at my super-cool place of employment (which the boys were a little hesitant about because it has "dance" in the title- I guess that's just not manly enough for them) but it turned out to be the perfect place for a dozen little boys to run around and act CrAzY...

By the end of the night, all the boys (and Abbi) had their shirts off.

Apparently eight year olds don't like getting their picture taken.

With all the running, jumping and playing these boys were doing, I was surprised that we only had a few minor injuries.

Even though Abbi is NOT a boy, she got invited to the party on a technicality- the "she's your sister and we're not finding a babysitter" technicality. The boys were very sweet to include her and even let her play in the foam pit with them.

Peace. Dude. That says it all.

My really, really sad birthday cupcakes. Don't let these goofy little cupcakes in any way influence your opinion of my cake decorating abilities (not that I have many, but I can do better than this). In my defense, the boys didn't want any kind of theme and it's incredibly hard to make a "cute" cake without a theme. And we've had a lot going on lately, and I was trying to get ready for our trip, etc. etc. I'll tell you what though, they tasted terrific.

On a side note, don't you LOVE my cupcake towers?? I try to use them whenever humanly possible.... Let me tell you how much Colby loves that we have not one, but TWO cupcake towers. They are integral to celebrating holidays the way I insist on celebrating them.

I also must tell you how much I love boys. Just watching all these dirty, sweaty little boys run around made me smile.

What could be more masculine than ending the night with pizza? The boys thought it was awesome. Just don't tell them they were eating it in a dance studio.

Happy Birthday Party to my two sweet boys!