Birthday Bash

Is this a great birthday smile or what! It says, "I'm 4 today!!!"

This year we went up the canyon (or in Natalie's words, we went camping but didn't sleep there) for dinner, presents, and cake.

I guess we could have slept there. Natalie got a princess tent!

note: Yes Dad, I realize that this would not be considered real camping.

Natalie is very glad to have Auntie Heidi back...

...and Auntie Janie back, in time for her birthday.

She is also grateful that Auntie Em is still here...for now. AHHH Don't move!

Here's my interpretation of a "Jasmine" cake. I had zero inspiration on this cake and I'm afraid it shows. Fortunately, she's 4 and she loved it!

We had a little trouble lighting the candles in the breeze, but we finally got them to light.

All Hail Princess Natalie!

Happy Birthday Natalie!

I don't mean to overlook Steve's birthday which was the day before, but even he will admit that Natalie outshines him. When it comes to Natalie, there is no competition. Happy birthday Steve!

Children for Sale

Make an offer.

The Most Wonderful TIme

These two are now in school. Whhhhheeeeeew! It has been a great summer with lots of fun packed in right at the end. Now I'm ready for school to start.

Both Riley and Stevie are going to all-day school this year. Hallelujah!


I think Natalie and Emma will miss them, but we've always got Henry to entertain them half the day.:)
Here is Riley waiting for her class to go inside.

Here is Stevie doing the same.

Cute story.

Stevie and Riley have the same recess' and after one recess Riley missed her class going inside and was lost. She was crying and Stevie found her and walked her to her classroom, missing his own class going inside. I was so worried that he would ignore her at school. Turns out he's the best big brother Riley could ask for!

Good luck guys!!!

because...it's Natalie!

It has been nearly 2 years since Natalie was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

No, she was not an overweight child.

No, we did not give her too much juice as a baby.

No, she cannot be cured with diet, exercise, medication or anything else.

THERE IS NO CURE.

Therefore we walk.

This was our second year doing a Walk for a Cure for diabetes. Last year we walked with the American Diabetes Association (ADA), this year with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). We go to many functions throughout the year with JDRF and were excited to give back and contribute to the ongoing research to find a cure.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to those who donated. We raised over $500!!!

This morning we arrived at historic Wheeler Farm for the walk. There were literally THOUSANDS of people.

As we waited for the walk to begin, there were several Star Wars characters roaming around, which thrilled my nerdy kids!

I must not be as big a Star Wars buff as I thought. I don't recall which episode has red storm troopers!?

For those of us who considered ourselves too old to take pictures with grown men in costume, there was always Natty to help make us look good!

This year I made matching shirts for all the family that walked with us.

Here's who joined us this year, from left to right:

Steve, Riley, Natalie, Devany, Emma, Stevie, Sara Jane, Grandpa, Clark, Emilie, Sam.

We were missing Grandma, who decided Atlanta would be more fun : (, and Alan, who decided Ohio would be more fun : (. Seriously, we missed you both.

Everyone had loads of energy until the walk started. We started out walking...

Then strolling...

Some went on shoulders...

And some even got carried by back.

Then they got a second wind. Left to right: Sam, Stevie, Steve, Natalie, Riley

Along the way there were posters with the name, age, date of diagnosis, and picture of children with type 1 diabetes. Here was Natalie's!

At the end of the walk, Stevie did a little dance.

The girls then played in the bouncy house.

And then Stevie got to climb (halfway up) the climbing wall.

All in all, it was a fun day and a great cause. Thanks again to everyone who participated and/or donated to helping us find a cure.

We Love You Natalie!!!

Thanksgiving Point

It's finally starting to feel like summer vacation now that school is only 2 weeks away!

At the beginning of summer I promised my kids I would take them on a pony ride. It took me 2 months to make good on it.

Yesterday we went to Thanksgiving Point for the first time in 4 years. I didn't realize how much STUFF there was to do!!! We started at the Childrens Gardens.

There was a sand pit,


A stream that emptied into a small wading pool,

A small playground,

And I didn't even take picutres of the bear cave, the hedge maze, or the super-fun water play area.

Then we went to the Big Gardens and saw the big waterfall. I'm told it's the largest man-made waterfall in the world.

The whole time we were there my kids never stopped asking when it would be time to ride the ponies, so even though I was pooped, we then went over to Farm Country.

Happy Birthday!!!

Our Riley is now 6 years old. Time has gone so fast and yet it seems like she's been in my life forever. I want time to stop and yet I love watching my kids grow up.

Riley had 2 fabulous birthday parties with family and then with friends. She has been planning these parties for the past 2 months!

What girl doesn't love shoes. And Riley is ALL girl!

Hopefully, this will prevent her from breaking my camera again.

She asked for an Ariel cake. This is sort of a cop-out since I used a doll, but I really wanted to do a water themed cake.

Earlier in the day, she hit her knee to her top tooth, knocking it out. That's the little dark spot in her mouth. So she got a present from the tooth fairy for her birthday as well!

Happy Birthday Riley! We love you!!!