Par-TAY!

A few months ago I conned  talked my dad into helping me plan and execute a surprise party for my mom's 60th birthday.  We wrangled her BFF, Bonnie, into being our accomplice.

This is Bonnie.  My partner in crime.  And her husband Paul. He was pretty useful, too. :)

Really.  She was a necessity.  I do not get party planning love from my dad. :)  My mom was 110% surprised.

Mom and Dad.  Mom's still taking it all in.  BTW, the photo booth was a huge success.

So many friends and family members came out to show her some birthday love.  My favorite moment of the entire evening was when she turned around and saw her dear, dear friend Suzanne Hansen waiting to embrace her.

Mom and Suzanne gettin their glamour on.

I think my mom got rather teary.  (Which is the signal of instant success in the Marchant family.)  It was a lovely way to celebrate an lovely woman.

Just a few short days later, Miss Sophie had a "kingdom celebration" to celebrate her 6th birthday.  (6 is apparently the "it" number this year. :)  She was so excited for her party. I don't think she really even cared about her actual birthday.  We tried to go all out on the decor.  Darn wind was being a party pooper.  We did our best though with balloons and kingdom flags strung across the yard and, starting at the slide "tower" where Rapunzel her self was peeking out of a window, yellow crepe paper  going every which way.  Sophie wore her Rapunzel dress all day in anticipation.

 We played lots of fun carnival games like ring toss, pin the frying pan on Flynn, raced Pascal around a tree and more.

All the kids got to make a paper lantern.  (Too bad I forgot to send them home.  Oops.)  The crowning event though was the face painter.  My cute friend and visiting teaching partner is an amazing face painter.  We were lucky enough to schedule her to come and help us celebrate. (Really-she is amazing. And affordable. You can check her out here.)

It was so much fun celebrating birthdays.  I was completely worn out after such a crazy week.  (Did I mention that the first party came two DAYS after we came home from vacation?!)  It was so worth it, though.  Happy sigh.

Happy Birthday!

To the most beautiful 6 year old that I know.

A Typical Sunday at the Maynes

by Jeff Maynes
Shared by me


Upon arriving home from the morning meeting Dad announces his presence and begins to investigate the native householders.

Lyndsi, are you ready?

Yes.  

McKay, are you ready? 

I can't find my shoes.   

They are probably in your room where you took them off last week. 

I looked Dad, I can't find them. 

"Sophie, are you ready?"  Big smile, he he he, he he he, Daddddd.  

Chole enters from some far flung corner of the house she is exploring

"Daddddieeeee  Daddddieeee."

3 mins later. 

McKay are these your shoes? Under your bed under your pants?

Oh, yeah.

Chloe enters room with her favorite toy of McKays, Thor. Its the one that yells "I am Thorrrrrrr"

Chloe  "Torrrrrrrr"

3 mins later

A mad dash of hair preparation has ensued in the bathroom.

Dad, be quiet and go downstairs, you are distracting the baby

Hair prep entails 3 heads of hair in 7.25 minutes. Remarkable

The relative calm of the next three hours descends upon us. 

After the big meeting is over we all head in different directions

Kids exit west to walk with friends/sibling, mom exits south with baby. Dad left in dust.

1 to 4 hours later. 

Dad enters from garage.

McKay and Sophie and table, Chloe & Mom asleep the latter a rarity, Lyndsi in room, all too common.

Hey Dad

Hey Guys. Is that an egg?

Yup

Did you cook it?

Yup

How did you do that?
Don't you remember that time you taught me how.

Ummm Yeah.

He made me one to.

Dinner sometimes is nice and sometimes is leftovers or whatever is found.

Dad, here is a list of what you could be for Halloween.

Spy, Chuck, Flynn Rider.

McKay has derived this list from conversations with Dad regarding his favorite movie, Mom regarding one of her favorite characters and randomness. Flynn Rider really?

Two of these are portrayed by the same actor, I am sensing a theme here.

After some family reading Mom and Dad go on a walk with Chloe while the remaining crew "get ready for bed"

24 minutes later

Sophie prancing around room in PJ's, Lyndsi in room, McKay. Door closed. Oh Dear.

McKay what you doing. 

Moving my bed back where it was when we moved in.

Dad rubs head, with audible groan heard.

Bedroom is rearranged every 5.7 weeks.

Have you guys brushed your teeth?

All answer affirmative

No on has brushed their teeth.

Prayer is said. Prayers are said.

3 minutes later.

Sophie: I'm hungry

Go to bed

I'm hungry.

Remember when we asked you 2 hours ago if you were hungry?

No

You asked what there was to eat, we said you could have some soup, you gave us a blank stare.

But I won't be able to fall asleep unless I get some food

Lyndsi: Dad can you help me make this project? (A doll bed out of cereal boxes she has learned on YouTube)

Its time for bed Lyndsi.  

Big Smile

Guess who won that battle

30 minutes later.

Dad, I'm scared. 

McKay. Go To Bed.

First Day Fun

 Lyndsi- 5th grade.  Would rather be on traditional.  At least for the summer.  Loved back to school shopping.  Back to school not so much. :)  One of the best things about back to school is going back to dance.

McKay- 3rd Grade.  Excited to go back.  Loves his teacher.  Loves his class.  The least whiny when it comes to going to school.  Looking forward to learning his times tables and writing in cursive.

Sophie- 1st grade.  Will be our bilingual child.  Half day English. Half day Spanish.  A  bit nervous about 1st grade.  Loves her new clothes and lunch box.  Still loves reading (to me) and being read too.  She'll do well this year.

Chloe- No grade.  Gets to stay home.  Has Mom to her self.  Looking forward to being rather spoiled.

 The whole crew.  Who said they could get so big?

Pinterest, my Pinterest

Spot free carpets and laundry
A waist line trying to expand
But not making it because of all the circuit training
Fashion sense
Toms
DIY decor and home projects
An large dose of funny
Favorite movie quotes and scenes
A good measure of inspirational and thought provoking quotes
Tips on parenting, road tripping, and more

Oh, Pinterest, how you have changed my life.

What websites have changed yours?

Sling Shot Vs. Pocket Knife

Wednesday night McKay came down (the night before cub scout day camp) and asked Jeff and I for help making a decision on which souvenir to buy from the trading post.  He was wavering between a sling shot and a pocket knife.  He told us he had good reasons for both.

Slingshot:
1.  I (McKay) would have fun.
2. I think I would learn something from it.

Pocket knife:
If I was walking and crossed a railroad track my shoe might get stuck in the track.  If it were too small I could use my pocket knife to cut the laces of and escape.

We tried to keep a straight face.  Really hard.  I'm sad to say, it didn't work.  The kid is hilarious.  And creative. Love my boy.  He chose the Sling shot, by the way, due to the fact that the life-saving pocket knife is now only available at the Weblos camp.

Kiev (not Ukraine) and Keane

I love a good  concert.  Sometimes I lack the words to describe them.  

 Cami and I anxiously awaiting the arrival of Keane

The band Kiev kept us entertained while we waited.  They were pretty good.  Their sound (at least live) is slightly reminiscent of Mute Math. (Another fabulous concert I attended this year)

The album they were promoting.  I like it.  Full of hope, despite sounding somewhat like a break up album. Favorite song: Disconnected.  If you like scary movies you should check out their video for this, but if scary movies haunt you (haha), don't watch it.  The song, though, is not scary.  Just the video.

Tom Chaplin, lead singer.  Beautiful voice.  Gracious and kind entertainer.  (Thoroughly enjoyed the enthusiam of the Salt Lake crowd- which was pretty lively)  

Kiev and me.  We met up with them at the end of the concert.  Nice guys.  Sorry we ran away like star-struck 12 year old girls.  Hey.  Keane started up with their encore.  Can you blame us? 

Love Keane and had been looking forward to this concert since I heard they were coming.  Keane did not disappoint.  They had lots of good energy, the singing was amazing, and listening to the lead singer talk...sigh...(hey, he's British.)  ;)  

In case you haven't heard them, and are interested, here ya go: