A Day of Thanks

I picked up Jayden from preschool the Thursday before Thanksgiving and this is what she was wearing. Isn't she darling???!! On the actual day of Thanksgiving we headed over to my mom's house for a yummy feast, as Rachel called it:) The girls played play dough so well together while we prepared the food. The Feast! We took the skin off the turkey because it wasn't looking yummy. I know this doesn't look yummy yummy either but it tasted fabulous! Our smaller than normal crew: Jayden, Grandma Kathy, Grandma Taz, Rachel, Brett and Grandpa Bob. Me and my honey! After the meal we made Turkey and Pilgrim Hat cookies from Our Best Bites:) The girls were so excited! So proud! After cookies we played Phase Ten. Rachel wanted to take a picture so Brett made this whiny face for her. It was pretty funny. After the game we put together our Thanksgiving Tree. I found this idea from a blog called Crafts By Amanda. I thought it would be fun and the kids had fun making it! We have much to be thankful for!

The Final birthday party!

Happy 7th Birthday Rachel!!! WE love having you as part of our family! We love your kindness in the way you play with your little sister. We love that you love to read and act out and be silly with us. WE love all the special moments with you that only parents can have. We love you!! We had a little family gathering Sunday evening after the fabulous primary program:) Here are the cuties with their favorite Uncle Lance! Rachel picked everything we had, except the salad. She loves lasagna! she also loves mom's rolls from Our Best Bites:) Thanks Nena for the wonderful job of modeling the rolls! Rachel had to be at the table with Uncle Lance and Aunt Angela:) and then it was time for presents:) My Grandmother sent this for Rachel. It was up on the wall last time we were there and Rachel liked it, so she gave it to her. She is super fabulous! Grandma Kathy gave Rachel this beautiful Christmas dress with the matching doll dress of course. Rachel was in heaven! Mayson gave her 3 Junie B. Jones books. Rachel finished one that night, She loves Junie B. Jones! It might have something to do with the fact that her teacher is also a fan and dressed up like her for Halloween:) Grandma Taz got her two classic books: Little Women and Little House on the Prairie. We're excited to read those to Rachel! She also bought her this PINK Barbie, a Fashion Fairytale doll. Seriously, someone help me!! Nena bought her the horse and carriage. Rachel was a little disappointed since she bought that the day before, but I was upset that she was being so ungrateful. I almost took all of her presents away!! What a stinker!! Thanks goodness for gift receipts and the Ken Barbie doll Rachel will now be getting. I'm done for:) Rachel is so loved! I feel blessed to have wonderful family and friends who give so much love to my girls! I am blessed to be the mother of this Angel:) We were all blessed that night to eat these delicious lava cakes with chocolate ganache on top and ice cream on the side. Positively sinful! Love this face!! I forgot to take a picture of the most important gift of the night: A Book of Mormon. In our church children are baptized at the age of 8. I thought it would be nice if Rachel had read the Book of Mormon and prayed about it before she got baptized. We started reading it the night of her birthday and she has been marking them when Jesus is mentioned. She loves the words of the gospel already and I love getting that chance to feel the spirit with her every night. You are so special Rachel. I am excited for the day when you get to be baptized and feel the spirit even more in your life. Happy Birthday!

school celebration

Rachel brought in some super yummy mini chocolate flavored raspberry cakes, milk and Halloween suckers to school. The kids loved it and so did Rachel. Her teacher does all these fun movements to the birthday song and at the end they do the karate chop! We love Mrs. Doughty! Rachel enjoying the goodies! Jayden enjoyed them too. She acted like one of the 12st grades. Mrs. Doughty thought she was the cutest girl...I couldn't agree more! The following Saturday (the 13th) was Rachel's actual birthday:) We normally go out to eat as a family, but Rachel really wanted to see Mega Mind, I'm not sure why, but she did. So, we went and saw that instead. It was really was pretty funny and both girls loved it. After that we went to Wendy's for frosty's. Brett's dad sent her some money in the mail so we took her to Toys R Us where she bought this Barbie horse and carriage. Someone help me!! Half of the money went towards the gift and the other half goes in her savings. We gotta teach her somehow:):):) she had a fabulous birthday...but it's not over yet!

The friend party

WE had Rachel's friend birthday party the week before her party due to some other circumstances:) She had a blast! We started at the house singing to the birthday girl and having a light lunch. Rachel was surprised when her candles kept lighting back up:) Pretty tricky! I love my Rachel! (please ignore the fact that I have no make-up on:() The girls quite enjoyed themselves. I had to take a picture of the cupcake because they took a while to put together, but the girls LOVED them! I also couldn't think of any way to make dolphin cupcakes, si I used my handy cricket and made dolphin toppers! then I used the same dolphin cut out to make name tags for the goody bags:) after eating we all piled in to different cars and headed on down to the pool! Unfortunately I was in the pool and couldn't take any pictures, but we had a blast! Now back to the house to open presents:) Some of Rachel's favorites: Barbie, Fashion Fairytale doll and a unicorn pillow pet. She also loved her Zhu Zhu pets, lipstick, headbands, shirts, and silly bands. (thanks a lot Julia!:):)) some ladies wanted to party hard so they watched The Night at the Museum. Needless to say they all slept good that night! Happy Birthday Rachel!

Disney on Ice

For Rachel's birthday present, I took her to see Disney on Ice a couple of weeks before her birthday:):) She was in heaven!! SHe had 10 dollars to spend and REALLY wanted the cotton candy, so I told her she could get it before we left. When we got there we found out it was $12!!!!!!! But it came with mickey mouse ears. (still not worth it!!) She was a happy camper though:) the opening of the crazy cast! Belle, which seems to be her favorite lately! Lilo and Stitch fire...cool! And of course the Toy Story cast, minus bullseye. Rachel was not impressed. He's such a cute horse:) the princesses and fun characters saying good-bye. See you next year! Of course a little mom and me shot:)