Birthday Weekend

What a jam packed weekend!

Thursday we celebrated with cake and presents, then off to Annaliesses 

Kindergaden concert.

Annaliesse asked for a Barbie cake- and Tania to the resuce again!

Annaliesse LOVED it.

That excited face says it all. She was in her prime- everyone looking at her, giving her presents, and singing to her.

She was so excited, she blew out all her candles before Justin had even put the cake down!

After her birthday dinner and cake, we all headed off to watch her Christmas concert. Some parents dread these things, but I absolutely love them. I love watching them interact with their school friends, wave hello at mommy, practice their songs at home, and sing with giant grins at the concert. What could be more delighting then watching your child??

Kalia now smiles like this… missing 4 teeth- that hole is a great tongue hang out.

Friday we headed up to West Edmonton mall for the wave pool.We took Kalia there for her Birthday when she turned 4 and Annaliesse has NEVER forgotten it. Ever since she has asked, with longing, if SHE can have her Birthday at "that hotel and pool". So this was the time.

Grandma didn't really want to swim, so she spent the day with Remy at the cabana- thank you soooo much mom! There is no way we could have done it with out you.

It was so much fun, all of my family was able to come. Laura and Miles were a great help and Miles had never been before. Mark and Lindsay are always fun to hangout with, its great watching Lindsay learn Baby holding on Remy!

And this time Justin and I were even able to go on a couple slides, without kids! The girls were able to do tons of slides, where as last time they could do, like 2. Kalia loved the big pool with the wave pool, Annaliessse loved the tube slides, and Barker couldn't get enough of the kid pool and hot tube.

Happy 5th Birthday Annaliesse

YOUR 5 Today!! 

You have been so excited for weeks to be 5. 

We are celebrating her at West Edmonton Water Park this weekend, something Annaliesse has been waiting for since we celebrated Kalia's there 2 years ago. 

In fact, on Sunday we were discussing what was happening this weekend, she asked with this little sarcastic voice "For who's Birthday?"

BAHAHAHAH

Your little personality is so fantastic.

You can be sooooo stubborn and someday that is going to be a great thing. But somedays it can be a little difficult to handle.

You love your siblings and you smile with your whole body. You dance and be crazy when you cant handle your little emotions.

We love you sissy!

January 2013- this is back when Mommy was sick all the time. Annaliesse often will happily play by herself.

February 2013- Mommy take my picture. She is the only kid who asks me to take her photo. That nose wrinkle is beautiful.

March 2013- at a friends Easter Egg hunt.

April 2013- another Mommy take my picture. This time she was showing she can grab her foot.

May 2013- On her new bike. May was such great weather, we were outside tons!

 
June 2013- the day we got back into High River after the flood. Eating dinner and loving being home.

July 2013- playing outside first thing in the morning after the flood!

August 2013- a black eye selfie!

September 2013- so excited for school, she can not hold still to get a photo!

October 2013- this excited face is her everyday face!

November 2013- she loves crafting and cutting with mom.

December 2013. Happy Birthday Annaliesse we love you so much!

♪♫Santa Clause is coming...

 ♪♫ ♪♫ Santa Clause is coming to… the library?!?!
Say what?

A friend told me about Santa reading hour at the Library yesterday. So the three youngers and I headed over to check it out! The Librarian read a story and then we all sang Jingle Bells really loud until Santa came it. Barker was floored to see him!

Santa was so fantastic. He talked to the kids, and let them all yell their names. It was a Tuesday morning and so it was just toddlers, and some of them kept standing and touching Santa and bringing him books. He just kept reading the kids the story and he was soo good with the kids.

Then after he had a present for each of the children. He hugged each one and asked their name, what they wanted and talked to them so nicely. He asked Annaliesse her name and she said it like 3 times… finally I said her name for him and Santa goes- whats with all these parents choosing different names??? To which I said - you mean different BEAUTIFUL names?? Santa laughed and I just gave him a cheeky smile. (I used to be way better at cheek in high school!)

He talked to Barker and was calling him Parker- then I corrected him and he says like a dog?!?! I said yup like a dog and like his great grandpa!! Santa laughed at me this time and Barker just gave him a hug and loved his present.

I was holding Remy the whole time and after I led Barker away, Santa says now hand me the baby so you can get a pic!! What a fun Santa!

Thanks for the great reading hour High River Library it was fun!

FHE-3 at a time.

We opened 3 books for FHE last night!
Everyone got to open one, we are quite a few days behind.

Our lesson was on the story My Christmas Stocking filled with God's love.

"What happens on Christmas Eve while children sleep? 'Their stockings are filled up with candy and toys, and happy surprises for good girls and boys.' A kindhearted man hid a gift in a stocking, long ago. He did it to 'remind everyone of the Gift that God sent.' Christmas stockings help us remember God's love."

We sang our 3 constant FHE songs, Annaliesse choose Book of Mormon story, Kalia choose I am a Child of God and Barker screamed Jesus (Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam) and then I discussed what Christmas is really about. Kalia offered the correct answers and when we asked Annaliesse what we learned, as I always do at the end to see if she got anything… and she said "I don't know". Hmmm…
Ya this FHE thing takes constant work.
Anyways we also read Fancy Nancy and Pete the Cat, then for the activity we wrote to Santa!

Scissors are a favorite activity at this house lately, so we made cards to write to Santa.

Annaliesse told me exactly what to say. I love the fact that she thanked Santa first!

Kalia started writing her's, but bedtime was approaching and she kept making mistakes and getting frustrated, so after a while Mommy wrote what she said.

She wanted to sign her "long full name" herself though!

Barker really really loves to cut. Every time Justin turned his back Barker started cutting anything he could get his hands on!

Remy's face sums up what she thought of the activity.

Then after they finished their cards they iced a sugar cookie and headed to bed. As fun as this activity was, Mommy was very happy for bedtime. VERY HAPPY.

Not so fun

When Mommy is not feeling well, the countdown does not happen.

Its just a fact.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday not so fun in this house.
We have been dealing with 2 different types of flu on and off for a couple weeks and Mommy was hit and down for 3 days.

Anyways instead Grandma, Grandpa and Daddy read the stories, we have already opened, to the kids lots.

We did open the kids Christmas Outfits, and man, are they ADORABLE.

 We also had a sad happening on Sunday. Daddy was carrying Barker down the stairs, and slipped, he fell down the last couple stairs, twisted Barkers ankle and really hurt his (Justin's) foot.

Both of them were very sore for the rest of the afternoon/evening. It was a bummer. We missed the First Presidency Message and the Stake Choir Festival. Mommy missed the kids singing at the nativity, and Kalia's talk. Barker cried for a couple hours after the fall and Daddy was soar.

BUT Monday will be better! Right?