Addie turned 6!

Last week Addie turned 6 years old! Wow, she is getting so big! She was really excited to still be in school for her birthday. In the morning I took her to get her nails and toes done per tradition. We took some doughnut holes to school for a treat for her class! After school we Skyped Grandma and Grandpa Pedersen so they could see her open her gifts from them then it was off the Red Robin! We really tried to convinced her to try Famous Dave's this year (they do free kids birthday dinner too!) but she wasn't going for it. Maybe I will go there for my birthday. After dinner we went over to the mall to spend the money Grandma and Grandpa Huckaby gave her. She picked out a new pair of cleats, Nike running shoes and an outfit! As usual, by the time we got home it was late and everyone needed to go to bed but we still had to open presents from us. So we bathed the kids then let her open them!

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Last Saturday we had her birthday party. We decided on an outdoor game theme! She really would have rather had a pony, princess or ballet party but I don't know how or what you would do at those! Plus she invited boys and I really doubt they want to do girly stuff. :) I got on Pinterest and we found some fun games to do in the backyard. In the end, I think everyone had fun and she was happy we did it!

My decorations were lame this year. Part of the problem is that most of my craft stuff is still packed up in boxes. I couldn't even find her Happy Birthday banner. So we stuck with balloons.

Everyone enjoyed the pizza and everyone REALLY enjoyed the Tang!

It was a little bit windy that day so I couldn't get the candles to light on her doughnut! I think I finally got one of them right at the end of 'Happy Birthday' so that at least she would have one to blow out!

At the end I gave everyone a can of silly string. My kids had never done it before. Johnny freaked out! I really don't think he was expecting stuff to start flying all over the place! The other kids seemed to enjoy it!

The gang with their little bundles of silly string!

Dash Point Camping

One thing we want to do this summer is go camping more than once! I am always giving Daniel a hard time because he goes multiple times a year with the Young Men at church and last year we didn't go at all as a family! So 2 weekends ago we didn't have anything major planned so we booked a campsite and headed to Dash Point. It's only about 30 minutes from our house and is pretty kid/family friendly!

We brought Addie and Johnny's bikes so they would have something to do. They rode them just about every minute they could! 

I tried so hard to keep Dia on the blanket but that didn't work so well! She is not afraid of dirt or getting messy! I'm pretty sure she ate some leaves/dirt but she was happy!

I pre-made all of the food before we left. It took some time here at home but it was so worth it when we got there! All we had to do was throw dinner (sausage and potatoes!) on the fire and by the time we were done setting up the tent and other things it was ready! I thought it was pretty tasty! This picture is typical for dinner time at our house. Daniel making faces, Addie ready to say a prayer and eat, Johnny not wanting to do what we ask and Dia just hanging out!

After dinner we had some friends visit to roast marshmallows! I also made some treats in  ice cream cones filled with chocolate chips, strawberries and mini marshmallows. I wrapped them in foil and then cooked them over the fire! Pretty yummy! I like this picture of Addie just chillin by the campfire. She looks so grown up!

Addie and Darth Vader (Jack)! 

Side note: Johnny picked that mask up at a garage sale earlier in the day for .50. They wanted a dollar, I told him to walk up and just hand them the 2 quarters. He must have been sweet enough because they took it. I wasn't going to pay $1 for that!

By the time we got to bed it was after 10! This little girl was so tired. I tried to set up a little bed for her with blankets and things but she was in and out of our bed all night. I didn't mind her. Johnny was scared of the dark so he was also in and out of our sleeping bag all night. Him I minded. 4 people in a queen sized sleeping bag is not comfortable! But you never get good sleep when you are camping right?!

Breakfast burritos by the camp fire!

Playing in the tent! 

After breakfast we went on a bike ride/walk. The campsite has paved roads to drive on and it also has dirt trails all throughout. We let the kids decide which trails to take and which way to turn. We probably walked for about an hour! They loved it!

By the time we got back to our campsite, my little miss was asleep and it was time to pack up! In the past when we have camped at Dash Point, we pack everything up then head over to the beach. It wasn't really a warm day and I honestly thought it sounded exhausting taking all 3 kids to a crowded beach! Thankfully, neither of them remembered (or cared) that there is a beach and we were able to leave without anyone questioning it. The kids were so bummed that we were only staying one night though. Addie said she wanted to stay for 6 nights! Um, maybe we will try a 2 nighter first. Hopefully we will be able to go camping again later in the summer, the kids loved it so much! On the way home all 3 of them fell asleep and we were able to enjoy the rest of a peaceful Saturday!

Diadora 11 Months

When I tried to do Diadora's 11 month photo shoot, she was not very cooperative. She doesn't sit still long enough to get a picture and if she is sitting still she won't look at the camera! Plus the lighting was bad that day inside the house. I got some decent ones but nothing really great. I even waited until the next day and tried again!

I got lots of this face...

and this one.

Some of this.

Of course he wanted in on the fun!

I have a feeling these two are going to be trouble when Dia is a little bit older! Here they are taking a break from photos to play with toys!

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So after her nap, I tried again.

This is what I got!

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So, we tried again the next day and these are a little bit better, still nothing really great!