Tea for Two?..... try 50!

Wear your hats! Wear your jewels! Wear your dress!

We are having a “T”(ianna) Party…more or less.

There will be games, crafts, and girlie stuff

So don’t forget your boas, tiaras, as well as other fluff.

The time is ten-thirty-

Until everyone rushes away in a hurry.

The date is the sixteenth of September, twenty-ten

In Miss Tianna’s Garden--- We hope to see you then!

When we decided to have a tea party for Tianna's birthday, I couldn't decide if I should just go simple and invite her 2 closest friends and run with it, or branch out a bit. She has just started preschool so I figured we didn't need to invite those friends since she probably hasn't made many yet-- Then I saw her interacting so cutely with her new friends at school, I decided I needed to invite the girls from her class.... Well then there is her primary class, some neighbor girls and ward friends... and so on. Before we knew it we had invited a lot.

The more the more the merrier, right? Well the MORE and the MERRIER it was! Nearly everyone we invited came! We had 20 3-5 year olds and about 10 that were 2 and under... plus their mom's. So, add that up and there were 50 people at her party! It was insane! But we are so pleased we had such a good turnout, and the party was wonderful. We really appreciated everyone who came.

It was so fun watching the girls show up in their fancy clothes and see their faces light up when they saw the decorations.  

First they decorated their place mats (paper plate) with jewels and stickers. They could also draw on their plate and teacup (they were, of course, plastic ones from the dollar store)

While some finished up, they played in the sandbox, danced to the tunes, or my favorite

Played Ring Around the Rosie's. It was so stinkin cute! 

"Ashes Ashes We All Fall Down!"

Then they got their tea-*ahem*-lemonade. and the most adorable cupcakes from Sam's club. (yay for not baking them all myself!)

The last event was the opening of the presents. (probably her favorite part-- of course)

I loved this picture-- it captures the boy vs girl reactions perfectly. Aden is like "what is so exciting about that?" And yet, she is obviously delighted with her new present. And in the picture below, the little girl in the bottom left hand corner has the "*gasp* OH HOW BEAUTIFUL. You are so lucky" look on her face. :) 

It was such a fun, chaotic, and let's admit it, exhausting event... but VERY worth it. Thank you all who came, and thanks for your generous gifts... she got spoiled rotten! 

Adelia didn't really know what was going on-- but she was sure happy to be there! 

September = Birthday month at our house

Luke turned the big 2-8 on Sept 8.  He had to work, and go to school... boo... so we didn't get to see him much until that night. But we have fun preparing for his arrival! We decorated the house with some streamers, bought party hats (cause I told him he had to wear one) made homemade pizza, and ate cake topped with SPARKLERS! Then we watched one of his most favorite movies, "Where the Red Fern Grows" as well as "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" and wished him a happy birthday about a hundred times!

Check out their aprons! A few months ago Tianna realized Luke didn't own an apron like the rest of us and said she wanted to give him one for Father's Day. Since it was August, and he'd have to wait a really long time, I figured his birthday was more practical. The girls LOVED making it for daddy.  It says "daddy's grillin so we're chillin" and has their hands and footprints. Adelia thought it was awesome--she lifted her foot up and waited for me to put the paint on it. She's getting to be quite the copy cat to all her sister does.

We sure love this man! He's a wonderful daddy and an exceptional husband! Have a great 28th year! (boy that sounds old. he's close to 30 now!)

Miss Tianna also celebrated a birthday this week. Yesterday, on Sept 16th our baby girl turned 4! 

Before we get into the details, I have to share this story.  Very first thing yesterday morning I hugged her and said, "Happy birthday!" and she pulls back with a wary look on her face. "Am I 3 still or am I 4?" I said, "you are 4 now!" and she pulls her nightgown tightly around her and examines herself up and down. Knowing what she's thinking, I say, "Do you feel bigger now?" And she exclaims with all the gusto of a 4 year old.. " I DO!" 

And she IS getting so big. We sure love her! She is such a joyful person to be around. 

Her birthday was crazy! But crazy fun. It started the night before when Grandpa Bert and Aden came to town. We went out to Sizzler to eat and she got a complimentary root beer float (loaded with the most whipped cream and M&M's possible)..... luckily her dinner consisted of fruits and veggies and a few tortilla chips (she's weird. but we won't complain)

Thursday morning began for all of us really early. Luke kissed me good morning before his shower and I looked at the clock. It was 6:43---- THE EXACT time she was born. Quite the coincidence, eh? 

Now this post will be way too long if I include all the pictures of her friend party--let me just say, it was HUGE but super fun. And most importantly, she loved it. So the details of it shall have to wait. But as for the rest of her birthday... after the party we ate lunch with her bff's, Kendra and her cousin Aden

Mommy and Tianna in our party dresses

Then Grandpa and Aden left... and it was a big sad for Tianna.

But she recovered... and when Daddy got home and we opened family presents

 

Featured here: Pet shops from James, Val, and Jacomo, and Belle from Grandpa Neil and Grandma Bonnie

Awaiting a special surprise from Mom and Dad (mostly Dad)

He was VERY excited! 

Then we went and ordered a pizza and ate it at the cool Whittier Center Park.

On the way home we saw the most gorgeous view of the Temple

If only the dang power line wasn't there...

When we got home we realized that we hadn't even sang to her "Happy Birthday" nor had she blown out candles. (the party was a bit crazy so we had just passed out cupcakes and didn't even sing to her)

Then of all the luck, i couldn't find the candles i bought. So we improvised. 

Although she says it about everything, I still believe her when she said "It was the best birthday I ever had!" WE LOVE YOU TIANNA!!!! 

Bear Lake Continued

Since the beach pictures were so abundant I decided to break it up a bit. 

The Camp

Tianna telling Chantel where to hide so that she could be found during Hide-an-Seek

Card Games in the tent

This warm bed

results in this: a happy kid in the morning

It was way too early for this much fun. 

The whole gang at Minnetonka Cave

Would be a great family picture if it weren't for the silly sticker on Tianna's forehead. 

The Smiths: Kent, Chandra, Kendra, and baby Taylor   

    

At Summers End

I have been in denial about summer ending and fall approaching. I think it had more to do with not wanting to accept that school was starting which we've really been dreading at this house.  Now that he's a week into the new school year, there isn't much I can do to change that. SO, I embraced it, and we had one last fling before Autumn hits.

We spent the Labor Day weekend in Bear Lake.  It was amazing! We were with our friend's, Blake and Chantel Merrell and her sister, Janae.  We stayed in Clover Leaf campground up St. Charles Canyon and it was so nice! We spent Saturday at the North Beach playing in the sand and with the wave runners Blake and Chantel brought.
Sunday we drove back to Logan for church and then went back up afterwards.  It was SO cold that night! Luckily Monday wasn't too terribly cold, but it was chillier. We went up to Minnetonka Cave for a tour that morning and our friends, the Smith's, met us up there.
We ate lunch, broke up camp, and then wandered around Garden City and such before heading home. It was a bit hectic but SO FUN! And very memorable.  A perfect ending to a fabulous summer!

AT THE LAKE

I tell Tianna to smile for the camera and her first reaction is to get down and lay sexy like in the water. What the heck?!

She was in HEAVEN at the beach! She played for 3 or 4 solid hours in the sand and water. Luke did take her on a wave runner ride and she really enjoyed it too! We also attempted to fly her kite for a bit but the wind kicked up really fast and really hard. 

Miss Adelia also loved the beach. I tried so hard to get a picture of her holding still, but unlike Tianna, she's not much of a poser. :) But she thoroughly enjoyed herself running, splashing, and EATING SAND! Ew. 

I love this picture! 

This too was very precious-- Tianna was leading Adelia all around, hand in hand. I think they will grow up to be best friends. *let's hope!*

I had a wonderful time, myself. I loved seeing my girls play, riding the wave runner, and hugging my hunk-husband!

Luke REALLY enjoyed the wave runners. He and Blake especially liked it when the wind kicked up and the waves got really big. Both regretted it a bit the next 2 days when they were sore, head to toe! :)

Blake and Chantel

and Chantel with Janae

The last picture we have here today is of THE BIRTHDAY BOY and his girls!

HAPPY 28TH BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART! You are the best! And you deserve a wonderful, super, awesome, incredible, fabulous day!