Emery had a birthday

Shout Hooray! I can't believe my little baby girl turned 5 yesterday! Emery can't believe it either because she has been saying the same thing all day. Well, she had a fabulous day that was all about her and she went to bed one happy little 5 year old.

First, we woke her up to breakfast in bed. This girl knew what she wanted and she let us know right down to the breakfast (with that said, her requests were sweet and not demanding. It was awesome and made my job easier.) She requested oatmeal for breakfast and that we sing the primary song "Happy Happy Birthday Emery Dear".

I was more than happy to microwave some strawberries and cream oatmeal since I was up past midnight finishing her Barbie house surprise.

I bought this Doll house on Craigslist and took it apart, painted it, "wallpapered" it and put it back together (with the help of two of the best friends a girl could ask for). I also made all the furniture. If I get around to it I will post more details about the whole project.

Then Em went off to school, her favorite. She felt super special as all her friends wished her Happy Birthday and she brought cupcakes to share (her pick, yellow cupcakes with chocolate frosting).

With the extra cupcakes we met up with friends at the park after preschool. Emery is so lucky to have such great friends (and cousins) and even though this wasn't a year for a friend party she still got to play with some of her favorite people.

BTW, I have been searching for a fabulous chocolate frosting recipe and I found it here (I cheated and just doctored up a cake mix so I am not sure about the cake recipe but I am sure it is also fabulous). Seriously, the best chocolate frosting I have ever made. Sad I didn't get a cute picture of the cupcakes but with the Vegas sun beating down on them and excited kids anxious to get to them, the cupcakes were less than picture worthy.

And finally, Emery got to pick where we went to dinner and shockingly she picked Chuck E. Cheese's. It was just for family this year but lucky enough we have family that live close by so it felt like a party. She also requested that I make Coffee Cake for her birthday cake and bring it to Chuck E. Cheese's. Seriously, cracks me up. This is the cake we normally have for Christmas and General Conference breakfast but I love it anytime so again, happy about this request too.

Emery got spoiled rotten by so many and if I am any sort of good mom we will get Thank You cards (not my strong point but I resolve to be better) out to all you nice people really soon.

It was a super fantastic day and now I am loving her happily playing with her new toys. Yay for birthdays!

Twinkle Twinkle

Brian shot this with his new fancy iphone. I am sure we will have many more fun videos in the near future.

This is the way we get the girls to come upstairs to go to bed. We promise them a little crazy time up in the loft.

We are still alive

...but only barely for me (turns out saying you won't get sick anymore after January doesn't really work. Here's hoping today is the peak because man I feel crummy). We are alive and kicking and actually very busy. Here is a little bit of what February has brought for us.

Brian's Birthday. I am pretty sure Emery was the most excited for this day. The night before she could hardly sleep. She got up super early to help me make breakfast in bed.

Then we had cake that night. Not the most eventful birthday but the girls had fun picking out presents and singing to dad. Emery kept saying "We love Dad so much, even though he goes to work all day." Then she learned we are lucky he goes to work all day to help us have a house and clothes and food. Yeah, he is pretty much our hero.
We had some fun Valentine activities as well. Emery had her school party and Sage went to a playgroup party. She was pretty fond of all the chocolate. That's my girl.
Our actual Valentine's Day was pretty low key. But what more can you ask for than just hanging out with the ones you love most? We gave the girls new skirts and fuzzy socks that they immediately put on together.

The girls wanted to surprise Daddy with a special Valentine surprise so they set up a cake made of blocks in our bedroom (on top of the laundry basket since it was also laundry day) with chairs and plates and a mystery guest (a babydoll). And I actually took a picture (with my new Valentine surprise, a new phone, I feel pretty fancy).

But the main reason I have been MIA in the last little while is that I helped plan/put on a huge youth Valentine Party, a baby shower, New Beginnings for YW and I decided to paint a bathroom. (I wish I had pictures because the shower was adorable and I attempted my first time making fancy sugar cookies with royal icing, the youth party was fun and if you could have seen this prego woman dance you would be peeing your pants like I almost did, and the bathroom after shots just won't be the same without the before.)

All events and the bathroom turned out to be a success and now I just want to sit on my couch for a day or two. Maybe let my kids build more forts and watch TV.