Junior Achievement

I'm not exactly sure what Junior Achievement is, but its something that they work on for a month or so. They bring home different activity pages and things. Last year it was on the community, this year it was on the families. Gabbi was very excited about her certificate despite the fact that she herself couldn't really explain to me what it was for.

Birthday trip to Boondocks

Papa had planned to pick Gabbi up after school on one of her short days. She was so excited for him to pick her up and to be able to go to Boondocks with him.

When there, they did everything and anything they could. She was having so much fun dragging Papa around to the different play areas over and over again.

The best part was when I heard about this lovely picture. She wanted to go on the bumper boats. She had never been on them before and thought it would be a blast. She got in one boat and Papa in another. She had a lot of fun until she got wet. They of course weren't the only ones in the pool at that time so of course Papa couldn't control whether she got wet or not. Man did she get wet. She was so upset and cried like a baby for a few minutes. It was hilarious. Papa couldn't help but take this picture. I'm glad he did.

Despite getting wet from head to toe, she had so much fun. They didn't get back till late, they were having so much fun.

Pencil

I had my friend over for a nice relaxing afternoon. We had just sat down to watch a movie and she got a phone call from the school. She was asked to come to the school because there was an accident. 

Gabbi had thrown a pencil to him and he missed the catch. It hit him right in the eye, dead on. When we got to the school he was in the office and Gabbi was in class. She went and looked at his eye while I went to talk to Gabbi. She was in absolute tears. She felt horrible. The principle was called in to talk to the class, which made her feel even worse. I couldn't get her to stop crying. I felt so bad for her. Especially since she had to go back into class. 

She decided to take him in to get it checked, so I said goodbye to Gabbi and she took me home. I waited for what seemed like forever for the results of his appointment. They x-rayed and dilated his eyes to take a closer look. He clearly had a large scratch on his retina. They gave him an antibiotic and an eye patch and had an appointment to see a specialist. 

I felt horrible as well. They surly did not need this. Luckily at his follow-up appointment the blurriness had reduced and they said that he should be fine. They would still keep an eye on it just in case, but he was cleared to go.

To this day we joke about it to make it ease the feelings for both the kids. At least she can laugh about it a little now. Sometimes she still shakes her head in shame at the mention of it. Sadly it will just be something that she will never live down.

Birthday family dinner

It finally came time for Gabbi's birthday dinner with my family. She and Kayden shared the night. We let Kayden decide what the meal would be since he was older and she would have plenty of times in the future to choose. 

After dinner she couldn't wait to open gifts, so we let them take turns. It was pretty funny to watch when J.D. and Cameron would hand Kayden Gabbi's gifts and vi versa. 

Everyone was so sweet to her and she loved what she got. 

Jeff and Tiffany gave her a cute sand castle play set, Jenny and Brian got her dream sand, Nana and Papa gave her a new doll and an afternoon with Papa at Boondocks. She couldn't wait.

To top is all off we gave her a few horses. 

She couldn't wait to go home to play with them.

Polished nails

Better late then never. 

While we were at the Stake Valentines activity, Shantelle was kind enough to watch our kids. While we attended the activity. While we were eating she sent me this picture. All the kids had asked to have their nails painted, even the boys. 

 The girls also had their toes painted.

Shantelle is a lot nicer then I am, I would have told them no. They kids had a blast getting their nails painted and lucky for me, the nail polished peeled off very easily so Owen was painted for too long.

Birthday open house

Gabbi waited anxiously as she watched out the window. I had to remind her that it was an open house and her guests could come and go as they needed. 

About 45 minutes into it Grandpa Nelson and Grandma Deann stopped by. She was very excited to greet her first quests. I think she was more excited in seeing the gift they were holding, but that's typical for any child. She got a mini lalaloopsie doll and a cute exercising outfit. 

More time went by, Grandma and Grandpa left and Gabbi begged for me to let her have some cake. So I gave in and let her blow out her candle and we sang and ate cake.

A couple of minutes after we had cut the cake Melissa and her daughter came. She was so excited to see the horse pajamas and a light up journal. Gabbi loves to write pretend messages, so she was really excited about this journal and it even came with it own pen.

They stayed for a little bit so the girls could play and Melissa and I could catch up. We hadn't seen each other in a while.

At the Easter party Beth let me know that they wouldn't be able to make it, so they brought her her present then. They gave her a really cute clock that she got to color and decorate on her own. She was really excited about it.

Overall it wasn't too horribly bad. I just don't know how to have her not get her hopes up when people can't come. One day she'll understand.

Lagoon with Papa

Sadly because we don't get the best turnout for our kids family birthday parties, I wanted to make sure that Gabbi was able to have a little bit of fun. On top of that Ben was out of town for drill, so it was another downer. So Dad helped me out and he came with me to take the kids to Lagoon.

The weather was perfect, not to cold for it being the end of April and not to hot. It didn't rain, just a nice overcast/sunny day. 

The kids had so much fun taking turn riding with Papa. I felt a little bit like a fourth wheel.

Luckily we were able to do enough to keep Gabbi's mind off Ben not being there and she had enough fun to last her a couple days. That's exactly what I was looking for just in case the party ended up being a bust.

Check-ups

William had his 18 month check-up and did a great job. He didn't have any complications and his Doctor said he was doing great and had no concerns.

 22.15 lbs 14%

32 in 27%

Gabbi was also given a clean bill of health and had no concerns. She is still really small, hopefully she'll have a growth spurt sometime soon.

47 lbs 33%

45 in 9%

Making the birthday cake

The reason why Gabbi's friend was over was because his mom was helping me make Gabbi's birthday cake for her family birthday party that weekend. 

As you can tell from her special horseback ride, Gabbi has fallen in love with horses. So I wanted to make her a horse cake. I would normally had just done a sheet cake and put the horse and fence on top and call it good. My friend has a love and a passion to decorate cakes and she's really good at it. So she helped me pick out a cute cake to model after and we got started. 

It was a lot of fun to put this together. It had layers, the fondant, the pipping frosting, etc. I felt like a professional cake decorator. Grant it, it doesn't look absolutely perfect, but it was beautiful and the best part, Gabbi loved it.

Homework buddies

Gabbi has become good friends with a boy in her class. Lucky for us, we are friends with his parents so it makes it a heck of a lot easier.

One day they had come over to our place after school and they had homework to do before they could play. They happily helped each other with their spelling words and reading homework. It was too cute. 

The best part about it, Gabbi didn't complain once about having to do homework.

Birthday cards

Along with all the frivolities of a birthday, Gabbi received quite a few birthday cards. She was so excited to see money in them and kept talking about what she wanted to buy with it.

She got cards from Grandpa and Grandma William, Bro. Ferrin, and Grandma and Grandpa Hall.

Ironically enough, she hasn't spent it on anything. Way to go and save, girly.

Birthday cake

After we were done with her special birthday ride, we went home for some birthday cake. It was just a Little Debbie Chocolate cake, but it still did the trick. She happily blew out the candle as we sang to her. I still can't believe my little girl is 7.

Owen was so upset that I wasn't letting him help his sister blow out her candle.

Birthday ride

Bro. Ferrin, who is Gabbi's adopted grandpa (according to her) asked Gabbi what she wanted for her birthday. She asked him if he would take her for a ride on his horses. He happily agreed and we set up a time to go to the ranch where he houses his horses. Luckily for us, its not far at all, just across the street from our church.

After Gabbi's birthday dinner we met him by the horses. Gabbi was so excited. We walked over and he introduced us to his horses along with many of the other horses that are housed there. Gabbi was on cloud nine, she loves horses. I was a very proud mamma. I loved horses for many years and it all started around the same time.

When it came time, Bro. Ferrin put Gabbi on his horse and walked her around the corral a few times.

He even walked Owen around a lap or two.

We tried to get William to get on, but he wanted nothing to do with that horse. He happily took the rope to lead the horse, but he did not want a ride. It was pretty funny.

Both of the kids were able to ride a few more times around the corral and they were even allowed to wear Bro. Ferrin's real cowboy hat. They thought that was the coolest thing.

All the kids had so much fun. I even have to admit that it was a blast being around the horses. I still have a love for them.

After we were all done Bro. Ferrin gave Gabbi a birthday card and then we headed home.

Gabbi's birthday dinner

No surprised, when asked where she wanted to go for her birthday, she choose Pizza Pie Cafe. Not only did she get to eat all the pizza she wanted, we had a coupon for a free cookie monster just for her. She was nice enough to share with her siblings though.

All the kids ate really well which makes it worth paying the money to eat there and its good, so we don't complain when they pick it again and again. They were also very well behaved, which made it that much better.

Bath time smiles

William absolutely love the bath. He has a blast when he's in the bath tub and he hates it when the bath is over. He's the first of our kids who happily will lay down in the water and still have a smile on their face. 

His faces were just so much fun, I couldn't pass it up.

Junior Authors

Each year the kids participate in the Junior Author's fair. Last year they all worked together as a class, this year each student did their own book. Gabbi's story was about a dog. She was so proud of herself and the medal that she received.

7 years old

I can't believe that Gabbi has turned 7 this year. She is growing up so fast. She is already talking about her baptism when she turns 8. 

She truly is a light in our family and I love how much she wants to help out. Sadly sometimes its a little bit to much, but her heart is in the right place. She also has bad habits that need to change, but nothing compares to the joy she brings to our family.

After the 1st grade program Gabbi and I went to take her pictures. She did a great job putting up with me, but I didn't really like how they turned out. I'm not so sure I'll use them.