Thanksgiving 2012

Thanksgiving 2012 was a pretty quiet affair around these parts.  My mom and sister Lauren were in Ohio spending Thanksgiving with the newest addition to our family, by brother's baby Alaina.  Steve and I (unbeknownst to our children) actually seriously considered the possibility of loading up the van and driving to St. Louis just a few days before Thanksgiving.  But we decided to stay home.  Alone.  Just the six of us.  My kids couldn't believe we were having Thanksgiving with just our little family.  We have never done such a thing.  I must admit, I was kinda looking forward to it.  Life has been so busy around here and Steve has been working so much.  I was looking forward to a few days of peace and quiet and rest and spending time with the 5 people I love the most doing whatever we wanted and not have our schedules dictated to us.  And this Thanksgiving did not disappoint.  

It has become a tradition for my girls to go to my mom's house the day before Thanksgiving and spend the day making pies with her.  Since she was thousands of miles away, they were stuck making pie with me.  Aubrey made the fruit and lemon meringue pies all by herself and Emily made the pumpkin.  They turned out fabulously.

Instead of making pies, Addy opted to make targets with the boys for the next days activities.  This is her target she made.

The next day was spent cooking, watching the parade, playing games and watching movies.  Addy was the self appointed turkey baster.  And as usual, I cannot say the word turkey baster without thinking of my dear sister, Farrah.

As you can see, she did a magnificent job.

Earlier that day Aubrey went around and traced each persons hand.  She then made a turkey for everyone that she used as a place marker at the table.  She left room on the turkeys for everyone to write what they were thankful for.  Addy also made hand turkeys for everyone that were used as coasters.  Before we ate we went around the table and everyone had a chance to voice their gratitude for their blessings of the past year.

It was a mighty fine day.

Addy's Big Day

On Wednesday November 28, 2012,  Addison turned 6!  For months she had been telling me that she wanted to go to Build A Bear for her Birthday.  For months and weeks she has been counting down the days until she could go.  Last Wednesday, the big day finally arrived.  We sent all the other kids off to school and headed downtown to make her dream come true.  She was so excited.  When we got there, she went down the line of bears and other animals that you can choose from.  She seriously picked up every single animal, looked it straight in the eye, and gave it a snuggle.  She was making sure she found the most perfect bear for her.  She finally made her choice and  took it to get stuffed and she put a heart inside.

Then she gave her bear a bath and a good fluffing and brushing.  After that she checked out every single outfit in the entire store.  She had to try a few on her bear before deciding on a beautiful sparkly dress.  And we also had to get a robe.  Because you know, it just wouldn't do to have her sleep in her dress and get it all wrinkly.  Then she went over to the computers and gave her bear a name.  She decided on the name Annie because that is the name I almost named her when she was born.  Then we dropped a pretty sizable wad of cash and Annie was tucked all safe and snug in her new home.

The Birthday Girl and Annie

It was lunch time and Addy and I were famished after all that bear building we had done.  So we stopped at the food court and had a bite to eat.  Then I took her to school (she might have been a little late). And began my party preparations. 

After school was out Addy had a few friends over for her Birthday Party Spectacular.

We had a little carnival.  Em was in charge of the fishing booth.

Steve was in charge of a ball game and Aubrey was in charge of the 'Ring a Crocadile' game.

Zac was in charge of  'Pin the Tail on the Zebra'.  I have decided it is so much easier to throw a Birthday party the older my kids get.  They were such a big help to me.

Then we took a break from all the gaming to have pizza

This turned into a chorus of "Say What's"

And then it was time for cupcakes

It was hard to get a serious picture out of this girl

After we opened presents it was time to do some damage to a pinata

After all the kids took their 3 swings at the thing it was time for the big girls to step in and show that pinata what they were made of.

Flashback/Flashforward Friday - The Lights At Temple Square

Flashback: Christmas 2008

Flashforward: Christmas 2012

 Flashback: Christmas 2008

 Flashforward: Christmas 2012

Last Sunday we loaded up and drove downtown to see the Christmas lights on Temple Square.  It has been a few years since we have done that.  First we stopped at Macy's to see the candy window displays.

 Then we went to see the gorgeous lights at Temple Square.  It was magical.

I love this picture of Aubrey

We were able to take in a choir concert in the Assembly Hall.

It was a fun evening and a great way to start off the Christmas season.

Addy Turns Six

Yesterday my baby girl turned 6 years old!  She came into our lives as a sweet surprise and has kept on surprising us ever since.  She is the cutest, funniest, craziest, goofiest, sweetest 6 year old I know.

This video is how we announced our surprise to our family and friends:

I woke up with a purpose the morning of  November 28th, 2006.  My purpose was to get Zac and Em off to school, take Aubrey to preschool and then get all my Christmas shopping done.  Addy was due in 4 days and I wanted to have Christmas all ready before she got here.  I had made a plan of what stores I need to hit and in what order and I had a list for each store of what I needed to buy there.  I was so busy trying to get ready to go that I failed to notice that I was in labor.  By the time I realized it I didn't have much time to get to the hospital.  There were several times in the car that I really thought Steve was going to have to deliver this baby on the side of the road.  We didn't find out with any of our kids what they were going to be in advance.  We like the surprise.  We were so happy when she was born and we added another sweet girl to our family.  Click here to read my very first blog post ever which happens to be about her birth.

A few months after she was born, she made her first of what would become many, many visits to the hospital.  She had RSV and had to spend a few days in the hospital.  Six years later, whenever something happens to her she says things like this, "*sigh* I don't want to have to go to the hospital again!" 

Addy in her blessing dress

After numerous posts on my blog like this one where she got this thing stuck on her head, people began referring to her as "Monster Baby".  The nickname stuck for a few years.  I must say, she was the sweetest little monster baby ever.

Addy has a very special bond with these two ladies.  Her Auntie La La and Grandma.  They are two of her very most favorite people in the whole world.

Happy Birthday my CRAZY Addy Girl!