My little monkeys

Last week was one of the busiest weeks so far as a mom.  I am afraid that there are many weeks like last week in my future.  Here are some of the highlights starting on Sunday. 

Taylor's great to be 8 baptism program.

3 hour simulation lab at work.

Taylor dentist appointment.

Dance class

Early morning temple session

Joslyn's 2 hour dentist apt. (She had to be sedated)

Taylor's parent teacher conference

School art fair

Visiting teaching

Ellie's parent teacher conference

Another 2 hour class for work

Babysitting

and finally a trip to the zoo!

Whew!  I am tired just thinking about it.  Of course I had some help with the kids for my work stuff, thank goodness I have great friends and family.  Times like these make me so grateful for days where I just get to stay home and hang out with my kids.  The trip to the zoo on Friday was so much fun, and the weather was so nice.  I really wish Spring would come and stay because the nice sunny weather makes me happy.  My mom and sister met us in Salt Lake to see the animals.  The kids loved it, especially Andrew, he got so excited to see everything.  The only down side was all of the construction going on, but when its over, it will be so cool.  I was not very good at taking pictures, but I did get a few of the girls by the gorillas.  The boys stayed in the stroller most of the time, but the kids favorite was of course the train ride.  This week should be much calmer and already started out great because they didn't need me at work last night.  I know all of this will be easier when I this little one inside me isn't using all of my energy.  

Riverview art fair

Thanks to some awesome PTA moms at the kids school, the students got to participate in an art fair.  The girls were so excited to show off their creations. Taylor made a model continent in her class and Ellie entered one of her favorite drawings.  There were so many great pieces of artwork, I hope they continue to do this every year.  The girls even got free movie passes for entering.  We are so lucky to have such a great school so close by!                                        

Princess Party

Joslyn couldn't turn five with only one birthday party, she needed three!  These pictures are from the friend party we had for her last weekend.  This was Joslyn's first friend party and she was very very excited.  Having so many birthday parties can be confusing for a five year old, she kept asking if it was her actual birthday again, or her party.  We basically just celebrated all week long.  Her friend party had a princess/Barbie theme, because she couldn't decide between the two.  I always let the kids pick out a special cake from the bakery for their birthdays.  If I was a good mom I would bake a cake and decorate it myself, but I have to let some things go.  My mom used to make us some really cool cakes.  Oh well. The girls had a great time playing classic party games and then playing princesses. Joslyn got some great gifts this year.  Her friends and family were so generous.  She even got several cards in the mail!  She is still carrying around the money she got from G&G Larsen.  We have an exciting trip to the dollar store planned.  I am glad she had such a fun birthday, she really is a sweetheart.

Joslyn's Rockin party!

Joslyn waiting to open her presents.

Joslyn is my youngest girl and I tell her all the time that she is not allowed to grow up.  She never listens to me and this year she turned 5.   I am still trying to deal with it, but she is loving it.  She had a great birthday and a couple of really fun parties.  I really can't believe that she is 5, we love her so much and she brings so much love and joy to our family.  Let's not even talk about the fact that she will be starting kindergarten this year, ahhh!   Here are some pictures from the party we had for her on her actual birthday.  We always let the kids pick their birthday dinner and she wanted waffles and bacon.  I love how easy to please this little girl is.  We also had brownies for desert, it was so much fun.

"I am  five!"

Another Lalaloopsy doll.  She was so excited! 

The wierd purse that goes with those dolls, they kind of creep me out, but she loves them.

You can't go wrong giving this girl chocolate, I wonder who she gets that from.

Noah decided to see if he could fit into the gift bag.  As you can see he almost did, he just had to rip it a little.

Matt and Janelle put LOTS of tissue paper in their gift and it was the hit of the party.  All the kids, had a great time throwing it up in the air.

Cortney also got very excited, especially for the yoder canned bacon that Janelle gave Joslyn as a gift. She tried to steal it many times, but we finally got it somewhere safe.

Matt enjoyed the tissue paper as well.

I love this picture, you can see Andrew diving into the crowd, he is fearless!

So much fun!

An actual picture of Janelle's face, wow!  Taylor looks a little crazy, only because she was having a great time.

Dad and the girls.

A boy and his doll house

These are some pictures of Andy with his favorite toy, Joslyn's doll house.  He loves to play with it and move the people and furniture around.  We do have lots of boy toys, don't get me wrong.  Andrew could play with cars, trucks, blocks, airplanes, dinosaurs, etc.. He just likes to decorate!  I love whatever keeps him busy and out of trouble!

Just like Daddy

Noah is in a super cute phase where he wants to do everything, "like Daddy."  This is especially true when he gets ready for church.  He always wants to wear a tie, like daddy, or a belt, like daddy, I even caught him using Justin's shoe horn to put on his dress shoes, like daddy.  Oh he also loves to wear a baseball cap that is too small for his head, but that he loves cause its just like daddy.  You can imagine how excited he gets when he can match outfits with Justin.  He loved it.  I think it makes Justin just as happy.