One year older ...

...and 27 pounds lighter too, Happy Birthday to me! (Don't worry I know that doesn't rhyme) In April I decided I was not happy with my weight. Let's be honest I've never been happy with my weight, but April brought a sincere effort on my part to make something happen. When I started I didn't really have a goal weight, I just wanted to be less. When I started having success I decided that my birthday was far enough away that I could try and lose 32 lbs. by the time I turned 32. I am very proud of my 27 lbs., but there is a twinge of sadness that I was only five pounds away from my goal. Oh well I'll be 32 all year I'll keep trying.

I am not really big on my birthday, I don't need any fuss. I really don't mind getting older (although it is a little weird that I used to think people who were the age I am now were practically at the end of their lives.) My idea of a great birthday getting a new outfit and eating my favorite kinds of desserts. So this year it has been especially fantastic because I got try on smaller sizes and have them fit!

In other news, our primary program was today, and in my unbiased opinion it was our best yet. Maybe that's not totally unbiased since I wrote it, but I am always impressed with how our primary kids bring it all together every year despite our experiences at the practices. Our theme was "My Eternal Family" and our closing song was Families can be Together Forever. We had the congregation join us for an extra chorus. I was on the stand helping, so my back was to the congregation, but most of the adults on the stand were having a hard time getting through when every one joined in and I heard it was the same for the audience. There were a lot of eyes being wiped. It was pretty awesome.

I think this is my 3rd birthday. How clever is my mom to have made a Raggedy Anne cake! Forget the date on the picture (or picture of a picture) It is 9/20, but the year would have been 1980.

I guess this kind of stuff actually does happen in real life

Chris had some gift certificates so we decided to go out to lunch today. The restaurant had one of those claw machines (you know the ones with the claw that doesn't actually have enough strength to pick up any of the prizes) . We were sitting really close to the game and Aiden, Jayden and Dalin were looking at the games and massage chairs while we were waiting for our food to arrive. I looked over to check on the boys, and I saw Dalin standing by the claw game. After a second I realized he wasn't by the game, but actually inside of it. I guess there was some toy he thought he really needed so he climbed right in. While everyone else in the restaurant found it humorous I was an-gry with that boy. We tried to get him out, but the flap only went toward him and it would get stuck on his feet or legs. The manager tried to call the vendor to come unlock the machine, but he could only get his voice mail. Dalin wouldn't stand up because he didn't want the manager to be mad at him. I also think he was a little embarrassed when he saw the crowd he had drawn. Some people were suggesting that we break the door to get him out while others were taking pictures with their cell phones (they did ask permission first). After about ten minutes Dalin decided he really didn't want to be stuck any more. I was finally able to get him to stand up and scoot back far enough to give him a little space to scoot his legs under the door followed by the rest of him. Luckily it was before the manager decided to call the fire department. He was slightly traumatized and didn't want to look at or talk to anyone. After he had calmed down I asked him why he did it he told me "Mom, you forgot to give me money so I had to get the toy myself." It really was a prime example of how he's been acting all week. I wonder how he learned to be just like his dad at such a young age.

Ha-ppy Birth-day, Ha-ppy Birth-day

Yesterday our Aiden celebrated his 7th birthday! He opened presents in the morning, took cupcakes to school then we had a family party in the evening. The latest rage (among our seven year old boy) is Bakugan, and Aiden got his fair share. I tried to make a cake that looked like a Bakugan, but it turned out less than stellar but luckily the cupcakes I made with the extra batter were delicious. We had a pinata again this year and once again I went a little overboard with the candy. Unfortunately the pinata didn't make it through all of the participants, but once the fallen candy was gathered the rest of the kids were content just to hit what was left on the rope as hard as they could. Here are a few of this years favorites from Aiden.

Color(s): Blue and red
TV Show: Bakugan
Food: Watermelon
Pass time: play with friends
Saying: Dalin get out of my stuff!
Movie: Monsters vs. Aliens

School Daze

School started on Monday and even though my kids have only been out for two weeks, I was ready for them to go back. They were actually all ready early so we got there on time. As we were walking to the school I asked Kaylee and Ashton if I could give them a hug or if they were to old for that kind of stuff. Ashton said she wanted a hug but Kaylee, who was already walking about ten feet in front of us said something I couldn't hear which I took to mean NO WAY! I was okay with that though because I said loudly, "that's okay no one needs to know your mother loves you!" Got to love these prepubescent years (I'm sure it will only get better when she's a teenager). On the way to school Dalin kept taking his shoes off and when Kaylee told me it happened again I said that's because he's a punk. He then replied by making a spitting noise and saying, "I spit my punk out!" He sure knows how to use humor to get out of trouble. The rest of the kids thought this was hi-lar-i-ous and they have been trying to get him to repeat it all week. He's now added a warning of "watch out for my punk" after he spits it out. That kid cracks me up!

I forgot to take the first day of school picture at home, so this is right after we got out of the car at the school.

The girls go to a different school than Aiden (it's next door and it's grades 3-5), and they don't let the parents come into the classroom on the first day, so I only have Aiden at his desk. Isn't he too stinkin' cute!

Tourists for a day

Chris had the day off on Monday and he decided we should be touristy and head out to the strip. I've lived here my entire life, and this is the first time I have ever been to the Las Vegas sign.

We saw giant watering cans and a garden ferris wheel

and birds (they're behind the glass)

Bears

and giant M&M's

It was a lot of walking but I think we all had fun. When we came out of the Belagio garden we had just missed the water show (my favorite thing in Las Vegas). By the time we were ready to go home nobody wanted to walk back to the Belagio parking garage (Chris took the monorail back to get the car then came to pick us up) so we didn't get to see the dancing waters. Maybe we'll have to brave the Las Vegas heat and the overcrowded strip again soon, or not so soon.

Cousins!

On Tuesday we had our third annual back to school cousin shopping date, and as always we had so much fun!

We started with dinner at Red Robin, where Red himself joined in on the fun.

Then we cruised the mall for a while. I think the girls main goal on these trips is to find matching shirts, but they couldn't find one they could all agree on so they settled for matching necklaces instead.

I wish I had taken more pictures, but the best part is the conversations the girls have with each other on the drive to different stores. Pictures can't really capture girls being silly together so I guess it's okay. We love our cousins!

Da-Da-da-da

That's the beginning of the wedding march in case you couldn't tell. Last week my brother Jordon got married, that only leaves Austin in the single category which is kind of crazy. We are excited to have Kortni in our family. She is a great girl and after spending many hours decorating together we know she comes from a great family.

Jordon & Kortni with all of their nieces and nephews. Three of them are from Kortni's side, the rest are Hafen's. Notice Kimball trying to escape, it was kind of a theme for the evening.

Hafen nieces

Hafen nephews (I love Ericks face in this one)

I had to put this one in because there are no little kids trying to escape.

This is the best family picture we got before Aiden started doing bunny ears on the girls (what a stinker!)

Go Cougars!

We have the privilege today of having a slumber party where I get to hang out with 5 cool dudes (Our 2 sons Aiden and Dalin, and their cousins Scott, Kyle, and Jayden). So what do you do for fun with five boys under 6 years of age? Teach them the BYU fight song of course. I had to do this for those who are not fortunate to learn the song in their own homes.

Future Cougars