Eli's Birthday

Playing Red Light, Green Light

Getting ready to Bob for Apples

Finding the perfect apple.

They go one!

Pinata time

Go Eli!

After the neighbor boys helped us out, we got it open.

Eli was specific that he wanted a chocolate cake with Sprinkles.

Happy Birthday Eli!

Opening presents.

Thanks everyone who came! Eli had a wonderful time.

Pinata

Eli really wanted to have a Pinata at his birthday party this year. I didn't want to spend twenty bucks to buy one so I decided to try and make one ourselves. It was really easy and a lot of fun. Eli helped me make it and both boys helped decorate it.

We did four layers of newspaper which was more than enough. We are going to make one for Josh's birthday too, but only do 2 layers of paper on that one.

Nauvoo

We went to Nauvoo last weekend. Friday night we watched the Pageant, then Saturday Morgan and I went to the Temple separately and then took the boys to the Blacksmiths Shop. Because Eli's birthday was the closest he got the miniature horseshoe the worker made. It was a really nice trip.

Getting ready for the Nauvoo Pageant to start.


Eli and Josh in the Wainwright's shop.

Making a horseshoe.

Josh, Eli and Melissa

Waste of 93 minutes

Morgan and I watched the 1976 film, Bugsy Malone. A gangster movie with only children (including Jodie Foster and Charles in Charge). I remembered watching when I was young at a friends house and really liking it.

There were two 'great' songs I remembered, My Name is Talulah, and Down, Down Down Down.

Anyway, I got the movie from Netflix and Morgan and I watched it last night. It was a waste of 93 minutes. Morgan said it made his Top 10 Bad Movies list which includes, Mr. Wrong, and Killer Clowns from Outer-Space.

Several things were terrible about the movie - I know the actors were portraying adults, but the stage dancers were WAY too immodest wearing the shortest shorts possible. All of the singing was done by adults...I think the kids could have done better. It was painful to listen to. Finally, the movie broke its own rule.
The gangsters killed each other with whipped cream pies, until one gang got a splurge gun to kill people with. It was made very clear that if you were shot in the face with the cream than you were a goner. At the end there is an all out 'war' and everyone gets shot in the face but they all live and end up becoming friends.

Bleh.

Date Night

Last night Morgan and I went on a date. We got Shannon and Kyle to watch Eli and Josh and headed out for a Pita Pit dinner and then to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II in 3D.
It was Morgan's first 3D film, and I was excited to be there with him.

First a review on the movie: I really enjoyed it. It felt like a fitting ending to a wonderful series. Naturally there were some things changed or left out that I wish they had followed the book more closely, but overall it was a really good experience.

I didn't cry as much as I thought I would, which I think is in part due to the 3D nature of the film. I know it is supposed to make you feel like you are there with the characters, but I think it was a little distracting. I couldn't see everything at once because I was too busy looking at the little pieces. Morgan said they may have done their job too well, because at times it was like looking at cardboard cut-outs.

I don't think I would recommend anyone paying extra to see this in 3D, of course, you must realize that I probably won't go see anything in 3D again either.

It was so nice to go out with Morgan. I think we are going to try and have dates monthly, the money we spend is worth the time we get to have together.

Blessing Day

Sunday was Noelle's blessing day. It was a really beautiful blessing and we were happy to have both Grandpa's, Gordan, Pete, and Kyle there.


Getting ready to go to church.

Family photo.
Another shot.

Grandpa, Grandma and Noelle
I love this picture of my parents with Noelle.

Noelle's dress. My mom made it and did an amazing job. There were crocheted flowers all around the bottom.
Noelle sleeping in her dress.

Fun with Grandpa and Grandma

We had a great time this past weekend. My parents game to visit for Noelle's blessing. Noelle especially loved smiling at Grandpa.



More smiles
Here she is sleeping in her car seat. A sister of mine made this awesome car seat cover, I'll have to take a picture of it to show off.
The pool had a Family Fun Day as a reward for great swimming lessons. So Saturday we all went. This is Josh going off the middle diving board wearing the blue life-jacket.
Here is Eli jumping off the high diving board. He is fearless.
Grandpa and Grandma took turns hanging out with Noelle so Morgan and I could play with Eli and Josh.
After swimming we went out to lunch at Newton's Paradise Cafe in downtown Waterloo. It was amazing food. I definitely want to go back. I think it may become my favorite Waterloo restaurant. Here is a picture of Josh with his very large berry pancake.

Morgan had a tenderloin sandwich. Both plates are his.

Sitting down, getting ready to eat. (If you go there, I would recommend the Roast Beef sandwich, it was the best thing we had there, and the best roast beef sandwich I have EVER had.)

Sibling Fun

Eli and Josh Dancing

More Dance moves

Right before Noelle was crying, she was smiling.
Someone must have got too close.


3 sweet kids


Eli especially loves Noelle. He wants to hold her, hug her, and kiss her all of the time.

Bowling, Sparklers, Swimming Lessons

We love bowling as a family, especially with the Kids Bowl Free program, 2 free games each day of the summer. Here we are going as a family.

Noelle does really well and often sleeps through the bowling.

Josh needs to use the ramp to get the ball to the pins faster.

Here's Morgan's great swing, he got a strike this throw.


We had a fun Family Day with Bowling, then a movie, finally sparklers then Morgan and the boys slept outside in the tent. Eli and Josh loved using the sparklers Uncle Kyle gave to them.


Josh and his sparkler.


We had swimming lessons the past two weeks. Both boys did a great job learning new skills and hanging out in the water.

Josh blowing bubbles in the water.

Splashing and playing.

Eli blowing bubbles.

Eli kicking and floating for me.

Sweet boys. Eli just got off the diving board.





Here's a movie of Eli jumping off the high dive.



Josh jumped of the low dive, and later the medium board as well.