Another Birthday Party!

Second round of birthday bashes...this time we celebrated with Jason's side of the family and did Nixon and Brandon's birthday together. I made a cake...

They blew out candles...

Opened presents...

Notice Braedyn being held on the couch. She couldn't contain her compulsion to open Nixon's presents.

And the cousins played.

They loved the new tetherball game Brandon got for his birthday.

Who's that cute girl in the firetruck???

The birthday boy and girl...Happy Birthday!!!

Where's Nixon???

Nixon loves to hide. She goes in the cupboards and shuts the doors and stays there, no sound, no movement, no sign that she is even in there. She hides at Chick-fil-a too...loves to try to get in their cupboards and her favorite place is under the table with the tablecloth on it. Most times it's nothing to stress over because I know where she is. She usually hides right under the sink. This is a new cupboard she discovered, a little small.

Lately she's been a little more sneaky. This is a video of one of her most successful hides to date. She had gone upstairs to find a blankie in her bed...15 minutes later I noticed she'd never come back down and so I went up to find her. I looked in her room, looked in my room, looked in the bathrooms, laundry room, closets all the while calling her name...nothing. Did a second round calling louder now....nothing. So at this point I begin to panic. I know that she has to be somewhere but what if she's hurt. I run downstairs to call in reinforcements. Jason, Braedyn and I are all looking. Then it hits me...my closet. I'd already gone in there twice before calling her name loudly but I know that the girls love to hide behind my sweaters. So I walked in there and sure enough I spy the edge of her blanket at which point I breathed a sigh of relief and went and got the camera. I cannot believe the self control she has not to giggle or make any noise.

Disneyland Day

So I decided to embark on a journey, a mission...I would take the girls to Disneyland! I say this with such intensity because it's probably my very least favorite thing to do, well that and Costco with the kids. I am a stress case and I get horribly stress and really bad anxiety when I take my kids somewhere and they act all crazy and out of control and whine and cry and complain when I'm trying to be nice. I don't go to Disneyland for myself! I was determined to let this be a "good" trip. I didn't tell them so they wouldn't act all crazy the night before or the morning of. Braedyn was super excited, Nixon I don't think cared. I was mentally prepared for the day.

Waiting for the tram...the "first" ride!

We had a lesson in nursery on being thankful...thankful for bugs...ladybugs. Each of the kids took home some ladybugs. These little guys had been living with us for a while. I explained to Braedyn that they needed to be let go, couldn't live in captivity forever, so what better place for them to live than at Bugs Land in California Adventure right. We sent them free and bid them farewell!

We went to the tortilla factory and they were handing out corn tortillas. Not our favorite but the ducks love them!

We took it slow...I think that's where I go crazy. I have this preplanned agenda that we have to stick to and try to get on all the rides and get thrown off when we are behind. So I decided, no agenda, no plans, we do what we do and then we go home. It worked out pretty well. We had a good time. Nixon gave me a little trouble when she got tired and Braedyn was a little upset when we had to leave but all in all I'd say I'd probably try it again, baby steps...

Happy Birthday Nixon

It's hard to believe that this little little baby...

So small and sweet...

got bigger...

and bigger...

and now she's two!

She's definitely just as cute!

The kids got to decorate their own cupcakes.

Elliott loved hers...and all the ones the other kids left at the table.

Nice cupcake Norman...he shares his birthday with Nixon.

I got all the girls matching rash guards. I thought it would be cute for our yearly camping at the beach but also thought the other 2 girls would like to open a present with Nixon cause it's hard to be little and go to a birthday party and not get to open anything. Braedyn was so not excited when she saw it was clothes!

Nixon, however, was excited over everything. Even the tissue paper.

Megan was at the party...more Megan love!

She looks like she's not too sure about all these girl cousins.

Who needs presents when you have a new baby!

She's so excited...I love her little dance.

Happy Easter

We had a special breakfast Easter morning. We decorated Easter egg pancakes and bunnies and had yummy cinnamon rolls. Braedyn dressed up in her favorite princess clothes and Nixon, well we're lucky she had any clothes on at all.

Beautiful egg Braedyn!

Nice crazy look Nixon!

Then we headed outside in our Easter dresses from Grandma Carol to try out our new bubble maker that the Easter Bunny brought us. (Millions of bubbles....wasn't impressed!) But the girls liked it.

It was super windy so it was quite hard to catch those guys.

I love this picture!

Let's see how close we can get to the bubbles...

I'm glad they love each other.

Then we headed over to the Bohmholdts for our traditional Easter Luncheon. Here are all the girls in their adorable Easter dresses.

Braedyn, Nixon, Caytlyn, Christina

My cuties

All the grand kids..Braedyn, Nixon, Brandon, Christina, Daniel, Caytlyn

After a delicious lunch we headed outside for the Easter egg hunt. Braedyn was so excited because they assigned her to find the pink eggs. I love this picture, she's actually off the ground. Whenever she gets really excited she goes into hopping mode and can't speak, just kinda grunts - ahahahahahahah- it's pretty funny.

Found one!

Nixon caught on really quickly.

Checking out the loot.

Time for Easter activities. Bubble blowing was the most popular of all the kids.

Then we headed over to Grandma Bird's house to see baby Megan. Megan Ann Rasmussen was born on April 1st (no joke!) 8lb 5oz 19inches. Braedyn was beside herself. Actually all the girls were fighting over holding her and being next to her, all the little mommies in training.

Elliott, Braedyn, Megan and Nixon

It was a great day...

A little bubble blowing action. Nixon was very proud of herself. I love how she provides her own commentary and encouragement.