Maleah is 5

I don't know when it happened but it did.  Maleah is 5 years old.  She has grown up to be a beautiful, fun, loving girl.  There are very few days that pass by when she doesn't make me smile and feel so loved.  For a baby shower I am going to this week they asked for a baby picture of your first child.  I had to go search for a minute to find them but it took me back five years ago.  Joe and I had no clue what we were getting ourselves into becoming parents for the first time.  We knew it would be great but have our challenges.  I can't image not having her in our lives thus to thankful that she is. 

Pictures taken by Jesssica Dana

Party Pictures to come soon

First and Last Day of Preschool

Maleah has loved most days going to Preschool at Nibley Elementary.  She started the school year right after she turned three in Aug 2010 and has countinued with untill the end of July 2012 and even had summer preschool both years.  I loved all that she has learned and grown during her time there.  I just wanted to document it now so I remember.  Her main teacher was Miss Lynette.  She was so kind and always working on things to help Maleah learn and grow.  Miss Reagan was her speach teacher.  She also worked so hard especially to get Maleah to say her g and k sounds.  There were also many helpers in their class room, Ms Nena, and Ms Valerie are the two I know for sure plus a couple others.  Maleah has missed them all and she has only had a break for a couple short weeks.  Plus all the different bus drivers and aids over the two years were wonderful.  She loved riding the bus.

Maleah August 2010 right before Preschool

Daddy taking Maleah to the bus the first day August 2010

Maleah the before one of the Last Days of the 2010-2011 School year.

Here is Maleah before the 2011-2012 School Year. 

 All ready to go just waiting for the bus.

Now current, second to last day of Preschool July 2012.(Last day was a pool party and she was in her swimsuit so I took on the day before)

Way to go Maleah.  You have made so many strides and have come such a long way.  You are really ready for Kindergarten in a couple weeks.

Young Family Picnic

My husband loves his family and extended family. Since his Grandparents passed away he has tried hard to get the family together. This summer things worked out great and with help from his sister and cousin (and me) they put together a great family picnic.

It was a great afternoon with tons of family, lots of food and some fun time.  I am so glad I was able to help Joe with doing the invites and planning.  I didn't take very many pictures and half of the these are from my sis in law Beth.

Family is so important and we are so thankful for the Young side of the family and for the all of them.

Drawers organized that are complete

My friend inspired me to get into a project that really will help the mess in my kitchen.  I got a sheet of wood that Lowes cut down into strips.  Planned it out cut the strips down so Gorilla glue.  I was so happy to finish it up and have all the other messy drawers in my sights.

Spring outdoor fun

This post has about 5 different things we have done over the months of April into the first of June.  Way behind but lots of fun things we have been able to do.

First playing outside and waiting for the school bus around the end of the school year.

Maleah loves to ride the bus and I love that she gets to for the rest of preschool.

Dinner on the back porch.  The girls want to eat out there all the time especially when we grill.  This night was fun with our kids table and the family all outside.  We really need some adult size seating.

Cinco de Playa (May 5th day at the beach or Hyrum State Park)

They had free activities at Hyrum State Park on May 5th.  The girls had a lot of fun making shakers, painting rocks, learning about birds and fishing.  Mostly going outside and doing something fun.

Mothers Day Weekend visiting My family in Cedar.

Joe wanted to treat us and we stayed at a Hotel for the weekend.  I helped my mom with her flower beds, swam with the girls at the hotel.  Had my whole family take pictures at SUU.  We haven't got those back yet.  It was a great to have all the kids and grandkids there together at the same time.  It was a nice thing we all agreed to do for my mom for Mother's day.

I got gardening tools for Mother's day.

 Joe taking a nap after helping clean up my parents garage for the next day.

 We were all in Cedar for a nieces baby blessing.  Baby Hannah was so cute and it was good to have the family together.

Story Time started up again at AWHC 

 The activity that day was riding the mini train.

The night before Story time I sliped and fell and landed hard on my left arm.  I just thought I had jamed it and it was going to be just fine.  I had an appointment for later that day.  I still can't believe I took the girls to Story time with my arm hurting as bad as it did.  I also found out that I broke my arm at that doctors appointment.  It was not a good way to start out summer but we have been able to make it thru, but not easily.

 Free Fishing Day at Willow Park.

 Maleah helping tie a fly.

 Free hot dogs

Fish prints on their bags.

Again with my broken arm I go and walk around and take the girls out by myself to this activity.  It was really fun untill the end.  The girls just wanted to play by the end and I let them play on the playground.  I love to learn new things and teach them new things and just needed something to do and get out of the house.

There you go a lot of fun things that we have got to do in the spring time.  Now to get more updated with our trip and summer fun so far.

Whitley's Street Party

It was not hard to find a theme for Whitley's party.  She loves Sesame Street and loves Elmo and friends.  The hard part was narrowing down ideas and not gong to over board for a 2 year old party. 

I didn't get as many pictures of some of the fun details from the party and we cleaned up too quick too.  So I will share what I do have and if someone really loves what I have done let me know and I can help out.

Invites made, printed and handed out was the first thing done.

To Welcome all the party goers.  Our friend Carey cut the vinyl for the sign while we stayed with them for the weekend before the party.  Prefect for Whitley and Sesame Street party.

Whitley Street Sign to welcome our guests.

Next games.
 Color and decorate bags with Big Bird. When everyone got there we colored pictures with the number "2" and letter "W" of course. Then they got to decorate a white lunch sack to collect candy in later. We used the Sesame Street sign with each child's name on them, and characters cut out from Sesame Street wrapping paper.

 We played Trash can toss with Oscar the Grouch. It was a plastic trash bin we had and bean bags.  Most just went right up to it and put it in.  It was really cute to see what they did.

  Next we fished from necklaces and Fairy Wands with Zoe. It was a hit cause they each got two turns even better right.

Then we got their sacks they decorated earlier and went outside for Pinata with Abby. 

Pull-string Sesame Street Pinata.  With the characters and "w" &"2" decorations.

Yes I made this great Pinata with a little help from some great people that shared their instructions.  It was a wipe box, wrapping paper from dollar store, ribbon and treats.  All the kids got two turns again.  One that they all came out and the second everyone did at the same time it opened up the big flap on bottom.  It was much easier than a bat but they seems to like pulling on the ribbon.

It was so hot and windy so we went back inside for Where is Elmo's Nose.  For the two year old we didn't blind fold them just let them stick on Elmo's nose back on.  The older kids had to close their eyes and try.

 Next was a great highlight the cake and ice cream.
Whitley didn't even blow out her candles and had help from everyone else.  Oh well she didn't get it.

 I had a friend make the cupcakes and they were Magenta, Teal and Yellow frosting and topped with fun cupcake picks.  I forgot to get a picture of all the cupcakes together.  It was really cute.  I got the  Elmo cupcake topper design from Shery K Designs.  Since Whitley loves more than Elmo I found images of the others and added them in.  They turned out really cute and the kids loved to pick out their favorites too.

Sesame Street cupcake toppers.

 This is Whitley opening a few presents on her actual birthday.

Opening presents at her party.

That was a wrap and then we sent everyone home with their goodies from the pinata and a little treat bag.  I took these pictures after the party thus why there is only one left.  Each favor bag had each child's name on it, Sesame Street stickers, sidewalk chalk, mini slinky, animal crackers and little Sesame street book.  I forgot to add I had Goldfish crackers in the pinata to go with the theme.

I used the Sesame Street sign and made the toppers for the favor bags and pinata sacks.  I had each child's name on them but only posted the Thank You one.

So thank you to all of Whitley's friends and family that were able to come and play with us.  It was a great party and celebration for Whitley.

PS. I took the girls on a picnic lunch on her birthday to Von park.  No playground but they still got to play and explore and have lunch at a park with no one around.  They were singing and having fun after they ate lunch.