Maxwell's 6th Birthday

We are all about celebrating Birthdays these days, pretty much from August to December we are partying at least once a month(:

We celebrated Maxwell's 6th Birthday at the beginning of this month.  

Maxwell was super excited about his Birthday and had a grin on his face the entire day, he came running out of his Kindergarten class yelling "MOM! I GOT A BIRTHDAY HAT!" He isn't too hard to please.

He was pretty stoked for his long board. 

Simon showed a lot of enthusiasm for all of Maxwell's gifts. After every present Max would open he would yell "Wow! MAX!" or "DAT COOL MAX!" I think the powdered donuts put him in an extra good mood.

We went to Classic Skating for Maxwell's party. He LOVES this place and Scooters his little heart out. Look at that cute red face.

 Beetle skated with Brig around the skating rink until he wore the stroller right out. Really though....he melted the brakes, so maybe don't ever try skating with a Wal-Mart umbrella stroller, the wheels can't take the heat.

Millie and her Daddy

                                                             

                                                                    Kate and Brigham, these two are so cute when they get together.

                                                George and Henry were there to party too!

Benson was super excited to win this glo-stick for taking 1st place in the "loudest scream" contest.

         We Love our little Maxwell and are so grateful for the happiness he brings into our Home.

Annabelle's Birthday

Can you believe this Girl turned ELEVEN?! She will be in Young Women's next year ) : 

 I thank the Heaven's everyday for my little Annabanana. I felt so lucky when I went to her ultra sound and found out my first baby was going to be a GIRL! I just couldn't believe it, one of my worst fears before I was married is that I would never have a daughter(kind of a weird fear huh?) I celebrated all day long and showed everyone who cared or didn't care the ultra sound pic. So glad I have appreciated every GIRL moment, cause we don't have many Girl moments in this family. I truly feel blessed and not just because she is a Girl but because she is Annabelle. She is so much fun and always adds excitement to everything we do, I am pretty sure she gets this from her Daddy :) She has also been the biggest help with the other kids. All of her brothers are crazy about her, especially Brigham and Simon. Brig said "Annaba" before he said "Momma".

 For Annabelle's Birthday I checked her and her two best friends, Jaycee and Addy out of school a little early and took them to do ceramics. She is really into Art lately.

 Beetle made her an Art Box out of Cherry wood that can fit all of her Art supplies, she loves it. I love watching her lug it around the house.

 Annabelle's mind is always going, she has always had a hard time falling asleep. We gave up on enforcing her bed time about 10 years ago. Her lamp light usually stays on all night because she falls asleep reading or playing. Playing... I am so happy that she is still "playing" and making villages with legos or anything else tiny she can get her hands on. Beetle went to check on her one night about a month ago and this is how he found her. Freeze this Girl! There is NO way her teenage years are just around the corner.

 This picture was actually taken at Maxwell's Birthday Party, but I thought it was so cute of her and Beetle. She is looking so grown up, I told Beetle "Good thing your in skates pal or she would be taller than you."

                                                              We Love You Annabelle.

Hiking

 Almost every Saturday for the past year my sister Cassie and I have either been going on long runs or we go Hiking. Lately and throughout most of the summer it has been Hiking. I love it. I find myself really looking forward to Saturdays.

 For the past 4 years I have either been pregnant or nursing so Hiking and long runs don't exactly work. I am sure Cassie probably gets sick of me saying "I can't believe these trails have been in my backyard my entire life!" I love that we get a great work out, we get to enjoy SO much Beauty, and we get to spend sister time together!

I sure do love this Sister of mine.We were meant to be Sisters. Cassie is just about as tough as you can get. She is physically strong, mentally strong, and spiritually strong. I learn so much from her and I enjoy being with her, she is a good teacher.

                        This was our hike to Cedar Point. The leaves were just barely starting to change.

                                                                My Favorite Temple

                Cassie and her friend Tracey. She has great friends and they are a lot of fun to be around.

All of my friends are family. I really need to get out more... I know. Not too many girls can say their mother in-law is their friend, but I can honestly say MINE IS! Cheryl has been through just about everything and she still manages to stay positive and happy.
Sometimes I feel like she is my age, she can do everything and is in the greatest shape.

 

She is a lot of fun to hike with, I love a girl that can take a Snickers break.

The blue skies are quickly fading, hopefully we will be able to get a couple more hikes in before the winter.

Suy Guy turns THREE!

           Simon Reid. He is as Fun as he looks, pretty much every one that meets this boy loves him.

                                                                  It might be his hair,

                                                                   or his gremlin smile,

or his very special way of making everyone laugh,

or maybe it's just because he is who he is. WE sure do Love him!

                               He loves "Anga Birds".  Another cool Angry Bird cake by Beetle.

 It was Fun to have Rocky and Sarah and their cute girls come to the Party. Can't wait to have them back in Utah!!

Eliot

Violet AKA Thor 

Pearl AKA Hulk

Georgie(: he stayed in the pool the entire time! Didn't even get out for cake and ice cream.

                                                                               
                                                                            Henry

Rocky and Beetle are pretty good at Balloon Art. I am also just noticing that they have the same exact calves.

  

                   Simon was really in to the Balloons. I love his "I am doing something really important" face.
           

Love this little Three year old! We just potty trained him last week and he is doing Awesome, which makes me love him even more (;

Grandpa Ricker

 As much as I wanted to just skip over this post, I couldn't do it. Grandpa Ricker was such a Huge part of all of our lives. We want our kids to remember him and we are so blessed that most of them will. He was so proud of all of his Grand kids and he truly loved them and was so involved in their lives. Just a couple days before his heart attack we visited him and he was asking our kids how they liked their first day of school, who their teachers were and if they were excited to start a new school year. Our kids knew he cared and he truly did.

Right after Annabelle was born Rick was holding her and said "Hey Mindy, do you realize she is 1/4 ME?" This Man loved his own blood and he showed it.

One of our Favorite Trips was to Catalina Island with Ricker. He started "The Sherbet Team". He would take the Grand kids to get ice-cream, not once but twice a day. Every single time they would get sherbet.

 Our kids are missing him so much, he has made such a huge impression on all of them, I was looking at pictures of him on our computer the other day, Simon came in the room and said "Hey, that Gwampa Wicka!" It made me happy that he still remembers him.

 The week Rick passed away I was doing laundry and found this in Benson's pocket. I hope Rick will know how much his Grand kids are going to miss him in their life.

 No one made you feel like a bigger rock star for having babies than Ricker. After every single one of my babies were born he would put his hand on my shoulder and say "Hey Mindy, I am so proud of You and Beetle. Nothing is more important than this, and just remember.... they are the only thing you can take with you."

 I love the advice Grandma Phyl-Phyl gave Regan and I a couple of weeks ago. "This time is hard and we all miss Rick so much but we will all be together again before you know it, just enjoy your lives Hunnies, it goes by so fast."

 Families are meant to be Together Forever, I know this. I am so grateful Heavenly Father has a plan.