Families are Forever

This is my husband's sister's family. Aren't they beautiful? My Liesl took this picture of them a week ago in Leeds/St. George, Utah. The oldest child is a 14 year old boy, twin 11 year old girls, a 9 year old boy, 6 year old girl and the youngest boy is 3. There's only one problem with this picture...

My brother in-law has cancer. Myeloma. We will know more details soon, but for now, please pray for them. It doesn't look good, but I believe in miracles!  

All About Brigitta

Have I mentioned that my children are disobedient? Well, take for example, Brigitta - in the last week he has gone from a little one digit to a double digit. That's right! Brig (let's call him that, shall we?) is a DECADE!

Shocks! Pegs! Lucky!

Brig got a new bike for his birthday. Traditionally, the boys get a b-b gun for their 10th birthday (if it sounds like we have a lot of traditions - well, we have a few. I've just got a lot of kids so it seems like more). But Brig really needed a new bike! And he loves it!

Brig kept asking when he was going to have his birthday party. I was supposed to go out of town this last weekend, so when it was canceled at the last minute, I told him - Saturday! So, Thursday I sat down to make the invitations... What to do? I can't have a party in the back yard - well, I could but between the dog poo and the sharp rock landscaping, it wouldn't be much fun. But do I really want a bunch of 10 year old boys in my house? I'm considering a park... but, what to do?

Then I opened up an e-mail from the Captain suggesting we could go to the Get Outdoors Day event being held at Tingley Beach. I love that name. It makes you think of a beach that's all fizzy and bubbly. I like this idea, so I make up the invitation and invite the kids to come with us or to bring their family and meet up with us to celebrate Brig's birthday. A couple of families met us them there (I was sick. I ended up staying home with the young'un while the Captain ran the show).

Can you say Brilliant?! Not the sickness - the party! It was the easiest party I've ever thrown. All I did was print up the invite, answer a couple of RSVP's and make cupcakes! Then everyone else did the work and the kids had a blast!

There was climbing!

 Fishing!

 Remote control sailing!

 Face painting!

 More climbing! (we provided the pizza)

More climbing! (they provided the wall)

And a Tingley beach!

Friends to block the wind from blowing out the candles...

And friends to provide the gifts!

I'd say all I had to do was to show up, but I didn't even have to do that! Actually, I feel bad about that. It was a great day, or so I hear! And guess what else? They came home with the biggest treat bags full of frisbees, buttons, balls, pencils, bumper stickers, pedometers, and all kinds of trinkets that mom's just love! A couple of my friends even won drawings.

And here's the kicker - it's an annual event!

Happy Birthday Brig!

Click on link to find out more about national Get Outdoors month in your corner of the world and to plan your kid's next successful birthday bash! Did I mention it was all free?

Utah, you're not too late! June 19th is your Venture Outdoors Festival held in Millcreek Canyon!

All About Louisa

As if marrying one off and another one leaving the nest wasn't enough, Louisa decided to up and turn 16! Why? I ask. Why? Why are my kids so determined to grow up? And speaking of growing, Louisa is 5'9" now. Some kids call her Gigantica. Of course, those kids would be her older sisters.

To celebrate her Sweet 16th she and her friend, whose 16th b-day was a few days before hers, had a birthday bash together. Yes, those are matching shirts. That's what happens when you leave your moms in

charge. 

We held the party at her friends' house because they have grass. Grass is a luxury in these here parts. We also held it at their house because Louisa's friend said her house was cleaner than ours... 

 After a barbecue the kids played games till it got dark, and then they played night games. You know what I love about throwing parties? When they're over! 

But I'm getting ahead of myself. The week prior to their party was Girls' Camp! The Captain and the Boy Scouts set up their camp site as a service project. Here you can see some of their handiwork:

The name of our ward is Star Heights, hence the star. Louisa was a YCL this year (Youth Camp Leader). Because it was a Stake camp she bonded with a bunch of girls in the stake and made some new friends. We have a small ward, but the girls are great!

Back to the birthday... We have a tradition of a Birthday Breakfast. When asked what she wanted for her special day she said, 

BACON!

ORANGE JULIUS

and MONKEY BREAD!

Wise choice!!! And with it being her 16th birthday we also have a tradition of buying our girls' their gemstone ring. She was pretty smug that she knew what it was, so she was a little surprised when we gave her a necklace.

And surprised and pleased to get the ring that went with it.

Louisa will be attending EFY in Utah in a couple of weeks and then we'll rush back to New Mexico so she can begin Drivers Ed. As much as I don't want her to grow up, it sure will be nice to have another driver here at the house!