The Force Awakens at Aaron's Birthday

I'm not exaggerating when I say since Jane's birthday party back in January Aaron at least weekly has been planning his birthday party.  Sometimes it's just a conversation about what he wants to do but other times it's getting out some paper and cutting them into invitations for "my party" he'll say.

I just didn't have the heart to tell this boy that this sleep deprived mom wasn't up for a big party so the planning began.  

A Jedi Training party it was.

Once we got the invitation printed Aaron could hardly wait to bike around the neighborhood and hand deliver each one to his friends.  It's hard to keep things small when Aaron has so many great friends in the neighborhood and cousins close by but my social butterfly Aaron wouldn't have had it any other way.    

Here's the Birthday boy with his cake right before the party

When the guests arrived we had them go to the backyard and put on their Jedi Robes.

Then Jane and her friends led them in Yoga with Yoda.  Here are the Jedi's giving their best warrior pose.

My favorite was when they all walked around like ATIT walkers and then got shot down.   Funny but a year ago I couldn't have even told you what ATIT walkers were.  Amazing how boys can change your life.

 Up next was Storming the Storm Troopers.  The storming was going good until the ball went over the fence.  Hurray for Emily and Bart who saved the day!!

Then the Jedi's had to navigate through lazer beams.

After they completed these courses they were each awarded with their own light saber and had to practice using the force to keep the balloons in the air.

Suzanne suggested playing star wars tag.  I had the fun idea of calling it Han Solo Carbonite Freeze tag but the kids were having too much fun whacking each other and the balloons with their light sabers that it didn't get organized.

All of the sudden out of nowhere Darth Vader's Theme song started to play and Darth Vader or Bart Vader appeared.  Oh how the kids squealed with delight and ran up the stairs to attack him.

Once they conquered Darth Vader.  It was now time to destroy the Death Star.

Finally after presents we presented Aaron with his Star War cake and the kids gobbled it up!!

Note: If any vocabulary used is unfamiliar come on over most any afternoon while Aaron is watching one of the star wars movies and become one with the force.  You could also just call cousin Andrew he's quite the expert.

Epic Pinterest Fail

I've been preparing all week for Aaron's star wars party on Saturday.  I came across a diy Death Star piñata tutorial that looked so easy I decided it just might be easier than going to wal mart to buy a Darth Vader piñata.  (Have I mentioned I hate wal mart and will do just about anything to avoid that place. Here's where I give a big shout out to Amazon)

So last Sunday Bart was out of town and we had a very quiet Sunday afternoon with nothing going on so I brought out the balloon, flour water and newspaper and started to instruct my kids on how to paper mache.  Jane quickly stopped me and said "Mom don't you know we do this all the time at school in art".   So the kids took over and spread flour and water paste and newspaper all over a balloon as well as all over my kitchen.  I'm serious the floors, counters and all door handles around were covered.  We finished the first coat let it try and applied a couple more before going to bed.

The next morning I started scrubbing my kitchen.  It was so bad it took a few hours to get all the pasty stuff off.  As I was cleaning  I dreamed of one day owning a steam cleaner just like Pauline's to make jobs like this easier.  All the sudden my heart sank because I realized our neighbor who is one of Aaron's best friends is coming to the party and is allergic to everything.  I'm not exaggerating either he can eat 3 foods and if he has any contact with most foods he goes into an anaphylactic shock so I have been very careful to plan this party so he wouldn't feel left out.  Anyway I realized that having the piñata made out of flour wasn't going to work for Evan to participate.   I had visions of pasty floury stuff flying through the air and sending Evan to the hospital.    I fretted the day away wondering what to do and knowing my kids had worked so hard on the dang thing they would be sad to not use it.

Well the kids came home and we were sitting in the kitchen doing homework and the piñata sat on the table.  As if by nowhere this huge gust of wind came through the patio door and blew the piñata off the table and it shattered into many pieces.  Aaron gasped and said  "My piñata!!! Now I won't have one for my party!!! This is the worst day ever."  I shared in his grief but was also relieved that divine intervention solved my problem.

The next day we drove to Zurchers bought the least expensive round piñata which happened to be a pumpkin.  Came home took out the silver spray paint and a very happy little boy spray painted  a pumpkin into a death star and as we filled it up with toys he exclaimed  "This is the best day ever"

Lesson be learned.  dndiy (Do not do it yourself) when it comes to piñatas

I'm flying

I'm sitting on the bench waiting for Bart and Emily to go on the Skycoaster for Emily's first time and John asked me if he thinks Emily will chicken out.  I say no because I asked her if she will.  He then said "She'll probably remember this for years and years"

I think John is right so I guess it better go on my blog as the day Emily fearlessly went on the Skycoaster.

A couple of weeks ago when we were at Lagoon Emily noticed a group on the Skycoaster and said "I want to do that".    Hmm I said I hate that thing but I'm sure your dad would go with you the next time we come.

The next time came and Bart agreed to go.

Emily said the only scary things about this ride is when they take away  floor and you fall forward

I took a video of the rise and the descent but here are a few pictures of as Emily says "the part where I'm flying"

Earlier that day Emily went on that Count Dracula's ride and came off of it telling me how scary it was because there was a creepy doll.  After this ride I asked her if she was scared at all and she said "No it was awesome."  I laughed and said Oh Emily your scared of a creepy doll but not this ride and she said "What? that doll was super freaky"

Summer of the Monkey's oops I mean Summer of the cousins

Oh how much fun my kids had with all the time they spend with their cousins  this summer.   We were lucky to spend so much time with my sister Raquel and her cute kids as she lived with us 6 weeks or so as they were transitioning from a house they sold to a different house they bought.    My girls became babysitters and earned some cash watching Avaya everyday Raquel worked.  I thought it was a perfect opportunity to learn how to be an excellent babysitter while I could be around to advise them of things like good babysitters clean up after the kids they tend as well as do the dishes.  Every mom wants to come home to a clean house.  

"Selfies with Avaya were a daily occurrence"  

Soon after Raquel moved in Ally came and spent a week with us before our Lava Hot Springs vacation.    I loved my house full of so many people I love.    I joked because including the renters downstairs we had 6 kids wearing diapers running around the house.    Talk about a loud house and stinky garbage cans.    

These 2 babies are only 10 days apart.  It was fun to get double the cuddles

We took a few day trips to get out of the house.

-This is the place monument

-The Fairy Gardens (although when we finally got there the river was raging and with just my sister and I with 8 kids- 2 tiny babies) we decided an attempt at the river would end terribly.  So we got out the paint we brought found a few rocks and made our own contribution for the fairies to stop before they crossed the river to get to their garden.

Lagoon-

All the Richard's Cousins enjoyed celebrating Nona's birthday at their favorite amusement park Lagoon.

The girls had a blast with cousins from both sides when everyone came for Spencer's blessing

After the blessing Aaron and Phin did not want to part ways and as they were leaving I think Seth said "Aaron sometime you'll have to come have a camp out in our yard".  Aaron excitedly said yes and ran to get his clothes and came back so sad that  they had left.  The wailing began!!  Meanwhile outside Phin was also throwing a tantrum thinking sometime meant right now.  So 30 seconds later Suzanne and Seth reappeared and said "Apparently both of the boys think sometime is right now so why don't we have it tonight".

Aaron had such a fun time at their house.  This included sand box time, fireworks, sleeping in a tent (or late overing in a tent apparently Phin fell fast asleep but Aaron lasted until around 12:00PM and then went in the house and slept on Suzanne's floor.  The next day super fit Suzanne took them on a long bike ride up legacy highway to see the trailhead of another Aaron Richards who was Bart's dad's uncle and owned a Dairy farm in Farmington.

The next day we joined them for a Weiner roast, swimming and some time at a fun park.

Dayson was Aaron's salvation this summer.   Aaron thinks Dayson is fabulous!! The two of them played outside most days in the yard digging and pretending.  Dayson even taught Aaron how to jump off the mailbox.  In Teasdale they spent much of their time catching lizards.  Even though Dayson is almost 3 years older than Aaron he was always so kind and inclusive.  The only time I saw the age difference become an issue was after a few days spent catching lizards Dayson came up to me and said "How can I get Aaron to stop following me around"  I respond he thinks your great Dayson and just wants to be with you always.  Dayson said "I know but whenever I get close to catching a lizard he scares it away"

Here is Dayson and Aaron with a Horny Toad Baxter and Branson caught for Dayson.  

The weekend of the 24th consisted of more time with cousins at the Bountiful parade as well as a fun water party hosted by Jeff at Papa and Nona's.

We celebrated  Millie's Grace's blessing.  What a blessing she is.   My kids had fun building forts and playing soccer at their dinner.  Andrew so nicely even gave Aaron his Luke Skywalker Decal.  I told Andrew he can't have Star Wars decals on his wall without Luke Skywalker.  But he kept insisted Aaron take it.  Aaron was so sad it was "accidentally" left on the table.

We ended our summer with cousins at Lagoon.  My girls love Lagoon but they really love Lagoon when Max and Ben are there to ride the rides with. Emily had on her watch and we set times for them to be back and we scarcely saw them.  Aaron hates riding rides alone so he was more than overjoyed when his besties were there for more entertainment.