DANIEL IS A TEENAGER!!

On May 25th my first born turned the BIG 13!! I can't believe how fast time flies, I know I have said it before but it just amazes me. Everything was perfect with my pregnancy itself, no complications, great skin and hair, fast and easy delivery, he was 9lbs 80z and 21 inches long and I only pushed 3 times with him. I should have known then, that this was a sign that he was going to be an "easy" kid :) I don't even know where to begin, Daniel has always been a very good, kind, obedient kid. We are so proud of him for all he has accomplished and everything that he excels in. Daniel LOVES sports, ps3, airsoft, his family and the gospel. I decided to be a crazy mom and for his introduction to the teenage years, we decided to do a big AIRSOFT WAR CAMPOUT BIRTHDAY PARTY, that went from 6pm fri. night and the last boy got picked up at 1:45pm on Sat. Airsoft is the rage these days with boys, and it seems like everyone has one at school. The weekend we did his party there was also a boy scout campout going on as well, so friends from church didn't make it, but we still had plenty of boys show up. We sent out about 14 invites and had 19 boys show up! The first picture is the majority of the group, 3 more boys came later on in the eve. All of the parents dropping their kids off were amazed that I was doing such a big "cool" party. One dad told me that he would NEVER even try to top our party, that it was the coolest one their kid had ever been to, score points for me! :) Daniel had SO much fun, it was the best birthday party he ever had. We had tents set up on the backyard, the boys went through 12 pizza's, 7 12packs of pop, chips, 2 cakes, ice cream, 50 french toasts and sausage wow, those boys can eat!

Daniel with his one of his good friends Levent. They went back in the woods for numerous Airsoft wars, there were little plastic pellets everywhere, they made teams and had at it. With having that many boys, it made for a VERY loud party, I was afraid someone was going to call the cops on us, the boys were up ALL night....but they all had so much fun, you only live 13 once, right...

Daniel got his Grandma and Grandpa Anderson's birthday present, it was 20 dollars and the Percy Jackson's series, which he was TOTALLY excited to get and had been wanting to read this series. He also received from his friends a total of $145 and 75 dollars in Dicks Sporting Goods gift cards. He sure is loved and has GREAT friends. Our present to him was a BEDROOM MAKEOVER, this is still in process, but will post pictures when we are done

Our backyard/deck was COVERED in the boys camping and airsoft gear, and trying to keep track of 19 teenage boys stuff was hard, we only lost 2 cell phones, 2 sunglasses, and various clothing items were left, we have over an acre and have searched everywhere and have still not found the phones!

Mommy and Son, I can't believe I have a teenager and that he is the exact same height as me, I love my big boy forever!

Here is my airsoft gun creation of an M4 birthday cake, I thought it turned out pretty good if I don't say so myself :)

A BUSY WEEKEND WITH FRIENDS!! :)

About a week ago one of my friends Rachel and I talked about how we needed to do something for our good friends the Fords. They moved into our ward a few years back and are now moving on to Denver. We decided to try and pull together a little surprise potluck dinner for them, we had everyone meet at the church building while Rachel and David told them they were going out to dinner and to the church to do kareoke....When Rachel and David brought them into the church I think they were surprised! I wish I had my camera but I know others took some pictures so when I get copies of them I will post them here too. The only reason I have these 2 pictures from the party was because of my other friend Elizabeth had her nice camera and snapped them, I made a cake for dessert, I knew Jessie liked to ski and James liked to snowboard and they are moving to mountains, so I got the idea to try and make a skiing cake, I searched online for ideas but couldnt find any that didn't use fondant icining and I didn't have time for that, so I just randomly thought of this. Its not the best but its alright, I also didn't like the off brand cake mix I used..oh well..I tried :) This weekend has been totally insane but totally fun. Friday I had painted Daniels bedroom all morning, went to Justins parent teacher conference (which his teacher, speech and physical therapist said that Justin was their all time favorite student, that he was such a sweet/tender/caring kid) then Natilie had a soccer game and we had a potluck birthday party dinner for our good friends the Tora's, it was Patricks 34th birthday and the Nebelskis and Peters joined us (although in the pictures its minus the Peter's because she had to leave to go pick up her baby), we had lots of yummy food, Katee made the most delicious cakes, which Patrick must be gettin really old, there were so many candles that you couldnt see the cake lol ;) We had tons of fun! then Sat. Natilie had another soccer game, ran home baked this cake, went out to Daniels baseball game, left early to run home and made 50 homemade sweet n sour meatballs (which Beth and Katie brought meatballs too, it was totally unplanned but totally funny!) and then left to the farewell party, came home and put the kids to bed then ran back out to walmart to get a few food items, I was SO happy to get home and laid down in bed around midnight, it felt so good to get off of my feet! I am so thankful to know so many wonderful people and to have such awesome friends that bless my life! We will miss Jessie and James and their cute kids a ton but wish them well in Colorado and thanks to all of those you showed up for the party and brought food!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

From us to you!! :) Josh took this after church today, we were shocked that all 5 of my kiddo's were actually looking and smiling, this has NEVER happened before :) I wish I had another person there so Josh could have been in the picture, it would have made for a great family photo

Josh made me one of my favorite dinners, eggplant parmesean, a greek salad with warm flat bread and a 12pk of my diet coke! Natilie made cherry cheesecake, while Daniel cleaned up the dishes
It was the best, SO SO yummy, I probably gained 10 lbs back just from this one meal :)

This is my dress (10 bucks) and shirt (6 bucks) that Natilie bought me for Mother's Day with some of her birthday money. She was really excited that she could actually "buy" me a present this year...and I might add, that she learned from her mama how to bargain shop and has great taste too! :)

She also made me coupons to use for a free head and back massage and a smooch from my big girl :) she is so cute!

My young man Daniel was asked to speak in sacrament at church today on how we can honor our mothers, the microphone was not working so he had to hold another microphone which made him nervous and it was more difficult to look up scriptures with one hand and hold a mic with the other, but he did a great job. Normally he will ask me to read his talk and offer opionions and this time I told him "sorry buddy, this is my mothers day present from you and I can't help you with a mothers day talk, just don't embarrass me" lol...(I think Josh helped him some) well he did a great job and I am SO proud to call him my son!

This is the Mother's day card Josh picked out for me and he had each kid (even Delaney) write their own little baby message for me, I thought it was way cute and special! I just loved it!

EASTER AND NATILIES 11th BIRTHDAY

Natilies birthday theme was a Hawaiian party, which she looked so cute in her outfit, but it didn't last long, as soon as everyone got there she ripped it all off, she never seems to stay too dressed up girlie for too long....I LOVE to make cakes and now I make all of the birthday cakes in this house, its fun and ends up costing cheaper than what you would buy in the store...I am hooked. Here is our beach/ocean cake, complete with sand, sea animals and swimmers...I can't believe how time flies, it still seems like she should be like 3 years old, but my little girl is growing up into a beautiful young lady who always brings smiles, laughter and love into our home.

This is the whole gang (minus Jamie, she came later) She had 3 friends from church come and 4 friends from school, they were a very fun and cute bunch!

Delaney chowed down the cheese curls, pizza and macaroni salad!

All of the gals eating, I am so glad the weather was nice and it didn't rain so we could do her party outside. We had lots of pizza and other food, cake, ice cream and the girls favorite, we made PinaColada's (using 7-up pop of course :) with little umbrella straws in cute hawaiian cups (which everyone loved!)

My niece Lilly

Our neighbors across the street Krissy, Grace and Jane is in red (she goes to Justins preschool)

All of the girls LOVED jumping on the trampoline, I dont think we have ever had that many people on it at once and it still didn't break...

My sister and her husband and kids

We did a big ball hot potato game and an raw egg on a spoon race (which was hilarious and my camera died so my sister took pictures, I will post those when we get them)

Its present time :)

Justin at Natilies party, he had tons of fun, and all of the girls just raved over how cute Justin and Wade were....they were saying how our Justin looks like Justin Bieber....lol...NOT, then they said well you Justin is the size of Justin B..... it was too funny...

My dads (PA) Easter egg, he did a Cleveland Indians egg, since they have been rockin lately

Natilie had fun too!

Daniel being an egg coloring ninja...

Justin LOVED coloring eggs, he wanted to do them all and not let anyone else do any, and he did a great job!

Me kissing my golden egg I colored (ok, I am just being a dork, thats what a lack of sleep does to ya)

Josh with his perrrtttyyy egg :)

The after mess of Wade with his egg he colored...

The whole clan after Easter egg coloring was done...

All of the baskets laid out the night before....

Justin with his little golf set, which he and Wade liked using the little clubs as swords..go figure lol

Natilie loved her braclet and flip flops in her baseket, can you tell???

Wade loved his little bowling ball set....he doesnt quite get the concept of bowling, but loved throwing the pins and ball

Daniel with his basket, he got his camcorder out to capture the kids reactions on tape :)

Delaney was VERY excited to eat the candy and treats out of her basket

Natilie took this picture of Josh and I outside my dads house, pretty good for an 11yr old :)

The next few pictures are the little Easter egg hunt inside my dads house (my inlaws sent the kids a cute Easter package with stuff for an egg hunt)