Hogwarts Party

My sister-in-law, Sara, throws a big Hogwarts party for each of her children when they turn 9. She goes ALL out. The entire house is decorated. She has people come dressed up as the professors at Hogwarts and teach a class. This year, I was Professor Trelawney and taught... "the noble art of DIVINATION!!". Mitch was Hagrid and took the kids to Diagon Alley. Cherie was Professor Sprout and taught Herbology. Adam, my nephew, was Porfessor Snape and taught Potions. Sara was Professor Mcgonagall and led the kids through their Hogwarts experience. And "he who shall not be named" (aka B-rad) was Professor Dumbledore. 

Here is a glimpse into our Hogwarts experience.... 

 Hagrid & Dumbledore

 Professor Sprout & the cutest little red head to ever enter Hogwarts!

Potions with Professor Snape

The scenery...

October Girls

 I married a very very smart man. For my birthday he arranged to have the kids stay with my mom and swept me off to Park City. It was so FABULOUS!! We ate, shopped, ate some more, watched movies, ate some more and SLEPT IN! What more could a girl want?

And this October girl... well she turned 

1

And for Lydia's birthday we played with friends...

ate cupcakes 

 Hung out with family...

 and ate more food!!!

October girls are easy to please... just give us some food and some people to share the food with and we are happy campers!!

I like it DIRTY!!

Location: Soldier Hollow

Date: 9 . 24 . 2011

Distance: 6.2 Miles

Duration: 180 minutes

Contestants: A bunch of idiots

Terrain: MUDDY!!

Event: The Dirty Dash

That's how I spent my Saturday morning... how about you?

7.21.2006

2006

 2007

2008

  2009

 2010

2011

Today we celebrated the day I made the best decision of my life!

Spring Highlights

 

We tiptoed through the tulips at Thanksgiving Point in May.

 And since Benjmain is totally into animals... probably because he is one :)

We decided to grab as many cousins as were available and go to the ZOO.

 Yes, that is my SON wearing a PINK hat that his dad promptly scolded me for when he saw these photos.

 When my cute nieces are around I actually feel like sanity in public places is possible.

 I had never seen any official shows at the zoo before and we LOVED the bird show. Benjamin is really obsessed with animals at home and knows the names of some irregular animals. He knew and named the macaw, Cockatoo, Eagle... he may not be potty trained... and sure, he may still drink from a bottle now and again, but he knows most of the animals at the zoo! I haven't failed completely as a mother!

 Thank HEAVEN for family to help make up for my shortcomings.

 Especially for my husband who has more patience for me than Gandhi... and does crown molding in our bedrooms in his spare time. Go Mitch!!