Another One Bites the Dust

I received a birthday card for my birthday this year that played this song when it opened....it was referring to my 20's biting the dust because I am now 30!!!!

For my birthday, the kids bought me an Indo Board. I have a lot of practicing to do...


The kids really enjoy it.



We all went to dinner...all 18 of us, and here (will be) is a picture of all 8 of the grandkids.

Christian had to wait to give me my present, but sometime in the next couple of weekends, we will be spending an evening at a hotel in Scottsdale with a spa..I am very excited!!!

Thanks to everyone for making my birthday special!

Goofy, goofy Camden

Seriously, Camden loves to be goofy. Whether he is dancing around the house in his silly poses, making up random nonsense words, or posing for the camera with his mouth open and head tilted at some funny angle, he just wants to make people laugh. I'm not sure he knows how to do a real smile for the camera! Here are some pictures I took the other day...trying to get him to smile.

Gotta love the Cam-Man!

Celebrating 5 years

For Makenna's birthday, we had a day designed by a 5-year-old...Makenna. In the morning she opened her presents from Momma and Daddy.

Then, she wanted to go swimming, so we met up with all her cousins and Aunt Megan and Aunt Michelle to swim. Pretty chaotic with 8 kids and only 3 adults, but we managed.

How old are you again?

Oh, 5!!!

She picked out her cake that day and was thoughtful and got one that included cupcakes and cake so "everyone can be happy."

For the party that night, Nana and Papa, Nana and Poppy, Aunt Kelley, Aunt Megan, Julia, Riley, Morgan, Aunt Michelle, Logan and Daymon came to celebrate. It was pretty low-key, but the birthday girl had fun.

Some of her presents included a chair for her bedroom, a new lamp, her own play make-up, money for dance outfits, a dance picture frame, a Go-Go pet hampster (which she named Flower), clothes and a more money and gift cards to spend. She did well!

Her friends birthday party isn't until next weekend, and it's a Glamour Girl party...I'm sure I'll have pictures.

I hope your day was special, Makenna!

Happy 5th birthday Makenna!

Happy birthday Kenna!We can't believe you are really five! It seems like just yesterday we were in the hospital with you, amazed at how tiny you were. How much you have grown! You have gone from an energetic and feisty little toddler into an amazing, inquisitive, and intelligent little girl. Everyday we realize how much you add to our lives. Your creativity and imagination is incredible! From the games you make-up to the challeging questions you ask, you are always thinking. Dance and art are two of you favorite past-times, and you are becoming such a beautiful dancer both in-class and at home when you make-up your own solos. You love to draw and create endless drawings for the family. Camden and Delaney are so lucky to have a big sister like you. We are so lucky to have such a fabulous daughter like you and we love you to pieces! Happy birthday sweetheart!

Lollipop

Finally I have a copy of Makenna with her trio this year! They rocked every competition they entered. I think we went to 6 competitions and they won every single one for the 8 and under category (with the exception of one that didn't have an overall winner for trios...but they had the highest score there too and would have won anyways). They got the highest ranking at all these competitions too! What an amazing routine that Brigitte choreographed and what adorable dancers performing it. Makenna loved every single competition too!

(From left to right, Emma, Bailey, Makenna)

Table Rockin' Lake

I love vacations. I especially love vacations that our whole family can enjoy. That's why I love going to Table Rock...there is something for everyone.

The kids really had a blast this year. They had so much more freedom to run around and play with their cousins and swimming everyday was like a dream come true. Even Laney seemed to enjoy the daily activities.

Highlights include:

* My cousin Todd got engaged to his girlfriend Katie.
*We celebrated Marsha's 50th birthday belated with a heated jeopardy game that Amy created. (oh yeah, our family won!)

*Camden came a long way with his swimming and swam in the lake without holding my hand. He really loved the pool because he could touch and he did the zipsled and skimmer! But his favorite was the Sea-doo (accent on the doo)

*We played the annual beer pong tournament where Megan and Greg won for the 3rd time! (Amy I apologize for my sucky playing)

*Makenna had an amazing time! Anytime she can swim, its a good day...and she swam like 3 times a day! She loved the slide at the pool, jumping in at the swim dock, skimming and she even tried wakesurfing and wakeboarding! I was so proud of her for trying! The only bad moment was getting swim ear half-way through.

*We took a day to visit Branson. the five of us and Nana and Papa went through a mirror maze.
Then we went miniature golfing with neon lights.
*Delaney wouldn't let anyone hold her, but she loved repeating everyone's names, swimming in the pool, exploring our cabin, and having more freedom than she's used to.

*4 visits to urgent care (a record I think) Matt's head, Grandma's foot, Ben's rash and Makenna's swim ear. I did not include a picture of Matt's head because some people may not want to see the blood streaming down after the wakeboard hit him in the head. (The dart Christian threw in Matt's leg didn't send him to urgent care, but I though I'd throw it in).

*Celebrated Niki's 16th birthday, which is next month.

*Had margaritas to celebrate an upcoming birthday of mine. (age not needing to be mentioned here)

*Met our newest family members, Blake and Roman.


*Watched 10 of our group wakeboard at the same time (some random people watching asked if it was a traveling group!)


*And saw a lot of family members.

I was sad we could not get a group picture but here are all the people in attendance (I think I remembered us all)
Grandma, Grandpa, David, Debra, Marty, Candy, Jenny, Joe, Ben, Maddie, Leslie, Matt, Roman, Cliff, Mark, Kelly, Kerry, Christian, Makenna, Camden, Delaney, Megan, Greg, Julia, Riley, Morgan, Marsha, Neil, Amy, Blake, Michael, Allison, Todd, Katie, Kathy, Niki, Dennis, Joanna, Kristin

There are so many more pictures and stories I could share, but I thought this really captured the trip from my family's perspective. Thanks to all the pictures from the THOUSANDS we all took. What a great week...only 355 days until next year!