Happy Birthday Ironman! July 7th, 2013

We planned a BBQ/Swim Party at our pool to celebrate our sweet Decker's 5th birthday.

In attendance was:  The Hollis Family, Illee, Aria, Tristan Chandler, Tristan and Miss Annie-our neighbors.  Heath and Nancy Mason with their 7 month old Liam-from church.  Bobbie Jo and Christian Niccum with Hadyn, Harley and Emma Jo-from church, Noveira and Raeed-neighbors at Pointe East, Brad and his son Sava-from Pre-K class, Tamara and son Roark, our neighbor.  Jen and Rob Schmalle with their kids Logan and Olivia.  Grandma Wood and Aunt Keppi.

 The cutest Twins ever--Ilee and Aria!

 The Mason Family--Cody loves little Liam.

 Here's Miss Hadyn enjoying a TWO hotdogs and some very juicy watermelon

 Miss Emma Jo stowing away on the local dragon.

 Raeed was a great swimmer.  He went across the pool with just a little help.

 Here's our BBQer.  Couldn't have pulled this all off without him.  52 hotdogs later.  :)

 Jen and Olivia enjoying some sun...

 Our neighbor Tamara and Roark.

 Cute Bobbie Jo and Emma Jo...

 Brad and Sava from Decker's class at school.

 We gave all the kids these giant squirt guns.  The kids had a blast.   We also had small squirt guns, pool balls and ice cream bubbles.

 Here's Tristan playing with the noodles..

 Miss Annie and Decker!  We have such great neighbors!  Miss Annie helps us by watching the boys when I travel.  They've got a special relationship.

   Decker's showing us his hot dog.

 Quin, Ilee and Jon showed up later and played for a little while.  Jon and Quin swam.  We then went over to our place and painted my nails black and silver with Ilee's new magnetic fingernail polish.  Then everyone but me and the boys went to see a movie--The Lone Ranger.

 Aunt Keppi came to celebrate.  She's moved back from Chicago a couple of weeks ago.  We're so glad she's back!

 Grandma Wood the matriarch of our party.  ;)

 Keppi spiked Decker's hair.  He did not like it one bit!!

 But he loves his Aunt Keppi...

 After swimming for a bit and eating lunch, it was time to open presents.  All the kids loved this and wanted to help!  It was a little chaotic trying to keep it organized.

 We got him a new towel to use for his swimming party and our lake trips.  ;)

 He got so many Ironman toys!  A couple of Ironman action figures that allowed Decker to share with Cody, so they both could have one.

 Raeed got him a Finn McMissile Remote control car and a book.  You can see Decker giving him a fistpump.

 Mitts and balls from Grandma for the boys to play catch.

 

 A Spiderman floating chair for the swimming pool from the Hollises.  We had a great time trying to sit in it.  It kept tipping us over!

 Roark gave a coveted toy that Decker liked...an Ironman wrist shooter.

  Here's the group:  Sava, Decker, Ilee, Raeed, Aria, Roark, Logan, Cody Tristan, Chandler and Haydn.

 Then comes the cake.  I experimented with fondant this week.  Decker told me a couple of weeks ago that he'd like to have an Ironman cake for his birthday.  Mike found a Youtube video, how to make an Ironman cake and I tried it.  3 cakes:  2 whites and 1 strawberry layer.  I colored the fondant the two colors and forgot to save some white for the eyes, so I used regular frosting for the eyes and gave them a light blue glowing look.  It turned out great!  The kids loved it.  Sava wanted to eat an eye!  ;)

 

 Everyone wanted to help blow out the candles...and everyone got a chance because we had trick candles...of course.  ;)

 I love this picture of Sava and Decker...there is some serious excitement being passed between these two.  ;)

 Cut into the cake...like the little Avenger figures guarding the cake from straying fingers.  ;)

 It was a hit!  We had about one slice left after it was all cut up and passed out.

  After the cake and ice cream it was time to swim again and people started leaving one by one.  Our family stayed awhile later after the guests left and swam till about 5:00.  We were there for about 5 hours.  The sunshine was warm and beautiful.  Cody laying on the whale blow up.

 We had 3 kids fall/jump into the pool unexpectedly without any kind of life preserver on.  In each case someone was there to help them out.  We were lucky.  Cody jumped in first without his wings on.  Christian was right there and pulled him up out of the water.  Harley was playing on the other side of the pool and fell in.  I dove in the water, still in  my dress to save him.  Then, one of the girls, Ilee or Aria fell into the pool. Someone was there to pull her out.  It happened when you least expect it to...  Our new rule is to always have your wings or life preserver on, regardless if you are swimming or not.  Thank goodness everyone is safe and sound and everyone had a blast!
We had these Ironman colored balloons.  We took them home and Cody took them out on the deck...we now have a tree that we call the Ironman Tree.  That's where they ended up...so sad.  ;)

Happy Birthday Decker!!! We love you!

Memorial Day Camping

We  took our annual Camping Trip to McDonald State Park.  We set up our trailer and campsite like we do every year.  The week prior to Memorial Day was the Father/Son campout which Mike and the boys went to.  We booked an extra night and I came out for the second night...The boys love to cook hot dogs and marshmallows by the campfire.

The Schmalle's came out and roasted with us too. This is Olivia's first time camping...don't you lover her little pink vest.  Already training her on bad habits... Mountain Dew!

And....Sticky Marshmallows!  Love her little tongue reaching for it

Then, Late night around the campfire, we went on Lion Hunt...around Halloween, so we were looking for candy too. and we got away in our handy dandy Helicopter

One night it was pouring rain and we had the most beautiful pink sky...very rare to have a colorful sunset, so we were glad witnessed it.

Sleeping in the tent.  The boys share this little space...Decker at one end, Cody at the other.

We visited the local BIG TOY....I had to practice my pull ups...I can do about 1 and Mike had to Monkey around for a bit too.

Here Mike is ordering a Big Mac with Large fries and drink.  Decker and Cody are taking his order and preparing the yummy bark dinner.

That's a lot of hard work.  Time for a nap.  ;)

This is one of those night fire lanterns, like the ones from TANGLED.  We saw one come across the campground and Mike chased it with some other campers.  We lit it again and let it float up into the sky.  We didn't see it again though....it was cool to see what they look like.

The boys were watching birds this early morning.

Of course, I'm still snuggled in..

and Mike is up ready to cook us breakfast!

We brought our scriptures so we could continue our daily reading...I think we were in 2nd Nephi 26.  ;)

So cute!

 Cody's pulling his pajamas up to his armpits in honor of Grandpa Bob.

 We made pancakes for breakfast and ate in our trailer.  Introducing the Pancake Monsters!

Nothing like munching on a snack off your tailgate.

 Here was our Second night...another beautiful sunset.  The sky was really orange.

Quiet time in the trailer, all snuggled in....

 

Decker learned to ride his 2 wheeler bike.  We took the training wheels off.  I guess I only have video and no pictures.  He likes someone to hold on to him, but he totally has the whole balance thing going.  He's been practicing on a little balance bike.  It worked like a charm.  Just need to get Decker to feel more confident on his bike.  So proud of him!  Cody so wants to ride a bike too.  He's just a little too small for the bike...I'm sure in a couple of months it will be just his size to learn to balance...it's awesome!