So The Big Tris turned 3 this month. I thought we lucked out because he was such a pleasant 2 year old, but NOW is terrible are coming out! He's still my handsome, lovable, little man.

 This was his shocked face that I caught at a weird timing.

 And this is of course his favorite camera pose.

 And these are his special sprinkle pancakes!

 I had a blast making this cake, got ideas from pinterest and added my own creativity of course. Thomas the Train is Tristan's favorite right now, he nearly screamed when he saw the cake, but after a few minutes of studying it, he actually got mad at me for putting his trains on it and getting them covered in frosting!

 We took him to John's Incredible for dinner, but the best part is yet to come! We skipped a big party this year so we can take the kids to LegoLand next month as soon as dad gets off for summer!

The Saturday after his birthday, we had a big family picnic at the park. I didn't get pictures of his gifts because we ended up video taping instead, but we bought Tristan a big Thomas the Train track and I have never seen him so gitty! Mom & Quin got him his Leappad, which he was super excited about too.

Keeping Track of Everyday

I have to start documenting Ryan Emma's creativity. In the 20 minutes it took me to make dinner one day, she put this "ladder" together to climb into the tree. She made steps by tying rope between two of the planks, and she even put on her climbing shoes and climbing gloves. She constantly amazes me

 Right before his birthday Tristan caught a horrible stomach virus that I will never forget. We had him in ER twice over the 6 days of vomiting.

 April 26th I took the kids to Grampa Norms grave side. I remember my Dad taking me to his mom's who passed when I was a few months old just like Ryan Emma and her Grandpa. I always loved to see her name printed on the stone and traced the letters with my fingers daydreaming of what she might have been like and wishing I could meet her. I want to kids to have this experience to somehow.

 My growing girl.

 Ryan Emma has been playing with my camera a lot lately.

 She loves to dress herself these days!

Easter

We had a fun Easter week long celebration. We added some new traditions this year which were making Resurrection rolls for FHE, and an Easter play put on by the kids on Sunday night. We ended up going to 4 egg hunts and getting way too much candy!

 Masks from Grandma C.

 The bunny made a surprise visit the Monday before Easter and dropped off some "Magic Jelly Beans", we planted them in this pot and on Easter morning they bloomed into Peeps Pops!

Each year the Bunny hides clues to follow to find their hidden Easter Baskets.

 Getting Goofy

 Sorting the loot!

 This will definitely be a new tradition, I put glow sticks in these see through eggs and we had an egg hunt in the house. The kids couldn't get enough and we ended up going about 6 rounds, I couldn't get enough pictures!

 The kids put on an Easter play about Our Savior, Ryan Emma did a great job, telling all from memory!

Tristan combined the true meaning of Easter and the legend, hahaha!

A much needed Spring Break

When Spring Break came around we were all very excited and eager to have Dad home for a whole week! We have all been way too busy lately with Dad teaching full time, working on his credential, and fulfilling his calling in the Bishopric. Plus my busy calling in Primary, potty training for Tristan, preschool and tumbling for Ryan Emma! We made time over the break to get away for a bit. We got a hotel room and swam in the freezing pool the first day, and that night went to the Pirate Dinner Show in Buena Park. The kids loved the show! I'm not very good at remembering my camera, and of course got no pictures except for one goofy shot with Dad's phone. We managed front row seats and Ryan Emma got to chat a bit with our Pirate. I've heard her singing the theme song around the house. The next day we went to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. We all LOVED the aquarium, so much to see! Tristan seemed the most intrigued by the large fish tanks; he would chase the fish along and stare and stare, we had to peel him away from each aquarium. He was completely mesmerized by the octopus.

 I could watch these guys all day!

 Always love the Jelly's

 The kids got to hi-five the diver in the tank!

 Fishtranaut

We had a Great to be 8 at church last week and I made cupcakes for the event. I have seen so many free files on Pinterest for cute printables and I love that people share their work. I wanted cupcake toppers in primary colors but couldn't find any so I created my own and have posted this little file to share. It's certainly not as amazing as all the ones I've seen floating around! I used a 1 1/2 in circle punch.

Valentine Fun

I love all the fun we get to have at preschool! I get to stay and help out at all the parties and it's great to see my daughter interact at school. We put these fun bubble valentines together this year. Once again my addiction for fabric scraps is revealed. Sometimes I think if my skull popped open a pile of fabric strips would unravel instead of a brain.

Since big Ry became an art teacher, I feel the need to be more creative with his gifts. I saw a tutorial for this on Pinterest and had to try it out adding my own creativity to it. I really like the way it came out. A mini sculpture for my sculptor.  I even got to use my own personal power drill for this one, I like to use screws on projects for him, it brings in the "man cave" part of him!

This side says "I am the fragile vessel. But you...you are always the light within me" It took me a whole month to come up with this statement, but it pretty much sums us up!

 I put something on each side. Feb 15th is our dating anniversary so this side says "Happy 8 years of togetherness."

Ryan Emma's 5th Birthday

Most of you know I'm in the habit of throwing extravagant birthday parties, but strangely this year I was lacking the vibe. But when Ryan Emma requested a Strawberry  Shortcake party the nostalgia took over and I realized I could plan the Strawberry Short cake party I never had.

 This was my first attempt at cake pop making. The first few were a disaster, but still so yummy!

 
 This was my favorite...gumball necklaces!!! I got the gumballs from the Sweet Factory, and poked wholes with an ice pick.

 The party was complete with Strawberry cupcakes!

 I love pennant banners. I used this party as an excuse to make one. It was the cutest decoration at the party and I didn't spend a penny on it. I was able to use all my fabric scraps. So many friends give me scraps and I love to use them up.

 Ryan and her cousins. I love these pictures that she will have to look back on. This are the "making memories" pictures.

 Her poor dad, always has to play a silly part for me! This year he was the mailman who delivered a package from each of Strawberry Shortcake's friends in Berry Bity City

 One of the Activities we did was plant strawberry plants, I think this was the favorite of the kids.

Her besties on each side. It's such a strange feeling that she is five already and going off to school this year!

 We saved our gifts till after the party. For Christmas Ryan got her first Fancy Nancy book from Auntie Abrie; she loved it so much she made me read it every night for about 30 days straight. So my mom got her a new Fancy Nancy and we have read this one every night since!

 My parents went in together and bought her a leappad; this is the current obsession at home. Both kids fight over it.

This was the gift she asked for, a Lalaloopsy remote control boat! Plus she got new skates.