It's a Surprise....A Special Occasion for Abby

Special situations and special circumstances, call for special occasions. I felt like this was the year that my darling daughter would benefit most from a surprise party. The festivities began many weeks before, with much planning and organizing. My friend Brooke, as well as Zach and Seth, made it all come together!

The Invitations

Table set for a princess

The party began, once all arrived, including the party girl. Abby was 'babysitting' at a neighbors home, they came home early, thus sending her home early. Rather than heading straight home, Abby decided to stop and visit at her cousins house. We had to move quickly, to find a way to get her home to all of her guests!

Upon her arrival, following the shock, we split the girls into two groups to make appetizers. One group made mini pizza bites, the other group made smoothies.

While dinner preparations were in there final stages, we sent the girls on a photography scavenger hunt, through out the neighborhood.

Dinner was served upon their return.

Cake Decorating Gear!

Every girl had their own double layer cake! After a few tips and instructions, each girl had the opportunity to decorate their own cake. It was fun!

Happy Birthday Abby!!

12 Years Old, Really??

I am happy to report that three people in our household are getting older, and two are getting younger :) Motorscooters were the item of the choice this year. Each child earned and contributed half the money toward these scooters. It has opened up a whole new world! Vroom Vroom!

On your mark, get set, go..... WAIT, you don't have helmets on!

Dodge ball, anyone?
"I want something to build"

"A flat iron, yipee!!"

Disney World

In case you haven't figured it out, we love to travel. It is my passion. I love to see new places and experience new things with my family. Jeremy and I have concluded that we only have 6-7 more years with our children at home. In that time, there will be periods that they don't want to be with us, thus SEIZE THE MOMENT has become my motto. Disney World has been on the radar, and as with all the traveling we do, we choose our destinations by watching for good deals. Abby, Zach, and Seth's birthdays are in November, it all worked out!

This was our nightly ritual, after each long day of theme parks and sight-seeing. My Dad is my hero, he never stops! He will do anything the grandkids want him to do. He enjoys every moment he spends with them!

Epcot Center

Cocoa Beach

Seth boogie boarding

Zach. You will notice that Zach has a duck with him in almost every picture. It was his homework assignment to take duckie along on his vacation, and share the results with his class. The kids thought it was really fun to have him along.

The happiest place on Earth, as far as Abby is concerned. She LOVES the ocean!

The Kennedy Space Center. We were able to see the shuttle on the launch pad, as it was launching the next day. We watched the launch from Universal Studios, we actually saw the shuttle in the sky. It was awesome, a highlight of the vacation for my scientist boys!

Animal Kingdom

Toy Story Ride in Hollywood Studios. Very fun.

Overall, it was a wonderful vacation. It was exhausting! We have officially decided, as a family, that the days of planning a vacation around theme parks, is over. We have many places to explore, and if there happens to be a theme park nearby, we may stop in???? Happy Travels!

Halloween

The most wonderful time of the year, wait.... wrong song, wrong holiday. Oh well, I can honestly say that Halloween is my favorite holiday. We have many traditions surrounding this great day. We carve pumpkins with our dear friends, the Witts. We host an open house on Halloween for neighbors and friends, to join us for dinner. Draper City hosts a very fun carnival at a small park on Fort Street. The air is crisp, the leaves are changing, school has started, life is good.....