8 is GREAT!!

Better late than never-right?! Almost a month after Courtney's 8th birthday I am finally blogging about it. (Sorry Grandma and Grandpa Wade because I know this is mostly for your benefit.)

This year Courtney's birthday was spread out over several days. On her actual birthday, Courtney celebrated with her class by taking one of her favorites - Reese's Peanut Butter Bars. Sorry no pictures but they were fabulous if I do say so myself.

Later that week (when Chad was home), we celebrated as a family by her choosing her favorite dinner (sweet and sour chicken over jasmine rice), opening presents finally, and blowing out candles.

She loved her new blue scriptures and scripture bag, she received a couple of baptism books and she loved the money from Belarus. In fact the next day she took the money for show and tell.

Saturday May 1st is when all the excitement and fun took place, according to Courtney. We had her baptism at the church at 11:30 which went great. Mackenzie gave a great talk on baptism, Mandy gave a great talk on the Holy Ghost, Courtney sang a song and we watched a video of Cort's pictures put to music. It was a wonderful baptism.

After the baptism, we stayed at the church for lunch and then headed to the Wave Pool for a couple of hours of fun. It was a great day that was made even more special thanks to the effort of family and friends to come and support Courtney. Thanks everyone!

Courtney's baptism dress turned out really cute. I was afraid of it being way over the top but she looked just like the princess she is. I think her smile says it all.

I tried to put the video of her singing but it is just not working. I will have to try it again later.

Happy Love Day!

We had stuff going on all week to get us in the mood for Valentine's Day this year. This is some of the stuff we were up to:

We made Valentine boxes out of craft sticks (as a note we will never do it this way again - it took way to much time), the girls made ribbon bracelets for their BFs and they of course had to have a Valentine hairdo.

We had a yummy breakfast and dinner where I tried some new recipes. Breakfast and dessert were a big hit but Hayden and Courtney didn't really like the ravioli. I think next time I need to change the filling of the ravioli and it would be much better.

Breakfast - chocolate waffles with whip cream and strawberries
Dinner - butternut squash ravioli with brown butter and sage sauce, salad and rolls
Dessert - brownie with whip cream and raspberries

Later that evening we opened presents. The girls got a little box of chocolates and some body spray, lotion and shower gel. Hayden got a little box of chocolates and a bear.

Dauber even enjoyed Valentine's Day. We let him play with some of the balloons.

We hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day too!!!

P.S. - Chad and I didn't take pictures of our gifts. He got a new cover and skin for his Ipod - he is still trying to pick out what skin he wants. I got a new phone - a Blackberry Curve. Yeah!!!

Christmas Eve '09

I know we are a few weeks into January and I am blogging about Christmas but life in the Wade house has been a little crazy. For instance, Chad is now the 2nd Counselor in Elder's Quorum Presidency, I am 1st Counselor in Relief Society, playing organ, school, meetings, singing in Church (way out of my comfort zone), and the list could go on. Because of all of this, I have slacked on taking pictures so this is all I have to blog about.

We had a great Christmas but the kids definitely missed out on a few of their favorite traditions - like the breakfast, talent show, and nativity (and seeing all of their cousins and Gdma and Gdpa Wade). We did, however, manage to keep a few traditions and throw in a few new ones.

We were told by the kids that we definitely couldn't miss Dancing Around the Christmas Tree.

After sitting on Santa's lap, we changed our clothes and decided to hit the bowling alley (a new thing for us on Christmas Eve). It has been a long time since we have gone and it showed in our bowling skills. Hayden just about beat Chad and I and was on cloud nine. In fact I believe he said this was the best day ever.

We headed back to Gdma and Gdpa Krantz's house for a yummy dinner and the opening of one present before bed. I think Kenzie and Courtney had it figured out and new they were opening PJs but Hayden was surprised and excited.

After getting our new PJs on we read the nativity out of the scriptures, read a Christmas story sent by Grandpa Wade and then wrote letters to Santa and sat out cookies and an orange.

Special Message

Last night each of the kids received a special video from Santa that they were able to watch on the computer due to a cool thing that Santa now has called the PNP. The kids were in shock and disbelief that Santa knew their names, ages, where they lived, and exactly what they wanted this year for Christmas. They even saw their picture in his naughty and nice book. After talking to them for a little bit, Santa answered a special question each one of them had. Courtney found out how Santa knows if you have been naughty or nice, Hayden found out how the reindeer fly, and Kenzie found out how Santa can go to everybody's house on Christmas Eve. It was amazing and very fun to watch!

Family Pics

Fall School Pictures

We decided last month to have our family pictures taken. I was thinking it was about time again and the girls' school was having a PTA fundraiser to get a free 10x13 through a photographer in town - who could pass this deal up?! Well, some people could (including maybe Chad) but I couldn't and they turned out alright - yeah!

I love the faces in this one - Kenz is her happy little self, Cort is the princess, and Hayden is thinking what trouble he can cause next. LOVE IT!!

Halloween Happenings

This year our Halloween Happenings started Friday evening with a trunk-or-treat that the school put on followed by our annual spooky dinner with some of our friends. This year our menu included: Mummy Hand Punch, Salty Bones, Adam's Ribs, Boogers on a Stick, Brain Surgery Salad, Monster Cheese Head, Pimples, and Cemetery Dirt. The kids look forward to this every year and I have to admit that I have a lot of fun putting it together. It cracks me up what grosses them out - I even successfully grossed out our friend with the pimples. He hardly choked down one of them.

Saturday started off with a monster face breakfast sandwich (I forgot to take pictures) and then we all got dressed up and headed to Price for the annual Halloween Spooktacular put on by several businesses downtown.

Hayden - Ninja, Kenzie - Harajuku Style, Courtney-Pirate

This Halloween Spooktacular is one of the funniest things our town does during the year. They block off several blocks of Main Street and have free games and activities for the kids. There was even a magician and free train rides this year. The kids can also go around to the businesses and go trick-or-treating which is great because our ward didn't do trunk-or-treat this year (very sad!). We ended the afternoon with free hot dogs, drinks, and popcorn - what could be better!

I had to take a picture of this guy because it totally cracked me up. Can you tell who he is???? Has anyone seen Mall Cop??
Kenzie thought this costume was the best she had ever seen and wanted me to take a picture of her with him but this is the best we were able to do.

Enjoying our hot dongs and drinks

Later that evening when Chad got home we took the kids to a few houses in Wellington to go trick-or-treating. The kids now think that going door to door is the best kind of trick-or-treating you can do. I am not sure how I feel about that?!