AJ's 14th Birthday

AJ turned 14 years old on the 20th. The other kids in our family always tease him about being the perfect child. In actuality, it's not that far from the truth. He is the best middle child. He hangs out with his older brothers and is still willing to be with his younger sisters. He does well in school and enjoys participating in sports. He is friendly and kind. He loves little kids. See, I'm telling you he really is the perfect child.

For his birthday he was able to get his braces off. Here is a before and after picture that I took at the orthodontist office.

I think that probably amounts to the most expensive birthday present EVER!!!

We enjoyed pizza and corn on the cob that night for dinner. After two long years, he was was eager to eat corn on the cob.

We had our friends come over for dinner, cupcakes and family home evening that night. The activity for the night was a game of backyard football/soccer.  It was really quite confusing because a game of football and a game of soccer was being played simultaneously, I think there were teams but I couldn't figure out who was on who's team. They all had a lot of fun.

AJ wanted Oreo cupcakes. They are chocolate cupcakes with an Oreo cookie baked inside with cookies and cream frosting. We set out 14 cupcakes so he could blow out the candles.

He did a have a few presents to open.  He claimed there wasn't anything that he wanted for his birthday (refer back to the opening paragraph about being the perfect child) so, I just bought him what I thought he wanted. A Star Wars Darth Maul light saber, Legos, and a Nerf  over the door basketball hoop for his room. What 14 year old boy wouldn't want those things?

We had lots of fun at his party. I am so happy that he is part of our family. I love this boy so much. No wonder his smile melts so many hearts. I love you, AJ.

Here Comes the Bride

Some of the girls from the neighborhood had a wedding party recently. Not a bridal shower, (there is a big difference). For this party, we put on wedding attire, shared our wedding albums, and had lots of fun in the process.

Out of my group of friends, I have been married the longest, therefore, styles have changed the most. Which means I really got laughed at. First of all, there is the engagement picture when I'm wearing stir-up pants, the announcement that makes me look like I have no clothes on,
the fabric covered scrapbook,
the scrapbook pages minus any color, embellishments, or journaling, but I did have fancy scissors to make scalloped borders (What more do you need?)
Then there is my dress. I rented it from a nearby bridal shop. A friend of mine, who I met a couple of years ago, rented the same dress from the same store two weeks later. The only difference is that she could still wear the dress. I'm not sure my big toe would fit into it now.
Which brings me to my next problem, what was I going to wear to the party? Well, I put on a white skirt (since it wasn't long, I put on some white knee highs, somehow that was going to make it better) and a white sweater. I took along my bouquet, green feather pen for people to sign the guest book, and my hat (Seriously, what was I thinking all those years ago....a hat?) As I left for the party, I asked Aaron if seeing all that made him want to marry me all over again. He just smiled.
This is my "sexy" pose. I'll be the first to admit I didn't pull it off. I wasn't the only one having fun. We did a little photo shoot with my friend Jessica.

Isn't she lovely?

We also had a full wedding line complete with bridesmaids.

Now, not everyone dressed up (party poopers). One of the highlights of the night was looking at all the photos from different weddings.
Each of us had to answer 4 questions 1-How did you meet? I said we met on a group date, but we were not with each other. Aaron met my brother at college and we met through him. I was just 16 years old. Question #2- How did he propose? We were in the Ogden City Mall on the skywalk when he got down on one knee. I was totally surprised. Question #3- What do you love about him? My answer, that he makes me a better person. I am dependant on him, yet he has taught me to be independent and to just be myself. Question #4- What do you dislike about your husband? I told them he leaves his clothes on the floor. I didn't tell them that I leave my clothes on the floor as well. I know that if I out live him I will miss picking up after him.

It was a great party. I can't wait for the next one. I still have all the photos and half a post written about our ugly sweater party back in February. Are you starting to wonder if we have to much time on our hands? Well, we do. It's winter in Utah.