It's party time!

I'm sharing a few pictures from Lucas' Super Mario birthday party. It was a fun party and we had a great turn out. A big thank-you to Dadi and Dada for hosting and a big thank-you for everyone who came out to help us celebrate Lucas. 

Happy 6th Birthday Lucas

...Happy 6th Birthday...

Today, this handsome boy turns six years old. Over the past couple of months, I've seen him grow and mature beyond his years. He is gentle with his sister and does his best to be friends with everyone. He is excelling in kindergarten and is looking forward to summer vacation. We are all looking forward to seeing what year 6 has in store for him. 

purple dress

This dress was once a men's stained button down work shirt. However, today it is a lightweight summer dress in my daughter's favorite color. This dress was a great way for me to practice basic sewing skills and a few new ones as well. 

FYI. Model was bribed with goldfish and an episode of Llama Llama. 

She was well rewarded for her participation.  

Orphan Train Girl by Christina Baker Kline

Between 1854 and 1929, trains full of orphans and homeless children ran regularly from cities in the East Coast to farmlands of the Midwest.

This sad, but fascinating time in history has always interested me.

When I was in elementary school, my Mom read to us "Train To Somewhere" by Eve Bunting. The book told the story of Marianne a young girl riding the train and who was finally adopted by an elderly couple in the West. It was a sad story, but not without hope and it sparked my interest in the orphan trains.

"Orphan Train Girl" is the young readers edition of "Orphan Train." If this version is anything like the original one, I'm going to have to read it!

Molly Ayer has been shipped from one foster home after another for as long as she could remember.

After stealing a book from the library, Molly is forced to do community service by helping Vivian, an elderly women clean out her attic. At first, Molly isn't thrilled to be working in the dusty attic of some rich old lady. However, working with Vivian soon reveals that they have some things in common. Vivian, like Molly, was an orphan and was put on the train in New York in 1929 and sent to the Midwest with hundreds of other children. 

As Molly and Vivian work, old memories are uncovered and past hurts are brought up resulting in friendship, forgiveness and new beginnings.

I would highly recommend this book.

California Trip pt.#2

Spring break is over and tomorrow we go back to our normal routine. This week we drove to California and spent time with friends and family. It's been fun, but I think we are all ready to get back on schedule.

This trip home was our first since moving, and it was a busy one.

We arrived in California around midnight Wednesday night. Thursday was packed tight with a breakfast brunch, play dates and a visit from my sister. Friday we spent the day at the Safari Park and in the evening I had a friend come over. Sabbath morning we went to church, then drove out to see my parents.  Sunday my husband had a few things to do while I enjoyed a quiet morning at Dadi and Dada's before packing up and driving home to Arizona.

It was good to be back. I think it was just what our family needed, time together, in a familiar place surrounded by loving family and friends.

On Friday, Dadi and Dada treated our family with a trip to the Safari Park. The weather was perfect and it was a fun day. I loved watching the kiddos play with their Grandparents. In this picture, Alara was soaking up the attention chatting away with her two favorite people. I think Lucas had already run ahead with his Daddy. The kiddos wore themselves out!

My mom and brothers joined us for part of the day. My kiddos had a blast playing with the boys. Lucas is right smack in the middle age-wise between my Mom's middle and youngest. It is fun watching the boys grow up together.

The Safari Park's annual butterfly exhibit was in full swing during our visit. I love this exhibit. Lucas was so happy that a butterfly landed on his shoulder. He stood very still for as long as possible until the butterfly flew off. Alara on the other hand did not like having butterflies land on her. When one finally did she shirked and shook it off. Ice cream seemed to help her recover from the experience. 

I loved watching these two play. After a busy day, we drove home with two tired but happy kiddos and four tired but happy adults. 

And the week isn't even over yet...

California Trip pt#1

Documenting our family adventures is one of my favorite things to do. 

*sigh* 

These two are growing up too fast. 

Sabbath afternoon we celebrated an early Easter with my parents. In my humble opinion, there is nothing cuter than a baby on an Easter egg hunt. Watching Alara hunt for her Easter eggs was adorable. She was so excited to find those colorful eggs.

I'm so glad that Lucas still enjoys hunting Easter eggs as well. His egg hunt went a little faster than Alara's, but he too enjoyed searching high and low for those small colorful eggs.

In addition to the egg hunt, my Mom always includes a treasure hunt for each child. Lucas was so excited that this year he could actually read most of his clues. He asked to keep the clues as part of the treasure.

I'm thankful that we got to spent today with my parents. My mom really went out of her way to create a fun Easter party for the kiddos and she did an amazing job.

This ends our California vacation. It was good to visit home, but even better to go back to our new home in Arizona.

Till next time.

girly room

Once, along ago I made a grand declaration that I would never paint Alara's room pink. Today, I broke that grand declaration and I'm in love. This room is so girly! I used everything on hand and I am really happy with how it came together. When I asked Alara if she liked her new room she said "I like it! It's pretty!" 

I'm not sure what to put on the wall above the dresser. Maybe a mirror or something personalized? Any thoughts?