Janie's First Birthday Party

Janie turned 1 this last Tuesday, the 28th, (blog post to come). We held off on her little party until yesterday. We kept it really intimate, just like we did for Aiden's first, and just had my family, Trent's family, and cousins Courtney and Mia, so it was the same crowd from Easter (we were bummed Eric had to work). I didn't really have a theme for her party. "Girly" is what I kept telling everyone..haha. We had a fun afternoon celebrating our Janie :)

You'll see later that both grandparents brought little "cars" for Janie and neither were wrapped, so Janie got to start playing with them right away ;)

This girl. Of course she had to stand on it..haha.

We wanted to get a few pictures of Jane Jane before we took off her romper to eat.

I made the highchair tutu from a tutorial I found on Pinterest and I picked up the tassel garland and heart balloons from The TomKat Studio in Chandler.

Change of headband ;)

We kept it fairly simple for lunch and just got some pizzas from Costco, a veggie tray, and fruit salad.

I made up these cupcakes. I found the idea on Pinterest as well and thought they'd be a great touch for Janie's girly birthday party :) They're a lot easier than they look. It's just marshmallows on top, cut diagonally and you shake them around in a baggie with sprinkles ;)

I was pleased with how they turned out :)

Miss Janie eating her lunch.

We could hardly get Aiden and Mia to eat! They were loving the balloons and whacking each other with them..haha.

And they were matching! So cute!

So the cake. Oh the cake. I got it from Safeway and was not expecting the HOT pink color she ended up doing. I had shown her a picture with an ombre cake that went white, light pink, darker pink. There is no white on this cake..haha. I was not too happy. Oh well. It actually looks cuter in pics than I thought it would. Thank heavens it was only $7 ;)

I made the cupcakes for everyone else to have.

After lunch we sang to Janie and let her have at it ;)

The candle's kind of right in front of her face.

We jumped in for a few pics before she went to town.

We had to encourage her a little at first...

but she didn't need too much encouraging ;)

I was so glad my mom got some of these close-ups. I tend to like to see the "whole picture", but then I forget to get close-ups! Luckily my mom's the opposite ;)

I love the open-handed shoving cake in her face ;)

The aftermath.

Both Grandma's threw Janie in the bath real quick after cake and then we did presents.

We had been telling Aiden earlier in the week that he would need to help Janie open her gifts since he's the big brother. He took this job very seriously and wouldn't really let Janie help at all..haha.

This feisty little thing just wanted to play. No pictures.

Little goof.

With our birthday girl :)

Everyone was a little worn out by the end. Aiden and Mia snuggled up on Trent's lap to watch a show. Mia got Aiden's fireman hat ;)

Courtney really got Janie laughing :)

This girl loves Courtney :)

Thank you to our families for coming to celebrate with us. Janie had such a fun time :)

Easter Sunday

I'm finally getting around to posting about our Easter! We had a wonderful Easter weekend. We spent Saturday and Sunday watching General Conference (a worldwide conference for our church, held twice a year, where we receive counsel from our prophet and Church leaders). Unfortunately this was the first time where I really felt like I missed most of it. It seemed like the kids needed our constant attention! And then our router decided to stop working at the end of the Sunday morning session :/ Thank goodness we can watch and/or read all of the talks again when we have some quiet time ;)

Sunday morning, before Conference, we let the kids see their Easter baskets/gifts. I am so irritated because I thought I had been recording the whole thing, but I only got the very beginning and the very end :/ Fail!

Janie got her first tea set (thank you Target dollar section!). Aiden was enjoying it along with her ;)

Later the kids seemed to have more fun with the "grass" than anything else. Such a mess!

After Conference Sunday afternoon, we headed to Tanis and Kent's for a most delicious Easter dinner and egg hunt. Tanis invited my family and it was really nice to have both families together. Trent's second cousin, Courtney, was there as well, with her husband, Eric, and 2-year-old daughter Mia. They've recently moved to AZ and we are loving seeing them more often :)

Tanis and Kent really scored with this trash truck for Aiden. We had had the same one, but a while back Aiden brought it into the tub, and then we went on vacation or something, and came back and mold had started growing in it, so we had to toss it. Aiden's so happy to have it back now! We definitely won't be taking this one in the tub..haha.

Janie got a doll :)

Cheesin' ;)

My mom got Janie this adorable little dress while she was in Costa Rica. It's a little low-cut..haha.

The kids were really anxious to get outside for the Easter egg hunt. Well the two older kids, I should say - Janie had no idea what was going on!

She only got this egg b/c I threw it to her..haha.

Aiden clutched his new garbage truck the whole time he searched for eggs ;)

Whoops, bad shadows from this angle.

Family photo.

I know it's silly to post all of these, but I kind of love seeing the progression. Janie's the only one that really changes..haha.

She wouldn't let go of those two eggs!

Our cute kids!

Aiden and Janie with Grandma and Grandpa Knuckles.

My mom had us jump in.

Janie with Aunt Amber.

The kids with my family. Janie turned right as I snapped :/

Mia (and her adorable bunny ears) with Aiden and Janie.

I was so, so grateful that Aiden got along with Mia pretty well. Last time did not go so well, but this time he did a pretty good job of sharing. And he even gave her the cutest hug at the the end!

Had to get this shot of the sunset on our way home!

I know I'm late, but I couldn't end this without expressing the knowledge of my Savior and that He lives. I was reading in Alma 38 last week, where Alma is counseling his son Shiblon, and in verse 5 he says, "And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day."  I know this is true and I am so grateful that, because of Him, I can be with my adorable little family forever.