Birthdays

Tanner was able to take the day off for his Birthday and like a responsible adult spent most of the day running errands and working on paperwork. We had the Elders over for Quiche and Strawberry Shortcake. The kids were excited to give Tanner his gift. And Tanner tried really hard to show excitement when he opened it. I don't think he would have had to try so hard if we would have went with Chet's idea for a gift: a new mountain bike, way more exciting than dress shirts. Maybe next year...

Mariah was so excited for her Birthday. She decided that instead of a party with friends we would just do a party as a family and then she could go on a date with mom and dad.

 I had a bunch of her toys lined up on the couch to wish her a Happy Birthday in the morning.

 Mariah picked out this cake on Pinterest and she and Chet helped me from start to finish. It wasn't perfect, but it's the best cake I've ever made and Mariah was pretty tickled with it so I'm calling it a win. 

We went to the library in the afternoon because Mariah was desperate for some new reading material. 

Her new tutu from Grandma and Grandpa Young

Mariah picked homemade tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner, we had some cake and ice cream and then watched Tangled. Mariah got to Facetime with her Auntie Em, and her good friends Max, Jane, and Norah. She also talked on the phone with Grandma Young and told her all about how the characters in Tangled "kissed three times!" without being married. "But I closed my eyes each time." 

Later in the week we went on our date with Mariah. A friend watched Chet and Austin for us. Mariah picked bowling which she has never done before.  

 It was so fun watching her lob the ball down the alley and jump up and down the whole time it slowly rolled towards the pins. 

 Mariah was so pleased when she beat me, and that was the first thing she told Chet when they were reunited. 

She also got pizza. When I asked her if she had fun on her date she said, "Yeah, but it started to get a little boring without another kid there." Tanner and I are boring people, plus the girl really loves her brothers. 

It was so fun to make this little girl feel special.