Matthew's Birthday

We finally made it to the end of birthday season!  This is a little picture heavy, but you are only 2 once.

One happy little boy:

 It took quite a while, but he finally figured out how to open a present:

   
Matthew loves cars:

  
This little boy loves his dad.  Everything has to be taken to dad to see.

 A football cake:

 Yay!

Trucks are for scooping:

You should also notice that Matthew insisted on Tangled plates.  He had 3 choices: Toy Story, Cars, or Tangled and he insisted we needed Tangled.  

Matthew's Birthday

We finally made it to the end of birthday season!  This is a little picture heavy, but you are only 2 once.

One happy little boy:

 It took quite a while, but he finally figured out how to open a present:

   
Matthew loves cars:

  
This little boy loves his dad.  Everything has to be taken to dad to see.

 A football cake:

 Yay!

 

Trucks are for scooping:

 

  

Madison's Testimony

Madison wrote her testimony today in her Faith in God book.  It brought tears to my eyes.  She is growing up into a beautiful young woman.

Madison's testimony:
As I have done Activity Days, it has taught me that it's not for fun, it's for teaching us that we need to listen to our prophet and leaders of the church.  I've learned that if we listen to the Holy Ghost, we will have a clear mind and body like our Savior.  I am excited that I am almost 12 so I can go to Young Womens.  I have realized if we follow the commandments, Christ will come again.  I am also inspired of all the blessings I have from Christ.  Amen.

Ally's Baptism

Ally was so excited to get baptized, but I think they all are.  She had her interview with the bishop on her birthday and he said she did great.  He also said that it was nice because she would answer his questions and didn't have to do all of the talking.  Charlie got a little emotional doing the baptism, which, of course, makes me emotional.

We are so thankful for all the friends and family that were able to make it and those who wanted to make it but weren't able to.  It was a really nice evening with friends and family.

Ally's best friend, Victoria, and Lexi were able to come.
(Victoria, Ally, Lexi, and Emily)

Ally's Birthday

This is a little picture heavy, but that is how birthdays are supposed to be. :) We have been keeping life simple this year.  Ally chose chocolate cupcakes with mint-cream cheese frosting from Pinterest.  They were really delicious.

Emily thought that Ally needed the Power Balls.

Madison made Ally an angel out of pipe cleaners.

 She really loved the CTR paper, perfect for the scriptures inside of it.

Report Cards

Madison and Ally both came home with report cards last week.  They are both doing really well.  I feel like this is the first year that Madison is having to try a little harder to do well.  Madison and Ally both had almost all E's. M's mean "meeting expectations" or "at grade level".  E's mean that they are excelling.  Pretty much if they have a  hundred percent they are excelling.  They are both smart little cookies and are doing very well.

Matthew may not live to see his next birthday

Matthew has turned into a little tornado lately.  I got out of the shower the other day and found that he had pushed the computer chair over to my dresser.  He covered himself in bag balm and then proceded to cover a statue of Christ also with bag balm.  He was so happy with himself and that the statue had sheep on it.  

He also can't sit on my lap at the computer any more because he won't stop pushing buttons and trying to do taxes with him yesterday was fun. Not only does he want to push buttons, but to throw papers around and then write on some.  I put him down and told him to go find Emily while I finished.  It took me another 20 minutes and I came down and found that he had dumped the entire sugar bucket on the floor.  Emily was standing on her head on the couch and I asked her if she knew what he was doing.  She simply said, "Yes."

Some days I think I need a vacation ...

ETA:  I left Matthew and Emily home while I took Madison and Ally to a baptism last night.  When I got home Charlie just looked at me and said Matthew really is as crazy as I said.  He just wants to see and touch EVERYTHING and know how everything works.  Last week he put the dust pan in the microwave and started it.  Thankfully I was close and caught that one!