Shadow Man Party

I asked Connor what Theme he wanted for his sixth birthday. His response was NOT what I expected. He wanted to have a Shadow Man party. The Shadow Man happens to be the bad guy in the new movie "The Princess and the Frog". I suggested that it would be fun to have a Spider man party, but he really wanted to have a Shadow Man party. Realizing that this boy is only going to turn six once I did my best to give him a Shadow Man party. I had all ready bought spider man wrapping paper, so for his family party he still got all his presents in Spider man paper.Seeing that the store doesn't have stuff around for a Shadow Man birthday party I had to be creative. I thought face cards were close enough. I decorated with black and we played shadow games. We made shadow animals on the wall, and played a game of tag that I called "Don't step on my Shadow". I think the kids had a good time, and I know Connor was pleased with his Shadow Man Party!

I LOVE THIS!

"Be a first-rate version of yourself, not a second-rate version of someone else." ~ Judy Garland

This quote was on a friend's blog and I Just LOVED it. One thing I have always struggled with even back when I was in school was comparing myself to others. I know that I am the happiest when I am doing my very best at just being me!

My life has been crazy busy and there is a part of me that loves a busy life. I don't have time to sit around and be unhappy with anything. I DO NOT have time! Lately I have been so happy! In stake conference a week or so ago the theme was Count your Blessings, and I am so grateful for an endless amount of blessings in my life.

HAPPY Birthday Connor

Connor turned SIX toady.

It is hard to believe that he is getting so big. It is hard to believe that he only has a couple months left of Kindergarten. At school he got to take home the Happy Birthday bag. In the bag was a book by Dr. Seuss "Happy Birthday to You". I had never read this book before. The basic message I got from it was how lucky you are to be you! I am so happy to have Connor as my boy. Before you have your kids it is difficult to imagine how life would be, but once you have them it is impossible to imagine life without them.

Connor is a boy that brings a smile to my face. He gets really into things. He doesn't just like things he LOVES it or HATES it. Things he has always loved are music and movies. Things that he started to love this year Mario and broccoli. I am excited to continue to see Connor learn and grow!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Opening Night

It is a bit crazy that after three months of hard work the time has finally come. It is so much fun to be on stage singing and dancing. I love my hair cut with the costumes. I love wearing the hats and I have made a couple of really cute headbands that I LOVE!

This is a silly face, but I love how cute these costumes are!

Singin' In The Rain

So I have to give a little shout out for this Production I have had the wonderful opportunity to be part of. The director has done a wonderful job, and what a great program we have in Lehi. If you have ever wanted to get into theater I would recommend looking into the Lehi art center. They work hard to provide quality shows to our community.

If you need a different idea for a date night or just want to come out and support me. I would LOVE to see you there. Let me know if you make it to a show. They are having a little contest with the cast members. Whoever gets the most people out to the show gets a little prize, so let me know if you can make it! Shows start this Thursday and run through April.

Happy St Patricks Day

I love the Holidays. My Mother is a lover of Holidays, and has always done fun things to celebrate even the small holidays such as St. Patrick's Day. The most important part of St. Patrick's Day is simple, everyone dressed in green. I was happy that my Mom called to invite us to the traditional green dinner, but sad that we would have to miss it this year. I decided that I had better come up with something that I could make green. After much thinking I came up with green rice.
So this was a St. Patrick's day dinner. Green rice, chicken, broccoli, peas, and pickles. It worked. Maybe next year we can join in the fun with the rest of the family.

After dinner the kids spent the evening making a leprechaun trap. Connor has had mixed feelings about all this leprechaun stuff. The day before he came home from school all excited to tell me that his teacher ate a cookie that had been cursed by a leprechaun and her feet turned green. He DID NOT give her five at the end of the day just in case he would turn green from touching her.

I was surprised when he woke up the next morning and told me that leperchauns are NOT real and his teacher painted her feet green to play a trick. He informed me that his Dad told him. I mentioned that other kids think it is fun to pretend so please do not go to school telling everyone that it is not real.

I have been gone in the evenings so I was not home and was a bit surprised that Paul would tell him that is was all just a trick. Come to find out Connor was crying and very upset that he did not want to go to school the next day. "What if the leprechaun puts a curse on ME!" So, Paul had to break down and tell him that none of it was real. Well, what was the very next question from Hannah, "OK, so what about Santa Clause". Paul responded of corse Santa is real!!!

Well, Connor went to school the next day and came home to tell me. "Mom, Dad is wrong leprechauns are real." The kids then spent the evening making a leprechaun bed with treats next to it. Well, surprise surprise Connor didn't want to sleep in his bed. He DID NOT want to sleep next to a leprechaun.

They had also made a green mixer of some sort for the leprechaun to eat. The next day they were excited that the leprechaun had eaten some and wanted to keep it out, but I informed them that leprechauns ONLY come out on St. Patrick's Day!

What's in a NAME?

We had a wonderful time at a the Ashby family get together. It was requested that our family do the chipmunk song again to share as a talent. The kids have had a fun time singing and dancing along to the chipmunks, and I have been happy that we have had such great use from our Halloween costumes. We got to hear many other talented family members share their talents. And then for the BEST part the kids got to eat LOTS of cookies!The kids love getting together with their cousins.
Great Grandma Ashby and the kids

Lately of been thinking about names. Hannah was talking to me yesterday about her name and asking why I named her Hannah and why I named Bonnie her name. Most of our names have a story behind them why our parents choice the particular name they did for us. We our born into a family and get a last name, and then being a girl my last name was changed. I have often heard of parents talking with their children about the importantce of honoring their name. I always tried to be a good kid. In hopes that as my siblings went to school and other activities as teachers and leaders met them for the first time they would have a good opinion of who a MUIR child was. Now I feel that responsibility to teach my children the importance of honoring their name. I have the privilege to have the last name belonging to a wonderful family. They are a family with many talents and lots of love to share with others. I am so grateful to Paul's Grandma and my children's Great Grandma. She is a women I admire so much. She has taken time to write a book that has given me insight to who she is, she has made music Cd's, sewn barbie clothes for my girls, and gave Connor a book with wonderful stories she has written. She is a women who worked hard and sacrificed for her family. I feel very lucky to be part of family such a wonderful family.

The Granny Awards

Hannah had a wonderful time being involved in the Lehi arts center children's theater production of "The Granny Awards". She got to play the part of one of the three little pigs. She did a great job learning the song and dances. I could not have been more happy as I watched her at the rehearsals and saw how well behaved she was. The Three Little Pigs

The three little pigs with the Big Bad Wolf

We were very excited to have so many family members come and support Hannah. It was fun to be able to watch her perform!

Funny Kids

I love to listen to my kids play. My Bonnie has a wonderful imagination and can play for hours with her little princesses and littlest pet shops. Today she was playing with her little princesses and they were taking turns getting married. I listened to her as she sang for each princess.

"Here comes the bride so fat and wise."

Just what every bride dreams of having sung on their wedding day. I might be smart to teach her what the words really are seeing that I have a sister getting married in July and she might not appreciate that song being sung at her wedding.

Disneyland Trip 2010

We were very lucky to be able to take our kids on a trip to Disneyland. We are the type of family that has a more difficult time spending a lot of money for a week of fun, but we also realize how important it is for our family to be able to make lasting memories together. We spent one entire week together going on rides, watching shows, and simply having fun!We were very lucky to be able to share the first three days with Grandma Lois and Grandpa Ed. Th kids got to take turns going on different rides sitting next to Grandma or Grandpa. I ended up riding a lot of rides solo. Which I didn't mind so much. I enjoy NOT having to let the kids control going up or down on Dumbo or pushing the pedal on the bumper car. Hey, in Disneyland everyone can be a kid. What would Disneyland be without Micky Mouse? And the girls all love Minnie.I was super excited when Mary Poppins came out from around the corner. I love Main st. in Disneyland. It is so much fun to see what Characters you just might run into.

By the end of the trip we all felt much like this!

As we were getting things all packed up I mentioned to Hannah that we would be back home ready for her to be back at school on Monday, Back to regular life. Her reply back to me was "I LOVE my regular life." It was wonderful to be able to take a trip together, but it is very wonderful that we do LOVE our regular life!

Story Telling Festival

In Second grade everyone had to read a story in front of the class for the School story telling festival. Hannah picked the book Pinkalicious. Her and a couple other kids in her class were chosen to read in front of all the second graders. Hannah loves to READ!

and she loves pink, so this was a perfect choice for her. Hannah had the great idea to have pink hair. She had a fun time dressing up, and did a fabulous job!