12 years old!

McKinley's birthday means McKinley's orders.  First up, a veerrrry early wake-up call so she could do her first baptisms for the dead before the craziness of the day was in full swing.  

Next, a quick wardrobe change for Sawyer's soccer game and football game.  On the way out, our neighbor delivered his customary birthday donuts.  Thanks donut man!

After Sawyer's games, we hurriedly took our shower (post font water) for McKinley's make-up consultation at the mall.  The lady helped her do some tasteful 12-year old make-up that she can start practicing with now that she is a young lady.  We then had a lovely lunch at Kneaders, just us girls.

Then it was present time at our house.  Besides some make-up at the mall, she got a cruiser bike she had asked for (pictures later).  We played around with the bike and some basketball before I made her go take her birthday pictures.  It was raining so there was only a few minutes of picture perfect hair, but we kept going :)  

We also picked up her cake of choice.  She has been begging for Costco cake for weeks now, so she finally got to get it.  After pictures and shopping we picked up Kent for the parent/child birthday dinner.  She likes to go to Red Robin, so we did.  

After dinner, back home to the rest of the family for a little Costco b-day cake.  

Now, without further ado, here is her birthday interview:

What's your favorite color?  blue
What's your favorite food?  eclairs
What's your least favorite food?  milk
What is your favorite breakfast food?  pancakes or crepes
What is your favorite animal?  giraffes
What's your favorite thing to do?  go shopping
What's your favorite thing to play?  soccer
What's your favorite toy?  Moped
What's your favorite book?  Fantasy genre
What's your favorite tv show?  The Thundermans and Full House
What's your favorite subject in school?  reading
What do you want to be when you grow up?  a marine biologist
Where is your favorite place to go?  to the beach
Where do you want to go on vacation?  to a beach
What makes you happy?  People being nice to me, and animals
What was the funnest thing about being 11?  Starting 6th grade
What will be the best thing about being 11?  Doing more baptisms for the dead
What do you really like about yourself right now? My intelligence

Tulip Festival 2015

It is the last week of the Tulip Festival.  We were lucky to be able to go while we are off track.

Grandma is still recovering from her bout of Pneumonia, so we went the soft way and rented two golf carts.  The kids loved it!

There is also a new exhibit called the Light of the World which was beautifully done!

Here's most of the kids.  Josh refused pictures today, grrr.

Payson Temple

Since we are off track, I thought it would be a perfect time for a mid-week visit to the Payson temple open house.  Josh was so excited to go.  Then when we were there one of his arch nemesis brothers bugged him and he instantly turned into angry grump.  McKinley was interested and had some great questions.  Josh asked when we got inside, "Where's Jesus?"  I told him he wasn't here right now.  It was a beautiful temple!  The last open house we went to was the Oquirrh Mountain temple.  It was nice to go again as the kids are a little older.  

Josh just picking the flowers.  He also plucked a leaf off the fake tree inside the temple!  Grabby hands!

Spring time sports

Spring sports have started up again.  This season we have McKinley doing soccer and Sawyer doing soccer and flag football.  That keeps our weeks plenty busy.

I can't seem to get the front of her for a picture.  Maybe I'll have to get off my cozy chair :(

Game day was a little chilly today.

Right after soccer we made it in time for the Cardinals game.

Good times.

STEM Expo

Hayden was very upset when we didn't make it to our STEM activity in our community earlier this month.  Luckily the STEM Expo was held nearly one week later, so I took him to that.  He got to have some hands on experience with fun science projects.  He got to shoot a flaming gun, ride a hover craft, and he WON  a prize in the raffle.  He chose the ticket to the Leonardo museum for his prize.  My little Scientist!

Super Babysitter

I made McKinley take the super sitter class at the hospital before I release her into the babysitting world as she turns 12.  Now she is ready to go!

Cuddles

You know he's sick when he just wants to cuddle ALL day.  And he took a nap!