4:30pm

 

After Trafalga we headed to Krispy Kreme to get some donuts and open presents. Alex loves watching the donuts being made and we all love getting the 'hot' ones. The kids had a great time. Alex got some fun gifts: movie tickets, a snowie maker, a slip and slide and a bug vacuum. After we ate donuts (right before dinner) I took the kids home. I think Alex's first friend party was a blast!!!

6:00pm

I had just pulled into the driveway after taking all the kids home and I saw my Mom turning the corner. I knew she was coming but Alex didn't so I covered his eyes and as she pulled into the driveway I took my hands off and said SURPRISE...that is too many surprises for one day if you ask me. My Mom and sister Amberly came down from Logan to celebrate Alex's big day. Alex has always been a Grandma's boy. I think its because when he was little she watched him ALOT. They really bonded and he has always really loved being with Grandma. He calls her all the time to talk about the latest roller coaster he has found or just to tell her what he did at school. They like to hang up the phone at the same time so when they are done talking he always says "are you ready" and then they hang up. Alexa always gets mad at him and tells him to just hang up the phone but I think its cute.

Alexa had a baseball game at 6:30 so we ran to Little Caesars and grabbed dinner and headed over to the ballpark. Alex's Dad Sule and his daughter Tayana met us at the game (I thought I got a picture of them but I guess I didn't...shoot). We ate and watched the game. Alexa was the catcher and she is really good at it. Her team won (which I am surprised because they aren't that good and the team we played is really good). It was a good night to be outside and we all had a great time. Amberly talked everyones ears off, she even got to see her old friend Kay and she was soooo excited about that.

8:30pm

We came home from the game and Alex was anxious to open his presents.

Max wanted to be in charge of the balloons and wouldn't let anyone touch them.

Some of the presents were hard to get into. He got a few movies...Kronk's New Groove and Alvin and the Chipmunks.

I gave him a green ipod shuffle and he was so excited because he really wanted one for Christmas but I didn't get him one. His Dad gave him a three pack of "Crash" video games for the PS2My mom got him his own portable DVD player (just like Alexa's) so that will be nice, they can each watch whatever they want in the car.

9:00pm

Alex wanted a chocolate cake but I had a pretty busy day and didn't have time to make one so I went to Macey's to buy one but they only had a huge one so I came across these cupcakes and thought they were really cute. I made them into an "8" and put 8 candles in them.

I don't think he got them out all in one blow but that's OK!!!


I guess the cupcakes were a hit, at least it looks like they are really enjoying them doesn't it??

Alexander Musa Gowon

Today is Alex's 8th Birthday. I just wanted to tell him how much I love him. Alex was born on Mothers Day and since that Mothers Day I have never received a better gift. I am sure Mothers day 2000 will forever be my favorite one. I went to the hospital to be induced at 7:00am and Alex was born around 12:00pm. Needless to say it was a pretty easy delivery and I was so excited to finally have a boy. Growing up with 5 sisters I had my fill of girls and really wanted to have a boy but of course Alexa came first (which I am really glad about) but I was definitely ready for a boy in the family. He was such a good baby, so calm and a great sleeper. Alexa was a huge help for me getting bottles and throwing diapers away. Alex has always been a really mellow child. I have heard so many people say how wild and crazy and naughty boys are but not my Alex (now that I have Max I totally understand what they are talking about). Alex is so good at making friends and he is really easy to get along with. He LOVES roller coasters and going to Lagoon. He looks at roller coasters on the Internet and is always curious if he's tall enough to go on them. Last year at Lagoon he was an inch too short for "Wicked" the new roller coaster and it broke my heart that he could ride it...he had been looking forward to it so much. But this year he is tall enough and he can't wait!!
Alex is really excited for his baptism in a few weeks. I am so grateful that he wants to get baptised and understands what it means and why its so important. I love you Alex and hope that you have a wonderful birthday!!!

THREE is the Magic Number

My Three's

I stole this off someones blog......I love these little games!!

JOYS
1. Warm (high 70's low 80's), sunny days when I can just be outside watching the kids play or reading a book
2. Going to Logan and spending time with my family up there, me and the kids miss them so much and we love hanging out at mom's deciding what to do and where to eat!!!
3. Having the time and money to go on vacation.

FEARS
1. I am not a very fearful person but I can't stand snakes, the little ones are ok but I have nightmares about bigger snakes and they really freak me out.
2. Not being liked
3. Getting old and being alone

GOALS
1. Being able to stay at home with the kids
2. Learning to be more patient and not getting frustrated so easily with my kids
3. I need to really stop buying clothes for myself and the kids, I am a bargain shopper so if something is on sale or pretty inexpensive I have to get it.....like when you go to Old Navy and the clearance is 50% off, you don't need to buy your 7 year old 15 T-shirts but they are $0.99 how do you NOT buy 15!!! I need to re-train my brain somehow but I need help!

OBSESSIONS/COLLECTIONS
1. Watching my TV shows (mostly just LOST and the Office and American Idol)
2. BLOGGING
3. I have quite an obsession/collection with shoes and purses, I just can't stop buying them (again it goes back to my backwards mind-set).

RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME
1. I don't like being responsible for making dinner every night. I don't hate cooking, the hard part is thinking of things to make. I hate spending 2 hours preparing a meal that is gone in 15 minutes.
2. I have wanted to start dancing again. I used to live for dancing and I am sad that I don't have that in my life anymore. Not only is it a great way to keep in shape but you can express yourself in different ways through dance and I really miss that. Some of my best childhood memories involve dancing....we took fun trips, went fun places, met cool people.....what can I say I am having a nostalgic moment right now.
3. I LOVE hot dogs. I know most people think they are gross but I love them and I could eat them several times a week (if Rich would let me). 7-11 has a great hot-dog especially when you put some of the yummy liquid cheese on it!!!

More Mothers Day

We had a BBQ at the park with Rich's family on Sunday for Mothers Day. It was a nice day and we had yummy food. I am so thankful for Rich's mom, she is such a great woman and she has so many qualities that I really admire. She is such a hard-worker and very patient and very generous and selfless. She did a wonderful job raising her 8 kids and I am so thankful that my kids have her as a Grandma. I love her very much!!

The kids had a great time playing on the toys and enjoying the nice weather.

Mother's Day

I wanted to get a really cute picture of me and the kids on Mothers Day and apparently that was a difficult thing to ask for. We were at the park so I gave Rich the camera and asked the kids to come and sit by me. Rich has no patience and just takes the picture and doesn't even look to see if people are smiling and he will only take one picture. The kids moaned and groaned when I asked them to come over for a picture, like its so difficult to sit down for 2 minutes to take a picture.
Even though it was not the best Mother's day ever, I am very thankful to be a mom and I do have really great kids. I am so blessed that they are all healthy and have such great personalities (well we are still crossing our fingers for Max) just kidding he is sweet, just a little rough. Thanks kids for making my life fun and exciting!!!! I love you!

Mothers Day Lunch

Me and the kids met my family in Bountiful for a Mothers Day lunch. My Mom loves Chuckarama so that is where we went. My aunt Annette and cousins Brandon and Mandi came too. We had a great time. We were in the restaurant for 2 1/2 hours and I am sure the waitress was glad to see us leave.

 

I am so glad that we were able to get together, we always have a fantastic time. I love my Mom so much and am so grateful for her example and all that she has taught me. She is a wonderful Grandma and my kids are so lucky to have such a fun Grandma.

New Bedding

The basement has been done for a few weeks now but unfortunately we ran out of money so things are not put together and we have no furniture yet. Today Alexa and Alex's Grandma and Grandpa in Africa sent them some money and I thought it would be a great idea to get them some bedding and other things for their rooms.
Alexa wanted to do black and white and she found this one at Target that she really loved. We have to paint her headboard black still (hopefully soon) but I think the black white and hot pink look really incredible.
Alex wasn't sure what he wanted so I just picked this one for him. He is pretty easy to please and really liked it.
Max loves sports and this quilt is so dang cute I had to get it. Rich still needs to put together his "big boy bed" that has been in the garage since December and then his room will be really easy to decorate. Thanks so much Grandpa and Grandma Gowon, I think we'll put the rest of the money in the kids savings accounts.

Max playing baseball with Dad

Well it started with Basketball then he moved to Football and now he is loving Baseball. Which is great since its Baseball season and I love going to the Bees games and especially the Orem Owlz (but that dosen't start until June). I am so glad that he is athletic and hope he keeps it up!!

German Pancakes

A few Sundays ago I was having a really hard time deciding what to cook for dinner so I was looking through an old ward cookbook for some ideas. I came across these German Pancakes and thought that they sounded really easy so I made them. I was really suprised when I took them out of the oven and the kids didn't even want to try them. They are so yummy and way easy. I have really been missing out. I wonder why my mom never made these.....we are even part German (I think), how ironic huh!

Mischevious Maxwell

While I was doing Alex's hair, Alexa was supposed to be watching Max but she had friends over and was outside, I told her to shut the bathroom door so I thought Max was watching Spongebob. I went into the bathroom to get a towel and this is what I found.......

 

When I told people that I was naming my kid Max they all told me that he will get called "MAXi pad" and I have even called him that a few times myself, it just happens. I am pretty sure that most of you have probably experienced this but it was my first time and I thought it was pretty funny. He was having a great time and was really upset when I took him out of the bathroom and shut the door. He will probably laugh pretty hard at this some day!!!

Alex's new Hair-Do

Every spring I usually shave Alex's hair for the summer. He asked me if I would straighten it first to see how it looked. I am always up for an adventure (we have done it once before and it was pretty cool) I used to 'relax' Alexa's hair alot when she was younger just to loosen up her curls. Alex loves mohawks and it's pretty dang hard to get a mohawk with super curly hair. I just figure if he dosen't like it then we just shave it off like we were planning.
Here is Alex with the stuff on his head.
Here he is after I rinsed it all out and washed it, I had to put on a condtioner for 5 minutes and this is what he looked like.
Here he is after I dried it and ran a straightnener through it, he liked the spiky look. I can't believe how long his hair is!!!