Easter Sunday

Easter happened to fall on Spencer's birthday this year, so we had a day packed with celebrating!  The kids woke up to filled Easter baskets and hidden eggs.  They were all excited about their new swim suits, goggles, and summer pajamas.  And the candy, of course!  They all looked great in their Easter clothes, too.  Since it was Spencer's birthday, we had to forgo the bunny cake and ham dinner in honor of Spencer's desired steak and Reeses Peanut Butter Cake.  I didn't hear many complaints! 

Spencer turns 14!!

Happy Birthday, Spencer!!!  Spencer has reached the ripe old age of 14, and he couldn't be happier about it.  Wow, what a year it's been for him, too!  I'm going to include a picture of his birthday last year, just so you can see the change.  Amazing what a year can do!  In the past year, Spencer has gone from a cute, baby-faced boy to a deep-voiced, gigantic, young man.  He's grown about 6 inches (or more!) in the past year, and he is now 5'11" - less than an inch shorter than Bryan!  He completely towers over me.   He's not quite shaving yet, but that'll be soon.  Some of his interests include:  girls, listening to music, lifting weights, and hanging out with his friends.   I'm not listing all of his hobbies here - like piano, guitar, choir, and theater - because he would claim that he's forced to do most of those!  Which is not true.  But he would choose to spend his time on the aforementioned interests (girls, music, weight, friends) rather than on any of his talents!  He and Tyler have a great relationship, and they are always laughing and talking together.  He loves his phone - texting on his phone, taking videos on his phone, always fiddling with his phone - and he's not usually without it.  Spencer is usually awake later than me and Bryan (always later than Bryan!), and I can usually hear him moving around in his room upstairs as I'm climbing into bed.  Thankfully Tyler is a deep sleeper, although he has recently asked him to do his late night weight lifting in a different room (who knew he was even doing this???).  Spencer will be starting high school next year, and so I imagine that I'll be typing a similar "how much he's changed" post next year.  Sigh!  Spencer is a great kid, and we love having him in our family.  Happy Birthday, Machine!! 
 
                                     (Below is Spencer at age 13!!  Just one year ago.  Wow!)

Ruby Jane turns 5!!

Our princess Ruby Jane has turned 5!  And what a girl she is.  Her birthday this year was princess heaven, with a whole slew of princess dolls and accessories.  A few things that I want to remember about her birthday is first - all the princesses!  Check out the picture of Tyler.  It is so hilarious!  He and Spencer were beyond bored watching all the princess presents being opened!  Second - that crown.  I got it for her to wear to her birthday party, and she hasn't taken it off since!  She wears it every day to school, church, the gym, you name it.  So adorable!  Third - as Ella was packing up a little present for her, Ruby insisted on wrapping up a present for Ella as well!  Thus, they are both opening little gifts in the third picture.  Ruby is such a sweet little girl, and she is ready for Kindergarten.  I'm having to admit that to myself (since I'm not ready!), but it's true.  All year long she hasn't quite gotten the hang of having Ella in school (even though it's Ella's third year of school!).  She either wants to be at pre-school, at a friends house, or have a friend over.  She has completely forgotten how to play alone!  She is totally done with naps, and she loves sharing her room with Ella.  Those two are just the best of friends.  They truly love each other.  Ella likes to invite a friend over after school on Fridays, and Ruby is always, always included in their games.  And she can hold her own, too!  One of my favorite things to watch Ruby do is get ready in the morning.  After choosing her outfit (I've learned from my experience with Ella not to fight it), she pulls out my laundry basket to use as a stool and starts to primp.  She brushes her hair, twists the sides into a clip, chooses a headband or bow, and then applies her lip gloss.  She does this every day, turning her head from side to side and smiling at the finished product.  She is also such fun to watch in the car.  She sits on the back row of our car, and sings along to every song on the radio.  And dances, if she knows the moves from Just Dance 4.  If it's not a song she likes she says, "Skip!!  Please."  I will miss that singing and dancing car rider next year!  And I will miss so many more things with her in school all day.  But I won't dwell on that yet.  For now, I'm just enjoying my little Rooster and her awesome and sassy personality.  Happy Birthday, RuRu!!  
  

Ruby's Princess Party

Ruby has been waiting for and talking about this birthday party for months!  She has been so excited.  And I'm not gonna lie...I have too!  I did this same party for Ella when she turned 5, and it has been my all time favorite party.  And I love parties!  It is something about the darling five year olds, all wearing their finest princess or prince attire, traipsing around the house in plastic heels, listening to the special homemade story about Princess Ruby.  An evil sorcerer has cast a spell on the Carlson Castle, and all the princesses and princes need to go on different quests (play games) to rid the castle of all evilness.  It's amazing how well these kids sit and listen, quite mesmerized, to the story, waiting to find out what they get to do next!  They hopped around the house on stones, trying to get past the moat (like a cake walk).  They hunted for dragon eggs in the yard, which were hiding all of Princess Ruby's stolen jewels.  They played Pin-the-Kiss-on-the-Frog to see if the frog in the castle was actually a prince.  They carried the cursed diamond rings across the room on a pencil, to drop it into the magic potion.  Then they passed the poison apples around the circle until all the poison wore off.  They were always rewarded with jewels and prizes from the royal treasure chest, and they were finally rewarded with a feast, cake, and pinata.  Ruby was all smiles the entire party, and it made me so happy to see.  I snuck Ella out of school for a couple of hours, too, so that she could be here with Ruby for her big day.  Princess Ruby had quite a grand time!!