Toy Story Three Party

Today we had a party for Luke and his friend Josh. They both love Toy Story 3 so it was decided that would be the theme. Elisha and I talked about doing a combined a party, but just decided for sure to do it on Friday morning. Thank goodness some people could still come and make their birthday's special. But that gave me a little over 24 hours to get it together. Elisha made the yummy cupcakes and ice cream, and I was so grateful because that is always my least favorite part! HA

Here is how it turned out!

The front door Andy Sign

The whole table display

The baby boys Andrew, Luke, Josh, Pete, Eli. We were missing Ethan!

Singing to the boys!

The most hilarious thing is that the present that I got Josh and Elisha got Luke were exactly the same. Buzz Lightyear toy, and green bubbles!

This is my favorite picture of the day. I love these 4 cuties!

Toy Story Tent...HOLLA!

Birthday Boys!

It was such a great party! Happy 2nd Birthday Lukie & Joshie!

One Year Older

At dinner we all went around to say what we love about our little Lukie!

Kai: He is the best baby brother in the whole world. It is his Birthday today and I love him.

Brian: He is super sweet and very strong. He is very smart and can communicate very well. I just love him to death. I love giving him kisses after he falls asleep. I love how excited he gets every day when I come home.

Danae: I love Luke's sweet kisses & his great big hugs. But most of all I love when Luke says "Love You Mommy."

Ethan: I like him because he gets me hugs and kisses. I love his dances. He is cute and nice. He turns off the lights at church.

Olivia: My best thing about Luke is that he plays with us. I like watching TV with Luke.

Happy Happy Birthday Luke

I cannot figure out how 2 whole years have past. All I do know is that I am head over heels in love with this baby. He has come so far from the baby who wasn't gaining weight to the hefty little man he is now. Luke pretty much spoiled rotten by all of us. How we got so lucky to have his as part of our family I will never know.

Likes:

Toy Story 3 aka to Luke as "THREE"

Most all foods

Playing outside

Dancing

Trains

Dislikes:

Mashed Potatoes

The word "NO"

Dear Lukie,

I said if I didn't cry this whole day it would be a miracle, and looking through all your baby pictures isn't helping my cause. You are the sweetest baby. You have such a great personality and usually just go with the flow. You can be loud but you have the cutest little voice, and are usually just trying to be heard. You call your self baby and I love it. Whenever I say "who did that?" you say "baby" and point to yourself. Last night Daddy was vacuuming and he knocked a picture off the table and you ran over to me and said "not baby, daddy" it was the cutest. You are such a happy little guy, and loving being around people. You are finally starting to go places with other people without crying, but you usually just want to be with us. You are such a smart baby and surprise us with the things you say and do all the time.

I cannot begin to tell you how much I love you. You make everyday around here so fun. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father sent you to our family, we just love you up. You make us all so happy. I try and treasure every little thing you say and do because you seem to be bigger and bigger everyday. Happy Birthday my sweet little Lukie!

I love you!

Mommy

Kai's Stitches

Well it started out as an ordinary President's Day at the West house. Ethan asked me 100 times what we are going to do special today, followed by me quizzing him on anything and everything I know about past presidents.

Then, shortly after lunch time I was reading with Olivia in my room when Ethan started screaming "Kai is bleeding." I got up to see what was going on when I saw Kai on the floor with blood dripping down his chin. After I got him to the bathroom and was applying pressure he looked up at me and said,

"This would have never happened if you had just let me play video games."

Kai in the car on the way to the pick up Brian so we could go to the hospital together.

He is pretty proud of what he has done at this point, and is all smiles for the camera.

Waiting for the doctor to come in and check if he needs stitches.

Pillow Pet keeping him brave

Yep, he needs stitches. Brian had to hold this numbing cream on his chin for about 10 minutes. I was so grateful they didn't have to put a shot it in.

Kai got 10 stitches. 3 on the inside. 7 on the outside. He calls them his whiskers.

He was so brave and didn't cry once while we were at the hospital. All the nurses were so impressed with him.

This was our first set of stitches and I hope our last!

4-6 Days a Week

The middle of January while I was talking with my girlfriend Jenn she asked me if I wanted to run a half marathon with her. My first response was "heck NO" but then I decided that I should do it, and that we could support each other. Since that phone conversation this is how I look most everyday of the week around 4:30 pm. The weather has been brutally cold and sometimes the wind is unbearable, but I am determined to do this.

The race is April 30 in Louisville, KY right before the Derby.

The kids have been such great supporters. They are so proud of me and always want to know how far I went.

My goals:

1) Finish

2) Not vomit

Wish me Luck!

Happy Sunday

"THAT" House

Since the snow has not stopped in well over a month, getting the Christmas lights off the house has NOT been an option. I always thought it was super tacky to still have Christmas stuff up in the middle of February, but here we are! The good news, we are not the only house!

Today since most of the snow had melted we decided we needed to get them off. It was really windy but snow is in the forecast for Sunday, and it was starting to feel like now or never.

Valentine decorations and Christmas lights, classy!

And yes, that is two ladders strapped together adding a bigger danger factor!

My Little Helper

This year I have been really trying to get myself and the house organized. I have been getting rid of just about everything I possibly can, and I have been trying to find better systems for the things that seem to not be working. One of the first thing that I changed was laundry. I have to do at least a load a day, that is the only way I can keep up, but I have added small laundry baskets one for each child. Their job is to put all their clothes away (in their newly labeled drawers) and then to put their baskets away in the linen closets.

Everyday since I showed the children how I wanted it done Ethan is the only one who has done it right when he sees the basket, and without me asking him. I am so grateful for his help. I could just brag on him all day long.

Today was the third day in a row that he got his laundry done that Olivia and Kai did not. I didn't want to punish Olivia and Kai, I just wanted to reward Ethan. He got a Jolly Rancher and was able to do his reading out on the trampoline.

I have a feeling Kai won't be missing anymore days.

Happy Valentine's Day

I love Valentine's Day on Monday. It is the perfect topic for family home evening, and gives us a chance to focus on how much we love each other.

For dinner we had heart shaped Pancakes, breakfast for dinner is always a hit around here. After dinner I hurried to finnish up FHE. During the day I gave each child the 5 Love Languages Quiz from their website. There are two tests for children based on their ages. It was really cool and I found out I was dead wrong for both Ethan and Olivia.

Kai went first much to the dismay of Olivia.

His results:

6-Acts of Service

5-Physical Touch

4- Words of Affirmation

3-Receiving Gifts

2-Quality Time

I thought Kai would be Physical Touch first and Acts of Service second, but still I was close. Kai loves to snuggle, kiss, hug, hold hands, and just about anything else that shows physical affection. Kai's 5 minute kisses are one of my most favorite things in this world. I cherish each one because I am scared to death one day soon it will be the last. Kai also loves when anyone does something kind for him, from Ethan "teaching" him after school, to Olivia laying out his church clothes, to me surprising him by making his bed. He loves it all and is always so grateful for the help. Kai pretty much knows how awesome he is, but I guess he still likes to hear it sometimes.

Olivia

6-Receiving Gifts

4-Words of Affirmation/Physical Touch

3-Acts of Service/Quality Time

I thought Olivia was a Quality Time girl, turns out she is a gifts girl. Olivia is such a kind little girl. She can't stand for Luke to cry and is willing to do just about anything to help. Olivia also likes her snuggles and doesn't hesitate to grab a blanket and cozy in with someone on the couch. I was also surprised that Words of Affirmation were second right with Physical Touch because she always acts embarrassed when people comment on how cute she is or her hair. I guess she is just being modest.

Ethan

7-Physical Touch

5-Words of Affirmation/Acts of Service

2-Quality Time

1- Receiving Gifts

I was dead wrong on Ethan. I thought he was Receiving Gifts, in fact I have thought he was Receiving Gifts for about 4 years now when I first heard of Love Languages. Turns out giving gifts is how he shows love, not how he receives love. Ethan isn't a big snuggler so I was really surprised that he got such a high score for Physical Touch. He is usually busy playing outside, build legos, or reading. He is such a sweetheart and such a great helper these days.

Luke didn't do the test but he is still pretty awesome. I am fairly confident that he feels love through cookies. I am pretty sure he knows I love him today.

After family home evening we headed to the kitchen for more cookies and presents. Brian gave me a shopping spree at the Outlets with my friend Emily for Valentine's Day and I LOVED every second of it.

What's it gonna be? I really want a Beyblade......

YIPPEE!!! Beyblades all around. You're Welcome!

Luke got some new trains

Brian is opening socks but I really got him a new suit but I needed to know his size so no surprise there. I also got him new shoes but they didn't have his size in the store, so they had to ship them to us. However, Brian saw the email before I even got home. So all I had left were the socks!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Valentine's Party

This year we had two of our favorite families over for dinner and games. It was a great quiet night of fun. Ethan really looks forward to the Valentine's Party each year and I am just always happy if he has a great time.

They played a game where you had to move as many conversation hearts from one bowl to the other in 20 seconds using only a straw. Ethan got 14 on his first try.

GO CARLIE GO CARLIE

I love Ethan! He has the greatest enthusiasm!

Now it is serious, the dads are getting involved in the game.

Cute Emily and Ethan

LOVE Pizza