picking up where i left off...

about a month ago, i left the blogging world with "birthday week", so it would only seem appropriate to pick up there.

 

that saturday, the 4th of october, was a pretty crazy day for me. not only was it general conference with a 2 hour meeting scheduled every 4 hours starting at 9:00 in the morning and ending sometime around 7:00 pm, but i ALSO planned something during both 2 hour breaks in between conferences. i don't know why i seem to do that! i overbook myself so that a day that should be spent relaxing and reflecting on the words of the prophet and apostles, turns into a crazy day of rushing from here to there. i guess i just haven't learned yet to just enjoy that day!

 

as scatterbrained as the day was, i had a great time. between the morning and afternoon session of conference we celebrated kale'a's birthday (a week early because we were packing all day on her actual birthday). the thing that made it craziest was the weather. kale'a wanted a teddy picnic party, and all of you familiar with october weather in oregon know that it is very unpredictable! and, sure enough, it was raining all day and all night friday. i was praying for sunshine, but saturday morning dawned cold and drizzly!

 

bummer!

 

so, we changed the location of the party from the park to our house. however, at the last minute, like 30 minutes before the party was supposed to start, it wasn't raining and the sun began to peek out from behind the clouds, just a little bit. so, i called everyone and told them that we changed our minds again, and were going to do it at the park.

 

so, i rushed over there and set up the lunches on a picnic blanket on the somewhat soggy grass. i had brought some "teddy bear picnic" books to read to the kids while they ate their teddy bear shaped sandwiches and teddy graham snacks and gummy bears.

 

however, it was laid out there for all of 5 minutes when the clouds decided to shower forth a bit of moisture!

 

dang it!

 

so, i gathered everything up and went for plan b:

 

the great thing about kids they don't seem to get bothered by minor things like a really cold, windy, wet day. they just enjoy the moment! kale'a doesn't even seem phased by it! however, nani does look a bit cold, but hey, it's the birthday girl that needs to enjoy it, right?!

 

after lunch/story time, we took the kids on a teddy bear hunt. here is kale'a holding the bear (i love how maia has her bear stuffed up in her jacket! the bear must have been cold!):

 

mitch was the hunting guide in the dark, scary forest:

 

after the bear was found by each child, we got out the pinata, because what 5 year old party is complete without one?! everyone got a swing or two or three at the bear, but for some reason it didn't break open! until we gave the "big" kid a chance (maia's older brother, sam stayed to help out and it is a good thing he did because he had to whack it a couple of times before the candy spilled out).

 

i have to put this picture up because it just cracks me up! look at kale'a's face. doesn't it look like she is mad or crying or both!? it just makes me laugh because she wasn't mad or crying! sometimes it is funny what the camera captures!

 

we ended with presents and the cake! which was amazing! thanks again to stephanie! isn't this cake so cute! the bears were little cocoa crispies! she did a great job, yet again!

 

happy birthday kale'a! we love you! you bring such a ray of sunshine into our home and family. and just as the meaning of your name suggests, you truly are a "delightful one" (even with chocolate cake on your lips!)!

 

this post is already long enough, so i will have to save the sharing of what i did during the second 2 hour break between the afternoon and the preisthood sessions of conference for my next post!

 

oh the suspense!!