Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Here are the girls at our ward St. Patrick's Day Party...I love Kiri's face on the bottom picture...AAAAHHHH! We were asked to help out with the ward party this year. I did a little trivia about St Patrick's day. Eric did a stand-up routine...it was hilarious...some of it was lost on the hoard of children running around the room, but it was still a hit!
Here are some decorations...I used mostly things from our house...
Here are some favor bags I made filled with Lucky Charms. Gotta love free download-ables!! I've said it before and I'll say it again, I am constantly impressed with not only the talent that people in the world have, but their willingness to share their hard work, skills and knowledge on the Internet!

We had corned beef and lots and lots of green cupcakes...almost no sides...it was a surprise how many people brought cupcakes...but at least we had some fried chicken!!

I was happy to see how many people showed up and were sporting their Irish support in wearing green...did you know that originally the color associated with St Patrick's day was actually blue? Neither did I until this party.

Sister Wales, the bishop's wife (whose daughter Jaime also has twins) helped with the girls the ENTIRE night...we love her!

We had a cupcake walk...Max was SO much more interested in walking in a circle with friends to Irish music than the cupcakes. He's funny that way!

He embarrassed us and pitched a monster fit when Eric wouldn't let him have another go at the pinata. We quickly squashed that fit. I think if we hadn't been the ones hosting it and it had been another person in charge of the pinata he would have quietly obeyed...it was shameful, regardless!

The boy in the middle, Asher, is our friends' son and he whacked that egg so perfectly it the middle that it, literally, sliced it in half! Then, of course, the mad dash for the candy. Several kids had to be rescued and I sort of lost it and picked up the microphone and sternly reminded the kids that we were at church and should remember to S-H-A-R-E!!!

This is cute Lily, she had a mustache and beard that went with this hat...so cute! All-in-all, we think everyone had a good time...we give it...

Two thumbs up!

hAppY bIRthDaY, CaRLi!!!

This was just a little gag gift we got Carli...it's a blond teacher Nutcracker!

We were down for Toy Story 3 on ice and got to celebrate Carli's birthday as well!

Max (eating his favorite crunchy shrimp), Julie and Carli (Chuck had to work...sad he wasn't there!)

Julie with Lia.

Carli (looking all Park City) and Julie.

Eric and I had just gotten out of the pool...that's our excuse and we're sticking to it!

Earlier, Max convinced us to take him to the pool...I think he was a little excited!

The girls sat happily by the pool and watched. Kiri is on the left and Lia on the right.

Max was not a brave boy. I can't wait to get him into swim lessons. Sad that my own son is afraid of the pool considering I was on the swim team and used to teach little kids how to swim.

He was just so happy if one of us was near by!

Eric took him to the outside pool as well.

It was a great weekend filled with lots of quality family time.

Disney's Toy Story 3 on Ice

Max has been looking forward to Disney on Ice for weeks!!! Every time he would see the commercials, he would beg to go!

He was so enthralled with the show that every time Eric and I would try to talk to him, he would exclaim, "I just need to watch the show!"

We had great seats and even better company. Lucy dressed up as Buzz and Max was Woody. Every time Woody was skating Max would say, "There I am!" When Buzz was on, he would look at Lucy and say, "Look, Lucy, there you are!!!"

I couldn't help but catch some of his excitement.

Eric could only hold Max and was not allowed to speak...actually, neither of us were!

Scarlet, Jason, Meradith, soon-to-be-here-baby and Lucy (Buzz).

I'm not sure what face Max is making. How cool are Lucy's pink boots, though, huh?

They were nice enough to let us bring in our own toys.

It was nice getting to spend some quality alone time with Max.

I love this picture, after the show was over, Max was so happy...he's been playing Toy Story for days!!!

Babies, Basketball, Jell-o Beans & Mai Tai's

Several of our friends were playing in the All-Stars women's basketball game against WWCC, so we bundled the girls up and headed out to support the All-stars! Here's Lia and Kiri (Left & Right, respectively) I think I caught Kiri mid-smile. They're both such cute, happy smiley babies!

Pictures of the women in action!
At the game we ran into Eric's aunt Marilynn. Max was happy to get to take a picture with her.

The cheering section!

Steve & Ruth

Ben & Hillary

Nolan & Chelsea

Afterwards, we all headed to our house to make some virgin Mai Tai's. The first few rounds were near horrific...very fibrous and un-flavorful...but, by the third round, they were wonderful...and by the eighth and ninth round, perfected! Given that there were only about 8 adults there...we pretty much drank an entire pitcher of Mai Tai, each!

Eric's head growing out of Chris'.

Max and all of the kids L-O-V-E-D the Jell-o beans I made for them. They took all of maybe 15 minutes in the refrigerator.

Ruth and Steve stayed to watch Contagion downstairs. It was a great night!

I even splurged and bought Margarita glasses at the dollar store! Nothing beats friends and Mai Tai's!

Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy...

Lately we've been a little enamored with Jeremy Lin...after going to the pediatrician for the girls' 4 month vaccination & Max's 3 year check-up, we've become more convinced that Max can follow in his footsteps. When Max was born he was charting on the 5th percentile...at three, he's now 95% for height and 80% for weight! The girls are also charting well at 25% and 30% (Kiri and Lia, respectively). As for going to an Ivy League school...well, we have no doubt Max could handle Harvard, it's Harvard I worry for!
Speaking of a Jeremy in the NBA...Jeremy Evans in the 2012 Dunking contest was pretty awesome. He wasn't even supposed to be a part of it. Only after a last minute injury was he asked to fill in. Talk about rising to the occasion...

He won the entire thing...and one would ask oneself how he gets the drive and what he does to keep fit...well, that's easy...

A picture says a thousand words! That's Jeremy holding Max about a year and a half ago. We still have that mini basketball signed by Jeremy Evans. An onlooker shouted and asked if that was Jeremy's son...is that even possible?

Happy Birthday, Eric!!!

Happy Birthday, Eric!!!! I decided to put together an impromptu surprise party for Eric featuring his favorite things*; a good polish dog, friends and basketball! On one of our first dates, I asked Eric if he could have any meal cooked for him, what it would be and he replied, " a hot dog." When I reiterated, any meal, he replied, "a really good hot dog?!"
*family is also in his top favorite things

Eric had promised that he would be home by 5...at which point, I was going to send him on a semi-made up task...but, when he showed up around 6 with a few of our guests already in our living room, hiding... he sort of caught on and when he got back, we were all socializing and didn't really notice him walk in until Steve saw him and Chris & Ruth yelled, "Surprise!" Miraculously, I got it on camera as I was about to take a picture of them.

I have been obsessed with this Mexican brand of non-alcoholic Sangria flavored soda!

Beth (holding Lia) is eight and a half months pregnant, Julie and April (holding Kiri)...to all those who doubted that I really had twins...see, they're real!
Cute Broden! Max had the exact same outfit when he was little! He, Ben and his older brother Ethan were all matching! So cute!

Max helped me pick Eric's present out...of course, he thought Eric would enjoy it more if Max had a matching one...funny kid!!! Eric also got theater seating for our basement! Happy birthday, Eric...here's to hoping that you can spend every birthday surrounded by family & loved ones, friends, hot dogs and get to play some basketball!!!