Birthday Interview with a FIVE-year-old

Lydia is FIVE.  I keep asking her to stay tiny and she just laughs at me and tells me that she can't.  Lydia is so sweet, friendly, and confident.  Not much scares her and she knows what she wants.  When you ask her "why are you so cute?" or "why are you so sweet, funny, etc.?" she'll always answer "born that way."  Lydia loves to have friends over to play which is hard since some of her favorite friends are in kindergarten this year.  She was really convinced that as soon as she turned 5 she could start "real school" too.  (William was the same way... it's hard to be a Fall baby.)
Lydia loves to read books and has a great imagination.  She loves to plunk around on the piano as well.  Her favorite thing of all is Saturdays because that's the day Dad and the boys stay home to play with her.  She loves them so much.
Her birthday is finally here... she's been counting down the days for a long time! We love her so much and our family wouldn't be complete without her.


What is your favorite...
color? magenta
food? mini naan pizza
toy?   princesses and My Little Ponies
show? Frozen
animal? white reindeers
book? the funny ones--like Blue Hat, Green Hat (by Sandra Boynton)
song? the My Little Pony song
primary song? SunbeamsWhat do you like to do?  play
Who is your best friend?  Piper
What do you want to be when you grow up? a mom (surprising because she usually says "a queen")
Do you have a boyfriend?  no!

I am - a little girl
I am afraid of - monsters

I like - mom

I like to eat - my favorite food

I don't like - scary movies

I know - that I should not be mean to people

I want to be - nice!

I like to watch - my favorite movies (Frozen, Live Action Aladdin, Tangled) 

My hero is- Daddy and Mom

I cry when - people be mean to me and when I get hurt

Mom gets mad when - I don't do the stuff when she asks

Mom is happy when - I do what she asks

I can't wait for - my birthday party

Something Mom says to me - that she loves me

Something Dad says to me - that he loves me too

My favorite place to go is - the pumpkin patch

My Mom makes me laugh - when she cracks my back

My Dad makes me laugh- when he does funny stuff

I know my mom loves me because - she plays games with me

I know my dad loves me because - he plays games with me

September 2019

Here's some random moments from September.

We always look forward to Jacob's Sunday night calls.

Early in the month we got rain!!  Lydia had been talking about rain for weeks and couldn't wait to run outside and play in it!  Henry grabbed Lydia's jacket and ran out to play with her. 

At Back-to-School night I had to laugh when I saw Henry's favorite book.  He wrote "The Chev" which is a comic book series that he has been writing!  Also, the things he can do well all centered around The Chev-- making comics, drawing Chev, and being creative.  I love it!

I loved reading what Alex wrote as well.  I can't believe this is his last year of elementary school!

William started to teach tennis lessons in August to twin 10-year-old boys.  He does a great job!

We went to Warm Springs over the weekend.  I drove the kids out, ate dinner, and swam.  Later Rich came out and camped the night with the kids while William and I drove home.  I had a baptism in the morning so I couldn't stay overnight.

Rich created a great obstacle course for the kids for our Come Follow Me lesson to illustrate "We walk by faith, not by sight."

Kylee Henriksen (Lydia's primary teacher) threw a Super Silly CTR 4 party.  Lydia was so excited about it.  She talked about it for all the days leading up to the party and for days afterward!  She is so lucky to have Kylee as a teacher!

Lydia and Henry love a good bubble bath!

Henry decided he wanted to learn how to make scrambled eggs one morning!

For my birthday Lydia spent some time making me a giant picture.

Elise and Rachelle sent me some giant cinnamon rolls during the day through UberEats.

Lydia and I got lunch from Cafe Rio.

We are so glad that our favorite ward activity--Picnic in the Pines--transferred over with us to our new ward.  It is so fun to go up into the mountains, enjoy good food and better company, cool down from the Vegas heat, and let the kids go exploring.

Rich's cousin, Connie, moved into our stake (just one ward over).  They invited us to be at the blessing of their new baby boy.  It was fun to hang out afterward at their house.  I think Rich really enjoyed talking with his Uncle Dell.

Lydia loves to get the paints out so I finally gave in and we spent the afternoon painting together.

Rich took me on a belated birthday date to see Blue Man Group.  We weren't sure what to expect but we had so much fun!  I think our kids would really love to see this show.

The same evening James went to a birthday party at a Virtual Reality place.  He said it was awesome!

Lydia discovered "My Favorite Fairytales."  My sisters and I listened to these audiobooks all the time while we were growing up.  I'm glad she loves them too.

Lydia's former primary teachers (Steve and Alison Henriksen) are the sweetest!  They came over one night with an early birthday present for Lydia.  Inside were the prettiest Sunday dresses.  She was so happy and couldn't wait to wear them!

The kids came up with their own version of Calvin Ball.  It is fun to see what they come up with!!

William went to EFY-Express with some friends--Ebin Danley and Colby Brunjes.

Phew!  So much happened this month!

Mother-Son Night of Fun!

Amy Mathewson and I put on the Mother-Son Night of Fun again this year.  It is such a fun event! 

The boys and I had fun eating our picnic dinner, building Lego creations, and playing gaga ball, kickball, and nerf wars.

Rich was a good sport to come help man the Nerf war area again this year!  Alex and Henry loved playing gaga ball!  They played until the very end!

I'm grateful for an evening to spend with my two younger boys!