Adventure Park & Baseball

On Emma's actual birthday she wanted to do a rope course again. We found a groupon and all went together. This is the course. 

 They all did great!

 The only bad part of this course is that the ONLY way down is a jump off the edge. I was starting to get a bit shaky and was looking for a way down. Couldn't do it. Only one way off the course. Here is Rebekah jumping off.

 Here's a video of Emma jumping off

After that fun-filled adventure we went off to a baseball game, per Emma's request. The Orioles were playing the Cardinals. Clay had an extra hat for me to wear.

Mystery Party

Emma wanted a murder mystery party for her birthday. We invited her friends and assigned them all a role to play for the party. We started off with a fun photo booth.

 We had a little crime scene set up for the game. And we all found out who did it.

 Emma wanted a mustache and monocle cake for her party. 

40 continues

The party continues...

Clay's mom is in the process of moving. She came across this hat and sent it to him for his birthday. It is from the 1982 World Series when he got to go and see the St Louis Cardinals play.

Then his sister sent this box of 40 balloons!

 And inside those 40 balloons were packages of M&M's. 

The big 4-0

It's not everyday you turn 40. 

It requires a celebration.

We invited a bunch of friends from church over to celebrate. I asked Clay what type of cake he wanted. First he said a Legends of Zelda cake, which I did last year. Then he said an outer space cake, which I did 4 years ago. He decided an Appalachian Trail cake would be great.

The girls helped me with the cake. They rolled out the brown fondant. Mixed together and made the rocks. And Emma made the deer on the top. It was a chocolate cake with green cream cheese frosting. Clay is not a big fan of fondant so we only used it for the decorations. 

There was plenty of good food and good friends.

A big THANKS to my "staff photographer" and best friend of the birthday boy, Jeremy Rosenlund! Without you I would not have any pictures to remember the day (still trying to get our camera fixed).

Now for 40 Fun Facts about Clay:

(For the party, we posted 20 facts on the wall, the remaining 20 facts was a multiple choice quiz)

1. Clay was born at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, less than 2 miles from where the St. Louis Temple now stands.
2. Clay was baptized on Nov 26, 1993 during his Sophomore year of college.
3. Has been to 49 of the 50 states (all but Alaska).
4. Briefly played the violin and clarinet in elementary & middle school.
5. Had 4 cats over the years (Tiki, Boston Blackie, Frito, Rambo) and 1 guinea pig.
6. Lived in Missouri, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, then went to college in Michigan.
7. Favorite Childhood cartoons: Voltron, Transformers, G.I. Joe, Electric Company
8. Favorite Computer Games: Decathlon, King’s Quest, Star Control II, Castle Wolfenstein
9. Favorite Bands Growing Up: Duran Duran, Bon Jovi, Police/Sting
10. Favorite Song to Sing Out Loud: ‘Heaven’ by Warrant
11. Favorite 80s Movie: Return of the Jedi
12. Favorite 90s Movie: Dances with Wolves
13. Favorite 00s Movie: Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
14. Favorite Book of Mormon Scripture: Ether 12:27
15. Favorite Bible Scripture: John 17:3
16. Favorite books: Ready Player One, Old Man’s War, The Worthing Saga, Ender’s Shadow, A Walk in the Woods
17. Sports played in Middle School & High School: Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, Track & Field, Football, Downhill Skiing, Softball
18. Worst Sports Injury: Kicked in torso during soccer practice and lacerated liver
19. Scariest moment: Getting caught after sundown while roaming a New Mexico ranch miles from the family summer house and hearing a pack of coyotes surround him.
20. Most Embarrassing Moment: getting ‘pantsed’ in 8th Grade Gym class

21. What mission did Clay serve in?
1. Portugal Lisbon North
2. Idaho Pocatello
3. Germany Frankfurt
22. What is Clay’s favorite video game franchise?
1. Halo
2. Super Mario Bros.
3. The Legend of Zelda
23. Where was Clay baptized?
1. Ann Arbor, Michigan
2. Globe, Arizona
3. St. Paul, Minnesota
24. What is the fastest Clay has ever driven (stupidly) in a car?
1. 100 mph
2. 135 mph
3. 150 mph
25. How many schools did Clay go to before High School graduation?
1. 1 Elementary, 1 Middle, 1 High
2. 1 Elementary, 2 Middle, 1 High
3. 2 Elementary, 2 Middle, 2 High
26. According to Clay, what is the best Star Trek movie?
1. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn
2. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
3. Star Trek: First Contact
27. What is Clay's favorite professional sports team?
1. Minnesota Twins
2. Milwaukee Brewers
3. St Louis Cardinals
28. About how many miles has Clay hiked on the Appalachian Trail?
1. ~150
2. ~360
3. ~740
29. Clay’s greatest personal dream is to:
1. Travel the World
2. Go into Space
3. Get out of debt
30. What is Clay’s favorite book series?
1. Twilight
2. Harry Potter
3. Ender’s Game

31. Where did Clay & Heidi meet?
1. In College
2. At a Homecoming Open House
3. At a Single’s Ward Activity
32. What is Clay’s favorite candy?
1. M&Ms
2. Twizzlers
3. Whoppers
33. What is Clay’s favorite brand of Root Beer?
1. Old Dominion
2. A&W
3. Henry Weinhard’s
34. Clay’s Ideal Vacation?
1. Visit family out West
2. Tropical Island
3. European City
35. What is Clay’s middle name?
1. Harold
2. Bartholomew
3. Allen
36. Where was Clay on 9/11/2001?
1. At work in Los Angeles California
2. At school at UCLA
3. On vacation at Disney World
37. What is Clay’s favorite animated film?
1. Toy Story 3
2. Finding Nemo
3. Wreck-It Ralph
38. What temple were Clay & Heidi married in?
1. Salt Lake City
2. Washington, D.C.
3. Los Angeles
39. Who did Clay vote for in 1992?
1. Bill Clinton
2. George Bush
3. Ross Perot
40. What is Clay’s favorite color?
1. Blue, no yel…aaaaarrrrrrggggghhhh
2. Green
3. Pink

Another year ... younger.

Another year older younger. I spent most of last year thinking I was a year older than I really was. To make up for it, this year I am going to think I am a year younger than I really am. It all works out, right? 

On Sunday we had dinner with the Rosenlunds. They bought this peanut butter cup pie to celebrate my birthday. Rebekah was not happy that it had peanut butter in it. Then we went out to dinner on my actual birthday at Maggiano's.

Happy Birthday Rebekah

Today Rebekah is 7 years old!

We opened presents in the morning. Went to see Frozen in the movie theater. Stopped at the pet store to pick out a betta fish. Then finished the day with cake and ice cream with a couple of friends.

Birthday Party

Today Emma turns 11. 

We had a family party for her down in Lake Stevens at Granddad & Grandma Kris' house. Aunt Allison came over with some great party ideas. First she brought out her most awesome box of beads. She let Emma pick out beads and design a necklace. The she brought out a blank canvas and some gel markers for us all to decorate and sign our names as a keepsake for Emma's birthday. Isn't Allison the coolest!!

Granddad was busy making lunch for all of us while Kris and Deanna kept the grandkids entertained.

Onto the presents!

Time for cake!! 

This year she got another Dairy Queen cake. It is just too hard to make fancy cakes when on vacation. I would not have been able to go canoeing and whale watching with everyone. So this is just easier. And she was totally happy with an ice cream cake.

Trying out the 'stache glasses.

Grandma Kris had another great project for the kids. She has a little Children's Garden at the entrance to their subdivision. She had a few plants for the grandkids to add to the garden. 

Emma put her nail polish kit to work right away. Everyone was lining up for Emma's Exceptional Spa. When she did mine she wanted it to be a surprise. She covered my head with some tissue paper and then put my sunglasses over it so it would stay one. 

Cypress was a great sport to let Rebekah brush her hair. Seems Rebekah gets away with a lot of things other don't because she is so cute.