Bench and Shelf together at last!

I FINALLY finished the Shelf to go along with my Bench that I made forever ago. I would put a link in here for it, but I don't know how to do that. But it's in the bottom picture, so just look there. So here in the shelf before I painted it.

And the finished shelf hanging on the way, thanks to my wonderful husband that hung it up for me after going to Home Depot and buying hooks and putting those on also. Without him, it would be sitting my garage forever because I had no idea how to get it up on the wall once it was finished!!

These side hooks were also Akoni's idea. It's so nice to have the keys up there because then we aren't losing them on the desk, except that I keep forgetting they are up there and run around the house trying to find them until I remember where they are!

And the finished project, Bench and Shelf together at last!!

Adriann and Kenyon's Birthday Parties

Since Adriann and Kenyon's birthdays are a few weeks apart, we usually do their parties together. Well we decided to go ahead and do one swim party for them both this year. There is an indoor swim center here and you can do your parties during their free swim time. It was so nice to have them together and have it all done with!

I love to make their cakes that they have at their parties. This year Kenyon wanted a LEGO cake and Adriann wanted an ipod cake. I actually made fondant to do them and it turned out to be pretty easy, I was very surprised! Fondant used to totally scare me, but it wasn't very hard to make, and it tasted pretty good too, so I might be using it more often in the future!

Before the swim party enjoying the beautiful weather.

I tried to get a picture of Adriann swimming, but she wouldn't sit still long enough for me to get one, oh well. She was having too much fun.

Fun at the park with Grandma

I love that in January we have such beautiful weather that we can go and hang out at the park! While my parents were here my mom and I walked down to the park with the kids and let them play for a while. It was a perfect park day and the kids had so much fun!

You wonder why my house if filled with so much sand!

Adriann's Baptism

The Big Day finally came for Adriann. She was Baptised! I still can't believe that she is 8 already. It was such a busy and fun day. My parents were in town and it was so great to have them here. Akoni baptised her and my dad got to confirm her, so that was super special. It's how she wanted it, and it will be something that she won't forget and can cherish forever.

We got a towel from one of our Grandmas when we each got baptised, so my mom continued that tradition and gave Adriann her towel. It was perfect for her! It was Hawaiian print and had her name embroidered. She loved it!

This was the table outside the room where everyone could write in her book that came. She and Grandma picked out the flowers and put her picture in a new frame she got to keep! Grandma's sure know how to spoil a girl on her special day!!

Picture of our family before the Baptism.

Adriann with Grandma and Grandpa Ekman.

Adriann and Dad before being Baptised.

After the Baptism with our Bishop.

It was such a special day. We wish that Akoni's parents could have been there too, but they are in the Philippines serving a mission for our church, so we'll let them off the hook this time!!

First Basketball Game

The kids are doing Basketball thru the Porter Youth Center since their school is at the Military School. It's so nice because it's way cheaper than thru the city. And they got to be on the same team since it's Adriann's first year playing and doesn't really know how to play yet. So they had their first game this past week and it was sooooooo much fun to watch. After the first quarter they actually started to get what was going on and really got into it. It's going to be a fun season!

My parents were visiting and got to be at the game. Here is my dad with Kamden.

Here we are in the stands. My mom is a huge picture taker, so I am actually in pictures.

Here is my mom with Kenyon.

After the game. Adriann had such a good time.

Kenyon with his snack. Look how big the jerseys are?! You should have seen his shorts, they were down to his socks, he had to wear a different pair that we had!

Overall it was a great experience and the kids are loving playing together.

Adriann's 8th Birthday

Adriann's 8th Birthday was last week and I came down with the flu the night before! It was awful! I literally layed in my bed the entire day. Akoni was awesome and took control and made it such a great day for her. She got to open up a few gifts in the morning and then spent the rest of the day with Dad and Kenyon. They went to the gym, lunch and the mall. She got to go and get her ears pierced FINALLY! She has been counting down the days till she turned 8 so she could get it done. Apparently she didn't even flinch. I was so sad that I couldn't go, but how fun it was for her to do it with her dad. He probably handled it better than I would have. She picked out some flower earings that has different colored diamonds all over. She is so funny too because she is constantly wanting to wash them so that they don't get infected! That is why we waited till she was 8, she is actually concered and is taking care of her ears! She is also wanting to wear pony tails now so that everyone can see her ears, she's so funny!

Since she was gone the whole day our friend Monica made her birthday cake! What a lifesaver and good friend. I did come out of the bedroom to help sing and watch her blow out her candles. Afterwards she told me she had the best day ever, so I'm glad that I didn't ruin anything for her by being so sick.

Her big gift was a new bike that she desperately needed! She is on it everyday. Even if she is just riding it around in circles in the garage, she loves it! It has pegs on the back and I made the mistake of putting Kamden on them, so now all he wants to do is stand on them, with me right next to him of course!

Happy New Years!!

Our New Years was full of eating and sleeping. We had our friends the Barnes come over and we were all so determined to stay up till midnight. One kid went to bed at 8, the next at 9, then 10, Akoni at 11, and Sam and the two girls at 11:15ish! Monica and I actually stayed up to watch the ball drop on TV, but then fell asleep and we both woke up at 12:45 so she packed up her family and they went home. Luckily they live up the street so it wasn't far. But it was a fun night and I know the kids had a blast.

These pictures are taken before all the fun, but they were already having fun!

Christmas Day and Post #300!!

So now that Christmas is a thing of the past, I actually have time to write this post. It's mostly pictures, but it's fun to look back and remember how much fun this day was.

The kids actually slept in until I think 7:30? So it was a good start to the day. We always grew up getting the morning "stair" picture, but since we don't have stairs this is what we got!

Here are the kids in their new PJ's left by Santa with their Pillow Pets that he brought them also. Who knew that a pillow, or is it a pet?, would be such a big hit! But the kids love love love them! And wouldn't you know, this was the second picture I took and you can tell the boys are already sick of pictures.....

Well it didn't take long for the kids to be excited in the pictures once they started opening presents. Kenyon wanted Lego's this year and was super thrilled to get this!

He also really wanted a Ben 10 watch, so he thought he was pretty cool.

We got Bop It for the kids and Kamden loves to hold it and get all upset when he loses. I think he has only gotten up to a score of 2 which is actually amazing for him! I held the record of 77 for a few hours, but them Akoni dominated it!

This was the Highlight of Kenyon's Christmas. He is obsessed with Lego's and so Akoni got him the Lego Indiana Jones PS3 game and I will just say that his homework is quickly completed after school each day and his room is immaculately clean! Bribery is awesome! He also got a new Oregon State Jersey. Go Beavers!

Kamden got some new Zhu Zhu pets since ours don't roll any more. He loves them!

Adriann got a few barbies. I'm so glad she is still into them!

Kenyon picked out these boots all by himself for Adriann. He did a great job, he knows his sister well!

Kenyon got some remote control cars. One is already broken. We thought they would be a big hit, but they were fun while they lasted!

Adriann got a real (cheap) digital camera! She thinks she is the bomb and loves to take pictures of EVERYTHING!!

Kamden with his car toy.

Kamden's big gift that I found for a steal on Craigslist. He loves to jump on the trampoline, but I don't like him to jump on the big one by himself during the day, so he now has this one to jump on all day inside!

Kenyon playing with his Legos, and notice all his silly bands. He never takes them off!

Adriann relaxing with all her toys.

We had such a fun Christmas. It was a relaxing and crazy day. Akoni and I got stuff too, but of course I have no pictures since I am always behind the camera . I did get a Cricut and can't wait to vinyl up my house! Now it's on to New Years and Birthdays and Babies. 2011 is gonna be a crazy year!