There has been so much going on lately that I am having to take time to post it all. This one is Bear’s big day! He turned 6!!!!!! What a fun day for him! He started off the day with his favorite breakfast, cinnamon french toast and homemade buttermilk syrup. That is actually a family favorite and we would all eat it for every meal, every day….. and if we did that, we would have to acquire our own zip code because, yes, it is THAT fattening.

The day progressed to his playing in his team’s soccer game followed by an afternoon with dad.

Later on in the day, we headed up to my parent’s house for a combined birthday party for Bear and my brother Dalton, who turned 19!!!!!!!!!

We started the festivities off right with the traditional summer water games. We played water balloon volleyball. I threw my shoulder out after one round. That happens a lot, but it is worth every single minute of it.
I got put on water balloon duty with the kiddos. They were thrilled to play along.

They helped me fill the balloons for the water balloon popping ball. It is our favorite game. It is a ball that holds a water balloon inside and has a timer. When the timer goes off, the balloons pops. We take turns holding it over each other’s heads and counting to three. It is fun. I promise. If you don’t believe me, come on over one Sunday and you will see for yourself how great it is!




Toad took over as water balloon captain. He has developed a little bit of a controlling personality and he was the overseer of all water balloons.

When they weren’t watering around, they were playing basketball!

Dinner was Bear’s favorite. Cheese pizza and Root Beer!
Oh, that kid is so stinking cute. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I adore every single little inch of that kiddo!

And…. on to his favorite part of the day… presents. This year, I was so proud of him. When my mom asked him what he wanted for his birthday, he responded, “Grandma, any toy that you would like to buy me would be just fine.” I was so proud of him. He is really learning to have gratitude!

My brother and his wife gave him the whole cowboy getup. For years I had an aversion to guns and the like, but I have since given in and realize that it is in the DNA of little boys. Bear got a hat, cap gun, sheriff badge and hand cuffs. He LOVED it!

He also got some very badly needed shorts with BELTS! That skinny little guy is always having a hard time keeping those pants up. He was THRILLED to get the belts. Ironic since that is what I was featured on KSL for making.

From the fam he got a pair of roller skates that he had been begging for and Buzz Lightyear walkie talkies. His dad gave him a Nintendo DS. Lucky Duck huh.

When I asked what kind of cake he wanted, he told me an ocean cake with “towering waves.” So, thanks to M&Ms I came up with this little number. Not my best work but, he was thrilled.


He even wore that hat to bed. That is one of the reasons that I love this age so much!




We were excited to have Uncle Dusty in town for the weekend. He has GRADUATED from Nurse Anesthetist school with his Ph.D. Can you believe it. I now have 3 brothers that are doctors. The other two are soon to be missionaries. I feel a bit sheepish that I only have my Master’s. Such over achievers!

Toad loves being at Grandma and Grandpas!

Happy Birthday to my Bear! You are growing up way too fast!