Happy 3rd Birthday Jax!



Jax turned 3 at the beginning of April....and in true Sarah fashion, I wanted to throw a fantastic party for him. I love going all out on my kids birthdays....and hopefully I'll be able to keep doing it for a few more! This year was actually not as stressful as parties in years past have been. I think the reason is because we used my parents backyard {instead of our front yard} and I used the decorations from church that we use for our Pinewood Derby {perks of being a Primary Pres....AND I was totally able to add to it, new decorations for this year's derby!}

I have to say...our ward has acquired some really neat decorations...lots and lots of these giant oil banners that totally look authentic. Not to mention, the yards upon yards of black and white banner.

We held the party during lunchtime...so we "sold" nachos, hot dogs, popcorn and chips at the Concession Stand.

The road to the backyard party!

Everyone's a winner. I found these cute mini trophy's on Oriental Trading.

After the party, the kids got to take one home, along with some Cars tattoos and stickers.

Those tatt's were a hit with my kiddos...that afternoon they each had at least 5 on each arm.

When guests first arrived, we had a table set up for them to color their own racecar.

And then the rest of the party was spent doing different types of racing...one of the favorites being running around the track spraypainted by my parents and sister!

Run, run, run! Get that energy out!!

Jax has some great buddies....who love cars just as much as he does!

In lieu of a cake, I went for a more Jax-appropriate treat: a donut cake.
Jax loves himself a donut.

Can you tell??

And thanks to Daniel, he was able to get all 3 candles blown out quick quick!

The most popular gift of the day....a monster truck!

Boys and their toys...it starts so early.

I commisioned Hannah to spray paint the side of the shed {disclaimer: she had been waiting and waiting for something to spray paint on there}. She had fun and it was perfect...we just need to work on where the red goes on the stoplight! She has a few more weeks till she's 16 to study up!

Happy Birthday, sweet Jaxxy! We love you!!

Hannah's performance

After Jaxson's birthday party, my sister and I joined the parentals at Hannah's last WinterGuard competition. Sadly...I had never been to one before! I meant to and meant to...it just never happened.

I'm SO glad I went to this one...

Hannah doesn't know it, but she's super talented. And I'm not just saying that because I'm her sister.
She's the one there in front with the flag.
You can tell as she dances across the floor that she is lovely and graceful.
{OK, maybe I said THAT because I'm her sister}

I'm so very proud of her!!

Their performance was so beautiful. I couldn't hold back the tears...it was such an emotional moment. We've been going thru a lot with her, and watching her just made me wish with all my wishes that she KNEW how beautiful she is. Maybe one day.

They ended the performance by singing.
I wish I had written down the song they performed/sang!

And look at that floor! Just gorgeous!

I had never been to a competition like this before!
So when we passed the group of judges, separated off by caution tape...I snickered a bit. Such serious people...and all talking to themselves! {errrr, into tape recorders, but still...}

Hannah has talked about not doing guard next year {she's trying out for drum major}...hopefuly if she has a choice, she will be on the team again. She loves to dance so much!

So proud of my Hannah!

Lost.

Tonight we had a fantastic, combined ward Activity Days activity. It was fantastic (other than me feeling like death). My mom is the leader in the other ward and I've kind of put myself in charge of it in my ward.....kinda love being around Bella! Anyways, hopefully I will post about it soon! My dad took pictures and I want to show the whole thing!
I just wanted to write about something that happened before the activity.
I was busy....as always. Setting up for stuff like this takes some major concentration....add in feeling gross, and I'm a mess!
So I noticed that Bella isn't around...I ask my sisters to help find her...nothing. We walk around the church. Nothing. This sounds dramatic....but my world kind of stopped. Bella doesn't just run off, or go very far....she's shy and quiet and sticks around to help if she can. So when NONE of us can find her, it's worrisome.
After a bit of running around, I call James and start walking towards the primary room. I asked him if he, by some weird chance, took Bella home. But nope, of course.
So I started yelling and I heard her voice...she was sitting in a classroom that we kept racing past.
What was wrong? She tried to tell me something and I wasn't listening and got mad at her.
Holy.
Sarah needs to learn to chill out and PAY ATTENTION.....which is so hard to do when I'm a steward over so many children. I need to pray a bit more for mind capacity....to first, make my children feel important. And second: still be able to make all the primary children feel important. It's a weight on these shoulders of mine...I seriously love it, but no lies....it's hard!
Really hard.

So glad she's safe. Too many rotten things happening in the world right now. 2013 can go back where it came from!

Jax turns 3!

Three years he's been with us...it's amazing how fast time flies. I've been thinking about this blog post since his birthday this past Saturday....I wanted to be able to record some things about him, so I'll remember.
*He's definitely my most strong-willed child. When he puts his mind to something (and it could be anything) he doesn't budge. This is both frustrating and hilarious...and I hope he can continue to have such strong will about life!
*Jax has so much energy. Wow. Sometimes he'll just be sitting on the couch and all of a sudden he gets up and RACES around the room.....like zoom zoom fast, just runs. Go for it, buddy....get that energy out. (Probably energy he stole from his parents....seriously, he wears us out)
*He loves to be the funny dude. He loves to make us laugh. He'll do something he thinks is hilarious, then look at you to make sure you got the joke too. Silly child.
*He can definitely be a tough child. He knows what he wants and he's not happy unless he's doing it. For example: he hates the store. ESPECIALLY Joanns. He's warming up to Target, but not really. And he totally throws a fit no matter where we might be.....that fit usually includes flinging himself down onto the ground. Tile....carpet....he doesn't care. Drives me crazy. He's also decided he's too big to ride in the cart, and wants to walk. He'll start out holding onto the cart like a good kid.....then he tests his boundaries by zoom zooming down the aisles! For goodness sakes. The store is not our friend.
*Jax has started to learn about questions. And he's turning it into an art form. His favorites: "Where is daddy?" Where is Aube? Where is Bella? Where is Jax? (and then proceeds to crack himself up after that one) Also: Is daddy on the train? (He totally thinks James works on a train) or "What are you doing mommy?" All totally legit questions....yet when asked in succession multiple times....sheesh!
*And let's not forget his favorite pastime.....being at home....watching My Little Ponies. Yes. I've said it....next to Cars, it's his favorite request. But after hundreds of hours of Curious George...it's nice to have something different on!
*Jax LOVES to sing....he sings Wheels on the Bus, Happy Birthday, Ring Around the Rosies, Row Row Row Your Boat. It's so cute.
*We've had him in swimming lessons for two months now. He loves the water....but he's quite the pill to his teacher. When he first started, it was one on one bc he knew alot more than the other kids. So he got a little spoiled...and now that he has to wait his turn, he causes some trouble. He's teacher, Alicia, is a good sport about it tho....and she has no qualms about sitting him up on the ledge if he's not following directions.
*He's my sweetie. Tho he drives me completely batty and makes me question wanting to have a fourth....he has his moments where I still see my sweetie. Hopefully that part of him will always be there! And I can cultivate it into the handsome young man I know he can be!

THREE!!
Let the fun continue!

Hair today, gone tomorrow

When we were in Minnesota for Christmas, James got a bee in his bonnet {or some such thing} to shave his head. He'd been worried about his balding for yonks...but finally put that to rest and put the  razor in his sisters hands!

I figured I should record this for posterity!
BEFORE:

Lisa is cracking up hysterically for some unknown reason. I'm sure her brother's quick wit has something to do with it....or the fact that she shaved down the middle first and threatened to leave it!

 Conceited much?
Look at that face.

The kids were quite enthralled...

 AFTER! uhhhhh....

His bald noggin wasn't as misshapen as I thought it was going to be!

He eventually did have to get 2 moles removed.

But he happily rocked his new Laker stocking cap everywhere we went in the Minnesota tundra.

 It took me a few days...but I grew to love the baldness...and now, looking back at these pictures, I can't believe I didn't make him do it sooner!

Ü

Blasted blog

Why is it SO hard to keep this blog updated? Seriously...I really need to make the time for it...so I have pictures and family events recorded!

We went to San Antonio to visit Aunt Emily and Uncle Jed last week for Spring Break. We had a blast!

Jaxson started Tball (Whamball....basically pre-tball) and it's a fantastic disaster...but that's why he's playing, so he can learn!! James is an assistant coach...."I hate coaching" is his go-to quote now. I actually haven't signed up to do a durn thing, yet...which is amazing! Even tho it takes everything I have to sit still and just watch.

My  family had an issue come up weekend before last....and we made it thru the trial unscathed, sorta. I really do feel that each of us has had Heavenly Father's protective and comforting hand over us....and it's truly been a tender mercy. I'm grateful that we were able to pull together and comfort one another.

Easter is fast approaching. I love the feeling of rebirth the holiday brings. Yesterday, I taught Sharing Time about Jesus Christ and how because He was resurrected, we will be too. I hadn't prepared earlier enough for this lesson, so I felt kind of inadequate...but I was able to testify of the basics, because I truly believe them. And even tho I felt like I could have known more, I felt the Spirit settle over my heart when I talked about how we could only have everlasting joy when our body and our spirit were joined together again after death. I asked the kids "Do you know what that means....when our bodies and our spirits are joined together again after we die, never to be separated again?" They were kind of confused....the question wasn't very clear? or something. But ETERNAL LIFE. The promise of all promises from our Heavenly Father. They weren't as impressed as I was...but for some reason, that thought really clicked for me. It's nothing new or profound, but just a simple truth. I love the simple truths of the Gospel. And I love that teaching the Primary children allows me to learn them over and over again in varying ways.

Now if I could only get blogger to cooperate and let me upload pictures!

Ardee

That's a bit of a joke. Aube's swim instructor thought her name was Ardee for a whole month. So now, when we want to bug her, we slip that name in. Parents of the year, I know.
So to not damage her, in the typical "middle child" sort of way....I'm gonna post about her, just her!! (<----see proof!)

Our Aube is smart, funny, a delight and a terror at the same time. She's moody, she's helpful, and she's kind.
She is doing well in Kinder, only a few problems so far (her hands broke out in a huge rash there for awhile, we finally figured out it was the bathroom soap.....her other issue being asking to go to the bathroom all the time, at inconvenient times, silly girl) She loves to read, and can read very well....she will get lazy tho, and start guessing at the words by looking at the pictures. She LOVES the pictures, she says.
As of now, she wants to be an artist when she grows up. And daily, she tries to come up with the best name for her "shop" (sound familiar, ahem).
Right now, I'm sitting watching her during swim lessons. She's in heaven and keeps looking up to smile at daddy and me.
Love that girl.

Graffiti Run 5k

This past Saturday, the 2nd, was one I will remember forever! I participated with some fab gals in my first 5k. We named ourselves the Horizontal Running Team, a tribute to Pitch Perfect and Fat Amy .
I use the word participate very loosely, as I was not prepared in the least for this experience. I knew I'd be able to run some of it....I just didn't realize how little that amount would be, I'm severely out of shape. But it wasn't a timed race, I didn't even want to know my time.
Even tho the running was difficult.....the color stations thru out the race and the color party afterwards were so fun, I would forget for a minute that we had even been running!
It was such a blast! I feel so lucky to have these women in my life....I'm so glad we were able to experience this together!!
After it was all done, after we were covered head to toe in chalk...we headed over to Cracker Barrel for some breakfast. How odd we must have seemed, 5 girls covered in multicolored chalk sitting down to dine.....the attention made us feel like celebrities, they were all so excited to hear about what we'd been up to!
And then.....I went home and slept. And slept. And slept.

Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters....

Name that song, and the movie it's from!

Have I ever told you how much I love being the oldest? Probably not, because that sounds rude.....who has ever said "I love being the middle child" (Jen....??? No?)
Let me catch you up.....I am the oldest of 6. There are 5 of us girls....that's who I grew up with. And then there's John....he's our baby bro, born when I was 23 yrs old. Crazy, I know....but it happens. And I love him dearly, tho most times I just feel like his mean Aunt Sarah.
There's just nothing like what I feel for my sisters....I dunno if this protective feeling comes from a lifetime of watching them grow from tiny tots, changing their diapers, cleaning up their skinned knees, making them miserable, bossing them around, pulling their hair when they wouldn't do what I say, or trying my best to help them see how beautiful they are inside and out.
I would lie, cheat and steal for any one of them.
So it comes as no surprise, maybe, that when one of them is hurting, that pain cuts straight to my core. Is it too much to ask to want perfect, unspotted lives for them? I think not.
When Jen was due to have her first son and there were complications, I spent the afternoon on my knees praying for her. I couldn't breathe until I knew she was ok.
Laura ....Emily.....Hannah....all have been in situations where I have ached for them to find their true happiness.
When Hannah was born I was 16, my little sweetie. My parents moved to Las Vegas when I went to college, and she was only 2....now, she's getting ready to turn 16, where has the time gone?
This past weekend, she asked me to color her hair, which I happily agreed to, I've done it several times before....I love to color hair. Anyways, long story longer....she wanted blonde, so I did my best, which wasn't all that great (duh, not a professional). I gave her some advice to try and tone it down a bit...which made it a bit worse, I'm guessing from the text messages I started to get from mom and then dad saying "please text your sister and tell her it will be ok, she's really upset". So, I did....I texted her (heaven forbid we call each other in this family) told her it would be fine, to take some deep breaths and go to sleep. Told her to give it a few days, cause putting anymore color on it would probably make her hair fall out and that would be WAY worse than a brassy bleach job. I got the "I'm fiiiiiine, Sarah" text and I just hoped it was the truth.
Oh to be 16 again....and to want to be blonde (I did this same thing when I was her age....very very blonde)!
Anyways....I worried all night, hoping she didn't cry too much ....I texted her this afternoon and she says "I actually got a few compliments on it".....phew

Moral of this story, if there is to be one: don't color your sisters or anyone else's hair....
AND: blog posts shouldn't have morals.

A happy case of the Mondays

Every Monday afternoon, Aube, Jax and I sit outside the piano teacher's house for Bella's 30 min lesson. They play for that time frame, I sit and craft or read or surf around on my phone. Aube asks me 100 times "can I play on your phone?" Jax always smells like poop. Fun times.

Lately....the girls have had Monday swim lessons at 7....so we meet daddy for dinner in between the two. Then he takes Jax and I take the girls (or vica versa) and I sit and watch them swim for 45 minutes.
So I read or craft or think....in the humid natatorium.

I'm usually late running Bella to piano, go figure. And in my frenzy, I think, what the crap, this is so annoying, running them here and there. I often wonder what my mom did as she sat and waited for my sisters and I in our various athletic and musical pursuits.

This dull ache of calm invades me....on some days. Other days, I shout and give myself a headache. But I wouldn't trade it.

This post has no point, other than to fill a portion of the 30 minutes of waiting.
You're welcome.

The Boy Who Loved Trains

Jax and his trains. The boy goes crazy when he sees one.....whether its real and we are driving by, or a play set and he can spend all day watching and playing. Loves them. Earlier in December, James took him to The Trains at Northpark, a huge display of model trains. Now James is looking forward to the day he can start his own train room in our new house. He also can't wait to take him to the model train convention in January in Plano.
Boys will be boys!

Merry Christmas y'all

From the great snowy north!
We were lucky enough to be able to spend our Christmas vacation in Minnesnowta. We drove the 16 hours and got here on Saturday night. It was quite the drive, keeping kids {Jax} entertained! But it's always worth it when we are greeted with such happiness.

Our Christmas Day was great! Its so fun living vicariously thru your kids, feeling the excitement. We got the kids some rad presents, IMHO. (<---learned that acronym during a game, hah) James had a blast picking out boy toys for Jax. The boy is in heaven (and Jax too!).
And as for the girls, well, we got them a doll we never thought we would! Bah! We love America :X ....
Anyways....presents aside!!! It's so fun....all the things we GET! I will be the first to admit that I LOVE getting gifts....especially when your husband listens to you and gets you and iPad (that's being funny about connecting to the wifi, boo!!). But it's not all about that, of course....
I'm so thankful our Savior was born.
I'm so thankful we can celebrate his birth by spending time with family, by thinking about His life and making new promises to ourselves to be more like Him.
I'm so thankful that He loves us enough to let us have a new year to start afresh!

These few days between Christmas and New Years I always tend to start thinking about the cliche of resolutions. I feel like
I shouldn't just wait till January to find ways to better myself....but hey, here we are again...creeping up on January. Time to dust off the journal and get things back on track!

Helping Emily become the "perfect" housewife....

.....even tho we all know she doesn't need much help at that!

I wanted to throw Emily a bridal shower, I felt that as the oldest sister it was my duty!
She was already having one in her YSA ward, but I wanted to spoil her with a 2nd shower for closer friends and family.
I enlisted Emily's insta-friend (I set them up when Em first moved to town) BethAnne for help. And what a good little helper she was! I couldn't have done anything without her!

I started to do some browsing around Pinterest and such for ideas....came across this 50s housewife theme, and fell in love.
Seriously, so cute! I love thinking about living in simpler times. 

 Isn't she adorable??

She makes a fantastic Missus. Already glowing.

I found her a vintage apron at an estate sale and used a stencil to paint the Mrs Ashford.

 For favors, I used a wood burning tool to write on a wooden spoon handle, to (in my round about way) kind of connect her reception theme to the shower... ?? Maybemaybenot.

 And for decorations, I went to the thrift store and found a few older cookbooks. Also, for the game prizes, I picked up some vintage cookware for the lucky winners.
Speaking of games....BethAnne put together a 50s Price is Right, having the guests guess what the items 1950s price would be. And then we also had a MadLibs-type game, where we gave Ems some "Marriage Advice." After we filled in the blanks, we read the original "Good Wife's Guide to a Happy Marriage" and oh my....it's hilarious. 

  My partner in crime: Betty.

Emily made some good friends at the YSA ward, I'm so thankful they took her under their wing!

 Mom and sisters...so glad we could come together to celebrate Emily!!

Gifts time!
She got just a few things...and Hannah wrapped hers Sargent-style with 25 layers of wrapping paper and duct tape, wowza. Of course, I gave her a nightie, brown chicken brown cow. Scandalous.

  The Housewives of Grand Prairie.

Bring it on BravoTV.