The Most Popular: May 2009

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Sunday, May 17, 2009

A quiet day at home- FINALLY!

Today was so wonderful! We have all been so sick, and with this being the crazy-end-of-school-insanity time of year, I have not been able to rest.... at all.... for weeks! This day, the day after the big birthday party, is JUST what I've been needing! Our house is all clean, the boys have tons of new toys to play with from James' party yesterday, and I have nothing on my agenda. We built Spongebob's Krusty Krab as well as a Jedi Starfighter out of Legos, James completed his first Bionicles, we made stickers, colored with new Blendy Pens, molded with Fusion Clay, and more! I have been able to rest, relax, and enjoy some time at home with my family today, and I couldn't ask for a better day!

Owen doin' some water play in the backyard.

James rockin' his new superhero get-up, handmade for him by my talented friend, Kristin.

Playing Bionicles on the back porch.

Up, up... and away!!!

Don't mess with this superhero!

James' 5th Birthday Party

Yesterday we celebrated James' 5th birthday with a big party at our house. After our super-hot party at Bille Park last year when we all just about had a heat stroke, we have decided that pirthday parties are just better at our own house. We had a great time with our friends and family and were able to stay cool. The theme of the party James chose this year was SUPERHERO, so as their favor, every child got to design their own superhero cape that their mommies could iron together.

Heidi in her super pink superhero cape.

Hero Heidi saying hello to baby Dane.

Grandma & Owen

Matthew getting wild with Jordan and the other kiddos.

Elizabeth Harris, Gwen & Roy's daughter.

Gwen (with baby Lillian), Stefanie, Matt & Eric Zimmerman

Kelly, Kristin, Tara, Jason, Luke, Todd, Chad, Kristin

Superhero Kelly (with Keegan's cape on)

The driveway all set up for bike rides, bubbles and splashing through the bike-wash station!

Paige Kennedy

Keegan McGregor

Happy Birthday to James!

Poor Kelly was sick and couldn't come, so we had to get a plain old Costco cake. I have been really, really sick lately too, so when it came time to blow out the candles I noticed all I had was a "2" candle!!!! Oh well, better than no candle at all!

Super-Spidey girl, Jordan with her cape....

...and some sweet moves.

Owen chose this superhero outfit-

Darth Vader mask, mis-matched shoes, and Charli's mini-skirt.

Jason was so proud...

A bunch of superheroes off on their mission!

The boys were so excited to have Jordan & Tyler spend the night!

Tyler all ready for bed.

Kindergarten Round-Up

Don't they just look like Kindergartners???

I almost dropped dead the other day when received a letter from Paradise Elementary School addressed to "The Parents of James Behlke." It's official- he's a kindergartner!!! I have been on the teacher-side of all this school enrollment stuff for almost 10 years now, but it's all so different as a parent! Paradise Elementary, where James & Charli will be in kindergarden together, invited us to their Kindergarten Round-Up and Open House last Thursday night. We were invited to tour all of the kindergarten classrooms and meet the teachers and ask questions. The kids were impressed with the classrooms and it was very nice for us parents to check everything out in a casual way. I think I'll be freaking out a little less come next August now that I've been able to see and get a feel for everything.

Charli denying James a kiss after their big-kindergartner-picture.

Two big kids, strutting down the kindergarten hallway.

See if you notice a theme as far as where each of the kids went as soon as we entered each of the five kindergarten classrooms....

Charli & Owen at the play kitchen in Mrs. Levin's "Curious George" room.

Owen serving Kristin tea at the play kitchen.

Charli & Owen at the play kitchen in Mrs. M's "Clifford" classroom.

James found the Lego's right away in Mrs. M.'s "Clifford" classroom.

James building a race track in Mrs. Levin's classroom.

James with the blocks in Mrs. Fox's classroom.

School starts August 11, so first-day-of kindergarten pictures are just around the corner!!

Girls' Spa Weekend in Reno!

Last weekend my girls and I escaped for two days of relaxation and fun. I planned this get-away for us after Jason & I went to The Peppermill over Spring Break. The hotel is a bit off the main drag in Reno, so it's less crowded and they recently did a huge remodel so the rooms are very nice. We checked in late, so we didn't get one of the upgraded rooms, but we didn't care, we had a blast despite the funky, outdated, purple decor.

I took this shot of the girls on the elevator. I got myself in the mirror (flash!), but only one of Kristin's eyes!

We were all so thrilled to have Kristi fly down from Washington to spend the weekend with us! We surprised her with a confetti-filled welcome and some fun bachelorette gifts & surprises!

A few of the girls pooped out early on the first night, but Brooke K., Kelly, Krisit & I made our way to the Fireside Lounge to have a few drinks and visit. We ended up laughing our heads off and had a blast!

At breakfast in the Coffee Shop-

we had to have group shots taken whenever possible!

We decided to take Brooke, 5 months and 3 weeks pregnant with twins,

to Babies-R-Us for a baby registry bonanza!

After all that shopping, we headed back to the hotel for our spa appointments. Even though our appointments weren't until 4:00, we checked-in to the spa at 2:00. When you are having a treatment, you are allowed to use the spa facility all day if you want. We ended up staying for over 5 hours and it was by far the most fun part of our weekend. We ordered room service to be delivered to us on the spa patio where we lounged in our robes, ate, swam, and rested. My mom and Aunt Susan were there too- they happened to have rooms & treatments at the same time we did, so seeing them was an added bonus! Kelly, Brooke K., and Kristin all had pedicures while Kristi, Tara, Brooke W., and I had massages. I swear, I had the best massage I've ever had in my life that day. As a matter of fact, I was so relaxed, it took me a good two hours to come out of my relaxed massage-fog!

Kelly, Brooke W., and Kristin,

looking like a group of monks by the indoor hot tub.

Preggo-Goddess- Brooke W. and her twin belly at 5 months, 3 weeks.

Brooke K. & I loved swimming in the indoor pool.

Kelly & Kristin choosing nail polish colors during their pedicure.

Brooke K. & I waiting for our massages while we share a chair & a cookie.

Kristi rockin' the towel on her way into the sauna & steam rooms.

I said something funny right before I took this picture, but we were all so relaxed at the time, none of us can remember what I said that made them all laugh!

Kelly took us to one of her favorite dinner spots- Ruby River. We, of course, had a group shot taken in the lobby! It was an awesome steakhouse and we had so much fun we ended up closing the joint down! One of my favorite moments of the weekend happened when Brooke K. accidentally went into the men's restroom... followed by a large man!! We laughed so hard we almost peed our pants! Well.... I did actually, but only a little...