Ila Jo

Over Memorial day weekend I got to spend some more time with this sweet little angel babe.


Look at those lashes *swoon*

There's something so sweet about a little screaming baby ;)

Isn't she completely scrumptious?

I think so. :)

TREK!

Every year the kids school has a big fundraiser called TREK. Basically they run around the track as many times as they can and collect pledges (or their mom just buys them a t-shirt and calls it good as far as contributions go because she hates having the kids try to sell stuff and refuses to participate in all such things). It was Elliot's first year and he was so excited he could hardly sleep the night before. The kids had a great time, they got a t-shirt, water bottle, some pizza and snacks. We shockingly had a really nice day in the middle of weeks of rain, it was a TREK miracle!

Elliot was so cute. He and Grace each made it 7 laps. Grace walked most of the way. Elliot ran the whole way, every time I saw him he was running. Love that kid.

37

April and May were so crazy for us that I didn't even make Ray a cake for his birthday. I bought him one at Costco instead...I'm lame. I wish I would've done more because he is the love of my life. He is such an amazing husband and father. Most times I feel like I don't deserve the unconditional love he gives me. I'm so grateful to Ray for working so hard to provide for our family, for following his dreams, and for being such a good example to everyone around him. He works so hard, most weeks he works 6 days a week, and he willingly gives so much time to serving in our church. He's one of the good ones, I'm a lucky girl! Happy Birthday Ray!

I could only scrounge up 1 candle from the cupboard...I'm sure he would rather 1 than 37 though!

And here's a picture of this cutie, just because :)

Great to be 8! (part 2)

I'm so behind on blogging, people. Frankly, it's been hard to find the time, the VanderLouw's have been busy. But I feel compelled to keep blogging because it is my family journal, one I recently made into a book and I want to keep doing that every year. So I will blog on.

We had Grace's 8th birthday party at the end of April. The 8th birthday is a big deal to us, so it was an exciting month or so for Grace. For her party she originally wanted to have a sleepover, but we a a family rule about no sleepovers so we decided to have and almost-sleepover pj party. The girls all arrived at 5:00 in their pj's and stayed until 9, all 10 of them. All 10 7-8 year old girls... Anyway, we had pizza when they got here and did lots of other sleepovery stuff.

We decorated pillow cases

Played Just Dance 2

Had cupcakes

Opened presents...

Thanks for the squinkies and bubble gum Sydnie!

Thanks for the Zoobles Zoe!

Thanks for the hair barrettes and earrings Acadia!

Thanks for the stuffed animal and water bottle Elizabeth! (I guess these water bottles are all the rage? Grace was excited because everyone at school has one.)

Thanks for the Squinkies Rozlyn!

Thanks for the earrings Aria!

Thanks for the earrings and scrapbook stuff Kara!

Thanks for the bracelet making kit Emma!

Thanks for the Squinkies Lily! (can you tell what toy is popular these days?)

We had a great time!! (can you tell who the class clowns are? ;) )

We also made necklaces, played outside a lot, watched Tangled, and yours truly painted everyones tonails (um, yuck, but I took one for the team). Grace's 8th year of life is off to a great start!

Grace's Big Day

Grace was baptized this last weekend. It was a fabulous day. Grace was so excited and we are so proud of her for making this decision. Grace has such a sweet, pure spirit and she is such a good example to her brother and sisters. Lots of friends and family were able to attend the baptism and Grace felt very special. Grandma and Grandpa came, so did Aunt Dana and Uncle Jason and the COUSINS!! The kids had such a great time together, they played hard all weekend and were so sad when the Delgadillos had to go home. We are so grateful to everyone who made the long trip up to be here for Grace and everyone who participated in the baptism. It was a perfect weekend, we are very blessed. It was a perfect Mother's Day present, that and getting to be with my mom on Mother's Day, which hasn't happened in a long time. Elliot decided to write about the baptism for his small moment homework this week. I think he summed it up fairly well.




Such a sweet boy :)

Grace with mom and dad before the baptism.

Grace with Dad and Bishop Finn

Everyone :)

We trapped the kids in the little breezeway and let them go wild!

Happy girl :)

(grandma Croshaw made her beautiful dress)

For a recap of the rest of the weekend you can see my sister's post here.

Easters

We had a really fun Easter weekend, which I didn't get hardly any pictures of. We had an Easter brunch at our church on Saturday. The kids got to do an Easter egg hunt and we got to listen to some inspirational music numbers. Sunday morning we had our usual Easter baskets and went to church. The kids got some new Easter outfits which I did get some pictures of. So, here are the Easter cuties!

Great to be 8!

Grace turned 8 two weeks ago. It is very surreal. I can't believe how fast the last 8 years have gone. I became a new person the day she was born, the person I was born to become. She started it all. I can't believe it was 8 years ago. Anyway, Grace was anxiously awaiting her 8th birthday. It is a big milestone. She will be baptized in less than a week, and she finally got her ears pierced!!! (she's been talking about this for months!). We took her to the mall on her birthday to have it done. Ray kept teasing her about how bad it hurts and that she was going to cry. But my girl is tough didn't shed a single tear.


Right before she got them pierced.

Right after the deed was done!

And of course we did some shopping at Claire's right after. Grace spent all her birthday money from grandma on some new earrings. Her friend Aria joined us. Grace announced on the way home that Claire's is her new favorite store :)

Then we came home and celebrated with some cake and ice cream.

We had a friend party this last weekend, pics to come!

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