Happy 7th Birthday, Elsie

(I don't get on here much these days.  Facebook and Instagram are just way too easy!) 

Elsie had a birthday!  She is seven years old.  This blows my mind.  I love this girl so much!

Here's her birthday quiz:

What is your favorite color?  Turquoise (It has been purple for quite a long time, but she planned on her 7th birthday that she was going to change it.  Purple is now her 2nd favorite color.)

What is your favorite toy?  My nook (She got it for Christmas and loves it.  I put her favorite music on it, and she loves to play salon games.  I love that she asks me if she can play on it.  She's so obedient.)

What is your favorite fruit?  Strawberries (She can't wait for summer!)

What is your favorite vegetable?  Carrots

What is your favorite movie?  Frozen (Shocker!)

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?  Pizza (She still loves it.  Papa John's is her favorite.  She eats chicken nuggets for school lunch EVERY DAY.  She won't let me make her a lunch, and she won't try anything different.  She is definitely Aaron's child!)

What is your favorite outfit?  My pink skirt, white leggings, boots, and my striped shirt with sequins on it. 

What is your favorite game?  Spot It

What is your favorite snack?  String cheese (She has at least 2 a day...at least)

What is your favorite animal?  Dogs

What is your favorite song (top3)?  Let It Go from Frozen, Roar by Katy Perry, Story of My Life by One Direction

What is your favorite sport?  Soccer

What is your favorite church song?  Silent Night (This is the song she learned on the piano for her Christmas recital.  She loves it now.)

What is your favorite book?  Nancy Clancy chapter books  (This girl loves to read.  She thinks it's so cool that she can read chapter books by herself now.  We have also been reading Harry Potter with her, and she loves those as well.)

Who is your best friend?  Brooklen, Leila, Liberty

What is your favorite cereal?  Cinnamon Life

What do you like to do outside?  Swim, ride my bike, play on the playground

What is your favorite drink?  Raspberry Lemonade

What is your favorite holiday?  Why?  Christmas because it's Jesus' birthday, I get presents, and I get to be with family

What is your favorite season?  Why?  Summer because I do a lot outside and I like being outside

What do you like to take to bed with you at night?  Paxton Bear, Uni, and my silky  (She sleeps with a bear that Aunt Liz made for Paxton when he was born, her unicorn dream light that she doesn't turn on...just snuggles, and her silky that she's had since being born made by Aunt Piper)

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?  Toast

What do you want for dinner on your birthday?  Cheesecake Factory (She has always loved the bread, but now she loves the cheesecake.  We actually have to share with her now.  Darn it!)

What do you want to be when you grow up?  Artist, either a painter or drawer


To celebrate her birthday, we had a Frozen birthday party.  There were 13 girls there including Elsie, and it was quite the party. 

Thank goodness I had Angie and Piper there to help.  The painted the girls' nails at the "Snowflake Salon"

The house was decorated like a winter wonderland, we had lots of snacks and treats, there were a few crafts and games, and a lot of singing.

First Day of First Grade

Today was the first day of school.  I have a lot of mixed emotions about this!  I miss her already, and it's only 12:30.  But I did I love going to the store by myself and taking my time as I walked around!  I'm feeling real happy and relaxed right now, but I also know I have to start "working" for Aaron real soon.  We have officially entered a new stage of life!

Elsie has been looking forward to starting school.  She's been a little nervous about lunchtime, but we've come up with enough ideas that have helped her feel better. 

I woke her up plenty early this morning, got her showered and dressed, let her take her time eating breakfast.  It was a very pleasant morning.  We had time for pictures, but she still wouldn't stand on the front porch to pose.  We tried the back, but it was too windy!  We got the pictures inside while we laughed about how grumpy she was last year. Then we were off to school!

I told her I wanted to walk her in, and at first she said no.  Then she realized I really wanted to, so she said I could.  Haha!  There were so many parents in there with cameras, so I wasn't the only crazy one.  I wanted a picture by the classroom door, but she wouldn't do it.  Finally I got her teacher to pose with her, so she couldn't get away. 

Right after that, she walked right in the room, put her backpack away, moved her lunch magnet, sat down at her desk, and started coloring.  All business!  I managed to get a hug from her in the middle of all this.  Then I stood out in the hallway and watched her.  She looked up a few different times and saw me staring at her.  She gave me a cute smile and continued on with her work.  I love that girl!

Our weekend

We had a fun-filled weekend!

Elsie went to Princess Camp with her cousins, Harper and Qiana. 

Our 3 princesses ready for the party

We peaked in while they were still finishing up and saw them dancing around the yard with their wands.  Even though it was SO hot, they were in heaven!

A visit with Cinderella will make any little girl happy!

We went to the Spanish Fork Rodeo Saturday night.  It was such a beautiful night, the rodeo was so fun, and we even got to watch Aaron go down in the arena to help accept an award for their firm.  We all decided the event where they tie up the cow is our least favorite.  Elsie liked when the kids rode the sheep, and thinks she wants to do it next year.  haha.  There is no way she would even get on that thing! 

Family Selfie!

Did you notice Elsie's missing front tooth?  That tooth #5 gone.

Their firm's banner

Another one on the gate

In the arena.  Aaron was worried about getting horse poo on his shoes.

I took a picture of the screen because you can see them better.

We had a party at our house last night with all the Woodruffs that are in town.  It was so much fun!  There were 24 of us.  The kids played so well, and we got to visit and laugh. 

I stole Angie's photo collage from facebook.  Great pics!

A little tribute to Jared.  Aaron says he was still laughing from the picture we took right before this where he is sticking his tongue in my ear.  Oh my!

 

That was our weekend!  How was yours?

So far this summer

Elsie is going to tennis camp through the city.  She loves it!  She's pretty darn good, too.  We'll probably get her in some private lessons soon.

We went to the Springville carnival yesterday.  We let Elsie get her face painted and she was in heaven. 

Aaron and Elsie went a few rides.  They both love the wild, spinny rides.  I prefer to take pictures! 

Elsie lost her 4th tooth the other night.  She's feeling pretty cool about it.  The tooth fairy brings a dollar bill folded into something interesting.  So far she's given her a heart, a butterfly, a ring, and a shirt.  

We met up with a friend from school at Seven Peaks.  The girls had such a great time, and I survived the crowds.

We've been swimming a ton, playing with friends, eating out more than we should, babysitting some kids in exchange for swim lessons, getting half off Sonic shakes...and it's only the beginning of June!

Road Trip to Vegas

Back in March, we went a little three-day getaway to Las Vegas with some friends, the Westovers.  We stayed at the Golden Nugget, and had a great time.  The hotel was great, the pool was so much fun, we had gorgeous weather (even better than we were expecting), and we were in great company.  We had lots of good food, too, thanks to Becky's recommendations. 

On our way!  So excited to get out of town.  It's hard for Aaron to pull away from work since he's on his own.  He gets so stressed about not being there to take calls and such.  We needed a break!

We had a cold, gross winter here.  It was amazing to see this kind of temperature!

We stayed right by Fremont St. so we walked around there at night.  Crazy people and crazy stuff!

The Westovers - Merv, Becky, Violet, and Rock

The pool surrounded a big shark tank.  Super fun to watch during the day and really pretty at night.

There was also a waterslide that went through the tank.  Elsie rode on it many times!! 

This girl had a good time!

Spring Recital Videos

Elsie's spring dance recital was Friday night.  She was not in the best mood, so she was really not looking forward to dancing. You'll notice her attempt at a smile in the videos. I think she's still pretty darn cute, though!

Tap Dance


http://youtu.be/q0NtYqCmbkM

Jazz/Ballet

http://youtu.be/Sve7rW9QIXo

(I couldn't get the videos to upload to blogger.  Here's the links.)

Train to Temple Square

We have been wanting to ride the new Frontrunner train up to Salt Lake for a while, and we finally got to do it yesterday.  It was a beautiful day, and the perfect thing to do as a family.  After a little early afternoon nap, we headed up to Provo to catch the train.  (I figured out the route/time but still felt a little unsure of what we were doing.  Thank goodness the other times I've had to use public transportation I was with someone that had it all figured out...a little shout-out to Angie!)

Frontrunner was great.  A nice and smooth ride, tables, outlets, wi-fi!  It took about an hour to get from Provo up to Salt Lake.

We got off at the stop by Gateway and just walked over to it.  We remembered that Aaron had his birthday coupon for Tucano's, so we feasted there.  It was amazing!  Really one of the better times I've eaten there. 

Then we took Trax to Temple Square and walked around there a bit.  We sat in the Assembly Hall and listened to some sister missionaries guide a tour of Korean guests.  It was fun to just sit and listen.  We walked through the visitor's center and took some pics outside.

Next we walked over to the Beehive House and did the tour.  It would've been really great until this family came in with two crazy kids.  They were so obnoxious the whole tour.  They wouldn't listen to the missionaries, were running all over the place.  What were the parents doing, you ask?  Nothing.  Just being carnies!  Okay, I'm done venting.  Besides that, it was cool to see all the rooms and picture what it was like long ago. 

After the tour, we walked over to City Creek, looked through a few stores, got a piece of cheesecake and ate it outside.  Doesn't get much better than that!