Oliver's 8th Birthday
This year Oliver's birthday was on a Sunday, which meant a whole weekend of celebrating.
On Friday we took donuts to school and heard all the kids sing "Mr. Evensen's version" of the happy birthday song to him.
Then, Friday after school we invited 14 friends to go to Progressive Power Tumbling with us, then back to our house for cake & ice cream. It was the perfect activity for energetic boys.
We did the party on Friday so Brenden could be there. Immediately after the party, he went with the 11-year-old scouts to a klondike campout. He said they were freezing but it actually sounds like they had a good time.
When Brenden got home on Saturday afternoon, we met Mom & Dad & Christine and went to the new Provo Beach Resort. This time (we've been there once before) the kids did the ropes course, the laser tunnel, the jungle gym, and Huck and June did a round of mini-bowling while everyone else played a game of regular bowling - congrats to dad for a nearly perfect game of spares. Then Brenden gave the flow-rider a try and had a great time boogie-boarding - in Provo in the middle of winter.
After that activity, we met the Wells (along with everyone getting out of the BYU basketball game as well as a whole slew of dressed-to-the-nines Springville High School pre-Sweetheart-Dancers) at Oliver's choice - Brick Oven Pizza for dinner, free lollipop sundae and all.
Sunday was Oliver's actual birthday, and Scott got permission to skip his morning bishopric meetings so we could open presents and have a birthday breakfast together (sausage-filled Æbleskivers with bacon on the side). That evening The Lower Lights played a fireside in Orem so we got a sitter for Huck & June (currently not welcome at such events) so the rest of us could go watch. It was awesome as usual. Then Mom & Dad came over afterward for dinner and dessert - and to help us scramble to finish the school Valentines due the next day. And thus closed out Oliver's Birthday celebration weekend.
The next day was Valentine's day which brought a family trip to the mall to get a case for Oliver's new iPod and use his mall gift certificate,
and these gorgeous flowers from Scott (via Flower Basket). After bedtime, we had a romantic stay-in date complete with PF Changes takeout and the final farewell episode of Friday Night Lights - the best show ever on TV. I can't believe it's over. I don't think the reality's hit me yet.On Wednesday June's glider bike got run over by the neighbor's car, which forced her to pull out the pedal bike and learn to ride it. Here she is showing Dad her new skill when he got home from work that day:
Day 1
By the next day she was starting by her self and going down the driveway:
Day 2
We are completely converted fans of the no-pedal gliders for teaching kids to ride. That plus the tricycle to learn to pedal allowed us to completely skip training wheels and falling and running along side her.
Wednesday night Mom & Dad took Christine, Grandma Z, Scott, and I to see Ballet West's performance of Sleeping Beauty. We had amazing seats, and I thought it was breathtaking. This marks the 3rd year in a row of this tradition, and I really love it. Certainly doesn't hurt to follow it up with dinner at Hires - always a treat.
Thursday Scott's sister Stephanie and her boys, along with Uncle Brett, came up from California for a visit.
We were more than ready to show them a good time.
On Friday we let the boys skip school and took the whole crew to Sundance to ski/snowboard. The boys all did great. Scott went with them in the morning, and then I tag-teamed him and skied the afternoon.
photo by Justin Hackworth
Sundance has got to be one of my favorite places on earth - and being so close and accessible makes it all the better.
Saturday was my 35th birthday. That sounds old. But I can't complain - it was a great day filled with family and fun activities and a great excuse all day to force people to do what I wanted them to ("no fighting on Mom's birthday!"). The day started with Scott taking all 6 kids by himself for breakfast at Krispy Kremes. Then we convinced the boys to babysit the little ones so Scott, Brett, Stephanie and I could go to have brunch at Communal. That was heavenly. Such an amazing place - great atmosphere and even better food.
When we got home, the kids were ready for an activity but we couldn't decide on just one so we decided to do it all. First we took them all to Jump on It for 2 hours of trampoline jumping. Immediately followed by Provo Beach Resort to do the flow-rider, and an alternate activity for those not tall enough to surf, Color Me Mine. With a day like that, can you think of even one reason for kids to complain or fight or be grumpy? Me neither. Especially on Mom's birthday.
We got home and everyone was exhausted, so we put the little ones to bed and Aunt Stephanie offered to bbsit so Scott & I could go out. My one request was I wanted to go somewhere quiet and simple and non-kid-friendly. We ended up at Spark with the Kendricks, who also had sleep-over babysitters so we got to stay out past midnight! That was the perfect way to close out my birthday.
The next day we left Huck with Grandma, made sure our ridiculously massive collection of ipods/iphones were fully charged, and ventured up to Park City to find some real snow. We took the kids tubing at Gorgoza Park.
June was very nervous at first, but thanks to their great toddler practice area (plus a $1 bribe) she soon found her nerve and tried out the big hill and had a blast. The boys had a great time too in spite of the super snowy and freezing cold conditions.
After tubing we went to Main Street for dinner, then headed home (the boys completely crashed in the car). At home we watched The Karate Kid remake (although Scott refused to watch it since he thinks it's blasphemous that someone dared to remake his beloved original Karate Kid), and enjoyed some hot cocoa with whip-eez homemade whip cream for dessert (thanks Rachel!). The Wileys leave bright and early in the morning to head back home.
Needless to say, this has been a rather exhausting week. But, really, it's nothing to complain about.
Wednesday night Mom & Dad took Christine, Grandma Z, Scott, and I to see Ballet West's performance of Sleeping Beauty. We had amazing seats, and I thought it was breathtaking. This marks the 3rd year in a row of this tradition, and I really love it. Certainly doesn't hurt to follow it up with dinner at Hires - always a treat.
Thursday Scott's sister Stephanie and her boys, along with Uncle Brett, came up from California for a visit.
We were more than ready to show them a good time.
On Friday we let the boys skip school and took the whole crew to Sundance to ski/snowboard. The boys all did great. Scott went with them in the morning, and then I tag-teamed him and skied the afternoon.
photo by Justin HackworthSaturday was my 35th birthday. That sounds old. But I can't complain - it was a great day filled with family and fun activities and a great excuse all day to force people to do what I wanted them to ("no fighting on Mom's birthday!"). The day started with Scott taking all 6 kids by himself for breakfast at Krispy Kremes. Then we convinced the boys to babysit the little ones so Scott, Brett, Stephanie and I could go to have brunch at Communal. That was heavenly. Such an amazing place - great atmosphere and even better food.
When we got home, the kids were ready for an activity but we couldn't decide on just one so we decided to do it all. First we took them all to Jump on It for 2 hours of trampoline jumping. Immediately followed by Provo Beach Resort to do the flow-rider, and an alternate activity for those not tall enough to surf, Color Me Mine. With a day like that, can you think of even one reason for kids to complain or fight or be grumpy? Me neither. Especially on Mom's birthday.We got home and everyone was exhausted, so we put the little ones to bed and Aunt Stephanie offered to bbsit so Scott & I could go out. My one request was I wanted to go somewhere quiet and simple and non-kid-friendly. We ended up at Spark with the Kendricks, who also had sleep-over babysitters so we got to stay out past midnight! That was the perfect way to close out my birthday.
The next day we left Huck with Grandma, made sure our ridiculously massive collection of ipods/iphones were fully charged, and ventured up to Park City to find some real snow. We took the kids tubing at Gorgoza Park.
June was very nervous at first, but thanks to their great toddler practice area (plus a $1 bribe) she soon found her nerve and tried out the big hill and had a blast. The boys had a great time too in spite of the super snowy and freezing cold conditions.After tubing we went to Main Street for dinner, then headed home (the boys completely crashed in the car). At home we watched The Karate Kid remake (although Scott refused to watch it since he thinks it's blasphemous that someone dared to remake his beloved original Karate Kid), and enjoyed some hot cocoa with whip-eez homemade whip cream for dessert (thanks Rachel!). The Wileys leave bright and early in the morning to head back home.
Needless to say, this has been a rather exhausting week. But, really, it's nothing to complain about.
3 comments:
You Wileys sure know how to have a good time. Happy Birthday, Sarah and Oliver. We love you!
Happy birthday, you two!
(and we are so with you on the pedal-less bikes -- they're the best!
ableskivers!
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