My Baby Turns 18 and is Almost a High School Graduate!

We celebrated Brianna turning 18 and her upcoming graduation this past Saturday, May 30th (actual bday is the 31st). Had a BBQ, games and fun at our home (for a stark comparison to the lush green you see in our current yard - scroll down to December posts for the many feet of snow we had):

Lots of great kids having a good time:
Brianna and Alyssa - friends since before kindergarten - now graduating and going on to BYU:

Michelle, Brianna, Hannah and Taylor playing badmitten:

Ethan showing off his hula hooping while skateboarding skills:

"Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you..."

"Happy Birthday dear Brianna. Happy Birthday to you!" (you can't beat a good Costco cake!)

Allen and Leslie - neighbors from the beginning and friends forever!:

Jeff and Jillian - so glad they moved into our ward!:

Ky and Aly - a picture says enough!:

Hannah, Michelle and Brianna - a parent is sure grateful when their kid chooses great friends!

Kenzie and Taylor:

Brianna, Parker, Hannah and Michelle enjoying their cake: (mostly wanted to get a pic of Parker when he wasn't looking - he'd been dodging me all evening! Check out my pretty fuschias too!):

Paul and Amy - not too shabby for happy parents of a high school graduate! -- Wait a second - didn't I just graduate?

One last pic of Brianna at her party with Jarred and Jenna:

I am truly grateful that Brianna entered our family 18 years ago and made me a MOM! She paved the way for her 3 siblings superbly and continues to shine a VERY BRIGHT LIGHT for them and others to follow (including her mom!)

And that, my friends, CATCHES this blog up! Now, I've got a week and a half to get this place ship shape, before graduation on June 11th!

Kenzie turns 15 - Watch out World!

Mackenzie, a.k.a. Kenzie Lou, turned 15 on April 19th! For the family celebration, Kenzie wanted Marionberry Pie from the Snohomish Pie Company: As time goes on, I often feel like I'm looking in a mirror (personality wise) with this one. Paybacks sure are heck! Kenzie had these lovely ladies over that Friday after her birthday for a slumber party. Below are Eva, Katherine, Kenzie, Bailey, Jennifer and Julie:

Pretty girl:

Eva and Kenzie:

Jennifer and Kenzie:

Kenzie and Bailey (Kenzie wants everyone to know that she is NOT a Hannah Montana fan, that the balloon and gift bad is ALL a joke!)

Kenzie and Julie:

Happy Birthday Kenzie! Sure are glad you're in our family - it would be boring without you! You make me smile - (and laugh when you're not looking!)

Aaron turns 9 and a smattering of Easter

Two days after we got home from AZ, Aaron turned 9! Aaron wanted birthday doughnuts for his family celebration:

Open Wide!Handsome boy on his birthday:
A few days later, Aaron had a few friends over for more birthday fun. Duncan and Aaron:

Aaron and Drew:

Aaron and Cameron:

Aaron and Klaiten:

Aaron and Sean:

Doin' the "Happy Birthday to Me" Dance:

Contemplating the best strategy to tackle these 9 candles:

Success!

Two days later was Easter. We've often gotten together with family for Easter, but after our trip to AZ, we were happy to stay home and have a low key Easter Sunday with just us. Here are a few pics of the kids hunting for their baskets. Carly's first:

Brianna:

Kenzie (she and Nanna like their purse "baskets" - Carly says she wants that next year too:

Aaron:

Another Easter in the books!