Circus Circus!! :D

Yesterday we had out family activity 4 the week. :D We had the opportunity 2 take the kids 2 the circus here in South Jordan. :D And this activity was yet another very ECONOMICAL success!! :D The girls got coupons 2 go 2 the circus 4 FREE so only Hoko & I had 2 pay. And w/6 kids?? It doesn't get any better than this. :D We've taken the kids 2 the Ringling Bros show before & I swear this one was pretty much the same exact one. :D We had a BLAST & the kids had a GREAT time 4 the 1st hour. That's how long we lasted before I let them SUCKER me into buying snowcones. Lol. It was GREAT though & the memories created are PRICELESS!! As they always are. :D

'OUTSTANDING BEHAVIOR'

YAY!! Our little Polu Marie got an award 4 'OUTSTANDING BEHAVIOR' & was able 2 go down 2 the principal's office 2 pick a prize. :D She came home 4rom school, her face lit up & could not wait 2 show us her BRIGHT pink piece of paper. Lol. :D These are the moments we live 4. Doesn't cost a thing, but helps 2 reassure us that our efforts in the 'PARENTING' department aren't in VAIN. Hah!! :D We'll treasure these memories so we have something 2 look back on once her adolescent years kick in & BOMBARD us w/all the changing & dramatic hormones & mood swings we all went thru @ that stage in life. Lol. :D Oh the joys. . . . . :D

University Of Utah Women's Gymnastics!! :D

It's that time of the year again & we had the opportunity once again 2 go watch the 'U' women's gymnastics meet against Georgia University. I got a family pass 2 it last year as a part of my gift bag 4 New Moon. :D We had a blast & it was PACKED!! We were part of making school history in the most in attendance @ their meets. A WHOPPING 15,552!! :D May not sound like much when compared 2 football, but it made school history. Lol. The 'U' girls did an AMAZING job & won their meet. The family time spent w/the kids is always PRICELESS & we look 4ward 2 getting out there & exploring the many many family fun & family friendly activities this state has 2 offer!! :D

We made a quick stop @ the grocery story 1st so we can pick up some goodies & drinks. Then we headed up 2 the meet. When we arrived, the weather was GREAT!! A little cold, but not too bad @ all. When the meet was done & we were ready 2 head home, we walked out of the Huntsman Dome & were greeted w/our most favorite thing on earth!! SNOW!! Lol. It was so BEAUTIFUL!! The size of those flakes were so BIG & WHITE that we had 2 snap away on the camera & catch our favorite time of year. :D

Happy 9th Birthday 2 Our Growing Aaliyah!! :D

Yesterday we had the opportunity 2 celebrate our daughter, Aaliyah's 9th birthday. :D We had our families & friends over 4 a small dinner along w/ice cream & cake afterwards. Aaliyah's request 2 us earlier this month was if I could take her shopping cause she was in 'DYER' need of some new clothes since she was growing out of her current ones. So Hoko & I took 2 the discount stores & bought Aaliyah some new clothes as well as 2 pairs of shoes. :D She was in need of new shoes as well since our dog, Titan, took it upon himself 2 pee in her shoes. Lol. So GRRRROOOOOSSSSSSS!! And I really mean that!! Lol. We washed her shoes in the washer, but it seemed 2 come out a little ruined. We found some GREAT deals & didn't have 2 spend a ton on her stuff.

As one of my goals 4 the New Year, I've decided that we are going 2 make all of our kids birthday cakes 4rom here on out. :D It not only saves us so much money, but it's so much more sentimental & I've noticed that our kids take so much more PRIDE in knowing that we actually took the time 2 make it 4 them. It's great!! :D With that said, I took 2 the WORLD WIDE WEB 2 look up a cake 4 Aaliyah. Since I'm all about the Food Network, that was my 1st stop. I was browsing away when I came across an ice cream cake. Since Aaliyah's getting older, there was no 'PRINCESS' cake option. So I thought the ice cream cake would be perfect!! :D I quickly looked over the directions & it seemed pretty simple enough so we did a test run 2 days before her bday. It came out GREAT & we ended up making her 3 of them since they do come out a little on the small side. Lol. Her AWESOME auntie Taeao came w/a HUGE bday cupcake 4 her & it was so TIGHT!! :D She made it herself along w/all the decorations on the outs that she did w/different color frosting. :D We love & appreciate all of our families & friends that were able 2 come out & celebrate w/us. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AALIYAH!! You'll never know how much you're BEING in our lives has helped us CHANGE 4 the better. :D We love you so much!! :D