Happy Birthday Alec!

Alec has a birthday today!   Another in a crazy week of parties.

Alec is the oldest of the weeks kids, so he has had to pave the path for everyone!   I used to love watching his every move and sound.   He is a great kid.  He is such a nice cousin to my three boys.  I don't know if I have seen someone so young be so good with the little kids before.   I can't believe you are 13 today Alec!    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

1.  Alec

2. June

3. Trish and Eric (for making the kid)

Party, Party, Party!

Nothing but parties at our house!  We had Father's Day, My Birthday and Ben's Birthday all in a row.  We had a blast, but now I have to put my house back together.   Ben decide to invite all of his cousins to his party (unfortunately the Hodgsons couldn't make it, because their life is even crazier than ours, and of course Anna is in Seattle, Erika, We Love you too!), so we moved the location to the park.  The Aunts were good sports and came to hang out, so I had lots of help.    

Ben spent the week before, planning all the snacks that we were going to have for his Stars Wars party/lego star wars party/Mace Windu vs. Darth Vader party.  I have never seen a four year old with so many demands and expectations of what a birthday party should include.   This was his first after all, so I did indulge him a bit.  (He usually just gets a cake and sung to at the Weeks June family birthday/father's day party).  

He chose Red and Purple for the decorations, which were balloons and streamers.  He wanted Jedi snacks (red and purple Cap'n Crunchberries), cheetos (Mom, do they have purple cheetos?) Jello Jigglers in the shape of stars, star wars cupcakes and Mace Windu lightsabers.  (It took me longer than you would think to figure out the I could dip pretzel rods into purple stuff).   The final touch was a Death Star pinata that his Dad, Nick and I made.   It was actually a pretty fun project for us.

The Death Star, before it got destroyed!

The party was fun and Aunt Maren had the idea of a squirt gun fight,  which turned out to be great in the 90 degree weather.    We had a great time and and thanks to everyone who helped and came to the party!

Later that day, Dad came home early and we took Ben to the Olive Garden (some kids choose McDonalds, ours choose Olive Garden) where he beamed through the singing and the cake.   He loved it!  I wish I had taken my camera.   He kept saying, "thank you, thank you for my birthday", to everyone working there.     The best moment for me...   when tucking him in bed, way to late, he gave me a hug and said, "Thank you for my party Mom, I love you."

1.  BEN

2.  it's over.

3.  being a mother

Happy Birthday to Me! and Nikelle!

Erik pointed out that I need to post my own birthday!  It was Monday, June 16, the day before Ben's.   I got to spend the day with my three favorite boys and then go to Nick's t-ball game.  Then all four of my boys took me to dinner.   Erik got me a yummy ice cream cake and the boys gave me a pass to the Rec Center!  So now I can go work out, which is definitely needed :).  

 Thanks guys, it was a great day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NIKELLE!

This is a shout out to Nikelle!   I am lucky enough to be the one that gets to share a Birthday with her.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Reasons we love Nikelle:  She is beautiful, inside and out, she is hilarious (I love the things she says).   She is a great leader, and quite a daredevil,  she rides a mean skateboard, she throws like a girl (and that is a good thing :), and she is tough in a pack of boys.   We love you, Nikelle!

1.  Girls, tough enough to be one of the boys

2.  Beautiful Nikelle

3.  Sharing a special day

Happy Birthday Ben!

What a great day it was four years ago when Benjamin Thomas Berge joined our family.  He is our little comedian (whether he means it or not).  He is such a sweet, loving kid.   Don't try to brush his teeth, comb his hair, put a bandaid on him, or really touch him at all, but he does give the best hugs ever.   We love having him in our family.   We Love You, Ben!

We Love Dad!

We had a GREAT Father's Day!  The boys were really excited this year.  They made a picture frame with all the great things we love about Dad on it, and a new picture of them inside.   Then they painted him an apron.   It was a fun project to do with him.   We also got to go up to my house to spend some time with my Dad, and some of the other great Dads in our family.

The Boys love their Dad.   And they are lucky to have him.   He loves them so much and they can tell.   I asked them what they wanted to say about their Dad and this is what they said.

Nick:  I love Dad because he takes me to Cabela's and I love to wrestle and pummel him and spend time with him.

Ben:  I love Dad the best (and Brian).   When I asked him why, he said  Because he always comes back to me.

Zach:  Well, he didn't have much to say, but he did give me his best smile when I asked him.

1.  Erik

2.  My Dad

3.  Erik's Dad (We miss him tons!)

St. George

We had a great trip to St. George.   We left the day after school got out to beat the rush to warmer weather.   The condo was packed to the gills, but we had a great time.  I love that the cousins know each other so well.   I hope they will always be friends.   Zachary went swimming for the first time ever, and he seemed to like it.   I even managed to not get him sunburned.  We had lots of swimming, we hiked around the "indian cave" which is really an old pioneer shelter, swam at the pool, played at the park, visited Sand Hollow Reservoir, ate good food, and my favorite, searched for frogs on our walk at the nature center.   We saw no less than 100 frogs and all the kids got to hold one, except of course our "animal lover" (unless of course they are actually "real" animals) Ben.   It was, however,  a break through.   He loved seeing the frogs, got very close to actually touching one, (he really wanted to, but couldn't quite bring himself to do it.)  Unfortunately, I am sure that we also mashed a large number of them with shoes and stroller wheels.   Wish I had a picture of the kids with all the frogs.  Some of us also saw bunnies.  We were ready to leave, but I think everyone had a great time.   Thanks again for the condo Grandma!!

1.  Nature Walks

2.  Grandma's with condos (and she shares)

3.  Sisters to vacation with (and their kids) and my mom