Happy Birthday Derrick!

It's hard to believe our baby turned 5 on March 23rd! He had a little party at preschool and wanted to take oreos to share with his friends. He got to blow out a candle and wear a birthday crown. This year for his birthday we bought him a new bike. He has been riding without training wheels for several months now and he was getting way too big for his little 12" bike. Jon was very particular about what kind of bike we got him, but we finally found one that Derrick (and Jon) loves! Emma bought him a remote control monster truck which he learned to drive in just a few minutes. It's amazing to me how fast he can learn things like that. On his actual birthday we had pictures scheduled with Melissa. I can't wait to see them! After pictures we went out for ice cream to Neilsen's, then went home to open presents.

Derrick wearing his Birthday Crown!

We had a birthday party for Derrick on Friday the 25th. We had the party at The Barney Sports Complex thanks to a gift certificate from Grandpa Trafzer. It's an indoor sports arena and we played dodge ball, basketball and soccer. All the kids (including big kids) had a blast! I decided to skip a cake this year and just made sports shaped shortbread cookies. Derrick loves those cookies and was happy to have them. He got some great presents from family and we are so glad everyone was able to make it to celebrate his birthday. It was an added bonus that my brother and his family were visiting from Washington. Because of that all the cousins had a sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa Clark's after the party. So Jon and I went to a movie with Ron and Sarah. It was a successful party and Derrick loved it! Happy Birthday to our Bubba!!

Derrick ready to play (of course with a green ball!)

Trying to play basketball...it was a little too high!

Derrick kicking the ball around

Emma playing with Uncle Mark

Derrick loves playing goalie

Derrick and Dylan playing soccer

Having fun!!

Jon explaining the rules of Dodge Ball! (Watch out!)

Derrick stealing a green ball away!

Emma wanted a picture of Uncle Kayle throwing her into the air. It cracks me up!

Ready for Dodge Ball

Emma and Derrick with red faces from playing so hard!

Cousins (Emma, Derrick, Amzi, Madi and Brinklie)

Presents

We had pizza for dinner

And cookies for dessert

Getting ready to make a wish

Derrick loved his sports cookies

Amzi, Gwen, Madi and Emma

Emma and Derrick with their Uncle Mark who left for the Marines a couple days after the party. We love him!

Thomas the Train

Last Saturday we surprised the kids with a trip to Globe to ride Thomas the Train. We told them we had a surprise and the suspense was killing them. They kept trying to guess what it was, a park, a museum, the zoo. But, we almost didn't all get to go. About an hour before we were going to leave Emma started complaining that her ear hurt. She had been coughing all week, but never a fever. She has never had an ear infection, but she was not acting like she felt very good. I gave her some Tylenol and Sudafed. Then we stopped at Walmart on the way out and bought some ear drops. By the time I came out of the store she had already fallen asleep in the car which is very unusual for her. I was feeling like such a bad mom dragging her out when she didn't feel good, but the tickets were nonrefundable and this was a rare occasion that Thomas was in town! I woke her up and put the drops in her ears. She slept for about 30 minutes and woke up feeling fine. Thank goodness! As we pulled into town Emma asked if we were riding a train. Then she started seeing Thomas balloons. Derrick was still clueless. We got our tickets at Will Call and the lady asked Derrick if he was excited and he still wasn't sure what was going on. We finally told him we were riding the "real" Thomas! He was excited but I don't think he quite comprehended. We went to wait at the station to get on and when Thomas finally pulled into the station, Derrick got it! His face lit up, now he was excited! We boarded the train and got to meet Mr. Conductor. The kids were all asked to help Thomas start by yelling "Push Thomas, push!" Emma and Derrick were yelling as loud as they could, along with every other kid on the train. We finally got underway and took our 25 minute train ride. Not very scenic or exciting in Globe, but the kids just thought it was cool to be on a real train. It was actually my first time on a real train too. Jon even got a nap in. He wasn't as excited. He has been on lots of trains, having served his mission in England. After the ride was over we got to go take pictures with Thomas and Sir Topham Hatt. Derrick was a little scared of Sir Topham Hatt. I don't really blame him, but we made him take a picture anyway! Then it was off to the bounce houses. Those kids sure love bounce houses! There was also a ball pit which Jon and I refused to let them play in...gross! One last stop at the gift shop to buy a train whistle and the day was complete. I am so glad we got to do this for Derrick. He absolutely LOVES Thomas the Train and this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. He is growing up so fast and won't like trains forever! Happy early Birthday to our Thomas loving Derrick!!

Outside the Station and Boarding area

Getting ready to board the train

Riding the train

Showing off their Jr. Engineer certificates

Thomas

Sir Topham Hatt

Projects

Over the past couple months Jon and I have had various projects in the works. I decided to pick up sewing. I bought myself a sewing machine on Black Friday and my mom came over to show me how to use it. My first project was going to be to make new curtains for the front room. But after searching for fabric, I couldn't find any that I liked. On a whim Jon and I decided to stop at JCPenney Outlet one day on our way home from IKEA. There were curtains there that we like and they were a great price. But the length was too short. So, my first sewing project was to add material to already made curtains. We ran into a small problem when I realized the width of the fabric didn't match the width of the curtains. So, I had to cut the curtains and sew up the length. But it was more practice so I couldn't really complain. The first panel took about 3 hours with instruction from my mom. I was dreading doing 5 more if they were all going to take that long. But luckily I found my groove and got them done within a couple days. My next project will be pillows to match the new curtains. (Oh and now we need to get new blinds and paint the front room) :)

Before picture

Side window after

Front windows after

Jon's projects have been loft beds for the kids. He called me one day and said he felt like doing a project that weekend and wanted to make Emma a loft bed. I said OK. He got to work and it turned out beautiful. He had a mishap with measuring the stairs, but nobody's perfect! :) Well after Emma got her new bed, Derrick had to have one. So Jon went to work again. And again it came out great. The kids absolutely love their new beds! I have discovered advantages and disadvantages to loft beds. Big advantage is the space in their rooms. Their bedrooms are so tiny and it is nice to not have a bed taking up all the space. Emma now has her desk under her bed with a lamp. She loves doing her homework there. Now we just need to get her a bookshelf and her room will be set. Disadvantages...I can't kiss them goodnight when they are asleep anymore. (Although I do climb the first few steps and blow them kisses). The sheets are not fun to change. But Emma has mastered the art of making her new bed. Derrick has chosen to just sleep on top of his comforter with a blanket, but that can't last forever because I am not washing the comforter all the time! I do worry sometimes about them falling or getting hurt. I fell off a bunk bed when I was 4 and broke my collar bone. But so far they have been very careful and followed the "Rules of the Loft Beds". Jon is amazing and I am so glad he took this project on. He did a fantastic job! Here are Jon's step by step pictures of the making of the beds.

Emma's finished bed

Derrick's finished bed