The Superhero Party

Tanner's party turned out AWESOME! All the kids showed up in costumes and we took some quick pictures of them with the fun backdrop Saralynn painted. They were really cute and loved acting out their character. We let them play downstairs for a while, cause, lets face it, kids love using their imaginations while in costume more than listening to some mom tell them rules. And they played loud, long, and hard.
Then they each came upstairs and made their own pinata from plastic cups. Next it was a superhero lunch and cake. Then Riddler stole all the pinatas and left picture clues around the yard for the kids to follow so they could find the pinatas. Once found, we hit them open (I think I'd use styrophome cups or way less tape next time because they didn't bust open like I'd hoped)

Then the presents. Tanner was super spoiled by all his friends!

Then treatbags and farewells.

Once all the party kids left, we went back out to the garage to play around and take some more fun pictures.Thank yous were the kids photos in comic frames and candies in superheros.

What a fabulous party, if I do say so myself :)

Superhero Birthday invites!

Tanner went with a Superhero theme again this year for his 5th Birthday.

We, or perhaps, by far, mostly I, had a blast preparing and throwing the party for him. For starters, we took a tonne of pictures in costumes and made these fun birthday invitations for the party. Then we delivered them, again in costume. Tanner KNEW he was the coolest kid ever!

July 1st - amazing as always!

I can't really think of any valid reason in the world that I would Ever miss July 1st in Raymond. I can't say the festivities are amazingly fun, because, well, they aren't. I think it must be ingrained in every pore of my body from my childhood from riding behind my mom's horse on a travois dressed as an Indian with my siblings - you don't miss Raymond days.

Like always, we arrive for the parade and set up in our usual spot near Laurene's house. The parade begins and you cheer till you are hoarse so people will throw more candy for me, I mean my kids :), then we have a reunion dinner at Kanyo's with whoever can make it. We eat till we are sick, kids play till they are wiped out, then we hang out at Ralph's, grandma's, or my mom's. This year everyone with kids came out to my mom's to ride horses and play tag on the bales. Everyone loved it, and we had such fun! Then back to Raymond for their kids festival with astro jumps, tonnes of candy, and other fun randoms.Peter loved the parade and fought for the candy as hard as the next kid. We all loved it!

Uncle Chase and his family came down - yay!- and Chase helped the kids rope a cow! Yee haw!Grandma and Grandpa don't miss a beat. They are there for every moment of July 1st. Thanks for settling in Raymond and taking your kids to the parades when they were young. Thanks for helping with all the floats as I grew up, and thanks for cheering and catching candy with my kids now! Sure love you both!

It was also my 10 year reunion this year. Not many people showed, but it was nice visiting with those who did.

We also went to Hill Spring a few days before the 1st for the town triathlon/biathlon. Larry and I went in the team biathlon and kicked butt!!... kind of. I think we got 4th, but it was lots of fun!

Give me some more Peter please

My kids grow up WAY TO FAST! I swear this little man was just born, and now he's a speedy, sassy, independant machine. He wants to do everything by himself now, and, to my suprise, he can do most of it. Tanner and Hattie were opposite toddlers, and then... so is Peter. He is into garbages, rips all our books, hides everyones shoes is the craziest places, colors on walls, hits, climbs, and gets into locked cupboards. All things my other two never did. It's throwing me for a loop.

But he is Oh so worth it. I can't get enough of his little 'two-tooth' grin (or chicklet grin as someone called it :) that he is always flashing. He doesn't really like many people, but safe in my arms he likes to say 'hi' to all the old ladies. He loves being outside. When we camp, he thinks it is the best life can offer; being outside from morning to night.

Being number three, he gets away with murder that my other two never would have. I swore I would never do that, but how can I resist.

We love him so much and can't wait to see what this firey little goofs turns into at 2.

Father's Day

Okay, so these posts are really late, but here are our father's day pictures. We took these photos in the front yard and put them on a tac board in the bathroom by the sink for Larry so he can tac up all the pictures the kids give him. Poor Tanner was really sick that day, as you can tell by his eyes.

Tanner and Hattie each filled out a 'dad question sheet'. Some of my favorite answers

Hattie's

What is dad's name : Larry Bester Grandpa Bester
What is dad's favorite food : tomatoes

What is dad's favorite thing to do : make paper airplanes

Tanner's

How heavy is dad : to the end of numbers

What is your favorite thing to do with dad : watch superman movies

How are you most like dad : I copy what he says

Peter calls out 'da da da' every morning until Larry comes to get him, waves goodbye every morning Larry leaves, and smothers him with kisses every night.

Larry is the best dad ever. He never tires of the kids, even when they want him to wrestle for hours. He gets up with Peter every morning, gets everyone breakfast, works hard all day, comes home and plays with them, then gets them ready for bed. The kids love it when Larry comes home from work. It's seriously like the start of a party for them most days. Peter hears the door open and often has a heart-attack trying to get up the stairs as fast as he can so he can be the first to Larry. Saturday mornings mean Larry makes pancakes, often in the form of superman and princesses. I love that Larry takes off the weekends and holidays to spend time with us and that he enjoys it. We love him tonnes and love all that he does for us!

Then there's my father. He is the best grandpa ever. It's funny to see him interacting with my kids. It honestly seems like he never tires of them. All the adult will be upstairs talking, while my dad is downstairs with all the kids jumping on him and playing non-stop. Even Peter, who only likes me, Larry, and Saralynn, LOVES my dad. If he happens to be holding anyone else (ie Benji) Peter goes crazy with jealously. He thinks he owns All of grandpa's attention, as do all the kids. I really believe that every grandchild thinks they are his favorite... and they are :) Thanks dad for all the amazing years you have dedicated to being the best dad in the world with all your time, talks, and memories. And thanks for being such an awesome grandpa to my kids!

Sask. Road trip

Saralynn and I took a roadtrip to Sask. again this spring to visit Naomi and her kids. We always miss them so much and visits are never long enough.

Naomi also has every minute planned down to the max! Our favorite things to do (besides running around the house like crazy kids) are the FuN FaCtOrY and swimming at their awesome rec. centers.

SO FUN!!

Peter Loved the balls- throwing them, rolling in them, licking them :(, and watching the older kids play in them.There were some funny mirrors there that I had to make the kids stop and pose by. Tanner went Non-stop as fast as he could through the entire place a million times. At times, flying through obstacle courses, he really, truely thought he was Superman.Hattie did her best to keep up with everyone. She was a tiny bit scared of going on the high bridges, but she found ways around them and would dissappear in the giant playground for long periods of time.Kiah was the queen of the play place. Luckly there were hardly any other kids. She was also a master at the arcade area and won us a tonne of tickets.Cayden was FEARLESS. Here is evidence of his famous jump. I think he thought he could fly because he sure tried. He jumped from ridiculously high, and, well, had quite the crash landing. Sad and yet, super funny.We were lucky enough to be there for Cayden's birthday too. What a lucky boy. Naomi went ALL OUT! We were calling it a carnival birthday because there was so much to do... except it rained. The kids still had a blast playing games inside, going to a treasure hunt and tug-a-war outside, eating tonnes, opening gifts, and eating cake. What fun!
Superman Cayden blowing out his candles. What a lucky boy!