A Very Merry Un-Birthday

I wouldn't ever say I pride myself on my artistic creativity, and so this is a very juvenile version of something that looked way more cutesy and elaborate in my mind, but hey it was fun.

So, yesterday I was watching my friends little boy, who just turned two a few weeks ago, and last week we went to his birthday party. His mom decided to bring with him a few of his new toys, since Montana has mostly girl toys. He brought a Buzz Lightyear and a Fire Truck. Definitely boy toys. Well, tell that to an almost two year old girl. She doesn't care about the difference between her Ariel doll, and his Buzz. So, all day, even though I am trying to teach them to share, and they did at times, I had to keep reminding Montana, "These are Ryder's birthday presents. Remember we went to his party and we got him the Buzz for his birthday?" She would then get a disappointed look on her face and ask, "My birthday?? My birthday party??" How do you tell a toddler to wait about two more months, and then they can have a party? She has gone to a few birthday parties recently and given presents to friends and cousins, and been really patient about it, until now. It's as though she finally put it together..."What about me, mom? Don't I get one of those special days?"

Well, yesterday, I had a rough morning with her. Actually, its been a rough couple of weeks. She's turned over a new leaf with the tantrums...and not in a good way. I still discipline her with the time outs and try really hard to just cope, but there are some days where I just lose it...and her shrieking every five seconds yesterday morning about the toys she wanted to play with, had me dangling dangerously on my last nerve. Luckily, my sister had come over with her kids and kept me sane enough until nap time. While they were sleeping I wrote on my other blog on patience and I had some new found faith and resolve in enduring through this part of my life, with joy, instead of stress. Check it out, if you'd like to travel through a journey of losing my mind and then semi-finding it!

With that resolve, I decided that we all needed a bit of silly-ness in our day. (Montana and I for reasons described above and Marc has been working up to 11 hour days). So, I decided to have "A VERY MERRY UN BIRTHDAY PARTY". It was meant for us all, since it was all of our un-birthdays, but kind of turned into more of a celebration for Montana, which is to be expected.

Luckily I had some stuff left over from her 1st birthday, and some Young Women's Personal Progress parties I'd thrown. I had to make up some stuff though, and like I said above, I'm not too artistically creative, so my "creations" are a little 5th grade, but hey, they worked.

The table, with my flower and balloon centerpiece. I colored flowers and balloons and stuck them onto the ends of shish-kabob skewers, and put them in a vase with some colored hard candies at the bottom.

The Un-Birthday Banner

The silly cake. My decorating frosting didn't like the move up to EDH with the altitude. It took me about twenty minutes to write Merry Un-birthday, and my arms are a bit sore this morning. I tried to cover it up with the sprinkles.


Montana's un-Birthday present. Oooh, I wonder what it is???


We enjoyed a meal of pasta salad and BBQ'd chicken, and then sang the Un-Birthday song.

Please excuse my singing...and Marc's lack of singing. He didn't know I was recording.



Montana blowing out our three candles...one for each of us. She already started digging into the cake before we were done singing. It's a long song.

Digging in...

What fork?

Mmmm...

Wanna see my cake?

Me enjoying my cake. Marc said he was taking this to get me back for posting a picture of him "stuffing his face" (he said it, not me) on the State Fair post. I had to be fair and post it.

Time to open your present!!! She mastered the art of un-wrapping.

What is it, Tana??

Alice in Wonderland!!! (Check out the eyes. She's dizzy with excitement!) We already had the movie, but she had never seen it. She's been really into watching whole Disney movies lately, and I thought that Alice in Wonderland would be the perfect gift, since its where I got my idea from.

Happy Un-Birthday, Baby doll...

Mommy and Tana at the party

Daddy and Mommy at the party (I look a little drunk. Shouldn't have had that last cup of Crystal Lite)

And lastly, my thanking Marc ahead of time for cleaning up the party. Just look at the excitement on his face!

A VERY MERRY UN-BIRTHDAY TO YOU ALL!

Because it was fun...

Montana was down for a nap, and I was on the computer preparing my talk for this Sunday, and I got side tracked. I saw this on someone elses blog, and wanted to try it. If you're a woman, and you're like me, you are probably never completely happy with your hair. You are always wanting to change it. This fun was had on hairmixer.com. It's okay to laugh...I laughed at myself in some of them. And of course, my face didn't always fit the pictures perfectly, so sometimes my ears look like they are perched atop my head, and some times I have two eyebrows on one side! haha...

Me as Jessica Alba...(Yeah, I wish!).

As Nicole Richie...hairs not too bad, but I'd rather have the collar bones.

As Reese from Sweet Home Alabama...I always wondered what this hair style would like like on me. She can really pull it off...I don't think I could. Especially if my ears looked that big.

As Paris (Definitely no thanks), but its actually not THAT bad...if you like extensions.

I LOVE this hair style on Reese. It's my favorite. If I didn't think I'd hate the bangs on me, and kill my hair trying to get it that blonde, I might actually try it.

As Ashlee Simpson. (This is the one where I have two and a half eyes). I always wondered what I would look like with the Kool-Aid red hair. I almost did it once. It looks fun, but I'd probably get sick of it REALLY fast.

And the favorite is...Rihanna! Haha, how funny that my favorite with my face is someone as dark as Rihanna. This is mostly why I did this, to see if I'd look good with short hair. This makes me not as afraid...maybe its because it's Rihanna's neck. But, don't worry, I probably won't cut it. I always talk about it, and never do.

Funny how after all that, I actually see this picture and am okay with it! haha

We Are Family!

On Sunday, my youngest brother Logan was ordained an Elder. My only remaining grandparents, my dad's mother and father were able to drive down from Utah so that my Grandpa could assist in the ordination. That really meant a lot to Logan. It was so nice to see them since we don't get to very often, and my brother David hadn't seen them in close to three years. After Logan's ordination, we had a family dinner at my parents and then sat on the lawn and talked, like old times. One of my most favorite things about my family, is that we can sit around and talk for hours, just enjoying one anothers company. We don't need anything other than each other to have a good time, and I think thats special! It was fun to have David's girlfriend Ashley and Logan's girlfriend Sam there too. They are welcome additions to the fun and after dating my brothers, you know they can hang with the teasing and joking that goes on!

So proud of you, Logey-boy...this is the beginning of a huge part of your life! You'll be a great missionary!

Me and my sweet Grandpa

My dad and his dad (My dad just recently shaved off his mustache, as he now serves in the temple...I like it.)

Great-Grandma, with Montana Belle

Grandma with her Grand-daughters and Great Grand daughters (Sorry about the picture with your hair blowing in your face, Court. It's all I got. If you have a better one on your camera, send it to me!)

Petersen men

My BEAUTIFUL Momma, and her gorgeous grand daughters

Ms. Sassafrass...I'm glad she likes to say cheese, I just wish she'd look at the camera and not stick her chin in the air!

Ry-guy

Logan and Sam

David and Ashley

Riding Mommy's shoulders

My girl

I love taking pretend "engagement" pictures. Who said just because your married you can't take cute "engagement-style" pictures? I am a lucky girl...

Fun times as always, with the Petersen family. Love you Grandma and Grandpa. It was so great to see you!

Ryder is 2!

Saturday we celebrated my friend Sara's little boy, Ryder's 2nd birthday at his Lightning McQueen party. I have been watching him a few days a week, and I can attest to the fact that Cars is his favorite movie...or as Ryder would say, "Kachow!" It was at a really fun park in Folsom, Livermore Park. There was a huge play structure for the kids and a waterfall area where the kids could cool off. It was a lot of fun. The food was great...Sara's mom and step mom brought wonderful salads, and Sara bought yummy tri-tip. I have to brag that Marc manned the BBQ, and it turned out delicious as usual. Ryder made out like a bandit, and he had lots of family and friends that love him, to celebrate!

The Birthday Boy

Montana and Daddy

Ryder was SO excited to open up his presents. He was so much fun to watch.

Getting ready to blow out the candle on his Lightning McQueen cake.

Enjoying his cake

I think the cake was Montana's favorite part, especially since she was dished a HUGE piece. Mommy and Daddy helped her eat it.

After cake and presents, some of us went over to the water structure to let the kids cool off. I forgot Montana's suit, but it was so hot, I didn't mind her getting her clothes wet.

We love you Ryder! We were so happy to share your special day with you!