Two bits of exciting news

The BIGGEST and BEST news of the week is that Callie AND Christie both got into BYU-Provo! Here's how I found out. Tuesday night Callie was at school cheering for a basketball game. Christie called me (which is weird because she NEVER calls me, just texts me). So I thought I better answer it. She asked if she could come over in 10 minutes. I told her I was about to leave to pick up Callie from school, so she said she would pick her up and bring her home. I thought, sure why not. She sounded kind of excited and in my mind I thought "I wonder if she found out about BYU" but I knew notices weren't suppose to come out until Friday so I brushed the thought aside. 

Fast forward 15 minutes and I hear a rather anxious knocking on the door. Like LOUD and CONTINUOUS. So I ran downstairs to open it and they're both standing there and say WE GOT INTO BYU-PROVO!!! I guess BYU started sending out acceptances Tuesday afternoon and Friday would be the last day people would hear if they were in the first group of kids getting accepted. So double yay for them!

I pulled them inside and literally screamed I was SO excited for them. My kids all came running downstairs (even though we had already put them to bed). It was HUGE news. So of course we celebrated in the kitchen with FOOD. What else! I've never seen those girls so happy. And I'm SO SO SO proud of them for all of their hard work. They're going to have so much fun at college.

Second bit of awesome news!

OUR VALLEY HAS A CAFE RIO!!!!

Oh the days I have spent dreaming of having one here. I almost can't even believe it is only 15 minutes away now. This week is their grand opening and they sent out free meals via facebook. I of course got some and Callie and I decided it would be a fun after school lunch yesterday. Christie ended up coming too (it kind of turned into a BYU acceptance celebration). It was pretty packed but not too bad and really….who can complain when I got free food! And it was SO good. SO SO SO SO good! I ate my whole salad. I NEVER eat my entire salad. It's huge! But I still did it (well I had a little bit of help, but mostly ate it all my own). 

I can't wait to go back again! And again! AND AGAIN!

Carter may not have fallen in love with Cafe Rio just yet, but he did enjoy some ice cream afterward at Cold Stone. 

This is how girls who get accepted to BYU spend their time together. Doing homework. I couldn't resist taking a picture!

AND…incase you are Shark Tank fans, my Aunt's Step daughters will be on the show tomorrow night (Feb 28th). Super exciting for them. They've invented a product called Zipit Bedding. Basically it's bedding that zips up like a sleeping bag, but fits to a twin size mattress. Kind of cool! I'm curious to see what the Sharks think!

Family Dinner and another Valiant Viking

We let Leah choose where she wanted to go for her family Birthday dinner and after much debate, she chose Souplantation. Callie had a game that night so she had to come in her cheer clothes straight from the game, but we were all glad she was able to be with us. 

And Leah was one SUPER happy girl! You just have to love her enthusiasm for life. 

As you can tell from the pictures, it was good that we were at such a casual restaurant because the kids were having quite a "rowdy" fun time. It ended up being a late night because they were all so hyped up from dinner. Probably had too much ice cream too! Oh well…it was a birthday celebration after all.

Carter's my little morning buddy. This particular picture he was sporting his ninja turtle shell and blowing (rather loudly I might add) into a little whistle Leah had gotten from school.

It was quite….annoying sounding. Haha…

Bubbles in the backyard are always a hit. I think the boys have gone through an entire HUGE bottle of bubbles in just one week. Granted they spill half of them pouring them in to the bowl, but oh well. They have learned to use that big round wand pretty well and make some big awesome bubbles. 

Yesterday as I was rounding into the Valet line, I noticed the sign with ASHLYN's name on it. What a fun suprise to have another Valiant Viking. I know Ashlyn was super excited too and not expecting it to be her. She said she thought for sure it was going to be her friend Dalia, because the girl has gotten it three years in a row I think.  I'm really proud of her! She definitely deserves it. 

Happy Birthday LEAH!!!

It's great to be EIGHT!

Today is Leah's very exciting 8th birthday and she is THRILLED. And on top of that, she got to go to her very first Activty Day activity today too. A play to see "Happily Ever After", a Cinderella story. It was short and sweet but the girls had a fun time and I was glad to get to go with them. 

Here's a few things about Leah right now.

What's your favorite color? hot pink

What's your favorite food? pesto chicken and pasta

What's your favorite dessert? Milkshakes

What's your favorite TV show? Sabrina the Teenage Witch

What's your favorite movie? Frozen

What's your favorite thing about 2nd grade? My Teacher, Mrs. McCarthy

What's your favorite past time? Make bracelets with my Rainbow Loom

Who is your best friend? Gracie

What's your favorite primary song? I hope they call me on a Mission

What's your favorite Scripture story? Daniel and the Lion's Den

If you had $100, what would you buy? a real laptop (she has no idea how much things cost obviously)

What's your favorite activity? Making crafty things

What's your favorite song? "Let it go" from the Frozen soundtrack

Who's your favorite singer? Idina Menzel (the one who sang "Let it go"

What's your favorite thing to do with Ashlyn? play Chinese Checkers

What's your favorite thing to do with Brandon? making forts

What's your favorite thing to do with Carter? Wrestle with him

What's your favorite family outing? going to the beach or the pool

What's your favorite restaurant? Souplantation

Anything else you would like to say? I just want to go shopping right now with my Birthday money

Leah is spunky and fun and always helpful (although may whine before helping). She's a great student and LOVES school. She's not much into reading, but she loves every other subject and mostly just loves being with her friends and having fun together. She loves having Callie french braid her hair so that it will be curly the next day. And she loves bacon! She is sweet and lovey and we are lucky to have her in our family!

Traditional breakfast in bed. She requested bacon and toast.

Opening her gifts from us.

Yay! MONEY!

Hair chalk pens. Her second favorite gift of the day.

Time for the play with the Activity Day girls and their leader (and Ellie)

Me and my sweet girls! I'm a lucky mom!

President's Day

Last year we went hiking with the Osmond's on what we think was President's day.  It didn't turn out so well because we couldn't find the right hiking spot, so we decided to give it another go this year. I'm happy to say after a slightly bumpy start (we went to the wrong trail at first and ended up walking in a circle) we found the right trail and did a nice 3 mile hike to a lake. The kids did really great as long as we took breaks in the shade every so often and I'm happy to say it was quite a fun day. After our picnic lunch and hike to the lake, we headed down Las Virgenes canyon to go to Malibu beach. We didn't bring swimsuits or anything, but the kids still had fun playing in the sand and getting wet enough. Luckily I did have a change of clothes for Brandon and Carter, so that we could hit our favorite hamburger spot on the way home. 

Glad to be having these little traditions with friends starting to take shape. 

These two are just so cute together. I love it! Although Carter often tells me he is going to marry Ellie. He seems to have a greater attraction to Baylee whenever we get together though.

All eight kids. Growing up together will be so fun!

The littlest ones did have a hard time walking the entire time. Becky put Baylee on her shoulders and Baylee decided to use Becky's eyes as her gripping point. It was pretty hilarious so I snapped a picture.

I think this shot is my favorite!

Isn't this lake so fun! I must admit it was quite a breath of fresh air to see water in CA. I never see lakes, rivers…even a little stream. It's pretty sparse. The kids spent a good half hour throwing rocks in it. 

The hike wiped Carter out on the short drive to the beach.

Me and my cute guy!

Carter got his pants so wet that we took them off. Love the underwear booty shot. Haha…not sure he'll like it in the years to come.

And yum! Dinner time. I like that they have tables outside so we don't have to worry so much if the kids get up and move around.