Angry Birds Cake

I made this cake right before I went to convention.  I had actually been wanting to make an Angry Bird cake for awhile so I was so excited!  To be honest, I wanted it bigger, grander, with a lifesize contraption but this is what the mom of the birthday boy wanted.  In the end that was fine with me.  It took a lot to get the cake done, get everything set up to leave for convention, and actually pack.  It turned out super cute and I got a lesson in dialing down my cake-ful imagination. 

 

 

MOPS Convention

After giving the older girls to my parents and spending a couple more days with Ms. Mimi and my babysitting kids, it was time to set off for my first ever MOPS Convention.  I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited because I was so excited!  I was a little upset about leaving Mimi but I kept it together pretty well and she did fine without me; which I knew she would. 

MOPS has become such a big, important part of my life and I was so excited to go learn more and bond with some great women.  I would have to say it was the perfect amount of time.  We learned a lot and got some time to have fun and I just started really missing ky kids on the day we left.  It was an all around perfect trip. 

The hotel was amazing.  It was the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, TX.  There was so much to do and see we could have used the whole vacation just exploring.  It also had a ton for the kids which applied a little bit of moms guilt that we all tried to avoid. 

On our first morning we were able to explore part of the town of Grapevine.  We found the old shop area and were pleased with all the shops and activities downtown. 

After we walked around for awhile we stopped for brunch and met our cupcake!  He was our waiter at an Italian restaurant.  He was so animated and funny.  Somehow we started talking about words that we don't like and his least favorite word was cupcake.  So for the rest of the trip every time we saw a cupcake or the word cupcake we thought of him.  Now I think of him when I am making cupcakes.  It is funny how things stick with you! 

When we got back to the hotel we received more proof that everything is bigger in Texas! 

Friday was filled with lots of general sessions and workshops.  For the general sessions it was over 2,000 women listing to the same speakers.  This is Barbara and Robert Gelinas.  I really loved them. 

Then for the workshops you could pick a topic that interested you.  For most of the workshops we tried to split up so we could take back as much information as possible, but when it came to one workshop we all snuck in.  Haha.  That would be the raising girls workshop!  Here we all are after having successfully snuck into the workshop! 

 

This picture reminds me of one we took while we were waiting to sneak into the workshop and discussing our strategy.  Here we all are with out matchy matchy shirts and bags Caroline made.  She is so crafty! 

I really liked the speaker on raising girls.  She gave me some awesome things to think about and ideas to change things I know need to be addressed.  I also loved Kathi Lipp.  I went to two of her sessions.  She was very funny and knowledgable; plus I will never think of fruit roll-ups in the same way. 

Friday night ended with a concert by Matthew West! 

On Saturday we had a couple more sessions then some free time.  We used that free time to enjoy the waterpark attached to the hotel.  I don't think I have ever floated around a lazy river so many times!  Or actually be able to be lazy while in the lazy river.  It was wonderful! 

Then we ended Saturday night with MomProm.  It was fun to have a really nice meal with such great friends. 

None of us were super impressed with the music part but we did love the announcement they made about nexts years convention.  It will be in our own backyard.... with Beth Moore! 

 

 

I am so glad I was able to experience this wonderful conference.  I am thankful to everyone who made it possible, everyone who helped watch my kids, and the wonderful friends I was able to bond with while on the trip!  I can't wait for next year!  

Capitol Tour

Right before the girls went to grandma and grandpa's we went on a tour of the Capitol Building.  Here is a picture of the cutest Supreme Court around. 

And our whole group (minus a couple babies) on the stairs outside the House of Representatives.  Believe it or not but there were only five moms there!  haha

Omaha Zoo

A few weeks ago the older girls went to spend the week with my parents in Iowa.  It actually worked out perfect because I was able to go to a MOPS convention with some great friends while they were gone.  Those pictures are to come.  These pictures are from the day I meet my parents in Omaha to give them the girls.  We met at the Omaha Zoo... me on time, my parents over an hour late; imagine that.  So by the time they had gotten there we had gone through the dessert, ate lunch, and planned out our day.  They also had Ocy and Skyla (our cousins) with them visiting from Colorado.  Ironically myself and all the little girls were wearing pink so we looked like quite the crew. 

If you haven't gone to the Omaha Zoo before it is impossible to get to everything in one day, especially with kids.  So I asked the girls before we started which animals were the "mane" ones they wanted to see.  I got the suggestions of giraffes, zebras, penguins, flamingos, and sealions.  I was a little disappointed because the bears are my favorite but we planned our course accordingly and headed off. 

First stop was the warm water penguins and giraffes. 

 

 

Next were the zebras.  I have to admit, I am a zoo snob and have been to the Omaha Zoo a million times in my life but I don't remember ever going to see the zebras.  In fact, I'm not sure I knew they were there.  I have passed their turn many times but I don't think I knew they were back these so I am glad they were on the to-do list. 

After the zebras we hiked to the back of the zoo to see the flamingos, coy fish, and the sealion feeding.  One our way back to the next set of animals we found one of the extra trains they weren't using and thought it was a great photo op. 

Back home there is a bridge we always cross to drive into town and every time we drive over it my kids argue about whether they see flamingos or not.  So one of my top priorities was to show them flamingos so they know we don't have them under the bridge.  haha

We also spent what felt like five hours feeding the coy fish and watching the monkeys. 

Next, we played another waiting game so we could see the sealion feeding.  We brought out some snacks, then more snack, and more snacks.  I couldn't believe how much the kids ate.  The zoo also recently put a playground by the sealions so we visited that for a few minutes as well.  The sealion feeding wasn't a show but they did have the sealions do tricks while feeding them.  It was cute to watch.  And there was a brand new pup. 

I'm surprised we didn't get any pictures of it but after the sealions we went on the skyfari over the animals and back to the front of the zoo.  The girls were very excited about it.  The skyfari took us back to the entrance of the zoo which had the aquariam, the butterfly garden, and the rainforest. 

Mimi was adorable in the aquariam.  That was by far her favorite place.  Part of it could have been because I was finally letting her out of the stroller to walk around but I also think she loved the fish.  Here is my favorite picture of her trying to watch the fish above her in the giant aquariam. 

The big girls also went with grandma and grandpa to the butterfly garden and the rainforst.  I didn't think those were places for the likes of Mimi so we ran around the concession area while waiting for them.  I love that they got a picture of the big girls on the butterfly benches. 

By this time we had had enough, even though there was tons more to see, and the zoo was closing so we called it a day.  The girls claimed they weren't tired when they thought they still had a chance of seeing more animals but once we said it was time to go to the car they were all exhausted.  Here is how we got back to the car....

It was nice to be able to lock all the crabby tired kids in my parents car and drive away with just one baby who feel asleep right away!  haha

Misc July Pictures

July was a busy, fun month here.  But as much fun as this mama had, I am excited and ready for the school year to begin.  The kids were getting restless, bored with the normal activities, and Troublemaker is starting Preschool, even though she isn't excited about it.  Here is a roundup of the misc July pictures that didn't receive their own post. 

Here is when Aunt Marilyn came for dinner. 

Cool Kate Baby developing the love that every baby has.... sunglasses. 

The set-up for the back-to-school party.  The girls came up with the idea of putting backpacks on each chair.  I didn't realize we had so many bags.  Unfortunately once everyone got here I didn't think about taking picture so I only have the set-up.  But that does mean we had a very good time. 

The babies new ride... out of the first time at the splash park. 



Mimi playing outside with daddy.... nakey. 

And my favorite, the smiles of my children.