Happy Birthday Aaron!

He's FINALLY 30! Yeah! I'm so excited! Happy Birthday to the most wonderful husband and father. Here's to many more camp-outs on the trampoline!

Nikki

I just love this girl.

Grandma's 60th Birthday

My mom turned 60 this month. We decided to make her a tribute book and insert some pictures of the grandchildren. The book was filled with letters from all her friends, family, and former seminary students. It was a privilege to help compile them and she was so surprised and touched by the gift. Being involved in this process gave me a renewed desire to become a better example of the Christ-like love and kindness she has demonstrated to me and others through out her life. I'm very lucky to have her as my mother.

Soccer Superstar

Here's Mary playing in her first team sport. She loves soccer! And I think Aaron loves the excitement of this new stage the most. Look at her concentration. So darling. Go Mary!

Mary's FIVE

I can't believe that my little Mary is now five years old. She is such an obedient, sweet, kind, funny, and clever little girl. On her birthday we surprised her with a new bike and took the whole Idiart family to Red Robin to celebrate. Mary wanted a pajama party this year so we invited 20 of her darling friends and amazing cousins to a pajama party. We set the room up with dangling paper stars and a moon hung above a table made to look like a bed with lots of yummy 'midnight snacks". We played cloud charades, freeze dance, pillowcase races, and decorated tiny bed cakes. It was a lot of fun and once again, I broke my promise to keep it simple. The party bags were a little over the top, I have to admit, complete with socks, flashlights, moon pies (I spent forever searching for), chocolate milk, starbursts, milky ways, etc. Next year, next year... Let's just keep saying that. wink. wink.

Happy Birthday my darling Mary!
I am so grateful I get to be your mom!

Easter...Take 3

It's seems as though the more children you have the harder getting one decent snapshot can be. Here's our recent Easter photography disaster:

Take 1 (2 minutes long):
Problems: Too sunny, Easter toys can't be pried from fingers
Result: No one is looking forward or sitting still (except Mary trying to hold a baby who's way too big for her)



Take 2 (15 seconds):
Problems: Already took pictures--children are done, Nicole wants to jump on the trampoline, can't convince kids to stay
Result: Little Immobile Cameron left in the bumbo that we had to cover with a blanket because it's girly lavender



Take 3 (as long as you want-- they're candids!):
Problems: Bad photographing skills
Result: Happy children having lots of Easter fun!



Candids are the way to go... Happy Easter!!!

Beach Reunion

The annual Idiart/Nadauld beach adventure is always a real treat for me! After a few months of rainy winter weather we drive to the coast for some rainy beach fun. Aaron spends hours searching for an interesting location on VRBO. This year we found a house with a hot tub (Noah's favorite part of the trip). We ate lots of yummy meals, played in the cold sand, competed in speed scrabble mania, did a crazy cat puzzles that was missing a lot of pieces, watched the kids play playstation, and went gaga over Jimmer--Go COUGS! It was amazing. My favorite part was attending the smallest and sweetest branch on Sunday. Their warm welcome was unlike anything I've experienced. They were so engrossed in learning about our families (Jared's family came too). There must have been about 20 people total with no ward member children that Sunday. The Bishop took a type of roll call during sacrament meeting, excusing all those who were not able to attend and giving details as to their whereabouts. This trip was so relaxing and I'm already looking forward to next year's destination.