Summer Splash-Amy's Work Party

Cool Dude, Caleb loving his new Ball Poppy won him!

Love the shades

Jane having a good time sitting with Gramma listening to music

Love that smile

Just couldn't get enough of this little guy with his shades and ball

Kate and her Rose Face Paint...Oh so cute

My sister Amy and Kate just arrive back from Craft tent

Amy and I trying to take are own picture, Amy laughing as the camera is about to fall

Ok, that's a little better picture

Kate and her Sand necklace

Last weekend my sister had her annual summer work party and she invited the kids my parents and I to go this year since we where here. It was so much fun and the kids had a blast! My sister works for 1-800-Contacts so when they do something they go all out. The theme was made to make you feel like you were on a Cruise with the different decks with different activities. It was held at Thanksgiving point Electric park. It was not off to a good start, it down poured rain for an hour and everyone was crammed into the pavilion trying to eat a very pricey buffet meal they provided. It wasn't mean for everyone to eat at the same time, but the rain kind of forced that to happen. I was a little worried because the kids were getting antsy and didn't want to sit at the table any longer. After is finally stopped raining we quickly before the crown noticed the rain had stopped went to some of the other decks or areas for the kids to play. They had a swimming pool area and bouncy house area. Kate loved riding the Huge, I mean HUGE Shark blowup slide.So wish I had gotten a picture of it. As she was coming down you could see a look a worry for a moment as the slide began to make her pick up speed. Then we played some carnival games and Poppy won a soccer ball for Caleb, you would have thought that it was the best prize in the whole wide world the way he played with it all night. Everyone got tickets to get treats too, you could either get a cookie, snow cone, curio, or drink. We had some many ticket we didn't even use them all because Amy's work gave some to Jane even though she is a baby and can't use anything. Kind of a waste of money if you ask me. We then went to sit and listen to Tonic Sofa an A Capella group, they were actually pretty good. They clam they have been on Letterman and got a Grammy for one of their songs. While we were watching that Amy took Kate around to the Craft tent and made Sand layered Necklaces for her and her brother. Kate also got to make a picture out of paint and it some how spins itself onto the page. After that Kate got her face painted. Amy said she went right up to the lady and told her I want a rose on my face. I don't know why she wanted that but she did, it was super cute. Kate had a great time in the craft tent with Amy. Then once the night was winding down they had a prize drawings for all the guests and employees. You had to be present to get the prize. They of course had the drawing at the end of the evening so you had to wait. Kate was a little sad because she put her name in to win a set of Disney Princess babies and she didn't win. We had to explain how a drawing works and how we don't always win, but it's fun to try. We didn't win anything, we had over 15 tickets in various prize boxes, it was kind of disappointing, but the end made up for it all. At the end they had an employee Grand Prize winner. The winner could win a cruise to Alaska, a fully loaded Mac computer or a 55 inch 3D LED Sam sung TV with Blu-Ray player a set of 3-3D glasses and a movie and oh yeah a box of popcorn. For some reason I had a feeling Amy might have a chance at this, so did my mom. They first announce what department they work in, which was call center and that is where she workds. We started to get a little excited and then.......They called out AMY MOTT oh my goodness, we screamed so loud, we couldn't help ourselves we kept chanting Go Amy and screaming everyone was looking at us but we so didn't care. The odds of her winning this was so slim, there were so many people there. Amy was in total sock she was shaking. She picked the TV package. I was so excited and happy for Amy, words can't seem to express it. She works so hard at her job and does such a good job doing it, she so deserved this. The best part was her birthday was the day before, and she sat down and said "Wow Happy Birthday to me, what a good present." Wow the whole family couldn't believe what just happen to Amy. After the prizes where done we got to watch some Hawaiian Dancers and Fire Dancers preform, while Amy claimed her prize. Kate loved the pretty head dresses the girls wore and Caleb really got into dancing along with the fire dancers. It was a late night for the kids but they really seem to enjoy themselves, as did I. Everyone was so excited that they didn't seem like they could go to sleep. The sock, surprise and sure awe of this huge TV sitting in the front room was just to much to take in. After we finally calmed down form the excitement we finally made it to bed. Congrats Amy, we are all so excited for you! It's been about a week or so and we finally got it set-up some may wonder why we waited so long. Well the size and overwhelming amount of cords and hook-ups to different various device simply put intimidated us. So yesterday we all had the attitude to just jump right in and figure this thing out. Boy was is so worth it. This TV is so impressive. It is so clear you feel like your in the room with the characters on the screen, it kind of a sure real experience. This for me is definitely a never go back moment, everyone else felt the same way. If you read in one of my past entries I talk about never go back moments if your not sure what I am trying to say. Kate woke up today and we put in the Chipmunk movie in to watch and she kept saying" Mommy Mommy it is so clear", even a 5 year old notice the difference, so you know it has to be impressive if Kate even sees it. I am trying to get a picture of Amy in front of her new TV put I haven't yet so I just took a picture of it to show. Wow is all I can say WOW!!!!

Some Where Over the Rainbow

    Somewhere over the rainbow Way up high There's a land that I heard of Once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow Skies are blue And the dreams that you dare to dream Really do come true

Some day I'll wish upon a star And wake up where the clouds are far behind me Where troubles melt like lemondrops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow Bluebirds fly Birds fly over the rainbow Why then, oh why can't I? Some day I'll wish upon a star And wake up where the clouds are far behind me Where troubles melt like lemondrops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow Bluebirds fly Birds fly over the rainbow Why then, oh why can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly Beyond the rainbow Why, oh why can't I?

Happy 5th Birthday Kate!

On July 25th, Kate turned 5 years old.  Kate has sure grown up to be a beautiful, smart, talented little girl.  She had a wonderful time celebrating her Birthday this year. Kate is really into all thing Horses, so naturally we had a horse themed party.  We first went up to Jerry's family to celebrate the first part of her Birthday.  We all went to Jungle Jim's, the Kids and I had a blast.  I am so glad Jerry's family had the idea of going to this place, it was so much fun.  The best part was it was all inside where it was nice and cool.  It's a bunch of little kid rides all together in one place.  Kate loved riding all the rides with her cousins, especially Kiya.  The two are the same age, only about 20 days apart.  Caleb loved riding all the rides with Papa, he was so excited to ride the rides, he loved the little train the best.  Jane, well as usual hung out with mom, not quite big enough to do anything yet.  After Jungle Jim's we went to Grandpa and Grandma's house for pizza, cake and presents.  Oh side note, before the party Caleb thought it would be nice to take the horses of the cake and play with them, and have a little taste test.  Let's just say I was just a little furious with him.  I ended up putting all the candles in the missing frosting area.  Oh well things happen I guess.  Later on when we had Kate's other cake, Poppy his other Grandpa was teasing Caleb,  pretending to try and eat the cake and Caleb yells...NO NO POPPY, I guess he realized what he had done wrong earlier and was trying to stop Poppy from getting into the same kind of trouble.
Kate had a great time opening all the wonderful presents up at Jerry's parents home, she loved the attention so much she started opening her presents so slow. So then Papa told her that he would give her a dollar to rip open the presents as fast as she could.  She is a smart girl and took him up on his offer.  Then the present opening resumes at normal speed after that.  Thank you Papa, we would have been there all day.

Kate loves Cards

Kate carries this everywhere with her, she loves it!

Kate's Birthday Cake, tried to cover up Caleb's taste testing, so unsuccessful!

On Sunday we celebrated the second part of Kate's birthday with my side of the family.  I unfortunately came down with the stomach flu the day before so we weren't able to do the activity part until Monday, and my family had to help me get the Cake and decorations up, so frustrating.  I got this same thing the day of Jane's baby blessing, I don't mind taking my turn being sick I just wish it wouldn't be around a special occasion for me.  I am glad is only lasted a day and then it was over,  I caught it from Kate she had it a few days before me.  I am glad my family helped me out.  I was just sad I wasn't able to do more, it is one of my favorite times to reminisce about my children and think of the last year and how they have grown.  This year all I could think of was trying to feel better.  The cake turned out to look great but not taste so great. I guess we got a little spoiled growing up with my mom's frosting recipe, so when we used the can frosting from the store it just wasn't that big of a hit.  We thought brown fur, chocolate frosting, it looked good, just to rich to eat.  It was fun trying to make a horse Cake, we just took the Dog cake my mom would make for us as kids and just revamped it to look like a horse.  We had everyone come over, Aunts, Uncles and Kate's one Cousin so far, Julia!  (One little boy on the way, finally some more boys!) Everyone got a cowboy hat and party blower.  She had a huge sparkler candle in the shape of a 5 on her Cake, she kept trying to blow it out, too funny.  Kate had a blast opening all her presents.  She especially loved opening her Leapster from her Dad and Mom, that was her big presents this year.  She was so excited and thankful for everything she received, right down to each card she opened.  After the presents we went outside to enjoy the hot fresh air, nice huh.  The kids played with all of Kate's new toys while the adults played a crazy game of bacci ball.  It was a great day.  On Monday we went to Kate's favorite restaurant IHOP, yep that's right International House of Pancakes, she loves to eat there and asked to go all the time.  Then we went to see Toy Story 3 again, with her brother, cousin Julia and Grandma.  Everything was fantastic.  I am so excited for this little girl, 5 is great number, We love you Kate Lynne Rasmussen and we wish you a very Happy Birthday we love you Mom, Dad, Caleb, and Jane!    

Kate's reaction to her cake

Giddy up Cowgirls!!

Julia

Kate loving her Jessie Doll

I just love that smile

Kate and her Leapster Her big gift this year!

Eating at IHOP

Sweet Jane at IHOP