It's My Birthday!

I turned 32 on the 31st of August.  To celebrate my birthday, my sisters & I had a picnic.  Callie was at work and didn't have a ton of time so Emily & I picked up subs from Subway, Em brought drinks & chips, and we met at a park near Callie's work.  It was a beautiful day outside but, for some reason, that park was WINDY! We enjoyed our time together as sisters and they gave me some nice gifts (a watch & slippers).  

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Owen had his first soccer game that evening.  His team is the "Blue Fast Cheetahs" and don't try to call them the Blue Cheetahs...the "Fast" part is super important to a group of 4 1/2 year olds! 

After the game, Emily came & sat with the kids so that Spence & I could go to dinner.  Spence chose Johnny Carino's and it was really, really good!  My in-laws & parents gave me $$ to spend on myself.  I have had a lot of fun shopping for things I've wanted but didn't want to spend the money on.  I received so many nice cards, messages on FB, phone calls, etc on my birthday and really felt special.  Thanks to all who remembered me in some way.

 

First Day of First Grade

Gavin started First Grade on August 23rd.  He was so excited to go to school all day, eat lunch at school, and then walk home with his brother!  We enrolled him in the French Immersion at his school, meaning that he has two teachers, one is English Speaking and one is French.  They go to the English teacher for half day and learn English, Reading, Comprehension, Spelling, etc.  Then they switch to the French Teacher and learn French (obviously), Math, Science, and Social Studies...all in French!  In fact, the French teacher is encouraged by the school district to speak NO English to the students.  So his first few days have been interesting.  The French Teacher is from France, not a Returned-Missionary who is easy to understand.  He has a thick accent and speaks very little English, even to parents.  What an adventure! But if anyone can take on this challenge, it's Gavin.  He is such a smart boy, anxious to learn, and excited about life!

First Day of 4th Grade

How can I have a 4th grader?  A 9 1/2 year old Boy who is responsible, kind, cute, but still a little whiny, naughty, and crazy?  Cam started 4th grade on August 22nd.  He has decided that school lunch is gross so we pack him a home lunch every single day.  Which I'm okay with, most of the time.  His new teacher is very organized, somewhat demanding, and exactly what Cam needs this year.  She has already recommended a couple of books that he has flown through because he loves them.  (The Strange Case of Origami Yoda and Darth Paper Strikes Back, both by Tom Angleberger.)  We're excited for 4th grade!

Last Hurrah!

In anticipation of school starting next week, we decided to do one last fun thing for the kids.  So we took them to Planet Play, a pizza/game place they've been dying to go to.  Luckily, we had a few coupons so it didn't cost us an arm or a leg.  We invited the (future) Beidler's to join us for all-you-can-eat Pizza, drinks, desserts and then unlimited play on the arcade games.  We had a lot of fun! 

Miley's 1st Birthday & Cake Smash

The Hardings got home just in time to celebrate Miley's 1st birthday.  Emily  wanted to let Miley smash a cake while taking pictures.  Since Jeff & Em love the look of hardwood floors, they asked if they could do the "Cake smash" in our piano room.  I was happy to oblige.  After a full photo shoot with balloons, decor, gifts, etc they gave Miley a tiny personalized cake.  She was very timid at first:  But finally got into it a little.  

And when she was finished, we let the twins loose and they went at it! 

That evening, we were invited to celebrate her birthday at a pool party.  Em & Jeff bought hot dogs, pop, and cupcakes for all.   

 

I can't believe Miss Miley is already one!  We're so glad she is back in Utah so we can enjoy her cute personality and fun spirit. We love you, sweet girl! 

A Homecoming, A Gala, & A Pre-Wedding Celebration

Our Rick Tew Family Reunion was a little different this year.  Originally we had planned to go to the Martin Family Cabin in Island Park, go see a show at the Playmill, and spend a long weekend together in Idaho.  Then the Hardings return from Virginia got delayed by one week and we all wanted to be in Utah when they returned.  So we made a complete change to our agenda and Ryan & No'el's family and my mom & dad came to Utah for the weekend.  As I already blogged about, we went to Lagoon all day Saturday.  Then we decided to plan an outdoor dinner for Sunday afternoon (August 15th), as soon as the Hardings got home.  But everything is more fun when you give it a fancy name, right?  So we began calling it the "Gala."

Spencer picked up Emily, Jeff, & Miley from the airport Sunday morning and took them to their house.  They had left Virginia Friday, stopped in Texas for Jeff's brother's wedding and festivities (all day Saturday), and caught the early flight to SLC Sunday morning.  Needless to say, they were exhausted.  They were troopers though, and after a quick nap, came to our house to join the rest of the family for the Gala.  When they left Utah in May, Miley was still a baby, but when they came to our house that August afternoon, Miley had grown up!  She was very interested in getting reacquainted with the twins...

We served Teriyaki Chicken with a grilled pineapple ring, Strawberry Won-ton salad, Pasta Salad, Orange Parfait, Grilled Corn on the Cob, and a dinner roll.  Yummy!  We also celebrated Miley's first birthday. (She wasn't very interested in the cake or candle.)

After that, we gathered in the living room for a small program to honor Callie & Mike:

Cam, Gavin, and Owen sang "Never Tear Us Apart."
Abbie, Avery, and Jette sang "Firework."
Gavin, Avery, Owen, & Jette sang "You Are So Beautiful."
Abbie & Cameron sang "Darn it Baby, That's Love."
Dad, Ryan, No'el and I sang "We Wonder Why."
Then Emily joined No'el & I to sing "Do-ta-do" and we added Callie when we sang "Happy Together."

Then each family gave Callie & Mike some advice for their upcoming wedding.  My dad gave his traditional toasts, "We hope that when you look back on your wedding day, you will realize it is the day that you loved each other least."  And of course," Happy Wife, Happy Life."

Then Ryan told a story about when he and Callie were a lot younger.  Callie had received a brand new bike for Christmas and Ryan had received a new scooter.  They wanted to go show Grandma Baldwin so they both rode down to her house.  Grandma gave them a grocery bag full of newspapers to take back to our mom and Callie had it hanging from her handlebars.  Ryan suggested they race home and he was so proud of himself for beating her until he turned around and saw that the bag had gotten stuck in the spokes of her front wheel and she had flipped the bike and was lying on the road.  He hurried back to her, happy to be able to help his little sister.  He then told Mike that he (Ryan) will always be Callie's big brother and will always be there to help her if she falls.  But Mike & Callie should now be there for each other, helping each other at every opportunity.

I had been thinking about the importance of names and how Callie would be taking on the last name "Beidler" soon.  I just reminded them that Mike will also be taking on the last name "Tew", though not physically.  I said (to them and the rest of us) that we need to live so that if someone asks if you're related to so-and-so, you'll be proud to say Yes.  Names are kinda important that way.

Jeff represented the Hardings and talked about trying to make each other happy every day.  And that they will only be truly happy if their spouse is happy.  He said that many people say the first year of marriage is the hardest but that if you focus on making your spouse happy, rather than thinking of yourself, you can overcome that obstacle quicker.

Mike & Callie then said a few words of thanks.  Mike said he is excited to be part of our family unit. Callie added how grateful they are for the love & support.  Then we quickly made our way to our backyard.  Callie & Mike had invited friends and family to join us in a Pre-Wedding Celebration (see how that sounds more fun because of the fancy name?) We had done a lot of yard work, decorated with their wedding colors (black, yellow, & white), prepared fabulous refreshments, and made a CD of background music.      

The Happy Couple

Refreshments

Decor & our Backyard

Aunt Sylvia

Aunts Sue & Karen came from Idaho

Niki & Doug/Chopper (Spence's brother) and Dave & Tisa came to support us.  

There were so many fabulous friends and family that came to support Mike & Callie.  These are just a few of my favorite pics. (Thanks to Emily for taking pictures.)

When YMCA started to play, the kids were happy to sing and dance and perform for all of us!

Our Baldwin family had organized a long-distance bridal shower for Callie.  Each family sent a gift with Sue & Karen to help Mike & Callie decorate their apartment and stock up on food storage.  We all watched as they opened their nice gifts.

And then it was over.  The kids LOVED playing with the decorations as they came down!  

We got cleaned up quickly so that the Tew's could get back to Idaho...and the Hardings could finally get some sleep!  What a great (and exhausting) weekend!