The much anticipated, long-awaited: Laynie's BIG day!

Laynie had been waiting what seemed like for-ev-er!  But the day finally came when Laynie turned

FOUR!

The "cake" was made.

The table set.

Activities were planned.

And presents wrapped.

Then six awfully cute guests arrived.  They made a craft,

read a story,

and went on a scavenger hunt.

Once they found the run-a-way cookies, they downed them with milk.  

We sang the Happy Birthday song and Laynie blew out four candles.

Presents were opened.

Games were played.

The play dough even smelled like gingerbread.

After the party, our family went swimming then had grandma/pa Anderson over for dinner and dessert - turkey enchiladas, ice cream, and gingerbread cookies, of course.

Happy birthday, sweet girl!  We sure love you!

Thirty-Nine

Matt did it again.  He surprised me by waking up as usual, getting ready for work, kissing me goodbye, then hanging out in the house until I woke up and discovered he's really gotten the day off of work to celebrate...me!

(I kissed him for it.)

He had bought me a few kitchen necessities: sponges, measuring cups and

gloves.

Then he wrapped a little piece of paper that said I got to pick one home improvement project that we could go and buy the supplies for.  Wahoo!  It was my lucky day!  I chose new blinds for the front of the house.  When we bought this home, the blinds were hashed.  I was able to clean and fix most of them - except for the three in the front of the home.  So we measured twice and had the home depot employee cut once.  Then we took down the old and filled in the holes.  Then headed to swim lessons and then out to eat at The Olive Garden.

The next day I sanded and painted where the old hardware had been, cleaned the windows inside and out, and even caulked around the windows to try make our home more energy efficient. Then when Matt got home from work, he installed the blinds while Laynie, Grandma Moo Moo and I decorated gingerbread cookies for Laynie's party.

My ministering sisters brought by the flowers, Linda Anderson (my good friend) brought by a bundt cake, and Alison Jarrett gave me a book on mothering that I'm excited to read.  It was such a lovely day.

Matt made mention that next year will be my "over the hill" party.  Time certainly marches on, doesn't it?!?  I remember when my parents turned 40.  I was 13 and15 years old, respectively.  My parents seemed quite "old" at the time.  I guess I'll soon follow suit and be sliding down the hill of life instead of trudging up it...

Post Holiday Fun

Matt was able to take a couple weeks off work (in fact, his boss told him not to come in) and be home the whole time Gavin was out of school.  This was the first time ever Matt got this much holiday time off, and it was nice!

We caught the after Christmas sales at Walmart and got a gingerbread train kit for $2.  Laynie and I had fun making it.  It's going to be her "birthday cake" of sorts because she's going to have a gingerbread birthday.

Grandma Kathy invited Laynie and me to go with her to a theatrical play, "Pinkalicious" on Dec. 27.  It was really well done, only one hour long, and Laynie was tickled pink to be able to go see her favorite book on stage.

In front of the stage after the show.  Laynie started sulking so we'd buy her a treat they were selling at the concession stand.  It didn't work! Lol.

Grandma Linda gave the kids a really nice puzzle to do.

On Dec. 28, The extended Sorensen family got together for one last Christmas hurrah.  This was most likely our last Christmas party all together.  We are just getting too big now and it's time for individual families to do their own thing.  As per tradition, the grandkids put on the nativity.

Here's most of Bernard and Irma's grandkids.  Only Brian, Renny and Brice were unable to make it and Troy left before this picture was taken.

Here's the whole crew!

Aunt Sherry and Aunt Debbie were also unable to come.

We celebrated Dad's birthday one day later by going up to the cabin for a snow day.  I challenged the boys to a ping pong match - and lost.

We were all able to come - even Tyler who was technically on call this day, but decided to chance it.

The girls playing "school" in the loft.

On the last day of Christmas break (Jan 2), Matt went back to work and I took the kids to Tracy Aviary for the $1 day.  It was cold, but we were able to still see some pretty birds.

Laynie and I spent the next few days getting ready for her birthday party.  We made and delivered invitations,

gingerbread play dough,

and gingerbread cookies that we froze until the day before the party.

And I even had the strength to finally (after 1 1/2 years of living in this house) clean the tops of the cabinets!