Jorgen's Birthday Party

My first two kids had their first friend party at age 5, so it was Jorgen's turn.  With all the stress of the remodeling, and Halloween, and Bethany's party, and a million other things going on, I didn't really want to plan another party.  And I didn't want little boys with cupcakes on my new carpet.  So we decided to try Arctic Circle.  They let you reserve tables and pay $2.00 per kid for Dollar Tree decorations.  The kids just played on the playground, ate kids' meals, and had birthday cupcakes.  It was super easy and Jorgen was happy.  He wanted a "Police" party, but really the only thing "Police" about it was the invitation and the cupcakes (I made police badge toppers out of cardstock).  Still, he was happy with his "Police" party.

Jorgen's 5th Birthday

 My kids just keep growing up.  Jorgen turned 5 years old on November 6th.  I can't believe he is getting so big.  It seems like he was just a baby just yesterday.  He was so excited for his presents that he couldn't wait for Daddy to get home from work to open them.  In fact, he opened them before breakfast or anything else. 

Jorgen used to love trains and the color green for the longest time.  Ever since a friend's birthday party last spring, that was a firefighter theme, he has decided he no longer likes trains and is now in love with emergency workers, especially police.  Oh, and Batman.  It's nice to have a few new options in the toy department, since we have so many trains (that he doesn't play with much anymore).

We put candles in his birthday breakfast pancake.

Showing Daddy his new toys after work.

He requested cheeseburgers, fries, and spinach with ranch dressing for his birthday dinner.
I couldn't find police plates, but found camoflauge, another recent favorite.

Emergency Worker Cake

Reflections and Activity Days

Bethany and Andrew both entered Reflections this year, again.  Bethany wrote a little song (very little, like 30 seconds worth) and she also wrote a really good poem in class that I encouraged her to enter.  Andrew didn't want to do music this year, so he decided to do photography.  He took some pictures of fall leaves and made a collage.  Bethany won and Award of Excellence for both her song and her poem, and they will both be going on to the next level.  Andrew won an Award of Merit - he doesn't move on, but they really liked his entry.  I was proud of them both for trying a new category this year.

 

Bethany had a little field trip with the Activity Days girls.  We went to the Humanitarian Center in Salt Lake to see what goes on there.  It is a short tour, and not terribly exciting, but they had fun.  I tagged along because I had to take Bethany to meet up with the Girl Scouts for an overnight camp they were having that same weekend.  She is a busy girl!

Humongous bales of clothing

Looking at the displays

New Carpet

 The new carpet was installed on November 2nd.  It was a juggling act to get the piano mover to come at just the right time, move the piano, then have the carpet installed.  The piano mover was nice enough to offer to come back at the end of the day for no extra charge to move the piano back.  I was glad I went with this guy just for this reason.  Some of the other places wanted to charge me double for both trips out here.

Anyway, here are some pictures of the carpet right after it was installed.  It is so nice!  Super soft and comfy.  And clean!  I know it will not stay that way forever, but we are hoping to get at least 10-15 years out of this carpet.  I told Dan it feels kind of like walking on teddy bear skins. 

 

 

In case you were wondering where we put the piano, here's your answer:

 

 

 

Here are a couple pictures of the wainscotting finished, but not painted.  Obviously before the carpet was put in.

 

Kids rolling on the new carpet!

Baseboards

In-between trick-or-treaters I took a few pictures of the baseboard installation.



Partially done wainscotting

Much better than the carpet coving!

Halloween 2012

Halloween was really fun this year.  We started the day with Jorgen's preschool program.  They always do great programs at his preschool, and this was no exception.  They were darling. 

Violet tolerated her costume for about 10 minutes.

After the program, the kids got to trick-or-treat in the classroom.

My handsome police officer!

 Later that afternoon, Jorgen went to a friend's birthday party.  The theme was pirates.  Arrgh!

Here's the whole family just before trick-or-treating.

Some of Bethany's friends came by our house just as we were starting, and she asked if she could go with them instead.  When did she get old enough to go trick-or-treating with her friends?!?

Violet stayed home with me to help hand out candy.  She really didn't like her costume; she only wore it for pictures.

The boys with their loot!

Remodeling Part 2 - Carpet Tear Out

 Here are some pictures of the old carpet.  Notice the high-traffic areas and how nasty they are! 



We also wanted to replace all of the carpet coving.  The kids seem to think it is a pull-toy.  And it is ugly.

All our stuff in the basement

Carpet is gone!

Look at all that dirt!  Gross.




We had a Wendy's picnic on a blanket on the floor.  No, Violet didn't get any.  She got some kind of mushy baby food.  She really wanted some fries, though.

One of many piles we swept up.