March party time

March was a fun filled month for us. Chris's parents and sister came to visit us for a few days. We were able to visit Kirtland and also celebrate Chris's 31st birthday. At the end of the month we celebrated Steven's 5th birthday with a bang. We had a big Bakugan birthday bash that was a big success.
The weather didn't really cooperate so I didn't take very many pictures but this picture is in front of the Kirtland Temple. We took the tour and were able to see the inside. It was really incredible. I was just amazed that they built such and incredible structure with their own hands and then had to up and leave it not long after they had finished it.
Their was a visitors center inside the Kirtland temple that is owned by the reorganized church. Laura Aaron and I had fun dressing up.

We stayed one night in a hotel with a swimming pool. The temple and the visitor center was my favorite part of the trip but I think the pool was probably Laura and Steven's favorite.

Laura and Steven had swimming lessons in March so that made swimming even more fun. They had a great time showing us what they were learning.
Aaron on a little path by the Kirtland temple. He stopped and said "Cheese Mommy" I needed no further prompting to whip out the camera.
Chris's parents gave him new hiking boots for his birthday he is anxious to break them in.
Here Chris is unwrapping a present from Steven. He made him a lego rocket and for a special effect wrapped it, in his favorite blanket.

Nothing like a new shirt to wear to work to make a man happy. Thanks for working hard for us honey, we love you!
The next and final birthday celebration of the year is Steven! This is his Bakugan costume(Actually "How to Train Your Dragon" PJ's purchased at Walmart.)
The day started with the ritual opening of many many presents.
I tried and tried to get this to load the right direction. I'm not sure why the blog keeps flipping it but here is the Bakugan birthday cake in all it's sidways glory.

Steven and Laura were active participants in the decorating of the cake. They took over decorating the edible truffle Bakugan balls, which is just as well I think they did as good a job as I was doing.

I found this Chinese New Years puppet on line and thought it would go great with our theme. I know that Bakugan's are not always dragons but I think most of the time they are. We aren't experts here at our house we are just fans. The puppets were a huge hit at the party and all the kids loved making them. I am only sad I didn't get a picture with all the kids and their puppets. The trouble was that I had 13 kids at the party and had split them up into two groups. One group with me for games and one group with Chris for the puppet making. Getting them all together would have been maybe impossible.
They did all come together when we said cake and ice cream time but by then we were just about out of time.

The present casious. I didn't have good organized way of doing that. Let me know if any one has any good ideas.
Most of the party went smoothly. We played Duck Duck Goose, had a candy walk, played keep the balloon in the air and some freeze dancing. I even tried Button Button but that really didn't work despite that the website where I was looking for game ideas said it was great for 3 year olds. I think all the kids had a great time and Steven was one very happy birthday boy. I can now breath easy knowing I have a full year until I have to throw another friend birthday party for Laura. Next year will be Steven's turn to have a family one.