chris.reese.girls1.2.3.4

Finley's birthday party was a tad delayed this year due to the timing of Spring Break. We ended up combining birthday celebrations with her Grandpa Dalley who was in town for cousin Reed's baby blessing. We had the whole Dalley clan up on a Friday afternoon for a big dinner and ice cream-themed party! Finley LOVES ice cream. It's her favorite treat. Grandpa Dalley's favorite treat is sugar cookies with icing, so we made him his own sugar cookie cake (see below in the back) and oodles of sugar cookies to share. Pin the cherry on the ice cream cone. Brynn made the ice cream cone for me. She's so artsy and talented (you can see it in some of the pictures below). Cousin Addy was the closest....Winner Winner! One small craft project decorating paper cones with crepe paper sprinkles. And then after dinner (Chris smoked 6 racks of ribs for the group...delish and how did I not get a picture of that?!) we dove into the ice cream bar. So super fun...

I can't remember the last time we had such amazing weather for Spring Break in April. We really soaked up the fun! I headed down to Portland to visit my old BYU roommate, Kim, and her sweet amazing family. Her husband has been teaching at Pacific University in Forest Grove, but they are relocating to Southern Virginia University after this school term. It was one of my last chances to see my Kim in her element before they leave.  Kim's husband, Sam, aka Professor Hirt, gave us a little tour of campus and of his Biology lab. I was cracking up when he told all nine kids, " Don't touch anything. Like seriously...don't touch anything ." And then after we were in there for 5 minutes he ushered the kids out quickly before they couldn't control their hands any longer. Too funny... The campus is beautiful. We had a great time exploring! Finley and Vivian became fast friends. Viv needs some girly friends since she has to live with four brothers. Th...