Milestones

M

• Her eyes have turned a beautiful shade of green. Everytime I tell her they are green, she says, "Mommy let's pretend they are blue!" Mmmmm-K.
• She will only kiss me on the cheek. She only lets me do the same. :0(
• She loves all the Disney Princesses right now. She loves to dress up, read about, and pretend to be one. Ariel is her favorite because she is also obessessed with Mermaids.
• She doesn't like Dora the Explorer as much as she used too. This makes me sad because it means she is growing up.
• Sometimes I feel I expect too much from her because she is the oldest, but I remind myself that she is only four.
• She is a really good big sister. She is always willing to help S or E.
• She has been able to spell her name since she was two, she could write it a few months after turning three. She is very intellegent.
• She was my first baby and although I am learning as I go, She seems to be patient and forgiving.
• I am greatful for all the sweet things she says and does, I just love her.
  

S

• She has the most beautiful hair. It has the cutest ringlets at the end of it. She hates when I brush it, so I have thought of cutting it into a bob. I am just not ready to part with the curls.
• Her smile lights up a room. She is happy and confident and it shows in her demeanor.
• She is adventurous. There is not anything in my home that she has not gotten into. Sometimes I hear M telling S, "get us suckers," And ya know what, she will!
• She loves puzzles. She puts together puzzles all by her self and she enjoys doing it over and over again.
• She loves anything Spiderman. She will play princesses with M, but her doll is always named 'Spiderman.'
• She is not afraid of water. She lays in the tub and will submerge her whole body, face and all. She always says, "Mom look I am a Spiderman Mermaid!"
• She can spell her name, but refuses to try and learn to write it. She does things on her own schedule and time table. Maybe she just knows how to work the system.
• She still likes Dora, but if Micah wants to watch something else then she acts like Dora is a show for babies.
• She keeps me busy. I get tired thinking about where all her adventures will take us when she gets older. I just love her.

E

• She has the best smile. She smiles with her whole face.
• Her hair is finally getting long enough to put up with bows. She is my only baby who refused to wear the cute headbands I put on her.
• She loves, loves, loves Dora the Explorer. All my kids have gone through this phase. I think it is so cute.
• She loves to read, she is always bringing me books and sitting on my lap to get ready for her story.
• She says, "Here you go," whenever she hands me things. Her favorite thing to do is give me dishes when I am unloading the dishwasher.
• She has always called me Dada and Jeremy Daddy. I used to think she was saying Mom but quickly learned she was saying "more."
• Everytime she sees a camera she smiles and says, "Cheese!"
• She still snuggles with me. Everytime she wants too, I drop everything else and do it. I am just realizing it goes too quickly and I miss doing that with my other girls.
• She is such a picky eater. She prefers hotdogs and chicken nuggets, anything else is totally hit and miss.
• She makes me smile a lot. I can't wait to see what he future has in store for her. I just love her.

Weekend in Mc Call

We decided to get away with some friends this weekend. So, we rented a condo, loaded our cars, and bundled up our kids. We went to attend the "Freeze Your Patootie Off" festival. It is really called something else but I can't remember it.

It was a nice condo plenty of room for all the families. We even threw a little party for S who is now 3.

The thing I will remember most...all the snow. It was so C.O.L.D.

We tried to go swim at the hot springs, but we ended up trying to get a couple of the trapped cars out instead. We spent a fun amount of time digging and pushing out the vehicles. Hey these things are what make the memories right?

We definitely need to do this this again, but I am willing to wait til next year!

In Memory of President Gordon B. Hinckley

I loved him and will miss him.

Happy 3rd Birthday S

It seems like yesterday you were small and in my arms with your binkie. I could kiss that little face all day long. You are getting bigger now and I am proud of who you are becoming. I love you so very much, S.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

We Have to Water Well

There is a book that I love reading to my girls. I have read it to M since she was very little. I liked the book too, so I kept reading it to all my girls.

It is 'Summer' by Alice Low

I always get choked up every time at the same part.

"Summer sun brings garden fun .

We have to water well, we know,

to make our garden grow and grow.

You water me. I water you.

And that will make us grow fast, too!"

Maybe I water too much. They are growing way too fast!

I Thought it Was all Good

When we first moved in to our place, I decided to use the coat closet as a toy closet. I don't like running up and down stairs all day long carrying armloads of toys. So for me the best solution was to find a way to have an area for toys upstairs and down.

I ,however, did this during the summer.

Here lies my problem!

I guess I am too used to Texas winters.

Wholesome Commercials Please

A couple days ago I was forced to watch a Basketball game for a certain team in Utah that my husband happens to love, love, LOVE. We only have satellite on one t.v. because we kept thinking we were gonna move any day now. Still here! Okay this vent is not my reason for posting.

You would think a basketball game would be nice enough for a family to sit and watch with their little ones. I mean there is no swearing (if you don't count reading the players or coaches lips), No half dressed women (In the Utah winter they would be crazy!), etc.

Well the thing that EERKS me is all the commercials. The are all very heavily suggestive. Using sex to sell a cookie, a candy bar, or even a roast beef sandwich. I personally think it is getting a bit out of control.

I am definitely not a prude, but when it comes to my kids, it becomes a completely different story. I guess it is time for us to join the everyone else in the new millennium and get a dvr so we can skip them all together.

My favorite time of year to shop

I love shopping during January, it is the best time of year to get great deals. Plus, even though I can not bring myself to buy spring clothes yet, it is fun to browse all the new things coming out.

While waiting for my daughter pictures, I shopped around JCPenneys. They were having their 70% off clearance so I browsed.

I was happy to walk away with scarf, mitten, and hat sets, two winter coats (perfect for playing in the snow), and a hoodie jacket all for under $20. This is my highlight today.

Just felt like sharing!

A give-a-way

I know a few of my readers are fans of feasting and cooking. Elizabeth at Mommy Chef is hosting a giveaway. A free subscription to Taste of home Magazine. All you have to do is leave a comment, click here on this post.

So head over there and do it!

One for the Money, Two for the Show

Man it has been a while since I have thought about blogging. We have actually been pretty busy. (And I was looking forward to January you know when things usually calm down.) Two days after New Year's my Mom and sister Danielle came to visit. Dani injured her back and Jeremy offered her some treatment. We started out visit in Rexburg with the Temple open house. We also enjoyed a little visit with my other little sister Corrine and her cute hubby. We returned home for a little R&R until we had to head to Utah to meet up with my Dad and brother in law Josh (who flew in from Missouri) for my uncle's wedding.

I, of course, forgot my camera. It worked out though, because Jeremy was able to take pictures of S's first day of Sunbeams.

I am her teacher, but this week Jeremy taught. I really wish I could have been there.

I was amazed that Jeremy did the girls hair. Not bad!

When the older girls returned home we took in a full week of shopping and lunch dates. My cousin's family joined us one afternoon and again no pictures. Jami, we (meaning I) need to get on the ball!

While shopping we found great deals here, here, here, and here.

We also picked up a few of my girls favorite summer shoes. They unfortunately were not on sale. I love them because they are the only shoes I buy for the kids at the beginning of summer that still resemble the item I bought by the end of summer.

Mary Janes were our style of choice this year. I am still struggling with allowing my children to use their free agency, but I eventually let them pick out their own colors. After all they are the ones who have to wear them!


Before we knew it, it was time for my family to go. We were all sad and exhausted.

Seriously, she never just "passes out."
She represents exactly how I feel now.
On a final note, today was officially E's first day in Nursery. She was so big and did not shed one tear. I was very proud of her. I can not believe I do not have any more babies to carry around with me at church anymore. It hasn't been this way since I was pregnant with M.
All in all though, that really isn't a bad thing.

Sorry I have been MIA

My Mom has been in town and we are having a blast. I will be back to my regular schedules next week!

(Now those of you emailing me know, hehe)

I'm on the Bandwagon

The vinyl lettering bandwagon that is!

Living out west it is EVERYWHERE. Hey I don't want to be left out. I kinda felt at first it was "Mormon craft" looking, but now I am hooked. Hold me back people before I get out of control.

Everyone needs a Family Home Evening chart, right? I did make this for a Super Saturday, but I needed a little something extra, so I found these inexpensive Christmas ornaments. Now it feels more personalized.

I am not super creative. I find something I like and I can imitate pretty well. I like this frame and love the pictures. But, I think the lettering adds the something that was missing.

Aaahhh....this is my newest project. I can not wait until we move to our new place so I can get this baby up on the wall. Surround it with a few family pictures and a couple of G's I made and I will have my own personalized wall art.

Rexburg Temple

We drove out to Rexburg, ID, for the temple open house. It was awesome. My girls and I were freezing, it does not get this cold where we live. Bbbrrrrr!

My sister Corrine invited us to come out, overtake her apartment, and join her and her cute hubby in attendance to the open house.

My mom and other sister Danielle are visiting as well but did not feel well enough to venture out.

It is beautiful, as all Temples are. I am glad it will soon be open, but apparently you already have to get in line to do a session. We will head back this summer when hopefully the newness of it has worn off!
It was tough with little ones, but I hope I use every opportunity I have to bring them to the Temple. I can't wait for this spring/summer when the Twin Falls Temple opens.

Learn more about Lds Temples and our Church here.

New Years Our Way

We did make New Years plans, but we stayed in Utah a lot longer than we anticipated. We just needed some wind down time and our kids needed to sleep. So we spent it together as a family.

The kids who have been surrounded by friends and family had no complaints about staying home.

As long as there is food, E is a happy camper.

There was a lot of JUNK food!
Got to have wings on New Year's Eve. There were plenty of left overs for next day. This means I got a day off from cooking.
I just love card games. Jeremy and I played til we just couldn't anymore. We watched a couple movies and did not even realize the New Year had crept upon us.

It is 2008 and once again I have to get used to writing a new year on my checks. This for me is always a huge challenge.

Straight No Chaser - 12 Days

I know Christmas is over, but I love this. Plus 'Africa' by Toto is my ultimate favorite song.

Why.......

.... we won't be going to Great Grandma's (Jeremy's side) house for a long while.

A 15 min trip turned into a two hour adventure!

I know my little girl is talented, I just wish she could contain her creativity sometimes.