Something's missing

About a week ago we lost something.  Something that really changed the landscape of our house.  Every time I look at it, it just looks different, more beautiful...but different.  See for yourself.

Ellie has a hole in her mouth!!  She has finally lost her first tooth on the top.  The funny part is the fact that she lost the bottom tooth on the same side about a mouth ago.  So losing this tooth has really created a hole on the one side of her mouth.  I have to keep reminding myself that she is growing up.

In other things that have been added, Madelyn LOVES her Aunt Mar.  Well, really all the girls do...

There is also daily craft time.  The girls are really getting into doing all sorts of different crafts.  We are going through tape and crayons at an alarming rate.

So, with all the things that are missing and being added in our life these days.  I am still missing our youngest and we all can't wait to meet her.  THANK YOU to everyone who is helping to make us smile with or with out the hole in our mouth!!

MOM

I think as a Mom we all agree that there are some days where we want to turn in our two weeks notice and go to some fancy spa!  But, most days are filled with fun, laughter and watching as your children grow and become amazing people.  Madelyn lately has figured out how much Mommy loves hugs.  She will see me, run up, put her arms around me and say "I love you Mommy."  She could do it a million times and I love it every time.  Savannah, has always been affectionate.  She is our cuddle bug.  Today she came up to me and whispered in my ear "I love you Mommy.  You are the best Mommy in the whole world."  Again, never gets old.  Then two nights ago Ellie couldn't sleep.  I went into her room and played with her hair just like my Mom would do to help me relax.  Just when I thought Ellie was asleep she looked up at me and said "Mom, I love you.  And I would never want anyone else as my Mom.  Your the greatest."  I was so touched, that I told her "Thank You."  She didn't understand why I said thank you and continued to fall back asleep.

Today during quiet time Ellie came in and asked me what my favorite colors were.  I told her and went back to what I was doing.  About a half hour later, she comes back in and presented me with this...

She had made me this cute little bracelet with "MOM" on it.  It was also in my favorite colors.  I love the fact that our children are thoughtful little people who love to make others smile.  I'm glad they got that from their Dad!

Restful sleep

So recently we have been experiencing some sleep issues in our house.  I think we are all suffering from them in one way or another.  For the past few nights we have found our two older girls coming up with different ways to sleep...

I think we have a problem here.

Solution....

BUNK BEDS!!

So my sweet hubby spent the morning putting together our first bunk beds.  It took time, sweat, and a great ability to read directions.  He's such a good Dad!

Yet another thing to check off the to-do list before baby comes.  The girls have new beds, Savannah has a lot more space to sleep, they have a few less toys in their room and over-all Mommy has a lot less anxiety.

Over-all I think we will all have a more restful nights sleep!

Golden

I think as a parent you come to discover when ever your kids are being too quiet, you should be nervous.  The other day this theory was proved wrong...

Sometimes silence is GOLDEN!

"What can I do for you young man?"

Every child goes through awkward stages.  The above picture displays to the world mine.  I can't tell you the times I was mistaken for a boy or the amount of sports shirts I had.  The best part however was I never forgot fully my girl roots and always made sure I had on a cute pair of earrings...which didn't seem to help.  So, as I look back at this picture and smile, I am also reminded of the many clerks that said "What can I do for you young man" and I think of the old saying that "milk really does do a body good!"

...It's a good thing I lived in the dairy state ;-).



What do you get when you have great friends, a great surprise and the color Violet?

A SURPRISE BABY SHOWER...that's what!!

This past week, my dear friends planned and executed the perfect surprise.  For those who know me even a little, you know that I love surprises.  I just do. I love to be truly surprised, which doesn't happen to often.  This current surprise was no different.  In fact it was just about perfect.  They threw me and our soon to be daughter Violet a violet colored themed surprise baby shower. I was stunned...

I was just planning to go to a cooking class with my girlfriends...who knew??

Great friends brought great gifts and great fun.  I was truly so touched at the out pouring to my family.

What a great group of women that I am privileged to know.  There were even more people involved that are not in this picture.  THANK YOU to everyone who cares for me and my family.  P.S. The decorations were so ADORABLE!

I still have you beat Eric!!!

Here are my three dear friends that pulled the whole thing together from start to finish(Amy, Ash and Heidi).  I am so grateful for such great friends in my life. My heart is full...

Thank you to EVERYONE who has blessed this babies life and she isn't even here yet.

 

Again?????

Everyday as this baby continues to grow more "fun" things happen.  The one that is really starting to get hard to take is the war between my tummy and the kitchen towel.  Observe...

As I cook, clean or do pretty much anything in the kitchen.  This towel that hangs on our oven ends up on the floor.  My belly somehow continues to knock it off.  So, as I look yet again at the floor and see yet again the towel sitting there I just think NOT AGAIN????

7...check!

Ellie's 7!  Here is how you party when you are 7...

You do some serious crown making with your whole family.

There were real jewels.

You do your own at home story time.  Ellie started...

Then Madelyn...

...and Savannah.

All she wanted for dinner was waffles with strawberries and whip cream.  Notice what the whip cream says?

The crowns and princesses are ready.

Mana and Papa came over for some cake and presents.

The pink ice cream cake was on the menu.

So, we had crown making...check.

Story time...check.

Waffles, whip cream, strawberries...check.

A Wii dance off...check.

Mana and Papa...check.

Presents...check.

Pink cake...check.

Another wonderful year with Ellie...CHECK!!!

It's a what???

7 years ago today we lived in Idaho, going to college and we just had a baby.  Ellie came at 6:45 am.  She took her sweet time and made her Dad and I go back and forth to the hospital 4 days in a row.  Finally, I was so stubborn and I said I wasn't going back.  Moroni actually had to make me go to the hospital because he was pretty sure it was time.  About 15 minutes after checking in Ellie was born.  She also was a GIRL.  We thought for sure she was a boy.  The funniest part is the fact that the doctor laid her on me and never said the gender.  I looked down and with a gasp said "It's a GIRL??!!"  While Moroni with an even louder gasp said "IT'S A GIRL???????"  With tears running down my face I looked at our sweet daughter for the first time and I knew what heaven felt like. 

Thank you Ellie for making me a Mom.  I love you.

Here's to another 107 years...

And you think you have trouble sleeping...

As we went to bed last night and I thought of having yet another uncomfortable night's rest.  I thought of the fact that it takes a crane to roll me over and all the aches and pains.  Then I went to check on our little angels.  What I saw made me grateful for the comfort of my bed....

Apparently I'm not the only one in the house with sleep problems :).