Last Birthday surprise

Ok last of the birthday stuff. I wanted there to be one last surprise! months and months ago I reserved the "birthday rock" at Eve's school. It's an adorable thins they do, they have 2 big rocks at different places. Parents can reserve them and pain them for their child's birthday. I love looking at them and seeing the sweet notes and messages from parents.

So I snuck out and painted it the afternoon before and kept it hidden until I drove her to school. She was so excited! She said "mom! I love owls! and I love to read! It's got my name and a 6 too!!!!"

She was also feeling fabulous when we brought treats for her class, because "No one has had an uncle come to school before!" 

Uncle Skotty got to come to school and help out with mom and the babies. All in all, she said her day was amazing. She deserves it, she's a great kid.

February Park days!

We got a little gift of a beautiful day so we hurried over to the park after we picked up Eve from school. We are so excited for spring! And the groundhog did tell us it's going to be an early spring, so we are hoping he's not tricking us!

Eve is 6

Why does 6 seem so much older than 5??? Happiest of birthdays to the greatest 6 year old on the planet!

She's the kindest, sweetest, (with a splash of sassy) patient, and most compassionate little lady. She has so much kindness in her, she's such a great example to me. She's always looking for ways to help me or others, and is mature way beyond her years! She teaches me so much, and I'm so grateful Heavenly Father sent her to our family, he knew I needed her.

Just the other day, I went upstairs to see her kneeling beside Graham's bed with him, helping him say his prayers. She said "we have lots to be thankful for buddy, we need to tell heavenly father." I was so touched, I kept out of sight so I could just watch.

She proceeded to read him a bedtime story, and stroke his hair while singing him his bedtime song Puff the Magic Dragon. She gave him a soft kiss and turned out the lights. 

I'm amazed at the wonderful young lady she is becoming, she came to us as an amazing spirit, and I'm hoping I don't mess her up, because she is so precious.

Eve's 6th Birthday Party

We had a special ART party for her this year! She chose the activities, and she wanted an art party. Each kid had their own canvas, and paint supplies. We also had coloring pages, and crafts. It was so fun to hear them giggling about their pictures, and their "creativity". Her old preschool teacher Ms Tracy even came. It was awesome. 

The kids just had a good time, and played with one another, no schedules, itineraries, just kids being kids. It was my first gluten free party, so I was a bit nervous that the kids would notice the different food. But they didn't! We did a pancake stack as her cake covered in wihpped cream and chocolate chips. We even had some trick candles, which she didn't find very funny. 

But overall it was an awesome day, I got to meet these little friends of hers from school I've heard so much about, and get to see them interact. It was so sweet. 

Birthday Party Prep

This year we did things a little differently. Eve got to pick whatever she wanted for her birthday party. She helped pick everything out, she helped shop for supplies, (which also gave us a good time to talk about budgets and being smart with our money) and also helped make all decorations.

It was the best! It was so fun seeing her create her own party, and watching how much she loved the prep work. It also gave us some good opportunities to spend time together one on one, and that's always a bonus. Turns out, she has very simple taste, this was the easiest birthday party of hers yet, so we may have to do this again.

Special Lunch

Well, I thuoght this day would never come. Greta had a whole month with doing her #2s in the potty. Not her pull up, not her pants. I've had a whole month of no messes. So I told her we get to go to a special lunch. I asked her "Greta, what would you like for your special lunch?"

She responds with no hesitation, "Cheetos"

Me, "ok, we can go anywhere, we can get pancakes, mac n cheese, waffles, whatever you like."

She says, "cheetos"

Me "Really? All you want is cheetos?"

Greta, "yes."

Ok then, cheetos it is. So we spent our lunch at my favorite sandwich place, that also had cheetos.

1-25-2016

Little Dancers

Eve's good friend Eva has an older sister who taught the girls a cute choreographed dance routine. She got them dressed in costume and everything. At the last minute, Greta decided to join in a stole the show.

Our Friends new Dog

Our friends got a new pup, some like her more than others.

First Snow day

Yes, basically the whole city shut down for this. Snow. Granted, there was some ice, which I'm sure is what they were more worried about. 

School cancelled for 2 days. I actually drove all the way to the gym to go to my class, with all 3 kids in tow before I realized everything was closed. So we flipped a few doughnuts in the parking lot and headed to the grocery store to see if it was open.
We were the only ones there! The staff seemed happy to have someone in there, they gave us the royal treatment. Kids got balloons, crayons, coloring pages, and they even brought us back to the lobster tank and let us watch them get fed! The kids thought it  was awesome, and I'm sure the employees were happy to have something to do. 

We got what we needed to do some baking, and have hot chocolate, because both are an absolute MUST when you're stuck indoors for a day or two.

A Day for Mari

A close friend of mine is on the losing end of a courageous battle with cancer. She is back in Connecticut, and I've been expressing my desires to go there to see her, as her situation has worsened quickly. She has told me she doesn't want me to go see her, she wants me to take the money and time I would have spent, and spend it on a special day with my family. She wants me to build memories for her, and not to come and mourn her. That is just the person she is, she is always thinking of others. I'm sure part of it is that she doesn't want people to see her now, but remember her as the vibrant woman we all know and love. 

So we went to nature, that is where I feel closest to God. So it seemed only fitting to go to nature and remember one of his angels, he will quickly get to meet again.

I ache for Mari, but it has given me more of a reminder to cherish my time with my family, because you never know how long you have. For Mari, I'm slowing down, hugging my kids a little longer, and not missing an opportunity to tell my husband how much I love and adore him. 

Meet Blake

Meet Blake. The sweetest, cutest, and nicest little guy in Eve's class. He walks home from school too, I see his dad pick him up every day. They have to take a turn before our house to get to theirs, but his dad waits patiently at the corner while Blake walks Eve to our door. A true gentleman. 

First day back in the swing of things

First day back in the swing of things. Greta kept looking for her "honey", and Graham kept asking where boy grandma was, he wanted to play his legos. Eve thuoght a picnic and tea party would cheer us all up. 

Sad to say goodbye

So sad to say goodbye. Car troubles gave us a few extra days, but the dreaded time had come where they had to leave. Greta cried the hardest, just crying "Honey, where's my honey gone?"  

Greta and Minnie Mouse

The obsession with Minnie Mouse is a strong one. I found an old Minnie Costume, so I grabbed it all excited to have her try it on. The problem was, it was 12-18 months size. The bigger problem was, she didn't care. This girl squeezes into that thing like a corset, and loves it anyway. 

Dr. Eve

Little Greta had a sore tummy, and Dr Eve fixed it.

Grandma and Grandpa's birthday

With one having a birthday mid January, and the other beginning of July, we couldn't resist throwing them a modest party. A few mini bundt cakes, and a few little gifts, which the kids opened for them. It was so awesome, and the kids loved having a surprise for them. 

Drama with girls

Someone was mad that they got sent to their room. And although I had to laugh at Braden's response, I kept a straight face as I watched her scrub it off.

Greta's first real haircut

It's no lie, she has beautiful hair. Why cut it you may ask? Well, her hair grows forward, so it's always in her face. This causes me to have to place a little pony in the front, daily. She would then, inevitably pull the ponytail out, and it would pull out a few hairs with it. This caused her to have a bit of a sparse spot on the right wide right above her ear. So to help it grow out evenly, I decided to give her a shorter cut. The pageboy as my mom calls it, the same one I had as a little girl. 

It is seriously so cute on her, totally suits her personality, and really frames her cute round face. 

I cried and cried. I feel like I just cut off what was left of her baby-ness. She looks so much older with her new hair, more of a kid and not a baby. I just would well up with tears all afternoon every time I looked at her, or that little ponytail of her baby hair.

But, I've come to love it, even though I don't love how fast my babies are growing up.