More Birthday Goodness

 

 

 

Three Years and Eternity to Come

This little man was sealed to our family to be with us forever and ever three years ago April 26th. What a wonderful day that was...sweet, sweet memories. We celebrate that wonderful day every year. Some times we can do more than others...this year it was a bit busy, but we made it out to eat with family!

This picture is blurry, yes, but is so "Drew". He picked Red Robin and of course got a shake...the kid can suck a shake down in no time flat! Oh how we love him! And really...he is just so handsome!!!!

Daily Dabble 4/25/11

Monday, Monday.....besides my late start this morning due to a certain tiny child in our house having a hard time going to sleep last night, today has been good! I have gotten work done and made it to the bank, Walgreens, your office, and Sprouts!. Child #2 and #3 are still down for naps (put them down around 3ish). Child #1 decided a nap was not necessary today. Oh well - he has been good and it is nice to have just him around with the quiet! I bought a ton of strawberries! I love this time of year....well, minus the looming heat. We are hoping to make it to the pool store when the kiddos get up and then to the park to burn some energy. Looking forward to some FHE tonight. Love love love you!

We made it to the pool store and the park. Pool needs to be drained and refilled. Arg. Boys are in the bath "shaving" SO cute!

Holiday Happiness

I love Easter. I realized this year that it just might be my favorite holiday. We had decided as a family to inform the Easter bunny that he is to come on Saturday so we can spend Sunday focused on Christ. Unfortunately this year it didn't happen that way, but nonetheless I love Easter. It is a holiday focused on a priceless and perfect gift from our Father in Heaven. The resurrection of Jesus Christ. I couldn't think of a better event to celebrate. I love that it is on Sunday..every year. It is a day we can spend as a family without the rush of the normal weekdays. And an added bonus...Easter has the best candy!

We kicked off the celebration with dinner and an egg hunt at Julia's house on Friday night. Carter was SUPER excited to find eggs. I found Drew on multiple occasions hunkered down devouring chocolate!

The silly bunny left bunny prints all over the front room and left some fun surprises for the kids. Maylee slept later than the boy so she joined in on the fun once she was up!

Drew was super excited about his shaving kit while Carter was all about the candy. 

They went for a short ride in their new wagon before Maylee got up. The little princess was thrilled about her new doggie book. She love love loves dogs!

 

Church was a bit of a whirlwind. Maylee was exhausted by the time Sacrament meeting was over so I ended up taking her home to bed. Alas...I didn't get a picture of the kids in their adorable outfits. I will have to try and sneak one in another Sunday.

I am so grateful for my elder brother Jesus Christ, for the Atonement and the Resurrection. What a beautiful holiday and time to spend with family remembering the most importing things in life.

Daily Dabble 4/22/11

I pretty much blew through our entire grocery budget already for this month. Costco about did me in today. *smile* The children were fabulous though. No melt downs, fabulous listening, happy faces, and great samples to keep them entertained! It really was a nice trip. I took the boys swimming before we went while Maylee napped and they had SO much fun. I had to get them out and hosed off though since the chlorine was a bit too much after a little while. I did get the cleaner hooked up, but it seems to get stuck...you will have to check it when you get home. As for now - all kids are sleeping and I am working. I have a bit more prep to do for Easter and the egg hunt tonight. Sure wish you could be with us...thank you for all your hard work. I am excited to spend the weekend together! I love you xoxox

Picture of Ming from yesterday and the boys today!

Daily Dabble 4/20/11

The whole crew went to the doc this morning. The boys were crazy which makes it hard to talk to the doc, but it went okay. Maylee was quite scared about the whole thing. He was screaming the minute we put her on the bed to get her shots. Poor thing...she didn't cry for too long though. She got two pokes. She weighed in at 15 lbs on the nose, 26.5 inches, and her head is on the charts in the 10%. We had an eventful trip to Target....ooooooooh Drew.....I about left him at the store. Carter ate like crazy for lunch. He kept asking for more and more! All children took naps thank goodness! I am squeezing in work before getting the house ready for Activity Days here. I love you xoxox

***Response from dad to this Daily Dabble....

The day will come when you will see them dressed and at the altar.

You will then only reflect generally on how hard it was, and weep with joy for the path in which you have done so much to bring them to this point. 

No one ever explained to me what it is like to be the best parent.  It was required that I experience the journey.  I know that this Journey is different for each one of use from choices that we make.

There is not ever a guarantee that the work we do will bring our children home.  The guidelines are available for us all in the doctrines that are available to us and our children.  The hope is that through our agency we will hold fast and continue on the path.  Gentle persuasion, patients, observation and long suffering, at times, cause us as parents to grow beyond that which we knew possible. 

The only gauge that is realized, can be read only after the experience. 

It is similar to driving a car to a destination.  It will need some fuel to get there.  We start with a full tank or whatever we have, we go, we drive defensively, still we have bumps in the road we find.  No matter what the cost of fuel we still take time to fill up our tank, or what we can, no matter what the cost.   The difference is we go into debt sometimes for a newer machine.  We only have one body, It will last for time.  Inside the working spirit continues to get stronger if we use the best fuel we can get.  The best fuel is Free for the Spirit.  I know that the teachings that we supply and example of good we show to our children is the fuel that will get them to their destination on the other side of the veil. 

Oh one other thing, it is important to keep the tires balanced.  The best place is Sacrament Mtg. on Sunday.

Love

Dad

Daily Dabble 4/19/11

The little ones conspired with each other today using their nap schedules so that I couldn't run any errands or get any work done. They were perfectly synchronized to make sure that one was awake the minute the other went down. Good thing they are cute and I love them. Drew had fun at school and is SUPER excited to go to the temple tonight and see his cousins. Carter and Maylee were happy to play in the play room for a while which allowed me to make some phone calls at least. Hopefully our pool will be ready to swim in by next week...that is, if the water is not too "dead". Love you! xoxoxo

Daily Dabble 4/18/11

The Daily Dabble! Do you love it?! A dabble of our lives at home while you are at work. Yesterday was pretty good day, well once nap time rolled around it got better! The morning had its ups and downs with Drew getting up at 6, waking Carter up, but going back to sleep, Maylee getting up earlier than normal at 8 which threw off the nap schedule and what I had planned for the day...sigh. The boys played and fought which is no surprise. They did have fun outside for a while and then came in nice and hot, sat on the couch on a towel, ate popsicles, and watched Strawberry Shortcake (they wanted to pick a girl show for Ming...and liked it and danced to the music). All kiddos went down for naps at 2. Ming was a bit of a fight, but finally let me rock her to sleep - heaven. I got work done and then Amanda came and we enjoyed the day cooling off at the park. So there you have it...your first Daily Dabble. I sure do love you and appreciate all you do!

Baby Maylee's First Birthday

Maylee Rose turned a year old.  One year full of lots of sleepless nights, sweet smiles, endless car rides echoed with screaming, priceless gazes from those big blue eyes, weight checks, prayers of gratitude, and immeasurable amounts of adoration for this little princess.  

She came earlier than expected and a little smaller than we were ready for, but we are oh so grateful she is a part of our little family!

She still adores her brothers and they are SO good with her (most of the time).

 

We took a trip to San Diego and brought along the little princess since I wasn't quite ready to leave her for a couple days. She was such a trooper and we have a lot of fun together! (A tutu bathing suit....little girls are too much fun!)

She is on the move. She can pull to a stand, cruise the couch, and get down without any problems. She gets stuck in random places, prefers not to crawl on the hard floor, and loves to be chased while standing at the couch. She prefers to sit in a "w" but we are working on it. Apparently she has tight hamstrings...poor girl got my flexibility...or lack thereof! She has just recently started standing with her back against the couch and then leaning forward by herself and stands for a few seconds! They grow and change too fast I tell ya!

Her eyes are still blue...and big...and she loves the bath...

LOVES her silky blanket. She will suck her thumb with any silky, but this is her favorite blankie and she only gets it when she is going to bed. If there is a blanket on the floor and she crawls over it she will stop and take a quick thumb suck like this and then get up and keep going. SO funny!

 

The child loves Nutella, but then again who doesn't! She is still finicky with her eating, but we are getting there. She is gaining weight so I am not going to complain too much. She still nurses when she goes to sleep, but hopefully we will be ending that some time in the near future (bitter sweet). 

 

 

We had her birthday party on Saturday with friends and family. I was not quite sure what to do for a one-year-old party, but the company and entertainment was great. Who doesn't love to watch a little girl demolish a cake!

****A BIG thank you to my wonderful friend Savanna for the great pictures of Maylee at her party!****

Weight: 15 lbs ( > 5 % - adjusted > 5%)

Height: 26.5 inches (> 5% - adjusted 3%)

 HC: 43.5 cm (10% - adjusted 25%)