Family Vacations

A few weeks ago we spent the weekend at the Bear River Lodge. The time we had reserved was for the UEA weekend and we had intended to rent out our time and use the money for our Disneyland vacation. As the weekend drew closer, we realized that we were not going to be able to sell our time and contemplated whether or not we should use it ourselves or give it away. We kept thinking of a million little reasons to stay home but in the end we decided to head up to the cabin. On the drive up my children kept asking me why they could not bring friends and telling me how bored they were going to be . . . . . . . .

So after a weekend of riding the four wheeler, playing games and spending all kinds of family togetherness, I realized just how important family vacations are. There was no distraction of phone calls, friends, football games or even trips to the grocery store to pull us away from making memories and deepening our love for each other as a family. Abby summed it all up with one comment as we drove home: "Mom, I love family vacations."

Bottoms Up!

As soon as I pull off Elsie's diaper to change it, she flings her feet up and sticks her toes in her mouth. Everytime. (that is a shout out to Macy) It is the craziest thing because she goes nuts sucking on her toes! I can barely pry them out of her mouth to get her little legs down long enough to fasten her diaper. I get one leg down and as soon as I reach for the other, it springs back up. Then I am reaching for that one again and throughout this whole wrestling match she is rolling all over the place. The odd thing is, that once her diaper is on, she doesn't even think about her toes again until the next time. Maybe it's not just the feeling of her toes in her mouth that she likes . . . . . .

Third times a charm!

You would think by my third baby I would be some kind of expert. Sadly, I think I have become far more lax in my mothering skills. I am not sure if that is because I am loosing my mind or because I have come to realize that it doesn't help to sweat the small stuff. In a way it is kind of nice because I enjoy life much more in my happy state of confusion and cluelessness (is that a word?). Anyhow, after going for a morning walk I brought Elsie in (who had fallen asleep) and put her on the couch. Trying to take advantage of my precious time I went outside to work in my flower beds. On a side note, the thing I love about my neighborhood is that on any given day as long as the temperature is above 40 degrees you can find multiple people outside. The flip side of this is that it takes an average of 4 hours to weed a single flower bed because everyone loves to talk. Anywho, on this particular day during the course of my conversations (yes that is plural) I must have said ten times that I needed to check on Elsie because she should be waking up. This is what I finally came inside to find . . . . . . . . .

She looks quite relaxed, doesn't she? That was my only consolation. Like I said, the third times a charm.

Last the best of all the game!

For every Bert there is an Ernie, for every Thelma there is a Louise . . . .
Easton (bless his little heart) is happy being second best. For him there is nobody better than Robin when given the choice in playing Batman and Robin. Any pair of shorts are "Robin shorts" tennis shoes are "Robin shoes" and I can get him to wear just about anything and eat just about anything when I tell him that they look or taste just like Robin likes them to. The same goes for Freddy. Who is Freddy you ask? Well he certainly isn't Shaggy and he definitely isn't Scooby-Doo, but in Easton's eyes Freddy is just as big a hero and mystery solver as anyone. Easton has a "Freddy jacket" that he loves to wear, but his favorite item is his "Freddy tie." When he puts this on he magically transforms into Freddy. When I told him to say cheese as I took the picture he said, "No, mom - say, "say Freddy!" So first may be the worst and second the same, but to Easton last really is the best of all the game!

Living in fast forward!

When I finally sat down to add a few pictures to my blog I realized that although I feel like not much new has happened, the pictures I have taken prove otherwise! I guess that means that life keeps moving even when you wish it would slow down. This last month has flown by - here is the fast forwarded version of how we spent it!
I have been given the opportunity to have Cole every Thursday and Friday instead of having him go to daycare and I have loved it! It has been so fun to have him at home even more - his little personality has suddenly gotten a lot bigger and even though he sounds like Eeyore, he keeps me laughing all of the time. He wanted to play with his work glasses and soon after he put them on I snuck up on him talking to himself and making faces in the bathroom mirror - completely in his own world.


Bringing Elsie home has been so fun! It's funny how once these little spirits are a part of your family, you can't imagine ever having a life without them. Abby and Easton have loved her so much and are always so concerned about her. We have not had any jealousy issues, in fact it has been the opposite. I am constantly telling them to give her some space! She is very, VERY loved.




My mom was so great with holiday traditions and one that I have kept going with my children is decorating the table on Valentines day. We always woke up to a fun breakfast table with a setting for each of us complete with treats and a small gift. It kinda snuck up on me this year (the new baby thing) and so it wasn't my best, but the kids still thought it was great (it doesn't take much to please Abby and as long as there is sugar involved Easton is happy)!

Drew's Valentines Day gift to me was a gourmet dinner (prepared by Drew) and a couple massage. I'm kinda thinking he had someone additional in mind when he bought that gift, but who am I to complain? He was so cute, he had made quite the masterpiece when he served it to me. I have to admit, the B-B-Q grill tool kit I got him didn't quite compare but he is always best at getting the most thoughtful gifts, what can I say?


We have started the beginning stages of finishing our basement! Last week Drew and his brother, Jon, chalked all the lines to start framing the basement. While they were hard at work the kids were busy playing . . . . .


AND FINALLY . . . . . .


We celebrated Elsie's one month birthday by getting a little crazy. We stayed at home all day, watched the final Bachelor and gave her a bath. I had to post the pictures. Even though she hates her bath, she looks so cute!

It's A Girl!!!!

On February 2, 2009 our little suprise baby finally arrived! My labor was nice and short and I had a great nurse who got me my epidural right away so it was fabulously pain free. At 12:41 Elsie Kate joined our family and I have to say it was love at first sight. I am not quite sure how to put into words the feelings I have when my children are first handed to me - overjoyed, overwhelmed, relieved, ecstatic, content, humbled, grateful, and in so many ways complete. Just to feel the weight of their little body placed into your arms and the recognition in their little faces when they hear you whisper to them is about the best feeling ever. When we told Abby she had a little sister she was more excited than Christmas morning, and she hasn't stopped telling us how much she loves her since then.