Babies, Birthdays, Beginnings and Busybodies

In an attempt to keep this blogging ball rolling I am combining as many pictures as I can in one post. Let's be honest - you don't really care what I have to say, you just want to see photos of my darling family! I really don't blame you at all because some days it is all I can do to have just one intellectual thought before a Yo Gabba Gabba song creeps into my mind and I am off again. Anywho . . . . . . . . . here is a summary of our last month of summer.

Elsie is officially feeding herself these days. It is not because I think she has the ability, but because she insists on doing it. As you can see I have given up completely and most meals don't even bother to put a bib on her. This is due to the fact that when she is finished she has to have a head to toe spit bath regardless of the bib. Who knew she would be so talented at dispersing small amounts of food all over herself?

Abby celebrated her 8th birthday! In the spirit of tradition I took her to the Lion House for her birthday (that is where I celebrated mine) and I think it is safe to say that everyone there had tons of fun. They learned all about the Lion House, wore pioneer hats, pulled taffy, ate a little lunch, played pioneer games, ate cake and ice cream and opened presents. At the end of it all Abby told me that this was her best birthday ever! She is such a sweetheart and so easy to please, we love having her in our family and I am so glad she is my oldest because she is so good at setting a happy tone in our family. What a doll!

Playing "Button, button."

The ladies in their pioneer hats.

Happy Birthday Abby-Doo!

Abby and Easton (and me, of course) were thrilled to start the first day of school. It was so fun this year because Abby was all kinds of excited about planning what she was going to wear and the accessories she was going to pair with her outfit - bag included. Easton was happy to return to Miss Lisa and Miss Shaun. I was happy to return my house to some sense of order. I do have to say that I love the first day of school mostly because it means that fall is right around the corner!

Abby got off the bus with a big grin on her face and promptly announced, "Best first day of school ever! Best teacher ever! I love my class!" And secretly I said a little prayer of thanks to my Heavenly Father for answers to mothers prayers.

And finally . . . . . . . my little busybody that makes big messes.

Can you believe I am posting again?!??! I was so excited to post all these pictures of Eastons birthday party but as I was going through them I realized I need a little help in the photography department - most of them were a little fuzzy due to the high rate of speed (I had children flying past me from every angle). Anywho, here you have it. This year we rented a water slide for Eastons party and it was so fabulous! We ended up making a full day of it by having his friend party in the morning, inviting the whole neighborhood for the afternoon to come and play and then finishing it off with a family party that night. That poor water slide was never empty, but my kids slept like rocks that night! GENIUS!

Look at those bellies!

Seven months later . . . . .

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the idea of blogging. I LOVE the idea of having fresh baked cookies coming out of the oven as my kids get home from school, I LOVE the idea of my cute family sitting down at the dinner table each night and talking and laughing about the wonderful day we had, I LOVE the idea of getting to church on time with each of my children in coordinating outfits complete with perfect hair and smiles on their faces . . . . you get the idea. I guess until I reach that level of perfection I will have to appreciate and LOVE other things that may not be as ideal but are still completely fulfilling:

Children who are best friends . . . .

Happy babies . . . .

Bubbles!

More bubbles!

A healthy imagination . . . .

no cavities . . . .

girls night out . . . . .

family traditions . . . . .

family vacations . . . . .

fabulous friends . . . .

Then again, maybe I don't need perfection to be happy:)