Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Ellie turns 6!

Decorating cupcakes after school today.

Taking all her phone calls (I think she got 5 phone calls today).

The new bike in action.

Today was Ellie's birthday. Her kindergarten class went to the zoo today, and tonight we opened presents, celebrated over dinner at Red Robin, and came home for cupcakes and ice cream. Ellie is sweet, a good listener (I can't say this about all my children), and very reliable but probably our most emotional child. She has a quiet confidence about her, she loves playing outside, riding her scooter and bike. I've spent a lot of one on one time with her this year and I've enjoyed watching her grow and mature into the little girl she is. Happy Birthday Elle Belle, we love you!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Happy Birthday Lesley and Madison!

Harrison and new baby sister, Madison
My brother and his family

Madison, so tiny


Me and Lesley in mom's kitchen at Christmas time.
My sister celebrated her 31st birthday yesterday, AND my brother and his wife had a brand new baby, Madison....what an exciting day! Madison was born at 8:01 a.m., she weighed 7 lbs 0 oz, and measured 18 inches. Congratulations Kevin, Peggy, and Harrison! Happy Birthday Lesley, a niece being born on your birthday, what a great present!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Day trip to Yosemite












We spent the day in Yosemite, some highlights of the trip were:

  • Nobody got carsick
  • It was significantly cooler there than in Fresno (quite of bit of snow on the ground still), it even rained (with some thunder and lightning)
  • Half Dome and all the falls were even more amazing than the last time I saw them
  • Realizing Half Dome isn't THAT big compared to my pregnant body
  • We saw a deer
  • Realizing I'm extremely paranoid (I'm blaming it on raging pregnancy hormones and very steep cliffs)
  • My soul feels refreshed after taking in His amazing creation


Olivia's favorite thing to say on this trip: "Can we go home now?"
Ellie's....."I really want to climb that mountain." (as she pointed to Half Dome)
Audrey's....."I don't ever want to leave."
Grace....."Hi." (she talks to any stranger that will look at her)

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Dear Tooth Fairy,

This froggy has a tooth pocket so the tooth fairy won't have any problems locating the goods.

This is the letter she wrote (with mom's help) to the tooth fairy...it took her 3 nights to write this.

Look at that BIG smile!


Ellie lost her first tooth on Saturday afternoon. Daddy really wanted to be the one to pull it out, but after chomping on skittles she pulled it all by herself. She is thrilled to have lost a tooth before the school year ends. Addie told Ellie this week, "Tooth fairies are very smart fairies, they have to take lots of classes to become a tooth fairy."

Monday, May 11, 2009

Mother's Day

The girls bringing me coffee and donuts in bed. What more could a mother ask for?

A picture before church.

Grace loves BIG glasses.


Me and Ellie


Josh and his mom.


Nana and Grace in the "swing bed"

This is the little house Josh's dad built the girls, it's looking more and more like a secret garden as the vines grow.


Josh BBQing steak for the family.
Some Mother's Day encouragement and inspiration from Erma Bombeck....

A young mother writes: "I know you've written before about the empty nest syndrome, that lonely period after the children are grown and gone. Right now I'm up to my eyeballs in laundry and muddy boots. The baby is teething; the boys are fighting. My husband just called and said to eat without him, and I fell off my diet. Lay it on me again, will you?"

OK. One of these days, you'll shout, "Why don't you kids grow up and act your age?" And they will. Or, "You guys get outside and find yourselves something to do... and don't slam the door!" And they won't.

You'll straighten up the boys' bedroom neat and tidy: bumper stickers discarded, bedspread tucked and smooth, toys displayed on the shelves. Hangers in the closet. Animals caged. And you'll say out loud, "Now I want it to stay this way." And it will.

You'll prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn't been picked to death and a cake with no finger traces on the icing, and you'll say, "Now, there's a meal for company." And you'll eat it alone.

You'll say, "I want complete privacy on the phone. No dancing around. No demolition crews. Silence! Do you hear me?" And you'll have it.

No more plastic tablecloths stained with spaghetti. No more bedspreads to protect the sofa from damp bottoms. No more gates to stumble over at the top of the basement steps. No more clothespins under the sofa. No more playpens to arrange a room around.

No more anxious nights under a vaporizer tent. No more sand on the sheets or Popeye movies in the bathroom. No more iron-on patches, rubber bands for ponytails, tight boots or wet knotted shoestrings.

Imagine. A lipstick with a point on it. No baby-sitter for New Year's Eve. Washing only once a week. Seeing a steak that isn't ground. Having your teeth cleaned without a baby on your lap.
No PTA meetings. No more car pools. No blaring radios. No one washing her hair at 11 o'clock at night. Having your own roll of Scotch tape.

Think about it. No more Christmas presents out of toothpicks and library paste. No more sloppy oatmeal kisses. No more tooth fairy. No giggles in the dark. No knees to heal, no responsibility.
Only a voice crying, "Why don't you grow up?" and the silence echoing, "I did."








Wednesday, May 6, 2009

June 9th...

sounds like a good day to have a baby. I went to the doctor this morning and we decided Tuesday, June 9th will be my induction date. Addie and Ellie's last day of school is June 11th, so it'll be a busy week. I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I will post some pictures of my enormous belly soon.