Quick Picture Update

Ugh.  Life is too busy.  I love being busy, but not like this.  And the kicker is...most of it is self-inflicted busy.  We're desperately trying to get ready for our trip to Hawaii and my mom's visit.  And there's so much to do. It doesn't help when our basement gets water in it from last night's storm and now I have an extra load of laundry to do to get all those wet towels and that soaked sleeping bag clean.  Oh well.  

I didn't want to leave without getting something up on this ol' blog besides boring posts.  So here's a look at these crazy kiddos.

Avery's hair is getting very long.  Normally, it is curled way cute, but this is what happens when you brush out those curls.  It was even bigger and higher in person.

I cannot believe I haven't gotten an after picture yet.  But can you see that lower right central that is leaning forward?  That's Keara's first loose tooth.  And now, it's her first lost tooth!  She hoped and hoped and hoped that it would come out at school so she would get a little necklace from the office that had a tooth charm that she could put her lost tooth in.  When her tooth was dangerously loose on Friday, she knew it would come out over the weekend if it didn't come out during school.  So she prayed her little heart out and wiggled that thing.  A couple minutes before the end of the day bell rang, she just yanked it out.  She was so excited!  And she felt her prayers had been answered.  We were excited for her too.  The tooth fairy brought her a quarter, some gardening gloves, and a little square box of 50 kleenex because she often needs a tissue at night.  Well, she didn't know what the tissue box was...she thought it was a present with jewelry in it, so she tore it open!  Imagine her disappointment to find "just tissues in it, mom!"  It was so funny (but don't tell her you know...she's a bit embarrased!)

Mazie's latest trick--sitting!  She loves to sit and play and look around.  She doesn't love it when she falls over, but that is happening less and less.  So, we've mastered sitting and rolling...up next...crawling!  I can't believe how quickly time is flying with this little girl.

Last Saturday, after we spent the morning cleaning (and I still had more to do), I let the girls watch part of a movie together.  I loved how Mazie was just as enthralled by it all as the other girls were.  I couldn't help taking a picture!

Taryn loves Mazie and wants to be a big helper like Keara.  So she kind of forced our hand in teaching her and letting her stand and walk while holding Mazie.  She still scares me half the time, but Mazie is a good sport.  Taryn is always thrilled to see her and always wants to play with her.  However, Mazie is starting to be too big for Taryn to carry around.  Truly, this little girl's got rolls!  We love them!

A Trip to the Orchard

This is a little late, but at the beginning of October, we were able to go to the cities to celebrate my nephew's 16th birthday.  He is the sweetest guy in the world and chose to go to an apple orchard for his birthday.  I wonder if that had anything to do with the fact that his three little cousins would LOVE the orchard.  That would be just like him.

It started with the haystacks...

Thanks Jonathan, Rachel, and Susan for hopping on board so the girls could go.  I don't think I could have fit...

 They have this BIG AWESOME slide that the girls went down over and over and over.  I love the expressions on their faces!

Taryn LOVES Nathan!

There was a band playing and Taryn jumped up on the table with these kids and started showing her moves.  She has no fear and loves to dance!

 Not exactly sure what Avery is doing right here, besides enjoying a delicious Honeycrisp apple

 Running thru the trees

Anyway, we had a GREAT day!  It was so fun!

Happy Birthday Goose!

Wow, was it really just Goose's 2nd birthday?!  I can't believe she's 2!  And yet, of course I can.  This child is a dream.  An absolute dream.  We all adore her and love her smiles, her funnies, her happiness, her cuddles, her loves, and her friendship.  She is learning so much and makes us all so happy. 

A few things about Avery:

She loves books, puzzles, dolls, and her blanket. 
She can count to six without help and then counts "nine, twelve, thirteen, six, nine...there's nine!"
She knows all her letters in the alphabet, some also with their sounds and others with associated words, like A for Avery!
She could spend all day outside just enjoying being outside. 
She loves playing with her sisters and has recently developed a sweet friendship with Taryn.
She sleeps great, doesn't like lunch, and loves oatmeal.
She loves to say the prayer and at every meal the conflict arises "No, Avery pray."  "No, Avery, it's Keara's turn."  "Avery pray lunch."  "Okay, you can say it for lunch."  And then she reminds us all day that she'll say it at lunch.

Though her prayers have recently turned to "Dear Heavenly Father, Amen" "No, Avery, thank thee for this day" "Amen."  "Say day"  "Day.  Amen"  "No, thank you for our food."  "Amen."  "No, say food."  "Food, Amen."  You get the idea.

She loves her mommy...much to daddy's chagrin.  She is a cuddler, which I love!

She is seriously the sweetest, cutest thing we've ever met and I can't even begin to tell you all about her.  She is just so fun! 

When we'd say "Happy birthday Avery", she'd reply with "Mmm-hmmm."  You had to be there.  She's working so hard on getting her little fingers to cooperate and show that she's two years old.  But apparently, she understands how many fingers she's holding up because this morning, she held up three instead of two and when Braden asked how old she was, she looked at her hand and said "Three!"  This afternoon, when I asked, she held up four fingers and said "Four!"  I didn't realize she knew that.

Anyway, here are some pics from her birthday celebrations.  Braden had class basically from 9-9 on her actual birthday, so we had some minor celebrations that day and then had her real celebration tonight with my brother's family.  I know these are a lot of pics, but there are a few in her you HAVE to see, so at least scroll thru them, even if you don't read about them.


Her birthday began with opening "presents" that Keara had wrapped...library books, some of Avery's books, a play phone we have, and a baggie of animal crackers.  She wrapped them all in different colored construction paper, wrote "Avery, Lov Keara" on all of them, and then beamed for 24 hours waiting to give them to her.  It was so tender and Avery absolutely loved every one.

 This girl is not only beautiful, but she is also a complete HAM!  She is so funny and she knows it.

 I cannot believe how grown up she is!  Look at her!  Wasn't it just yesterday...??

 After naps, the girls and I headed over to these beautiful (free) gardens that are just 5 minutes from our house.  The gardens are H.U.G.E.  And stunning.  We loved this particular pathway lined with pink, Pink, PINK!

 Taryn loved this flower "as big as my head!"  I learned tonight it is called the "Dinner Plate" something...

 I love these three girls!  What a treasure to have daughters and for these girls to have sisters.  I know how much I adore my sisters and I am grateful these girls have each other.

 When we got home, we had ice cream with sprinkles and practiced blowing out candles. 

Tonight, we opened her real presents with my brother's family.  She was so excited!  She definitely figured out this whole unwrapping thing by the end of the night.

When we were in my brother's ward (church congregation), Avery would always ask to play with his watch.  Actually, she would do that any time she was with him.  He always graciously let her.  A few weeks ago, he got a new watch but didn't throw away his old one.  Instead, he wrapped it for her and gave it to her tonight.  When she opened it, she immediately hopped up and went over to put it on his arm.  Finding another one there, she was very confused!  But then she was very excited to have one for herself.  It is definitely going in the church bag.

Avery's favorite present was this baby doll and doll stroller.  She was then doubly excited to open her next present from Grandma...another doll!!  Tonight, she is happily sleeping with her own two babies.  It is adorable.  And she is thrilled to have her own stroller.  No more sisters being left out!

Okay, get ready for this.  Braden had this great idea to make a 3-D cake, ever since we saw some episodes from "Ace of Cakes" on the cooking channel.  He got inspired, had ideas flowing, and insisted that he get to make her cake this year.  I haven't let him make a cake for our children since his last two ideas bombed MISERABLY.  But I decided to back off, though I still had serious doubts when he told me his ideas.  He has GREAT ideas, but the execution always seems to lack.  I was truly worried we wouldn't have a cake at the end of it.

But not only did we have a cake, we had the most AWESOME cake I have ever seen in real life.  It comes in close with my brother's toilet cake he made my nephew 14 years ago, though he insists this is actually cooler.  I may have to agree.  It was incredible.  I was so proud of Braden sticking with his ideas, taking advice when necessary, and just going with the creative juices that were flowing.  And we were all blown away by the result. 

Isn't it incredible!?!?!

You may be asking, why a pig?  Because pigs are Avery's favorite farm animal.  She loves them and does a perfect pig impression.  I'll try to get that video uploaded...

Oh, and of course, pigs are pink.  Braden graciously wore a pink shirt today, much to his daughters' delight.

I know there are a lot of pics of it and you're probably thinking, "why are there so many pictures?" Because I couldn't choose just one and I can't believe how amazing it is so I just look at picture after picture and think "Oh my goodness! That is crazy amazing!" Braden, I concede. You can make the cakes from now on.

This cracked us all up.  Avery reached up and broke off the curly tail and just popped it right in her mouth. 
 

Avery loved her cake, especially the marshmallow fondant. 

 Avery cake and presents, we ran back over to the gardens to show my brother's family how beautiful they are right now.  They LOVED them and I hope they'll come back while they're still beautiful. 

Happy birthday baby girl.  I guess you're not a baby anymore.  But we adore you and love you and can't get enough of you.  You light up our lives and our home and our hearts every single day.  You are such a joy and a total blessing to us.  Before you were born, I had a strong, distinct impression that you would be an angel to our family.  And you are.

May I Suggest...

My sister's father-in-law always provides a "baby moon" for her and my brother-in-law before the birth of their babies.  I've always thought that was a great idea--a chance for mom and dad to get away and have one-on-one time before adding another child to the family. 

However, I now have another suggestion.  My definition of a baby moon is to have your older children taken for a couple/few days so you are left with only your youngest...your baby.  It has been incredible having these past few days with Avery.  And these will likely be our only days just us before she is no longer our baby.  She has loved it, Braden has loved it, I have loved it.  It has been so rewarding.

So if you have a chance to spend some quality one-on-one time with your baby before your next baby is born, take it!  It is SO worth it!

(I wouldn't, however, recommend coinciding this baby moon with packing to move.  It definitely cuts into the "quality" time.)

Nutty Girls

These girls are nuts.  One of the first phrases we teach them as babies is "I AM A NUT!" becuase they are.  Here's a little of what they've been up to lately.

Sure, start with the nut-free picture.  I love moments like these when the girls just love each other and take care of each other so sweetly.  Keara is my little mommy and thankfully, Avery loves her too.

I tried, really, I tried to get a good picture.  But this shows their personalities way better.  Keara, my grown up girl.  Avery, my excited beauty.  And then, there's Taryn.  The nuttiest nut of the bunch!  She keeps us laughing and definitely on our toes!

Taryn has taken up drawing real things instead of just scribbling lately.  This was her first "family portrait".

My reader.  I just loved that she found a seat for herself and plopped down with a good book.  Too bad it was in the middle of the kitchen while I was making dinner, but it was so cute!  BTW, her seat is my scriptures!

The second nuttiest nut of the bunch.  Our girls are monkeys  by nature and love hanging on everything.  Avery has joined the circus and looks for anything she can hang on.  This day, she discovered the car handles worked pretty well.

We didn't plant a garden this year because the girls won't stay out of the garden pots.  I mean literally...

So we're not growing any veggies, but what we are growing sure seem to be doing well!