Family Home Evening

Greg came home from work the other day with a bat.... yep, that thing that can be easier interpreted as a weapon... I was skeptical and I gave him that "You know nothing about children" look, and I probably rolled my eyes. Turns out, as long as we store it out of childrens reach and only bring it out for its PROPER use... its pretty fun.

 And some of my FAVORITE shots of the evening. Oh the faces!!! So funny! I hope you get a kick out of them like I did.

{ WA HA HA HA HA! }

{ Don't hit me! Don't hit me! }

Colette at 3

Colette has a hillarious sense of humor. And she is so expressive with her face. She makes such adult expressions that sometimes I wonder if she's mimiking me, or if she's just doing it on her own. Her most common one is raising one eyebrow and then looking up and to the side. She does this when she is speaking very matter of fact. Like when she's playing family with Leah and SHE gets to be the mom. And she says something like "Okay Girl, we're going to take a little nap and then we're going to the museum." or "My baby is sleeping so you need to be quiet."

She's a great snuggler, and often requests to "nuggle" with me. She has as much attitude as Leah does, and loves playing with others. She loves chapstick and lotion, Avocados are her favorite food, and she loves swimming, as long as I'm close enough to "rescue" her when she no longer feels secure floating around by herself.

She doesn't really like to look at the camera, but i still love photographing her beatiful face, and i'm sure one of these days i will get a close-up photo of her hazel eyes.

 

Colettes 3rd Birthday

For weeks prior to her birthday Colette spoke of her birthday as a living breathing thing.

 

"My Pink Birthday is coming and it's going to surprise me when I'm sleeping!"

 

Enter: some pink streamers and balloons and a strawberry cake.

 

We had a lot going on that day. My sister in law and adorable niece came to visit and we got home just in time to ice the cake and have a short little party before getting the kids to bed WAYYYYY too late that night. But it was pretty simple, the kids helped decorate, and it looked AWESOME. and she got a few gifts. Some sidewalk chalk, a replacement water bottle for the one she lost, and a beach towel for our many pool trips this summer. And my neice got her a girl Lego set, so now Colette doesn't have to steal Leah's Lego girl. Less fighting? What a perfect gift for me! - I mean, for Colette.

 

The next day Colette got a package in the mail from Grandma and Grandpa! A new Striped Dress. Let me tell you, the dress she's wearing in that picture is her favorite piece of clothing. "My Striped Dress" is what its known as around our house. And she wears it nearly every single day. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. I had to make a rule that she couldn't wear it to bed or when it's dirty. Anyway, Now she has a much cuter, much more summer-weather friendly striped dress to wear! YAY!

 Complete with a birthday card that turns into a Minney Mouse crown.

She's one happy girl, and was thrilled that it was her birthday.

5 months

My sweet Anna has begun to show quite a bit of her spunky personality. She loves to squeel really loud and gurgle to communicate. She doesn't sit up on her own yet, but she has started to roll over both ways. She's discovering her fingers and her toes and I think its hillarous when she just stares at her hands in wonder. She loves to laugh and Jeremiah can almost always make her giggle. No teeth yet, but boy she sure drools a lot.

Sweet Giggles

Disregard the spaghetti sauce all over their faces, they are still as sweet as can be taking a bath all together. These goofballs sure make my day full of surprises and lots of laughs

 

PS. anyone else notice that i have a blue-eyed child? Where did that come from?

 

Slit My Throat

Since most everyone who reads this blog (and I mean the 5 people who read it) I've already shared this with, I'll keep it short and to the point.

Back in March I was in for my annual dr's appointment and my midwife felt a lump on my neck. Yup, awesome. She recommended that I get it checked out with my primary care Dr (which of course I didn't have at the time... I do now :)) After weeks, and now months of blood work, ultrasounds, two biopsies we still only know that I might have thyroid cancer. sweet.

So I am scheduled for surgery in July and my lovely dr is going to slit my throat and remove my thyroid. We should have more definative answers after that. I'm not sure what the entire course of treatment will be after surgery, it depends on what they find. Luckily, thyroid cancer is fairly slow-growing, so waiting until July isn't as horrid as it sounds.

But the good news is that I won't have a lump on my neck anymore! I know no one else can tell, but I can see it. I have even looked through past photos and I {think} that I've had it for a while.

 

Anyway, Your prayers are GREATLY appreciated. We've already felt the blessings coming our way from the prayers that have been offered on our behalf. We love you all and I promise I'll post pictures of my beautiful children soon!

Life is Like the Weather

Yesterday afternoon my girls were wearing their bathing suits while playing in the backyard. Three hours later is began snowing.

Isn't that how life goes? One minute you're leisurely enjoying an evening with the family and the next you're wrestling your toddler into their pajamas (or letting them sleep naked) and calling/yelling to your husband downstairs that someone just peed on the floor?

Oh well, at least we know this snow storm will pass, and there is warm weather ahead.

Have a great week!

Craigslist Awesomeness

I like pretty things, it's true, and I have ideas in my head about what I would love my house to look like, and function like. But I don't have a large budget for all my ideas. Enter: Craigslist.

I got these two fantastic chairs and this matching ottoman (yes, it has different upholstery) for $150. The lines on these are EXACTLY like this one at Ballard Designs (for $1,400 a piece), but they've been custom upholstered in previous years. I'm not sure if they are the exact same ones, but they have down wrapped cushions, and beautiful wood colors and curves. I'm so excited! They will eventually be re-upholstered in a very family-friendly and more relaxed fabric, but for now I'm just enjoying the ideas rolling around in my head.

So excited! Can't wait to see them looking more at home in my house.... yeah, I still need a few more pieces of furniture, but Greg said I need to hold off for a few months before I go crazy again... yes, he thinks $150 for these is CRAZY.