So Big...and Beautiful!

My Beautiful Blue Eyes!!! For the sake of blogging..she will now be known as Lou! I know I've said it before, but I'm going to say it again....I LOVE THIS FACE...and those ears, and that cute little nose....not to mention her fingers, toes and tushie....who am I kidding I can't get enough of this girl! She is getting so big, so fast. It is simply not fair that this precious time only lasts for such a short time.....uggghhh!!! Since I just can't keep having babies all the time, I must soak all of this in while I can. Isn't she adorable???

Big Girl Beds!!!

Little Miss Sunshine and Little T (I'm trying out some new blog names..you know, so the kids don't pop up on google and all, although I really want to her The Tornado but I don't want to give her a complex!) Anywho....Little Miss Sunshine and Little T recently got their very own big girl beds. We found some old bunkbeds on craigslist that have drawers underneath, so we scooped them up. We went and picked them up last weekend, and Daddy has been busy sanding off old stickers and crayons all week now. The girls were so excited when they were finally assembled and ready for sleep, without the drawers in place yet (they go under the bed, a huge space saver when 3 girls have to share a room!!!) So, now Mommy has been on the hunt for the perfect new bedding. The girls have been doing great, Sunshine loves being on top. Although, it is new for Mommy to turn around in the TV room to see Little T standing there. The best was when I went up the first night to check and she was standing on top of her toybox giving a little concert. She finally turned around and saw me, stared for a moment, then said "oh, hi Mommy!" PRICELESS!!!

Little Miss Sunshine Turns 5!!!

Our Little Miss Sunshine turned 5 today...where in the world did that time go? She is becoming a very sweet, very beautiful little girl. She is so perky and full of life, always quick with a smile, kiss and hug.

I have been letting the children put in their order for what kind of cake they want me to create for them. This year Ava requested an Easter egg cake...WHAT??? I tried to talk her into a heart or princess cake, but she insisted on the Easter eggs...so we just rolled with it! She helped bake the cake and had the great privilege of putting the jelly beans on it when it was all frosted...she did great! Then, after much anticipation, all the family came over to help us celebrate. She received many wonderful gifts...clothes, chixos, princess bat and ball, swimsuit, jewelry boxes, crafts....all right up her alley!

Then this morning she got her present from Mommy and Daddy. A friend of mine was giving away this gorgeous dollhouse....seriously, can you believe that?!?! We said of course we would love it (we do have three girls after all!) Michael brought it to his Mom's house where she spent most of her weekend "remodeling" it. She painted all the rooms, made curtains, a fireplace and lots of potted plants. It really looks quite amazing and we knew that Ava would love it. She woke up without any of us noticing and was playing with it bright and early. SHE LOVES IT!!!

We love you so much Little Miss Sunshine, may God continue to bless you with a happy outlook on life, and may you continue to shine God's love to all those around you!!! You are a precious child of God, and we thank Him for you every day!

Our Five Star Hotel...Revisited!

This may look like just a big pile of blankets to you....but to my children, it's a Five Star Hotel!!! I came home from a run the other night to discover that we were traveling, once again, to our imaginary little hotel in a destination unknown:) I'm glad that they can find entertainment and joy out of creating a mess...errr I mean fort....with blankets and couches!! Plus, check out that grin on Eli's face...that's a rare thing for me to catch on camera, what at treat:)

My Mr. Fearless!!!

Jack....I love this boy so, even if he does cause me to go into premature cardiac arrest at the young age of 34!!! He is so much like his dad, this first born son of mine. He is ABSOLUTELY FEARLESS....no kidding. If you ask him to jump, he doesn't ask "how high?" he asks "off of what???" Michael has created our very own little powder ridge in our backyard, and the boys LOVE sledding and snowboarding back there.

Elijah does his fair share, but today we just couldn't get a good shot of him coming down the hill. I will have to do his own little post the next time!

Anyway, back to Mr. Fearless....he has really been working hard on perfecting his snowboarding jumps and grinds. I have a serious love/hate relationship when it comes to watching him do this. I love to see him succeed and land a jump, but I hate the thought of him getting hurt and I sometimes have to literally cover my eyes. I am so proud, however, of the fact that he is so determined and never gives up....even when he lands square on his back...OUCH!!

So I figured I may need to ask my doctor in the future to prescribe me so good anti-anxiety meds to take...just so I can survive my Mr. Fearless!!!

Valentine's Day

Ahhhh.....Valentine's day!! I love Valentine's day, and it's not just because I get to eat chocolate:) Nope, I love Valentine's day because it's a great reason to get all mushy, gushy with my family. Now mind you, I am that way all the time anyway, but I can really go over the top without making a fool out of myself...since it's love day and all!! We started the day at church, and at Mommy's request everyone wore red or pink (see what I mean about mushy, gushy:) Nobody complains, they know how Mommy rolls!

Next, we came home and we continued to labor on our heart cake....and when I say labor, I mean it. I was inspired to make this cake I had come across online, and it was a two day project. So, anywho....after the cake was complete, Michael took the older three swimming at Gold's Gym while Mommy stayed behind with the "babies" to start getting supper ready. On the menu for V-day??? Steak (prepared by Daddy, he doesn't let Mommy make the meat!), portabella mushroom pasta (yummy!!), salad, strawberries, sparking grape juice......and of course the cake!!! Grandma Carole stopped by just as we were setting the table, so we asked her to join us. It was of course another wonderful night with my beloved family, and the cake turned out perfect......I HEART CAKE!!!!

Jack...my little monkey

Jack had his annual gymnastics meet again this Saturday. It's really less of a "meet" but rather more of an opportunity for those who love, and support, him to come and see what he's been up to in class. He did great flipping, spinning, climbing and jumping again this year. I have to admit, the trampoline that they got for Christmas has really made a difference. I was a skeptic, but his back hand-springs and back flips have gotten SO much better, I can hardly believe it. He is much more confident this year...plus, it helps that he is FEARLESS!! I was so proud watching him do his best today.

Jack, Mommy and Daddy love you so much and couldn't be prouder. You are a fantastic boy with a great big heart for your family and for Jesus........WE LOVE YOU!!!!!

He's so good to me....

Let me count my blessings....

God gave me Jack

God gave me Eli

God gave me Ava

God gave me Tessa....and then

God gave me Esme'

God is so good

He's so good to me!!!

Just breathe.....

"Just breathe, relax, I know you will do great." This has been a statement spoken in our home over, and over, and over again for the past year and a half. As most all of you know, Michael went back to school over a year and a half ago to pursue a nursing degree. This decision was put in motion due to the fact that work as an electrician is scarce...to say the least! That being said, I believe it is a great career for him. Michael is one of the most empathetic, caring, compassionate men I have ever met in my life. I believe that he will take his role as "care giver" very seriously and give great care to his patients. So...anywhooo...off to school he went. He studied, wrote papers, went to clinicals and then studied some more. Then he graduated and still...more studying. This time he was studying to pass his nursing boards, a looming black cloud over his ability to actually call himself a nurse.

So, he finally took his test this past Thursday. I don't think that I can accurately describe how the atmosphere in our home has been since that morning. He came home feeling like the exam went terrible, he was literally sick to his stomach. I tried to assure him, "Michael, God didn't get us this far only to let you fail this test. He will see us through this phase, we just need to have faith." He would agree, but still it was the unknown results that kept eating away at him. "Honey, just relax, breathe, and try not to worry about it," was all I could say....there was really nothing we could do but wait....wait.... and wait some more.

Well, we just found out his results.

Drum roll please..................................HE PASSED!!!!!

Michael, I love you, am so incredibly proud of you....now PLEASE....JUST BREATHE!!!

Hey Good Lookin'

I LOVE this picture of Ava and Charlie. My children have been extremely blessed to spend (usually) five days a week with their cousins. They are as close as siblings and all that goes along with that! Often times during nap, Ava and Charlie get to help me prepare supper or just a yummy batch of cookies. They take their job very seriously and ALWAYS wear an apron. I thought this was especially cute, Ava with her oven mitt and Charlie pouring oh, so carefully. So...hey good lookin', what'ya got cookin'? Well, today was raspberry jello made with applesauce, orange juice and frozen blueberries...yummy!!!

Hmmm....should I have allowed this?

Hmmmm....do you think that I should have allowed such an activity to take place in my basement, albeit an unfinished basement. I'm not so sure:) I do have to admit though, I love my husband for having such ideas as these. I would never in a million years think to draw a huge picture on the wall for the children to color, all because they were complaining that they were bored. I am thankful for him, for without him I'm afraid our children would grow up in a very boring, sterile environment where we would potentially clean all the live-long day!! I just hope that Tessa can distinguish that she can't color on all the walls in the house. Only the ones that haven't been taped, mudded and textured.....yeah, I'm sure she knows just what Daddy's talking about, ha!!! But, so far so good!

Your Baby Blues....

Your baby blues....are beautiful (although not completely clear here, did I mention I NEED a better camera!). I am so in love with this precious babe, I wish I could bottle her like this....so sweet and loving! I love you Esme'!