Easter & April happenings.

  

  

                   

 

Easter was all but traditional for us this year. I did make the traditional outfits, but I think that was the only "norm" we experienced. We found ourselves in the ER with our little Mr. from 2:00-5:00 am. His little body was no longer handling the diarrhea and nausea well, and he became too lethargic for our comfort. Sister went to the neighbor's (thank heavens for such generous neighbors) and slept on their couch until we picked her up at 5:30 am.

Lizzy wore her Easter dress and Charlie wore his outfit long enough for us to take the sacrament, then we came home. (without Mr. W who was being sustained and set apart for a new calling) It felt wonderful to participate in this sacred ordinance on a beautiful Easter morning. I couldn't stand the thought of missing it, even in my exhausted state. How thankful I am to have a testimony of the resurrection of my Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Grandma and Grandpa, and our dear friends joined us in the afternoon for a Easter dinner. I always miss being home with my family on holidays, but I feel blessed to have loving people around me to share them with.

 I'm thankful to report that little Mr. is doing much better now. The ER doctor called us Easter afternoon to report that he has c diff. Mr. W knew what it was and how to treat it, so that kept me from panicking. No wonder this "7 day flu" kept getting worse as each day passed. With antibiotic treatment, and lots of love and affection, he is running around like he was never sick. Blessed modern medicine!

Mr. W worked the entire conference weekend. Sad. We missed him like crazy. We proceeded with doughnut making and everything else like we always do, but it just wasn't the same. Once again, sister was the entertainment of choice for all four sessions. The train set helped him, but may or may not have been frustrating for her... :) She rose to the occasion, letting the mama relax as much as possible. I needed it and love her for it!

Now, let's hope the remainder of April is slightly less eventful...

blessed day.

 

Today is a blessed day for two reasons...
Easter outfits are complete. Fitted, hemmed, and buttons attached. Which means no stress to hurry and finish them last minute! I love sewing Oliver + S patterns. They sew together beautifully, and are finished inside and out. I can't wait to see my babies (sorry Lizzy, but you'll always be my baby) in their handmade clothes on Sunday. I feel like such a domestic mother, and I live for that feeling. I love carrying on tradition, and I will continue to as long and she will let me. We are 10 years and running!

Now, for the second reason. This is the first day that Lizzy has fixed her own hair for school!!!! She is maturing, and becoming more opinionated about how she wants her hair. We don't always agree. Many days I will fix her hair the way she asks, only to see that she has taken it out when I pick her up from school. (which is totally okay, I remember doing the same thing)

This morning was no different. We were both trying to be agreeable, but it just wasn't working. I asked (politely) "Would you like to do your own hair this morning?" To my surprise she said "YES!" I left her to do whatever she wished, and she completely surprised me when she walked downstairs with two braids! I am so proud of her! Oh the JOY! 

And that is why today is a blessed day in my book.

valentine pixy arrows!

 2013 valentine's complete! yippee!!!

more white love, and hearts

we are still painting this house. with every wall that gets painted, i love it more!  *still painting a wall a day, or whatever can be done during nap time* white is beautiful. it feels so good. everything looks beautiful next to it. did i mention i love it??!

hearts are popping up around here. lizzy and i made the garland for the fireplace last year. {tutorial found here} we will hang more hearts in the windows this afternoon. *i must wait for my little helper* what would i do without holidays?... thanks mom for always making them special and being a keeper of tradition. i hope i can do the same for my children.

pictures from december...

  

     

   

              

It's Saturday and my Mr. is at work, Lizzy is playing mine craft (?) on the iPad with Ben downstairs, and my baby boy is asleep. So, I finally take a moment to post a few of our Christmas pictures. I don't    know exactly how my days fly by so quickly, but they do.

At the moment I find myself in the middle of redecorating our family living/kitchen area. After trying 2 different paint colors and hating both, I've decided I love white. It makes me feel calm. My home feels clean and I feel like I can breathe. I painted the entry white first and I can't stop looking at how pretty it is. Even empty it's beautiful! Wainscoting is being installed right now in a square pattern that continues the pattern of windows throughout the house. It's been a fun and exhausting project, and I'm nowhere near finished. The hardest thing for me is taking things a day at a time. Needless to say, I'm still learning patience. 

Halloween 2012

Halloween was so fun this year! It always is. My toadstool went to 2 church Halloween parties, Halloween Recital at USU (she play "Arioso" by Bach, accompanied by daddy), school festivities, and 2 of her friends came over for trick-or-treating last evening. My little owl dressed up for the school festivities yesterday, but since he goes to bed at 7pm we skipped out on the trick-or-treating for him. He helped me give out candy instead!

Lizzy had so much fun trick-or-treating with her friends. Mr. W walked with them for about 2 1/2 hours, then they came home for hot chocolate and checked out their loot. It hit me last night that her trick-or-treating years are numbered. That's strange...

Today I packed up the Halloween decorations and brought out our few Thanksgiving ones. I LOVE this time of year! It was a HAPPY Halloween, and now we are ready to celebrate Thanksgiving.

++ A quick note about the girl... She captured a fly (walk) last night and named him Ralph. He went trick-or-treating in a tea basket with her. This morning when I was doing her hair I told her "I love my girl" (as I always do) and the tears came. She pulled the empty tea basket from her drawer and Ralph had passed away. She is so sensitive and sweet. She even has a place in her heart for flies. I love my girl!

wagon rides and pumpkins = fall!

my pumpkin peddler

It's that time again... FALL time! I LOVE fall! I love the crisp cool air, bright blue skies, garden harvest, warm soup and bread, and of course pumpkins! I never took an official count, but I know this was our largest pumpkin harvest to date! 

Lizzy has been trying to earn money to help pay for Teton Science Camp next month, so we agreed that in exchange for her helping with the harvest and clean-up, she could sell some of the pumpkins. She did great clipping pumpkins from the vines, making sure to leave a nice stem attached, then dragging the gnarly vines into what is now a heaping pile waiting to be burned in the center of the garden. Certainly the most exciting part for her was pulling the pumpkins in the wagon from house to house and collecting money with every stop. She came home with $31 from one evening, which was a thrill for her! I believe we have started a new tradition...

deciding which pumpkins to keep and which to sell...

Last night my Mr. hung bike mounts in the garage for us! (bless you baby) While we were working on that, Lizzy took Mr. Fuzzers for a wagon ride. He was in heaven! I believe his mouth was wide open from excitement the entire time! She is such a great big sister. I am so thankful both of our children came to us when they did. It couldn't have been more perfect. 

Last Friday we got to visit with mom and dad during their layover in Salt Lake. It is always a treat to see them, even if it's only for 3 hours. I'll take any time I can get! I appreciate them looking for flights that allow them to stop here, especially considering it means they arrive home in the middle of the night. We went to lunch at A&W, their favorite, and Lizzy's too. They are the sweetest grandparents. I wish they lived closer...

And finally, I know fall is officially here when we eat homemade tomato fontinella soup and grilled cheese for dinner. YUM! I've even converted my Mr. to tomato soup. Now, if you know him that is nothing short of a miracle ! This morning he mentioned wanting to carve pumpkins tonight. Welcome fall, we've missed you!

this week... { July 15-20, 2012}

This week has been a typical one...busy, but fun!

Lizzy can hardly stand to go a day without a play date with Isabel and Germain. They have had so much fun together this summer. I'm so happy Mr. W is finished with school and life has resumed! We've missed getting together with them the last four years.

Here are a few pictures from our week...

Mr. Fuzzers is so sweet and welcomes each day with a HUGE smile! Of course he's always happy when daddy brings him to me each morning. 

(I'm certain it has nothing to do with the fact that mommy = food) 

This morning when Mr. W went in to get him, he was sitting up in his bed. He said it looked like he was in jail. He was just sitting and waiting.

His hair is still fuzzy and NEVER wants to lay down. It keeps us quite entertained. This morning when Mr. W snuggled him, he left his scent of cologne on his hair. I've sniffed his hair all day long to smell my sweetie!

Lizzy NEVER stops creating! (I don't know where she gets that from) One project this week was a time machine. It's still in the works.

Tuesday we visited the Treehouse Museum with some friends. I was happy to see her imaginative, playful spirit. I hope that never leaves.

 She and I laid on my bed last night and talked. She's been reading a childcraft book, and had many, many questions...about anatomy and such. I love our mommy daughter talks. I love that she can talk to me about anything. Please let that last forever!

 Today it was mommy-Lizzy time while Charlie napped. We  painted pictures, wrote cousins letters, and played kid pix. She had my undivided attention for 2 hours!

It's so fun have a 10  year old and a 9 month old. It feels like the best of both worlds. I love the stage where Lizzy is- mommy daughter talks, discovering her independence, and maturing. And I love the innocence of our baby boy.They help me keep perspective and remember how quickly each stage passes.

Tonight is our town celebration for Pioneer Day. We will eat dinner with friends, and there will be much laughter. There always is. I was making banana pudding and Lizzy was talking to Isabel on the phone. She said, "you just wait Isabel, it tastes like heaven!" I laughed out loud! I have never heard her compare anything to heaven. The grape soda is for her too. I guess this picture is what heaven looks like to Lizzy.

Christmas wrap up.

 santa delivered just what she asked for!

 (notice bear bear under the arm)

 (bear bear still here!)

It was a wonderful Christmas! 

At home, being lazy, playing with new toys and drawing all day long!

I love watching the excitement and anticipation of the 9 year old.

It's more fun with each passing year.

How sweet it is to have little brother this year. 

They are my gifts this year.

And of course the Mr.

There's so much to be thankful for.