March 30 - Kid Quotes

"Mom! I look like Santa's Mommy!" (Because her glasses were pulled down on her nose, she thought she looked like Mrs. Clause.)

"Mom, can I do some lipstick? By myself?"

"Mom!! I walked all the way home in the RAIN!"

"Why didn't you put your jacket on?"

"Because I wanted to get rain on me!!!"

"I like transformers. My favorite thing to do is play with my sisters. I love when my Dad gets here."

I took a picture of Andlie's homework log this afternoon. She's pretty good to just come home & do it. I'm pretty proud because sometimes it seems like quit a bit.

Oh, ya know. Just waiting on our bed while Dad vacuums the house. Totally shows everyone's personalities.

 Andlie: Gathering everyone in for the picture. Mother hen-ing.

Haze: Weapons in his hands. Painfully smiling so he can go back to whipping them around.

Nora: Lying on her tummy with her legs in the air like the princess that she is. Big ol' chocolate smear on her face from the two Oreos she snuck.

Cros: Grabbing my face and talking.

 

Meeting cousin Gentri for the first time by FaceTime.

March 29 - Bink Success

This morning we painted Nora's nails and toes! She was so happy! She's such a joy.

I was at the grocery store this afternoon & thought, "Wow, my feet are super comfy. Which shoes am I wearing?" And I looked down to see my slippers. #momwin

Meanwhile, Hazey was at The Bounce House with his friend, Braxton C!

Andlie. She's such a good student and she's a sponge! She doesn't love math, but she's good at it. Just like every other subject. Proud of her test scores! (Also notice the worksheet behind the tests - she's totally learning multiplication!)

Baby hairs. They're all over around my hair line. Why? Because I had a baby. Bryan calls it "The Great Shed of [year most rcent baby was born]." My hair falls out in bunches after baby! Hopefully I'm on the tail end now. And I'm happy to see the baby hairs because that means the hair is growing back.

Those thighs! Cute little (big) Cros!

My five months of hard work & forcing & buying every brand of bink ever made has paid off. Cros will finally suck a bink! Hopefully this will help with the transition to a crib.

March 28 - Watch DOG & Special Night

Bryan was a Watch DOG today! Andlie was thrilled that he got to stay when he took her to school this morning. And Haze had no idea until we pulled up to the school for drop off and Bryan was standing outside! He GRINNED and went running towards him!

Bryan said that both kids are so well-behaved and polite and such wonderful students. No surprise there. We have the BEST kids. The absolute best. Happy day for Daddy and the big kids.

  

Meanwhile, at home Nora was extending a helping hand with Cros.

Baby Einstein. It's a magic baby tool. All of our kids have been captivated by it and Crosby is no different. He was frozen solid with his arms mid-smack for a solid minute or two. Magic. There's no other explanation.

Also today: Nora's Special Night! She chose to go play games at Riverwoods, get a prize, and go get "ice cream" at Menchie's with Daddy! (She really just wanted a bowl full of candy with "pink cookies with polka dots" [Circus Cookies].) And of course, she needed to stop at see the dresses in the windows at Riverwoods. She was so excited all day and when it came time to go, she had me put curls in her hair and bounced around the house with a happy skip and a voice to go along with it. She's a beautiful, happy soul.

March 27 - Visitors & Baby Snuggles

I almost cried when I put Easter up today. But then I changed it to a smile. Because the three sparkly chicks and the white porcelain bunnies are gifts from Granny from last year (or maybe the year before) and now they're sitting on my piano smiling at me for her.

Grama & Grampa stopped by on their way home from visiting Idaho (& meeting Gentri). We always love them to visit and wish they could just move in!

Cros is getting pretty coordinated with toys and loving them more & more every day. It's fun to watch his little mind work, but my favorite part is watching his little toes squish together & flex while he plays.

Today I had a little discussion with Andlie about being more grateful for things she has. I think the message stuck because she brought this paper in to me while I was feeding Crosby before bed.

Hazey man loves beads! He's made so many cool ones in the past three months (since getting some new shapes for Christmas)!

Poofy little baby feet snuggling Daddy while sleeping are the best kind of feeties.

Cros is a face grabber. He is usually pretty gentle. He looks right in your eyes, smiles, and reaches out to touch or grab your face. It's his way of saying, "Hey. I love you."

I wish I could bottle up the feeling of holding a sleeping baby on my chest. I am so blessed and Motherhood is so holy and precious and beautiful. My heart is so full. Last night I said a prayer asking Heavenly Father to please help me remember and cherish these times with littles at home and on my chest. I just love it so much and I'm so thankful.

March 26 - Muu Muu

The day has come. I am now a Muu Muu wearer in the mornings. Bryan is not a fan. I totally am.

So thankful. Every minute of every day. "Mom" is the best title.

Today we verbally promised to buy a condo! It's just down the street from us and we're so excited! I sent Kourtney Sorenson a picture of me promising to buy their house. Just for good measure.

After church snuggle & relax time:

When you have a big sister that loves princesses.....

March 25 - Busy Saturday

Bryan woke up to play tennis this morning at 5:40 am. And when Cros woke up at 7:30 to eat, I fed him and put him right in bed with me. Saturday mornings are for sleeping. Especially today. We had a lot ahead of us.

10:00: Haze's first soccer game of the season! He scored two goals and had lots of excellent passes! It rained for most of his game, but we had blankies & umbrellas so we did just fine. "Spring" soccer they call it.....

11:30: Stopped to get some lunch on our way home. Ate lunch & picked up Andlie's cake.

1:00: Andlie's first game of the season! She scored five goals and had some perfect passes as well!

2:30: Home to change & get ready for Andlie's party.

3:00: Andlie's party! We do birthday parties on even years at this house. Andlie has been excited to have her birthday party at the karate place since she won it last year at the Easter Egg Hunt! I told her that we just needed to get past her baptism and then we could have a party. And then Granny died. She's been so patient and understanding. We almost just skipped her party this year, but then we reminded ourselves of how wonderful & deserving she is so we scheduled the party for today! She was so excited and had so much fun! It was such a fun way to celebrate our athletic little sweet, happy Andlie!

Party at Bobby Lawrence Karate included:

Half hour of games including: Obstacle Course, Ninja Says (like Simon Says), Star Wars Battle (with foam noodles), Follow my Command, and Long Jump Contest!

Half hour of karate lessons! Andlie LOVED this. And so did everyone else.

Cake cutting ceremony! Andlie got to cut her cake with a sword!

Presents!

Andlie got to break a board!

Party favors!

5:00: Home to change & grab a quick bite to eat before Andlie & I went to the General Women's Session of General Conference! It was the first time that I got to bring Andlie with me! She's such a beautiful, kind, happy spirit and I feel so blessed to call her mine. We had a great time together. We sat by the Rensinks & the Colemans. Andlie sat by her friends for a few minutes and then she moved over to sit by me (which I loved). Afterwards we went to Pop 'n Sweets (a candy/ice cream shop) and had ice cream with our friends. I love Andlie so so much. I'm so thankful for the Gospel and for my perfect little girl (and other girl and two boys). What an incredible blessing.

8:00: Home. Nora greeted me with an, "Do you notice anything on my head?" And then she explained that she had bonked her head. And then she pulled out a booger and exclaimed, "Look at my snack!" (Gag.) Bedtime!!!

10:30: I stayed up & cleaned the entire house because I wanted it to be clean for Sunday.

1:00 am: Bed. And zonked.