May your face always have this look of surprise, especially on your birthday.

Goodness, I wish this picture wasn't blurry.  I LOVE Adalin's face as she opened this gift (which I think was lip gloss or something.)  

That's what is just wonderful about a child's birthday; the excitement, the surprises, the love.

And even though I never posted 10 months ago about this little girl turning 6, we sure do love her anyway.

 And may all her birthdays bring this look of surprise.

2.9.11

adalin's 6th birthday

destruction

Okay, so this was going on a year ago that I took these pics, but I have to say that Ava still does things like this.  I remember clearly that she did this all in a matter of 3 minutes, consecutively. 

Little turd.

   

2.7.11

Panty Heads

Um, maybe I shouldn't comment on this?

2.4.11

unmatched

Not sure why Kira thought three different stripe combos would have all looked good together, but, you know, at least she got dressed by herself!

1.21.11

My Baby

Time flies. In the same day, no, in the same moment, with all the constant commotion this last year has brought, I have often felt both impatience and a tinge of sadness as this little one has grown up. It is so fun to watch them grow and learn. It is also sad as they loose their baby features, developing more toddler-like attributes.

Ava brings light into our lives. She is such a sweet, petite little thing with a whole lot of determination and love. She gives kisses. And hugs. She crawls and walks. Faster if you're chasing her. She charms people wherever she goes. She loves to play in the bathroom. With toilet paper. She loves to play with water, in the bath and the dog's bowl. She eats a lot. She loves her daddy more than anyone and cries when he can't hold her. She knows where her head is. She pulls off her socks. She {finally} is a good sleeper. She has hair of the same length and in the same places that she did when she was born, but lighter. She has eyes as blue as the sea. She talks. Her vocabulary consists of mama, dada, ball, dog, and Isis.

She devoured her cake too.

Weird Dreams

I'm in my bathroom getting ready one day and Kira comes in, sits on the potty and begins talking to me:

Kira: Mom, every night when I close my eyes, it's like there's a TV.

Me: Oh, it sounds like you're having dreams.

K: Yeah. There was witches, Snow White and snapping turtles!

M: Oh, wow!

K: And she [Snow White] was climbing on top of her kitchen to get away from the snapping turtle! The Witch sent the snapping turtle to bite Snow White.

It was all very matter-of-fact.

Halloween 2010 - Pirates, Princesses and a Frog

I guess this tells you how how behind I am on blogging! C'est la vie!

I journeyed to Halloween USA a few hours before our church Halloween party in search of costumes for Adam and myself. We never dress up. Or if we do we use the same black afro wig and cowboy hat that we have had since we were married. This year, we both felt the urge to get in the spooky spirit. It was fun. The best part about this Halloween? The fact that no one recognized Adam at all. Seriously, many, many people told him that they didn't know who he was until he sat next to me or talked to them about something that only Adam would have talked about. It was hilarious. Maybe I should be a makeup artist when I grow up? I think he makes a very convincing Jack Sparrow, no?

The night before I stayed up until 3am sewing Adalin and Kira's princess dresses. Yes. 3am. I haven't stayed up that late since, uh, high school? Not sure if I will be making costumes anymore. Or if I do, I will start before the week of the event. Procrastination is a ... problem.

Why the modge-podge of costumes? Well, our story is that the pirates kidnapped the baby prince(ss) and the princesses tried to come to the rescue. It works.

Mommies Lost

This may be a depressing post. But my hope is that we all think of the fragility of the lives we live; that we live each day as if it could be our last.

There are 2 congregations that meet in our church building. When we were in church last week the bishop announced the death of a mother and Primary president (in the other ward) who passed away in her sleep the previous Tuesday night. I sat wondering why this would happen to what was such a happy family. She had 4 (or 5) small children.

In our previous neighborhood lived another happy, brand new family. This mother was expecting her first baby, and was inspired just 2 days before she delivered to set up her video camera while her husband was at work and talk to her baby, tell her how much she was loved and anticipated. With a 15 day-old baby, the mom got a brain aneurysm. She had surgery, was almost recovered, got another one, and died.

Over the last week I have thought a lot about these two women. I have thought about the lives they left behind and how their families will be able to go on without them. I have thought often about how I am living my life, how the effect of each impatient and tense moment will impact my family. What if I wasn't around in the morning to say I'm sorry? Would I have regrets? Did I tell each child and Adam how much I really love them today?

Let us not take our days for granted. There is so much to be thankful for. Each day is truly a blessing.

The Last Warm Day

It was the last warm, no-need-for-a-jacket day of the year, so I bribed Adam to get the Christmas lights up. Well, I guess 'begged' would be a more accurate description.

He decided that the girls needed to get over their fears and face their curiosity by getting on the roof with him...

Which just made them worry about daddy up on this high peak:

They began praying that their daddy wouldn't die when he got this close to the edge:

Their prayers were answered. Thankfully.

Even though we tested every strand before hanging them, this is what both high peaks looked like when we finally turned them all on:

Wonderful. So, back up to the roof Adam went. Then it started to rain. He must really love me.

At least the kids were happy that day: