4 Years Old

On Friday Saydee turned 4. We try to make their day special as soon as they open their eyes, but since this little big girl still wakes up at night we decorated our kitchen. We set out her gift and two little coloring books to keep them happy and busy during those early morning hours when we're still trying to wake up. Heath had the day off so he made her special heart pancakes.

We spent a few hours at her favorite place Monkey Joes, a gym of bouncy house equipment. Then we spent the rest of the day relaxing and celebrating at home. In the evening our wonderful friends, Kacy and Dave surprised Saydee with her own cake and gifts for both girls. The girls absolutely love them both. And they were so sweet to stay and play with them. Kacy looks a bit like and has that same loving and fun personality as Grandma Nese so Saydee called her Grandma forever. So nice to have wonderful friends especially when we are so far from our family we love. She had a great birthday.

Saydee is so sweet, smart and beautiful. She is growing up faster than I like and I so miss her baby rolls and squishiness. But she is so fun to have around and we love this stage of her life.


Check out her sweet baby chubbiness, you want to squeeze her don't you. I've been remeniscing...

We love you Saydee.

Halloween

We had another great Halloween.
. Our sweetie pies and their little southern bell friend at our Church's Trunk or Treat.


Then the girls hit a few houses with their friends. They loved that this year.

The lute...

Side note: Apparently on Sunday Saydee announced to everyone in Primary that She would be marrying her little shark friend tomorrow in the temple. So they asked him if he loves Saydee and he said Yes.
A few weeks ago she told us she wanted to marry her Daddy at the ball. I said I already married Daddy in the temple, but one day when she grows big like me she can marry a prince in the temple.
I didn't realize she'd be engaged before her 4th birthday. I think I waited until I was at least 7 or 8. They are too cute together, no romance just the best of friends :) It'll be interesting when the cootie stage hits.

Conference time and tutus.

The previous three weekends we had Women's Conference, then General Conference and the next week was Stake Conference. Its a time of self reflection. In fact I'm a hit and miss on new year's resolutions because I usually make the most important ones at Conference time.

Sometimes personal weakness can feel so overwhelming and frustrating. But Conference always inspires me with more confidence and capability to meet my demands. I can definitely do alot better.

So a few of my Conference inspired resolutions : Mostly just the basics.

Personal: Meaningful personal Prayer and scripture study. Find a time to pray in the crazy morning hours.

Family: Patience. Earlier to bed (big one for me). FHE every week. Watch my words and body language especially around my little sponges.

Other: Attend the temple monthly. Always pay tithing first. Control my tongue and negatisms about people and situations. Stop the procrastination!


Speaking of procrastination. I had spent all Saturday night making these no-sew Tutus for our Super Saturday display today. They are actually going to be part of the girls Halloween costumes. Saydee is going to be a witch and Elli a bunny. I used this tutorial from Plumtickled.typepad.com. They are so easy and they have a large variety of colored tulle, even darling sparkle tulle at Hobby Lobby. Goes on sale every few weeks.

At home

We've been mostly chillin all day at home this week. Alot of time outdoors means alot less cleaning up their wreckage indoors. So we do that. It must be that vitamin D and fresh air but there is always less fighting and happier faces outdoors.

We got this hay bale to display our pumpkins. And our girls have slowly been destroying it. Notice all that loose straw? PS, I would really love to build a simple little bench for our front porch. Wouldn't it look lovely under our window? It could replace our haybale. Heath??? I know you read this occasionally :)

We play hide n'seek alot. If you haven't played it with toddlers in a while, let me refresh your memory.

6 times we played. And 6 times I found them behind the haybale.

Saydee pleading with me to play "one more time". Even with her sweet sad face I could not do 7.

They distract easy enough.

Fall does make me a bit antsy. You know it can't last forever. And a long indoor winter is just around the corner.

On a more possitive note if I could freeze an era of my life, it would be now. I've had a pretty good life and loved growing up, but nothing makes me happier than being a wife and a mother.

Apple and pumpkin picking

Heath got a 4 day weekend this week. What with his flex Friday and Columbus Day this Monday, we decided to have ourselves a little staycation. Thus Friday Zoo Day and today Apple and Pumpkin Picking Day.

Our little vacation couldn't have had better timing. Weather has gotten a bit chili here but this weekend has been beautiful and warm, mid 80s. And we always have so much fun with our friends, the Critchlows. Ours kids have become pretty much inseparable these last few months. We will miss them tons when they move.




The nice guy who took this picture cut Heath and Elli out completely. Rude but still nice.

Again Heath rudely cut out. Man the guy can't catch a break. It was a good day.
I will be sad when I have to say goodbye to this warm weather.

snuggling

A few days ago the girls fell asleep together watching a movie while I cooked dinner. Between 4 and 5pm these no nap days hit them hard. After determining that Elli was indeed still breathing of coarse I got the camera. I did the initial "ahhh... how adorable." And then the realization hit that we'd now be staying up with these two into the late late pm hours.

The Perfect Zoo Day

Today we enjoyed a gorgeous day at the zoo. The girls were much more enthusiastic about all the animals this time. And I love how the Zoo gets so festive for Halloween.

Right before we left Elli took a painful faceplant onto the asphalt. She cried for a sec and then ran off again. Her little face definately shows a little roadrash. Kids rebound so fast. They make me feel so wimpy.