She Had a Burthday Too

She had to go and turn 5. I am really not sure about all that is going to happen this year. Kindergarten?? Riding the bus?? My goodness is she ready though. We drove past her school the other day and she got so giddy. She asked, "ooh mom, are there teachers in there? And desks? And do I get a math book?!" We have already started her summer homework packet and she is hoping to get much more homework when school actually starts.

The other day she was pretty hysterical that Elijah had scribbled in her workbook that we bought from Costco. She sobbed through her  tears, "MOM! This was supposed to be educational, and now I can't even learn what this page was going to teach me..."

She came to me with this little note that she had written all by herself. I wrote at the bottom what it really says.

She is a monkey now more than she ever has been. She still uses her toes for just about everything. Notice she is holding her cards between her toes while we are playing slap jack. She has so much energy it's crazy! She climbs on everything and is constantly moving. I am so glad it's warming up so we can harness some of her acrobatic feats.

She loves to eat with chopsticks, taught herself. She requested a Chinese restaurant for her birthday dinner. Pretty impressive :)

I love this little girl so much.

Yes, this is my girl. On the airplane back from Utah this winter she had to sit by herself across the aisle from me and the two littles. She entertained herself by reading the skymall magazine... She was 4...read the whole thing... 

Seriously love the crazy fun that this girl brings into people's lives.

She can often be found squishing on this baby girl... Man I love those curls, and those freckles.

 (I know you're all jealous of the magical place that we get to live in now :) So come visit us! Please!)

And making this poor guy do who knows what... here she is "nursing" him under the nursing cover...

But she sure does love him. 

He Had a Birthday

Elijah had his third birthday among all of the commotion of moving. He is very proud about being 3. He is also very proud of all the hair that he now has, he points it out quite often. He requested a construction cake with dirt on it this year. So we re-created this little diddy off of pinterest. He loved it. For his birthday party he had a couple of friends over for a dance party. If he hears music he can't help but bust out the moves, no matter where we are. He is also very protective and controlling of the dance floor. He is found giving instruction to all. And since it is apparently against his personal code of ethics to use a contraction, he yells, "I told you do not do it like that! Like this mom..." 

Elijah is most famous around here at present opening time. His expressions are priceless. Everyone he knows loves giving him gifts since he usually exclaims, "Thhhaaank You! It's what I've always been wishing for!" And it is the most sincere little voice you have ever heard. Even if it is something he never even knew existed. He is the sweetest little man.

You never have to steal a kiss from this kid. He gives them out freely.

Goodbye to The Ohio

I drove away from St. Martins place with a pint of Graeter's double chocolate ice cream in my lap, a  backseat full of children, and tears in my eyes. It was a beautiful day and I couldn't help but linger in my house for as long as I could. This was where it all began, everything I can remember about being a mother started here. I baked my first (edible) loaf of bread, canned my first jar of peaches, planted my first garden, two of my children took their first steps, I learned how to keep a house and make it a home, had a second and third child, made many forever friends... Big things people. Very big and precious things.

I'll miss you Ohio. Maybe we'll be back...

 

So, we have a lot more stuff this time around!

So excited to help unpack!

Pen marks on one chubby cheek are thanks to big brother on the long car ride to our new place.

To Be a Mother

Things are movin' and shakin' around these parts. Especially this little Janey Bop. I can't seem to keep her in any seat. She has wiggled out of her car seat, the Bumbo, and this rocking chair many times. We are going to have to keep our eyes on this mover! Just now as I was blogging she rolled half way across the room to get her hands on the space heater... good thing I caught her! I know this next picture has weird lighting and is not in focus... but talk about focus on that baby's face! I love how she is soaking everything up. And I love how much her big brother and sister love her. I just love love our quiet days at home. Mostly.

It has been much harder lately to stay sane as I try to keep the house ready show, pack, and think about where we are going next. I won't lie, there have been some days when I have been super irritable and grumpy. I try to focus on doing my best and enjoying the moments. 

Try that though when you've just spent all morning cleaning the church, and scrubbing your house (with a baby strapped to your chest and a toddler hanging on your leg with your husband out of town) til' it sparkled for an open house. Then literally just seconds after your handsome 3 year old wakes up he pees on the floor, gets out a bunch of toys to show the realtor, and then... your car won't start. So you pack up your littles and walk to the library to chill for 2 hours... not mention no one actually shows up at the open house.

   I am so grateful that it was a beautiful day outside and that we had to walk. Otherwise I think all of those events would have made me crazy. But, Heavenly Father knows what we need. I needed a walk to the park and a gyro at Baba's grill with my little man. I wish I would have brought my camera! Mary Jane let out the most wonderful laughing fit ever while she watched Eli swing, it sounded exactly like Luci. Little twinners I tell ya, except Mj might even be louder than Luci was. Especially her screech.

And so my friends a walk, some laughs, some food, and then it was all better! I am excited for what happens next, and I know I can handle it! So bring on the rain! I know Heavenly Father sends us trials... seemingly small, and seemingly large... to make us stronger. Flying on a plane across the country this winter with 3 small children taught me that, yesterday taught me that. Oh to be a mother :)

Love

Just a few things that I am loving this month...

Angel kissed faces in the morning. (Freckles!!)

Chubby cheeks to kiss...

Who can guess what this is?? Well, somebody please come save me from it, since I still have half a pan and I've been eating 2 pieces a day since the big day :)

This would have been so perfect if I could have been skiing in it. So lovely. I am going to miss this quiet little street of ours.

'Tis the Season

(*Photo by Rebekah Anderson)

We put up our Christmas tree tonight and decorated for this magical season. I love to listen to Christmas music and sip a warm drink while we deck our halls :) Here is one of my favorite drinks...

Caramel Apple Cider
(Cocoa Latte Recipe Book)

2 cups apple cider or apple juice
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
4 tablespoons caramel syrup
Whipping cream

Combine everything in a cocoa latte, saucepan, or crock-pot  This recipe makes 2 servings. And of course don't forget the whipping cream on top. Alternately you could also drizzle the caramel over the whipping cream for a pretty presentation.

Caramel Sauce
(Better Homes and Gardens 75th Anniversary Edition)

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/3 cup half-and-half or light cream
2 tablespoons corn syrup
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

In a small pot combine sugar and cornstarch. Stir in 1/4 cup water. Stir in half-and-half, corn syrup, and butter. Cook stirring constantly over medium heat until bubbly (mixture might look a little curdled, don't worry!). Cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat and add vanilla.

Dressing Up

My sweet little Jane baby was blessed on November 4th. It was a beautiful blessing. It was pretty fun to dress her up in this pretty dress for the event...

and to see her daddy swoon over her :)

Prince Elijah was cracking us up all night long with his facial hair.

Pop-Pop's costume was perfect. And it was pretty awesome having them around for Halloween.

Elijah finally has some hair! Yes, he will be three in March. We like to play with it...

One day while visiting teaching the kids came down all dressed up. Luci dressed the boys including buttoning their shirts and getting their ties on. I can't believe the boys stayed still long enough! She can be pretty convincing though.

All dressed up here for the Georgia Tech V. BYU football game in Atlanta. What a beautiful day. The kids love football. They ask to play tackle football everyday with me or Jacob. At this game Luci yelled "Go Cougars!" non-stop for the entire first half. Yep.

We all will do pretty much anything to get this girl to smile. She is passing out those grins like pretzels these days.