Monday, Monday

The first day of the week ... and the weather is beautiful. The girls went to school, I got in an hour at the gym ... Matt had a bad day at work. I managed to clean the family and dining rooms but not the kitchen (never ending cleaning ... grrrr.) Car shopping with Matt ...

What did you do on this fabulous Monday? (can you believe it's the end of September already?)

Our Glasses Half Full

Last night was the General RS Conference. I'm glad I went. I loved listening to all the talks and feeling the spirit. I got to sit between Veronique and Jessica (2 of my SIL's) for most of it. That was nice. All in all it was good to get to sit and listen and not have the girls running around me ... that makes it kind of hard to concentrate. Anyway ... if you didn't hear the talks you should go HERE and listen to them. You'll be glad you did. They said, last night, that the Relief Society is the largest women's organization in the world ... I think it's exciting to be a part of that!!

I especially thought President Uchtdorf was charming and insightful. I also liked what Sister Beck said about sitting still and quietly so we can focus on things we need to. What a privilege to get to listen to righteous men and women. Definitely a positive experience!!

Our Tiny Little Peanut

Okay ... well she's not literally a peanut, but she IS tiny.

Today was Kate's 18 month check up at the doctor's office. Can you believe she's already that old? The best part is that she is now officially "ready" for nursery at church! No more battles in the hallway during RS.

So she weighed 18 pounds 4 ounces. She's not even on the chart for weight. She's in the 8th % for height and the 70th for head circumference. (what can I say .... my kids have big heads ... that means big brains, right?)

Anyway ... she cried while she was inspected, and screamed for the shots of course. Poor girl. All in all, uneventful though -- which as far as the doctor goes is a good thing.

Hair's the Story ....

Having 4 daughters is a hairy situation. Every morning, I have 5 people's heads to worry about (including my own of course, which usually ends up in a practical and quick ponytail.) Brielle has started wanting to do her own hair, which is fine, but if she wants it to be up I have to still do it. And Linzi would have her hair not even brushed, but of course I won't let that happen. Then there is Kate who won't keep anything in her hair, and Tessa ..... who, even though we love it, has the curly hair. Curly hair I have discovered usually looks disheveled. It's hard to make it look "done." (the pictures of Tessa and Kate here are the "we're staying home today so Mom didn't do our hair" looks. And Linzi has been practicing not smiling for the camera and actually tries to look odd .... I think she's successful at it, don't you?)

Man, there's a lot of fixing and combing and brushing and whining that I am hurting and ponytail holder finding.

Whew. What a job!

Get This

Kate actually has slept in her own bed 2 nights in a row ... only waking up a couple of times!! This is a major break through for us. Of course, I am still tired though, since she did wake up 3 times during the 3 o'clock hour these past 2 nights. In general, however, it is awesome. I am very happy that she is doing okay with her new found detachment from me. (I can actually sleep comfortably for the first time in a few years.) Now we just need her to realize that she really WANTS to drink from sippy cups and be weaned. I guess eventually. She does turn 18 months old this week, so hopefully she'll do that soon.

Every step is a step in the right direction as far as I'm concerned. Independence!!!

Ten Thousand and Counting

Well, I looked at my counter and there are over 10,000 hits to this blog now. That's a lot! I don't know that many bloggers ... well, there wouldn't have to actually be 10,000, but you know what I mean.

I'd like to see how many comments I can generate in *honor* of the 10,000 times people have viewed this blog. I know I won't get 10,000, but maybe 10? Or more? If you feel so inclined, please tell me, in the comments, what you love to blog about.

(I bet most of you will say kids! They're just so bloggable.)

I'll start it off ..... (you'll have to go look to see what I say)

Overboard!

On the photos ... is 12 too many? They're just all so cute it was REALLY hard to choose!!!

Saturday was perfect weather. We went to have some nice fresh air and got a few pictures (none of them great ... but hey, we tried) It was really bright outside so the girls were having a hard time not squinting. The ducks were swarming around the bread throwing ... which Kate liked. She now knows how to quack. It was just such a beautiful day ... not too hot. There were several weddings taking place in the flower garden area ... Tessa saw the brides and thought they were princesses. We had a fun time walking around all the flowers and seeing what their names were ... especially the roses. They smelled so sweet! Sorry there are so many pictures ... it's just hard to choose which ones to post.

One Decade Down ... Forever to Go!

Well, today is our 10th anniversary. It's hard to believe that ten years ago today we were married. I feel like, in some ways, that it has been so much longer. And then in other ways it just seems like last week. I think, though, that this has been a great 10 years of life. I know that marrying Matt was a good decision and I am happy that it has turned out so well (considering how FAST it all went in the beginning).

Our lives have changed so much since we were married. 10 of the best things that have happened to us are:

1. Brielle - that first baby is so exciting and different. I can remember both of us just sitting there, staring in amazement at our new little baby.
2. Linzi - the first little while was emotional when she came because Brielle was so small, but life was fun with just these first two ... we were just the 4 of us for so long.
3. Tessa - she came when we were living in my mom's house, so Matt and I had a lot of time alone with Tess; she slept in our room and spent a lot of time just playing on our bed.
4. Kate - she has been the hardest, but also so sweet and cute. I can't imagine life without her.
5. Buying our house - this was a long time coming for us, and we've really loved having a house to work on and do projects on.
6. Going to Hawaii - I still think this is the best place we've ever gone together. Our time in Hawaii was like a movie and it just was so fun. I loved it!
7. Matt's good job - we've always been blessed to have such a good job that has enabled me to stay home with the girls and given us everything we need.
8. Staying Happy - we've definitely had ups and downs, but I think there have been more ups. I am still as happy with Matt today as the day we got married; actually, it's maybe better now than it was then.
9. Always laughing - this has been a part of our life together that I really appreciate ... Matt always tries to make me laugh, especially when I don't want to. I love that about our relationship. Sometimes we laugh so hard we can't stop; it's fun!
10. Growing together - I know that throughout these past 10 years, we have just grown together ... our differences have remained, but the similarities have been what has given us all the happiness we have. We have both changed but we have changed in the same direction ... I guess that's why we can still be happy after all this time.

I am really glad we found each other. I can't imagine what my life would be without Matt (and the girls) ... in general I think this has been the best 10 years of my life!

Now hopefully the good times keep coming (although I hear the teenage years are the hardest ... I am not looking forward to that.)

Long Time No See

Man, today's been a "post-y" day. I guess since I didn't go to the gym this morning I have had the whole morning and day to do stuff. Anyway ...

I'm finally posting a few pictures from the zoo trip we took in August with my friend from H.S. (and after) Alexis. We had such a fun time with her! This is significant only because I haven't seen her for years. She lives on the other side of the country and we lost touch for a little while. So seeing her was exciting ... She seems so much the same, and yet I know something like 6 years has passed ... it's funny how we kind of always feel the same even though time passes and we get older.

Friends are good.

Snickerdoodle

So who do you think named this cookie? There are many suggestions for the theory on Wikipedia ...but no one really knows. Maybe it was a little joke that some baker thought would be funny.

Well, I don't really know why they're named Snickerdoodles ... but I do know that they are so good! I think Betty Crocker has the best recipe.

It's just so annoying to love baking and know that things aren't exactly healthy (these have shortening AND butter). I guess that's why I have to give them away. I am having Matt take these to scouts tonight; 9 year old boys should like eating these.

Snickerdoodles. Mmmmm.

Just Hangin' Out

This is what I walked into last evening ... I guess Tessa felt that Barbie needed a good hanging?

On the bright side, Barbie still has a smile on her face.

J-E-L-L- Oh No!

I was cleaning the kitchen this morning, and emptying the dishwasher, rinsing dishes ... you know, things that are loud and involved. So I thought the little girls were out in the family room just watching Dora the Explorer ... unfortunately I wasn't completely right. Tessa was out in the family just watching Dora, but Kate was in the family room spreading an entire box of blue Jell-o all over the carpet. Apparently there had been some water in a cup or something and it mixed with the Jell-o to make a lovely layer of blue crystals everywhere. (plus a nice fruity smell) Not only is it all over the carpet, but all over Kate. She has blue hands and blue feet and blue legs.

Little stinker.

It's always when they're the quietest that we should be most suspicious apparently.

Fortunately, I had some carpet cleaner ... but there is still a slightly blue cast to the largest areas, and it definitely still smells fruity in there.

What am I going to do with these busy little people?

Play it Again, Kate

I just thought this was so cute. You'll have to scroll down and mute the playlist to be able to actually hear her "singing." She actually will come and sit by me when I am playing and singing and plunk the keys and sing along. It's pretty darn cute if you ask me!

Good Things Come in 3's

(Like BLTs and 3 year olds!)

Today was Tessa's 3 year checkup at the pediatrician's office. She weighed 28 pounds (25th %) and was 37 inches tall (40th %) .... she seems healthy and looks great.

I thought it was really funny, she was happy and normal until the nurse had to poke her toe and take some blood. That she didn't like. I think she became a little offended and then would have nothing to do with any of it. When the doctor came in he asked her questions, and every time he directed a question directly to her, she closed her eyes, furrowed her brow, put a large frown on her face, and turned her head. I think maybe she thought she was invisible? I don't know, it was pretty funny. Luckily, pediatricians are used to the cold shoulder, and he said especially with 3 year olds.

Once he said he was done, we couldn't get out of there fast enough for Tessa or Kate. Little does Tessa know that in 2 weeks for Kate's 18 month checkup, she has to have 2 shots as well as Kate. Poor girl. I'm sure she'll really be miffed by then.

(on a side note, at the gym this morning a man asked me if they were twins .... doesn't Kate look way smaller than Tess? Maybe it was just the shirts? Sometimes I think people don't really look when they are looking ... you know what I mean?)

BL Three

This is a conversation we had at dinner tonight.

Mom sits down with a sandwich.

Brielle: "Mom, is that a BLT?"

Mom: "yep."

Brielle: "BLT, Brielle Linzi Tessa."

Linzi: "ha ha"

Brielle: "that's funny"

Tessa continues eating

Brielle: "I'm bacon, Linzi's lettuce, and Tessa's tomato."

Linzi: "ha ha"

Tessa: "I don't want to be tomato, I want to be BACON."

Linzi: "ha ha"

Tessa: "grrrrrr"

Brielle: "Tessa you're tomato."

actual conversation ... as I sat and ate. In the end, Brielle was kind enough to donate her name to Tessa so Tessa could be bacon, but she has to now be called Brielle. Brielle is now called Tessa. And then Linzi and Kate switched names just for the fun of it.

Sound confusing? Yeah.

Boo!

Look what I did this morning with Tessa and Kate ... it IS the next holiday you know.
On top of the piano ....

On top of the mantle ...
(if you know me well you will know that I live for the holidays and that I LOVE to decorate for them ... especially a little too early)
This one was Tessa's favorite.

I just think it's so fun to see their faces as they watch me pull out all the exciting pumpkins ... Tessa kept saying "ooooh ..." She now wants to be a princess for Halloween and wants it to be today ... she is actually dressed up right now. I had to tell her that Halloween is actually a little while away.

I Have a New Job

Chauffeur.

Now that the girls are in school I will be driving them around way more than I did this summer ... but that's okay. Because now they're out of the house learning and having fun. (hopefully!)

This morning went great ... Brielle and Linzi woke up at 6:30 which left us tons of time to get ready. They were actually dressed and wearing their backpacks over 30 minutes before we even had to leave. They were a little anxious I think. We got in the car the the time I wanted to and arrived at school 15 minutes later ... Brielle said her stomach was feeling nervous and Linzi said her legs were shaking. They both went into their classrooms though, with no problems. We said goodbye and left without tears, thankfully. This is the first year that has happened.

It all seemed pretty easy. Tessa was a little sad, but it helped that we were going to the gym where she and Kate would get to play while I worked out.

Anyway, now it's done. The big girls are in school and I have my daytime with just the 2 little ones. Quieter.

Hopefully they'll say they had a great day and be excited for tomorrow!

(for some reason, we didn't have too many smiles this morning when I had the camera out ... well ... Kate.)