Flashback on Paige at 18 months

Seriously, where has the time gone? I know I keep saying that, but this feels like just yesterday. I was looking at these pictures of Paige and thinking that she reminds me so much of Cash. I couldn't help but post them being it was just her birthday and these are the earliest pictures I have on my computer of her. When my friend took pictures of us in Logan it was the first for me on a digital camera. Isn't it weird to think of pictures before digital cameras? I know I was probably a little behind the times even then, but it is so fun to go back and look and have them on the computer. I can't even remember the feeling of just having Paige in my life. It was such a fun stage for me. We were best friends. I remember waking up and eating eggs for breakfast while we watched reruns of Dawson's Creek and The Wiggles. We would go on walks everyday and have chips and guacamole for lunch. We would wait for Bryce to get home from work and then go visit the dogs and the horses across the street. One of my happiest times in my life. It was so simple and easy. Boy, life can really get hard and change. I wish I could go back then and start again. She had so much personality. I love her so much!

My Paigey Girl turned 7

What a fun couple of days. Paige had such a great birthday. She had begged to get a bigger bike, and was so thrilled to see we had listened. I decided to surprise her and have lunch with her at school. I love school lunch! I remember loving the green beans and now they get the option of chocolate milk. YUM! Well... kind of yum, the chocolate milk that is. We then went outside and played with her friends for recess. The next day we took a bunch of her friends to Seven Peaks for an ice skating party. It was seriously a blast. I really got to skate with the kids and enjoy myself. For sure one of my favorite parties ever. It was so fun to watch the girls pick up on skating. Sailor was cruising around with that walker thing they offer the little kids. I'm so sad another birthday has come and gone! I love Paige so much. She is my tender heart. She is constantly a worrier. I swear I get asked on a daily basis if something is going to kill her, like for example just now she asked if she was going to get a heart problem because she licked a toy sword she got at a birthday party today and it tasted weird. She called me while at a movie in tears because she thought she was going to die because she blew on a whistle my sister courtney had blown on before she died 8 years ago. Just so intense about everything, germs, a red spot on her body, looking at the sun. I just LOVE this child!

This kid of mine....

He is extremely obsessed with any ball!
This is his Grandpa Lowell tongue.

He thinks he is so funny. This is him trying to smile for the camera. Eyes always closed. So adorable!
Loves to help vacuum. And there is the eyes closing again because he knows I have the camera.
Such an adorable smile, just open your eyes for me baby!
He is showing me his teeth. He is obsessed with the tooth brush and teeth. He will stand on the stool in the bathroom and say teeth over and over until you get out his tooth brush and then he has to dip it in the water over and over. He loves his blankie and calls it deedee. He is such a great climber. I'm still so shocked at the temperament of boys vs. girls. He is very aggressive and will hit you hard if he is mad or doesn't get what he wants. PS. He is still a daddy's boy, and doesn't give me the time of day.

Christmas Morning 2009

The kids had a wonderful christmas. Paigey got a new scooter and american girl kirsten clothes and bed. Sailor got a fairy tent and the american girl Rebecca. Cash got a new blanket and a lion. Cash gave the blanket a new try, but still loves his old, but the very same, blanket better.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

My cute friend Becky Kimball took these pictures of us. I thought she did such an awesome job. I've been waiting to post them until we sent out our the christmas cards. She was so great to meet us outside of her work at the Wells Fargo building in downtown Provo and take our pictures. From start to finish it was only 1/2 hour. I felt we were a total mess (well, me mostly) with my skirt being completely pinned in the back, only half of my hair was done (the back wasn't dried or curled), and everyone was freezing. Thank-you Becky for such beautiful work! We hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and Santa comes to their house. I can't wait to start a new year. I'm hopeful that 2010 will be so much better!

Christmas Dance Performances

Sailor had her dance performance in the day, then we rushed to a family Christmas party, and then went to Paige's performance that night. It was so cute, a lot of effort, but so fun. Sailor and Paige did such a great job. Sailor and Paige look for any reason to put on make-up and yesterday was heaven for them. It is so fun to keep watching them look at themselves in the mirror. After every picture I would take of Sailor she would want to look at it. Sailor goes to dance with her friend Alexis and Paige goes with her friend Grace. They both had Santa at the end of their performances. We tried to get Cash to see Santa, but he was scared like every other kid is. I thought he would be fine because he kept walking up to him and then would run back to us. Every time he would get a little closer, but nope, scared! PS I love that my girls expect flowers after every performance. That was the first thing Paige asked me yesterday was if she was getting flowers.

Christmas School Programs...

Paige had her 1st grade performance and Sailor had her preschool performance. Notice Paige with the big flower on the side of her head in the first picture. Sailor is with her best friend Madison Garrett. They both did such a good job. Sailor really got into the actions of her songs. It is so fun to watch your little kids grow up.

Santa Lucia Day

So the tradition goes that the oldest girl dresses up and serves cookies/food to the rest of the family. I grew up dressing up at my grandma house because I was the oldest grandchild. So Paige was able to dress up and serve us swedish chocolate, cheese and crakers, and spritz cookies. Summer (my sis) and I went up to my grandmas house and she taught us how to make spritz cookies. Paige wore my wreath my mom had bought me along time ago. She felt so special being able to do that. It will be a fun tradition to carry on with my family since my kids are more swedish than I am.

Santa Lucia Festival

On December 12, we took the kids to the annual Santa Lucia Festival. They have a program in swedish and then a dinner. Since Bryce and I both have swedish in our blood I have decided to carry on some of the traditions I have done with my grandmother. It is so fun to do some of these extra things around the holidays. It really was a magical moment in the program when the santa lucia girls followed by star boys came down the aisle singing the santa lucia song. The song is really pretty to hear and the lights were off in the auditorium with only the candles lit. I loved that part, the rest was a little boring because I do not understand swedish. Sailor came dressed in an outfit Bryce and I bought when we were in Sweden a few years ago. Sailor thought she was so beautiful in it. Take notice of the last picture of their version of Santa Claus. So ugly huh? I think he is called Tom Tom, maybe? And I think he is supposed to be dwarf size.

Once there was a snowman...

The first snow made it this winter, and Bryce braved building the snowman with the kids again. I, of course, sat my warm bottom inside and watched. Cashy went outside for a little bit, but he kept taking off his gloves and I could tell he was cold so I brought him in. He wasn't too happy watching his big sister have all the fun. I love how mad he is watching at the window!

My birthday again!

What a great birthday! I wish I could freeze myself at this age with my kids. It is such a great stage in life to be. I woke up to a new shirt and new shoes. I has so much fun with high school friends the night before and my sister-in-laws for lunch. Bryce and I caught a movie and dinner. And it was great. I am so lucky to have so many friends and family who I love so much. Thanks for all the birthday wishes! And the shopping mom!

A Witchy Hallloween

Halloween was so much fun this year. It was the warmest Halloween in a long time. It always makes it so much more fun when you are not freezing too death. This year my sis and I went to Gardner Village to the witches extravaganza. We met up with sister friends Melissa and Tiffany and all of our cute kiddos. It was so much fun. We went on the hay ride to a witches house and the witches told us all about their magic and potions. We buried a cockroach in their cemetery and learned about what they use in their bath. We then caught the beginning of all the witches coming in for the witches night out, and let me tell you, their were so many witches you could barely walk around. My kids were fascinated with all of them and their elaborate costumes. We also did a friends Halloween party at a park and the kids got to trick-or-treat and decorate pumpkins. And then out Halloween tradition is to meet up at aunt Kristin's for soup and doughnuts and trick-or-treating. The cousins all love to see each other dressed up. We decided to be Wizard Of Oz this year except Bryce never did dress up with us. We wanted him to be the tin man or the scarecrow. Somehow at last minute Bryce grabbed the Nacho Libra costume and put it on again for the family to scream at. It's quite a sight....I couldn't make myself post the picture again. :)

Cheer Camp

Timpview Cheer Camp. It was so cold this year. The girls did the Orem High cheer camp this year as well but it was much more pleasant. The Orem High camp was in September and the girls loved it. They were totally getting into the cheers and did a great half time. Paige kept kicking her leg in the air and was really moving. Then we did the Timpview camp and because it was so cold they literally just stood there. Sailor at half time didn't do one part of her dance. We will know for next year to make sure we stick to the earlier ones that are warmer.

First Day of School

Paige is in 1st grade and is gone all day. She loves here teacher and her friends. She especially loves to have school lunch. She is so smart and in such great kid. Sailor is in preschool and is doing the reading program and I am so surprised at how well she is reading. It is just clicking with her. She loves her teacher Mrs. Mulliner. Mrs. Mulliner is my very favorite of any teachers my kids have had in any kind of school. She really is the best and is so motivating to my kids. I hope she is still working when Cashy is in preschool.

Random Summer Pictures

Since I have been the worst blogger and so much time has passed I thought for my own records I would post some summer shots. They are not in any order which I hate that blogger does that but ohh well it's faster then doing each picture individually. So here are some randoms of us in St George at the Facers house for 4th of July. We swam our hearts out and went and saw Annie at Tuacahn. Jalynn feed us the most amazing food all weekend. Thanks to Mykelle and Riley for having us come with them and A BIG THANKS to the Facers for letting us stay in their beautiful house. What a great family. We just love them! There are also pictures of when my in-laws came home from their mission at the airport. It was so great to see them for a little bit before they had to head back. We miss them so much and my kids are dying to have their sleepover with grandma and have her do manicures, pedicures and read stories. She promised them that when she left again and I am still hearing about it. Their is a picture of Cash dressed as a girl that I found on my camera. I guess when the babysitter was here they thought that would be funny. Such a cute Boy/Girl! Also some pictures of BYU summer camp. The girls had so much fun learning there. Paige studied all summer about butterflies, and Sailor about recycling. They also did a music camp and learned all about composers and instruments. We had such a great summer and I am missing the warm weather and the tan so much!

Cash's 1st Birthday!

So a whole year has gone by and I cannot believe it. It seems like just yesterday Cash was born. It was so fun to plan a little birthday party with 7 other babies. It was fun to have all the babies the same age so they were all at the same level. We did a farm themed party at the park. I had my friend Amy bring her little dog Phoebe to play with. Then we played in the pool with the balls. My favorite part was when they all painted with pudding on place mats. Cash was a superstar. He really got into it. It was funny to see the different personalities of the babies. Some were more reserved and didn't get into it as much, but for the most part every baby went to town with their pudding. Since they were all dirty we let them dig into his cake. Again Cash was the star of the show. It's so funny because my girls were both more careful about getting dirty on there first birthdays. Not Cashy! I was a proud mama! Thanks to everyone for coming and spending the day with us.

Just to remember as his mom: Cash is just starting to stand up by himself with out holding onto anything. He says mama (which means nu-ma for food), ball, dada, wo-wo (when he sees a dog), ba-bye, uh-oh, he shakes his head no, claps, plays peek-a-boo. I'm trying to get him to drink cows milk, so I'm doing half formula, half milk. His birthday was the last time I nursed him. I'm so sad about it. He is a great sleeper now. He gets so excited to go to bed and snuggle his blue barefoot dreams blanket. There is a square in the middle of the blanket that I think is made out of silk and he loves to bite on it. He seriously is the fastest crawler in the world. He has figured out how to turn around and then stand up in his highchair. So now I have to really strap him in. He loves to pull the drawers open and pull everything out as fast as he can. He will watch me to see if I see him, and then if I start to go to stop him he will just pull faster before I get to him. I can see a little bit of the boy destructive personality everyone has been telling me about. I love that he is SO boy. He is just so chunky! He weighs 23 pounds. I love having a boy, it is so much fun to buy boy stuff. I can't wait to see what he is like in a year from now. I'm just so in love!

Sailor turns FOUR!

What a birthday we had!  My little monkey is four now, and we had quite the celebration for her.  I told her that she could pick any birthday she wanted (theme) and originally it was Hello Kitty. For months she talked about it.  Then the week before we got one of those "Birthday Celebration" magazines and she saw a Hawaiian themed party in there and she was sold. I wasn't quite sure how I was going to do it, but it seemed to all come together.  We rented a big jump house and had little swimming pools. Everything was set up and looked so great.  The party started at 4:00 and by 4:40 the rain started to fall.  Seriously, of all days?  The whole week was beautiful weather and of course so was Saturday.  But Friday, her birthday, it's the one day that it rains. So my luck! So we all huddled in under the tent and were able to eat and sing Happy Birthday.  It was kinda cozy and fun.  The kids ate under the picnic tables and the adults stayed under the tent (thank-you Claudia).  It seemed to be clearing a little so I went in to make the pina coladas, and of course my mom comes in ten minutes later and says that it is raining hard and the wind is blowing.  So they started taking all the decorations down and moved the party in the garage to open presents. Oh well, it will be a party to remember.  I think the kids had a blast.  Luckily they didn't care about the rain.  P.S. I have a great source for cakes.  Sailors cake was so cute, yummy and cheap ($28)!

All I want for Christmas is.....

All I want for Christmas is.....my two front teeth.  It finally happened.  They are both gone.  I was getting so worried that the one tooth would come in before she lost the other tooth.  I am loving the way she is talking with her lisp.  I keep trying to get her to say funny things with lost of S's.  It is so cute, but sometimes it makes me sad to see her continue to get so big.  I swear the clock never slows down.  

Happy 34th Birthday Booza Man!

Bryce turned the big 34.  He is getting so old. We had such a quiet birthday this year.  We saw Angels and Demons and went to dinner with some of his family.  The best part of his birthday I would say was the presents the girls picked out for him.  I took the girls to Honks (a dollar store) and gave them each three dollars.  Paige picked out a skull key chain, some cologne (awesome!), and a padded navy blue diploma holder.  She thought he could put a picture in where the diploma should go.  I have to say her gifts were much more thought out then Sailors.  So Say-Say ran around wanting everything, but finally decided on, here goes....black scissors, yellow plates, and green napkins.  I so wish I could have been in her mind as she thought these were the best picks of all.  She is such funny kid.  The best part is when she saw the items she said "This is what daddy would LOVE".  So probably not the best birthday, but still super fun!

Cage and Crew stay a few days...

So my little 5-year-old twin brothers came to stay for a few days.  I think I totally exhausted them.  We went everywhere.  I packed in Thanksgiving Point (twice), Jumping Jacks, a carnival, and Temple Square all in three days.  We had so much fun.  But the best part is the looks everyone gives me when I am hauling 5 kids ages 6 and under.  The people think I am crazy!  I just smile and keep on walking.  My girls were in heaven having them here for so long.  It was the first time they had ever stayed at my house.  It was a little hard trying to please all 5 of them.  I think Crew was mad at Bryce and I because we tried to get him to eat the dinner we had prepared and he thought it was gross.  I just told my mom that I wasn't making 5 different meals to please them all.  I guess Crew will learn that real soon when he has to eat school lunch. I have total sympathy for my sis-in-law Kristin and all her young kids.  It can be exhausting, but so much fun.  I love my little brothers.  They both have such different personalities, but are both so sweet.  They have such huge hearts and are going to be great men, I'm sure of it.