Lily turns 1!

Lily is a really funny girl. She loves to tease John and pull his hair when he is incapacitated- usually while I am changing his diaper. Lily also likes to pretend to reach for her dad then laugh and lean away when he goes to grab her. Peek a bo is one of her favorite games. She also loves to saunter around the house. By far my earliest walker, she started walking at almost 11 months. And while she walks around she likes to chant "go go go!" She also cheers herself on while climbing the stairs. If a tune comes on that Lily likes she begins to shake her groove thing by holding her hands up in the air and doing her own version of the twist while sitting on her bottom. I discovered the other day that she loves the sound of music. I was singing and she began joyously rolling all over the floor and laughing to the music. Lily loves her big sister and brother and is often carried around by them if I am not watching closely enough. Lily is almost always happy and a joy to have in our house.







And finally here is Lily looking a little sinster bwahhaha

Grace turns 4!!

I can't believe Grace is 4! She certainly keeps us on our toes. Wherever she is there is a constant flow of dialogue. I think she may have Anne Shirley syndrome! There is always some sort of pretend going on. Princesses, pirates, or ballet girls are a few of her favorites. Grace is also not afraid of attention. Her favorite thing at church was being able to say a scripture into the microphone one Sunday. She and John are the best of friends and I often hear her telling him what kind of game they are going to play next. She has also nicknamed her siblings John is "John-o" Lily is "Lils." Most of her funnier comments I have written on facebook but last night she had a little fever and while falling asleep was saying the funniest things. One was, "mom you have to lock the doors even if the robots are here." She likes to refer to me as "Mudder," which I love. Grace is definitely an alto and her voice is rather booming. She is a sweet little thing and has a great enthusiasm for life. Wherever she goes she will have a fun time.

and the camera cord is found!

John is trying out to play the villain in the next Star Wars movie.

Adios Texas

We are moving to Colorado! One of Neil's clients at Blue Cross offered him a job, out of the blue, running their company's benefits department. It is a great opportuntity and we are so excited. I have some great Colorado pictures from when we visited but in the choas with moving I have been unable to locate the camera cord. Our entire married life together has been in Texas, all of our babies have been born here so it is a little bittersweet. But I am excited for a new adventure in a beautiful place. So here we go!

Project Gift

This year one of my goals is to make handmade gifts to give out for birthdays, holidays, showers, and anniversaries. So here are some coasters I made to give to the ladies I work with in Young Women's for their birthdays. I saw some on pinterest and thought, "I can do that!"

I love how they turned out and they are pretty stinkin' easy! I bought some 4x4 tiles from home depot, picked out some cute paper and cut it out to size and modge podged these babies together. Just make sure you smooth down the paper really well to avoid air bubbles before you apply the top coat. I then attached felt to the backs and wrapped with a bow. Waah Laa and you are done.

Christmas 2011

Strike a Pose. Forgive the blurry images, I asked Grace to stand still and she informed me, "I just can't stop dancing Mother!"


L
Lucky little John received 15 different cars this morning

And Lily was by far the most aggressive gift opener.

about a boy

Little John turned two today. I cannot believe how fast time is flying by! So here are somethings I will want to remember about two year old John when I am old and gray.
-John is so sweet to "baby illy" I am always finding her clutching toys he has given to her. recently John has started playing a game with her where he crawls on the ground so she can crawl after him and then they laugh and laugh. We only run into trouble when he tries to feed her. Oh yeah and he recently realized he can pick her up. I have to watch that kid like a hawk!
-John loves nursery. he never crys he just runs right in
-When he gets really excited he just starts jumping up and down
-Usually when John kisses you it is a kiss about three inches from your face and he makes a little popping sound. every once in a while he will plant a big wet one on my face.
-John is always trying to get outside or in his words "side pleeease"
-John loves cars and balls. He is actually pretty good at throwing and kicking. He is a boy through and through
-John loves swimming
-John hates the grocery store and I usually have to bribe him with fries
-John gets into everything. This morning he got a new gallon of milk out of the fridge and dumped it all over the living room carpet. Then he went back and got some butter milk to dump all over my chair. naughty and freakishly strong
-john always tries to steal the book from me during story time. control issues? he loves playing a game where I say a word and he finds it in a picture on the page
-John can count to ten
-John can be really cute and fold his arms and bow his head during prayers but it takes a bit of convincing
-The first thing John does when he gets up is say "Grace?" and go looking for his big sister and partner in crime
-John and Grace like to steal food from the fridge and have "picnics" I found them sitting on a blanket in the process of eating a giant box of blueberries one day. they also stole and ate three heads of romaine lettuce in one afternoon. crazy little vegans.
-Grace calls him John-o. On a side not she also nicknamed Lily lils, which I love.
-John just recently started calling me mudder (like Grace) instead of mom
I really love that cute little man! If he weren't already asleep I would go attack his little face with kisses
And to end here is a picture of my little mohawk baby when he was just 6 days old