Suzie Snowflake

We have a new friend. Her name is Suzie Snowflake. She is from the North Pole. She is on a special assignment from the one and only San-ty Claus. Yep, we are that cool.

Suzie likes to sneak off and hide every night. So Operation: Find Suzie Snowflake is in full assault in the morning while the girls try and find where she's hiding. Can we say - F.U.N.?!?!

The girls have been enjoying this so much, I can't believe I didn't hit up the big guy in the red suit sooner and get an elf sent this way sooner.

Suzie came with this little letter. Complete with RULES. (Which I have to say, the girls have been following extremely well.)


Suzie Snowflake made her first appearance at the hotel when we were in Disneyland. Complete with Christmas candy necklaces for all the girls.


Day #2 - She got hungry and had a midnight snack.


Another day she decided to peruse the toy catalog. Maybe that means we need to get her a gift?


Hiding the poinsettias. Isn't she just a doll?


More Suzie Snowflake pictures to come. Really, if you don't have an Elf, get one. Now. Really. Your kids will thank you. Promise.

When I get big...

Conversations with my 3 year old are great. This morning while I was tending to the itty bitty the bigger itty bitty came into the room and our conversation went a little like this.

A: When I get big - Im-a gonna have a baby.
Me: I know, then you'll be a Mommy like me. And then I'll be a Grandma.
A: NOOO - you're not my Grandma. You're my mommy.
Me: I know, but when YOU have a baby then I'll be your baby's grandma.
A: Hahaha! Yep, Ima gonna have a girl baby. I love girl babies.
Me: Really? What if you have a boy baby? Won't you love him?
A: Nope, just a girl baby. I don't like boy babies.
Me: Aw, but boy babies are sweet too. You'd love a boy baby.
A: Nope, I-ma gonna have a girl baby. I only love girl babies like Hay-leeeee.

Well there you have it. Girl babies only - I guess that's what happens when you're part of a big ol' family of GIRLS.

Thankful

Thanksgiving has come and gone and the time of Holiday Cheer is upon us. Before I let Christmas totally take over our life I figure that writing down what we're thankful for is a good idea.

I'm thankful for my husband. He works hard and does all that he can to make sure that we are all happy and taken care of and that allows me to do my most important job and that is being a Mom.

I'm thankful for McKenzie. She is 11 and full of...well...independence. But she is a wonderful daughter, sister and friend. Even with her "tween-ness", she is truly a joy to be around.

I'm thankful for Delanie. Her cautiousness and quiet demeanor is an interesting change from the social butterfly that McKenzie has always been. Delanie has taught me to parent a different personality and to read minds, because she doesn't like to talk much.

I'm thankful for Aubrie. Her bouncy, wild curls fit her personality perfectly. She is our firecracker - can go off at any minute, but so beautiful to watch.

I'm thankful for my itty bitty, Haylie. The road to having Haylie was a long one. One that took a toll on many things, but we all came out stronger at the end. I am thankful she arrived safely and is healthy and thriving.

I'm thankful for my friends. The ones that are close, I am thankful for their company and their helpfullness when I need it. The ones that are far away, I am thankful you are only a phone call away. I have laughed and cried with each of you and my life wouldn't be as wonderful as it is without you in.

I'm thankful for family - without them life would be pretty boring.

I'm thankful we're not perfect. Without our imperfections our life would not be as wonderful as it is. We fight, we laugh, we yell - but most of all we LOVE. Our family is filled with chaos, but I think life would be pretty boring without it.

Oh wow - it's Thanksgiving already?!?!

When did that happen? How did it become that Thanksgiving is this week, Christmas is not far behind and 2011 is knocking at the door? Really?!?! Well, to add insult to injury - so to speak - it's time for Holiday Pictures again. This is really about the only time I can get everyone coordinated and in a picture together, so I've got to do it. A photographer can't NOT have pictures of her own family, can she?

Sunday was the day. Wet, cold, muddy, windy. Certainly not ideal picture conditions. But we managed and we did it. We conquered the annual Holiday Photo Shoot. I took it, kicked it around and then hit it out of the park.

So, here's a peek. Aren't we pretty? ;)

Happy Halloween!

The kids got to pick TWO Halloween costumes this year. For our trip to Disneyland they (along with their 2 cousins) were Crayola Crayons. So awesome. For REAL Halloween they were fairies and a witch. And they loved them. And they looked awesome.

Rosetta (Tink's buddy)

Our little Tinkerbell

The Rockin' Witch

Unfortunately I don't have a picture of Haylie. Bummer.

Rainbow Sweetness

No words necessary.

Wordless Wednesday

Halloween Shirts, Cookie Dough & Ducks...Oh My!

I am a sucker for Holidays. And because I am a sucker for Holidays, that means I am a sucker for Holiday shirts. It doesn't matter if I make them or buy them, I love my girls to wear them. Halloween is no exception. This year Target had the b.e.s.t. Halloween shirts AND tutus. I could not resist their cuteness. And because these two littles are still little enough, they don't mind matching. ;)

In addition to Halloween Outfit Cuteness, we have ducks. Little fireman ducks, ballerina ducks, teacher ducks and more. The big littles school is having a Cookie Dough Fundraiser and for selling the dough and making the dough - you can get ducks. Little ducks that are worn around your neck and get "fed" at lunch. Oh the ducks. The ducks that you must arrive early at school to get. Getting 3 kids on the the road by 7:25? Oh duck. But they did it and we have ducks.

Even the 3 year old who doesn't attend the same school as the cookie dough fundraiser school has a duck. Oh my, the ducks! Which more importantly means, oh my the cookie dough! We are going to have so much cookie dough we won't be able to close the freezer. Who wants cookies for Christmas?

The amount of cookie dough we are going to have is not funny. No, really Aubrie. It's not funny.

Well, I guess it is funny. :)

One Eyed Pirate

Who knew pirates were so darn cute?

There's something about a sleeping baby

Really, there is. There's something about a sleeping baby that is so...sweet, lovely, adorable, contagious and just simply brings a smile to your face

I have a newborn. She sleeps. A lot. So there is a lot of sweetness, loveliness, adorableness, contagiousness and lots of smiles. Look at her. How can you not just melt and smile at that perfect little sight?

As our kids grow older we seem to forget how little they were. I know I did. My three year old was so young and little until Haylie arrived. Then all of a sudden she gained 30 pounds overnight and was a KID. And the older two, well they are GIANTS compared to the little munchkin who likes to sleep on my couch. They certainly don't stay little forever.

I can't stop the clock from ticking. I can't keep my little tiny newborn tiny forever. Trust me, I've tried to come up with ideas to keep her tiny and sweet and little forever. It's not going to happen. She's going to grow, giggle, walk, talk, terrorize, run, make a mess and all of those wonderful things a kid does. So for now, I'll watch her sleep. I'll soak up all of the sweetness, loveliness, adorableness, contagiousness and smiles that I can. Then I'll tuck it all away in my heart, just like I have done with my other girls and when she's older and it's hard to remember that she was ever this small, I'll take it out and remember when she was just a little bundle of sleeping baby.

Sandwich Bags NO MORE!

With 3 kids taking lunches and snacks everyday the amount of Ziploc bags we were using was INSANE. Before school started I wanted to go "bento", but just didn't pick up the containers to do it. Now the company that I need to buy some good, high quality containers from is out of stock for a few weeks. So I am having to make do with Ziploc disposable ones, which aren't as durable, but they work for now.

Here are our "snacks for the road bento".

Four Sisters

Can they be any cuter?

A New Addition

Labor Day took on a whole new meaning in our house this year. Not only did the girls get an extra day off from school, but they also got a new baby sister. That's right folks, we welcomed our fourth daughter in the family on Monday - which was Labor Day. Yep, I was in labor on Labor Day - ha ha ha. But hey, I was hoping all along that I had the baby on Labor Day Weekend, although a little earlier in the weekend would have been better. All that matters is that she is here, she is healthy and everyone is adjusting to the new little person in the house.

Here are some photos of our first moments with our Newest Girl - Haylie Mae. Born 9/6/10 @ 8:12am. Weighing a whopping 8lbs 8oz and measuring 19.25" long.

The proud parents.

FOUR SISTERS!

First Day of School - Aubrie Style

Who's ready for school?!?!?
Monday was the first day of the new school year for Aubrie. It's a big year for her - we've added another day to her school schedule, she's moved into a new class, she had to give up her cubby in the pre-k room because her sister's not there anymore. She's loving going to Miss Maggie's class and had a great first week!

From 5 to 6

Who would think that going from a family of 5 to a family of 6 would FREAK people out so much? Seriously, the looks I get. Oh and having 4 girls, really people... GET OVER IT. Maybe I'm delusional, but I'm not scared at all, really. I am actually very excited.

Here's why...

• We get to see what she looks like.
• I get to introduce 3 big sisters to the little sister they've been waiting 9 whole months for. Very patiently too, I might add.
• I will be able to breathe again.
• See my feet - that would be nice. OK, I can still see my feet, but you get the idea.
• I get to cuddle a sweet smelling newborn. Duh, who doesn't want to do that.
• All of those cute clothes in the drawers - yep, I want a baby to wear them.
• Cloth diapers - yes, I want to have another diapered bottom in the house.
• Baby wearing, awwwww.
• Regular clothes, for ME! YES!!!
• I get to see Matt cuddle a new little baby again.
• I get to see my girls cuddle a new little baby - and then learn that she's not quite so much fun after all.
• After the girls learn that the new baby isn't that much fun, I'll get to watch them wait until she is fun and then laugh as they begin to terrorize her.
• Watching my girls together - seriously, there's nothing like watching a group of sisters love, fight, giggle, terrorize and just be there for each other.

See - why wouldn't people want to have 4 (or 5 - Matt????) kids?

So Gus-Gus, everyone is waiting. And their patience is running thin. They want to see you. They want to know what your REAL name is. (Now wouldn't it be funny if we really named her Gus-Gus? LOL! Don't worry, it's not.) Today is September 3rd and it's the birthday of a REALLY great guy. Today would be a great day to be born. Really, I promise. (Oh and giving me that extra non-school day on Monday - you'd totally be my favorite newborn.)

Back to School

Again.

Summer always seems to go by in a flash. But during that last week of summer, as hard as I try, I can't wish the first day of school to arrive any faster. But alas, it finally arrived, nice and early, on an overcast Tuesday morning.

Amazingly everyone (including Daddy) got up and ready and out the door on time, which was a pleasant surprise. It's amazing to think that we have a 6th grader and a Kindergartner, time sure flies when you're having fun.

Our three little beauties heading off to school. (Well, the littlest beauty was going to Papa's house, but she was up and had a backpack, so she got to be in the picture too.)

The Big 6th Grader on Campus.
Once we got to the school our conversation went something like this.
Me: So Kenz, do you want us to walk by your classroom with you?
Her: (with the "look" of pure annoyance) Um, no Mom.
Me: Are you sure?
Her: Uh, I'm in 6th grade, I think I can find it.
Me: Well, OK - have a great first day!
Her: Uh, thanks. Can I go now? (As she's already speed walking away from us.)
Oh the joys!

Our Crazy Little Kindergartner - who also happens to be on the shy side.
We made it to school and drop off without so much as a tear. She had admitted to being "a little nervous", but overall she did great!

Major cuteness quote of the day:

Mommy, can you print a picture of you, Daddy & me so if I miss you I can look at it and be happy? - Delanie M.

Water, water, water play!

The Daddy-o in this house decided that building the kids a splash pad or as my friends say "a water park" in the backyard was a really good idea. It's come a long way and was certainly a bigger project than he envisioned and I'm not sure if he thinks it was such a good idea anymore. LOL! But I think they like it. Really, really like it. :)

What do you think?

Wordless Wednesday

I don't think words are even necessary.

M's First Swim Meet

McKenzie started swim team a few months ago and has been LOVING it. She goes down to the pool most days and is really dedicated. The only thing we haven't been too dedicated to is swim meets. We've missed all of them so far and will miss Champs this weekend. BUT we did make it to the one on Saturday and it was a blast!

A little 4th of July

Nothing like a little Silly String Fight to start off the fun.

Getting a little help from Daddy.

A little sparkler action.