Horsey

I am making sure to really relish these baby things with my last little one - Miss E. One of my favorites is how much she loves to ride Grandma's Horsey. I also love that it reminds me so much of my other girls when they were babies loving the same thing. Here's my little picture trip down memory lane.

Eliza

Sara

Laura

Professional Pics

Following a string of problems (sick kids and then a downed computer system at JCPenney) we finally got professional pictures of the girls taken. Eliza was sleepy, but they still turned out pretty good.

Sara was not particularly cooperative during the pictures of all the girls, but they turned out well enough. I was so frustrated about trying to get there, that I ordered a background kit online and will try to get family pictures and better ones of the girls when it finally arrives. BTW, anyone local is welcome to come over and use it (free of course) anytime.

But, Sara did much better on her individual photos. I think these capture her nicely. She of course was in love with her dress, which she helped pick out at one of my new favorite stores - Crazy 8.
And, Laura of course, was perfect. I love capturing how much older she looks with her new haircut - bangs - and the lost teeth!

Now we will just have to rearrange the frames in the basement! It will be great to have Eliza included in all the pictures down there now!

Ahhh...the Mommy Job!

My job description (nose and bummy wiper, house cleaner, cook, laundress, etc) may not sound so awesome, my job is the best in the world! And, I need to remind myself this when those previously mentioned jobs fall to the wayside as I pass a kidney stone and instead of catching up on those, I take time to kiss, play, and read with the kids!

My job rules because I get to dress my girls in adorable things like baby legs, and watch as they excel in milestones - like Eliza sitting up so well on her own and loving toys. Though, note the girl will no longer tolerate headbands for an extended period of time.

And other times I have no influence over what the girls will wear, but at least I have influenced their vocabulary. I adore that 2 yr old Sara in a fake conversation with Eliza while wearing the outfit pictured below responded as Eliza to her question of "How do I look" with "You look 'istinguished and stylish."
I get to listen to Laura read to me each day. But, I love to eavesdrop when she is reading to her sisters even more!

Another part of my job is FHE organizer. We are doing so much better about holding it every week and the girls look forward to it all the time. Laura's mastery of the Articles of Faith is growing each week and the treats, hugs, smiles and family time are delicious.

Some of my feeding duties are reducing. The big girls think feeding Eliza a bottle is the biggest treat. Though Laura has done it for ages, we are just now letting Sara in on the action (Eliza is more sturdy) and Sara is proud. And, she just can't stop kissing Eliza all through the feeding process.

Another one of my jobs is mediator. But, more and more lately, I have just watched as the two big girls play together beautifully and require much less mediation. Here they are all dressed up playing "Go Go Jazz"

But, my favorite part of my job is "smile-maker" With these gorgeous ones to look at, how could it not be the best?!

Trees Away!

My Allergies and IC at this time last year were terrible. I think the main reason is because the common area next to our backyard looked like this. Yes, those are Russian Olives!

Then after some serious help from the Elder's Quorum in our ward wielding chainsaws, and piles of work by Jason, and a unanimous vote by the members of the HOA at the annual meeting, our backyard looked like this at the end of the summer.

This Spring after bazillions of meetings with the HOA board, us needing to get measurements to make our plan for HOA approval and not able to do so with all the trees in the way, and the leases being a week away from being signed, we got in some professional help for the trees. The girls loved the help. Our landscaper "Roots Landscaping" and Carey Christensen who owns it, not only does a beautiful job, but is so great to our family and particularly the girls. They had the best time on his digger and watching him move all the big trees.

Of course, as soon as we started working, a few neighbors (none nearby) who hadn't felt involved enough in the leasing process (they didn't choose to attend the annual meeting and vote) threw a fit. So, now we have no idea what the next steps will be, if or when work will continue, and if it will be done by us or the HOA. However, we are loving what has been done. My allergies are SOOOOO much better this spring and the view all around our house is beautiful. Our windows are open all the time and we spend piles of time on the deck, just soaking in the views.

Nighttime view out the back

Twilight view out the back

Another angle of the back view

Side view of the mountains (and the cutest kids ever)

Newly improved side view
I just had to include the view out the front - even though it hasn't changed.