Bigger

Today Julia gave me a hug, then with her arms still around me she looked up and informed me that I am bigger than Daddy.  Trent hurried over, not to dismiss her claim, but to let her know that saying such things isn't very nice.  

***

I guess I shouldn't have eaten all of those cookies yesterday.

(or the chocolate frosty after dinner)

***

She is right though.  Darin has been working very hard, and is looks amazing.  He has been waking in the 5 am hour and going to the gym every morning.  Just one more reason I love that man.

Today

I can't remember the last time I had the luxury of taking a long shower AND having an afternoon nap all in the same day.  Lauren went to playgroup this morning, which meant I had 2 hours to do whatever I wanted.  After much thought I decided to forgo shopping or cleaning or using the time to exercise, instead I chose to shower...  for as long as I wanted, with out a single other person in the house.  That meant no one was knocking at the door, or opening the door, calling my name or sticking their little fingers between the shower doors and trying to open them.  It meant I got to stay in there and turn up the heat and not worry about who needed what and where I should be rushing off to.  It was just what I was hoping for.

Then I sat on the sofa and indulged in some daytime TV with a bag of Mothers Frosted Circus Animal Cookies. I am laughing now just reminiscing about it. 

The nap came later after story time with the kids.  Julia offered her pillow pet and I was out.  I awoke to the sound of Darin and the boys playing catch in the yard and my blond-haired beauty tapping my arm.  Jules and I whipped up a batch of our favorite chocolate chip cookies and as we sat down to dinner she offered with a grin: "today feels like a special day". 

If the day couldn't get any better, our family photos arrived in the mail.  Beautiful images of our children and our family poured out onto my computer screen and I thought to myself, "this is what life is about."  One day they will be grown, they will leave home to go to college and serve missions and create homes and families of their own.  And I will pull out these photographs and remember that these were the happiest day's of my life. 

Going the Distance

Someone has been running... A LOT!

61 miles already this school year!

Trent plans to reach his goal of 100 miles 

by Winter Break!

 He never ceases to amaze me.

Day Trip

 

Halloween 2010- Carving our Memories

 Trent, Trey and Julia all really looked forward to carving their own pumpkins this year.  They each put a lot of thought into choosing their pumpkins and deciding what they wanted to carve.  With a little help from Mom and Dad, they turned out super spooky, and best of all, we had a really fun time carving them together!
 (except when we realized Oreo- our bunny- was missing in the middle of the project- and spent a good while searching for him.  Thankfully our next door neighbor returned him after not too long.  He had made it INTO her house through her cat door and was nibbling on crunchies!)

Trent and his BAT

(He carved this completely on his own)

The BOO! crew

I loved this one!

Julia wanted a classic jack o lantern

The ward party was great this year. Our friends the Mitchell's joined us and Julia won a costume award for the "cutest face" :)

Tonight we went joined our cousins at another Trunk or Treat and enjoyed seeing all the little ones in their costumes and making memories together.  Grandpa Mark came up from San Diego, Jonathan, Briana and their boys and Joy, Chris and Aubrey joined us tonight too.

Princess Jasmine and the Princes of Narnia

Minnie Mouse and Darin

Capri as Alice and Julia just getting started

What a SPOOKTACULAR weekend!

Today

Lauren went to California Adventure with Grandma, Kristi and Hudson!

It has been a long time since we had our annual passes.

Those were the days! 

The children were young and we didn't have homework or after school activities like we do now and we would just head down to Disneyland as often as we wanted.

Here are a few family photos from our visits there, Lauren was so young! 

 (Spring of 08', Lauren was only 2 months old)

 (October 08', 6 months old)

Today's highlights included the Playhouse Disney Show, where she got to see all of her favorite characters from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and somewhere in the park, (maybe in a parade?) she also saw Mickey Mouse dancing.  This is her favorite memory and she has shared it with us again and again. 

What a special day for our little girl!

Lauren and Hudson wearing their 3D glasses, ready to ride Toy Story!

"Riding the fishie"

I think this may have been a little bit confusing for her, she had been looking forward to riding a horsie (the Carousel in Disneyland). 

With Auntie Kristi.  I can't believe how big Lauren looks in this picture.

Thank you Grandma and Kristi for treating our sweet Lauren to a very special day at 

"The Happiest Place on Earth"!

Sitting Pretty

 Today Miss Julia is 6 years old.

***

The years are passing so quickly now, and it seems like just yesterday I was bringing her home from the hospital.  My little princess has grown into a strong and independent girl.  She is full of spunk and personality, extremely confident, and truly thriving.

Over the weekend we had her friends over for a Spa Party.  This is so totally Julia right now.  She is into all things girly and fancy.  Julia enjoys doing her own hair, blow drying it, using products and all.  Her favorite books right now are the Fancy Nancy series, and her purse is full of lip glosses and mini compact mirrors.

  The girls were so cute and giggly at the party.  I guess it is fun to act like a teenager when you are only six.   

The girls visited the nail, hair and makeup stations, before playing games and having cupcakes.

More than one Mother called me later after the party saying their daughters said it was the best party ever!  Getting all fancy was so fun for these girls!

Here Jules and Kate soak their toes before having a pedicure.

Kate gets her nails painted by Joanna, who by the way is "The BEST" when it comes to nail-painting.  Julia is always begging me to give her fancy mani's and pedi's the way Joanna does.

 

Joy playing "hairstylist" and Miss Julia looking beautiful!

Julia getting her makeup done by me.

Gorgeous girls

Toasting with sparkling apple juice, so fancy!

Julia and I made her cupcakes together.  Her request:  Chocolate cake with pink sprinkles.  

I thought they turned out really pretty.

 

Making a wish!

 

Jules and I after the party

Happy Birthday sweetheart.  You fill our home with sunshine!  Every day with you is a dream come true.

We love you!