With Much Difficulty

I don't even know if anyone ever checks this any more because I am horrible with the updates. Things have been changing so quickly around here and I have so much to post, but alas, there never seems to be any time. The free time I do have involves me either taking a deep breath or sleeping. I can't seem to stay up past 9:00 (quite honestly, it's usually about 8:00). The girls are growing and getting bigger and the baby is so big and sooooo good. She is an angel. I feel so blessed to have our girls, even if they are completely overwhelming most of the time. They are so wonderful.

Well, I will try to get so updates and pictures up of the baby and the girls. Things are crazy, but good (minus things stolen out of our car... another story on another day). I hope all of you in the blogging world are good and know that I am thinking about you, even if I haven't checked blogs too often and made too many comments. Peace out and may the force be with you.

Happy Birthday, Miss Happy!

I can't believe you are already six years old! How time has flown, my not so little one. You bring a smile to our faces and joy to our hearts. You lighten up our days and have brought us love we have never known. From being the best big sister, to being a wonderful friend, to being a sensitive, loving, and caring sweetheart, it has been another wonderful year with you. We want you to remember that you will always be our little girl and will always, always be loved! Happy Birthday, Boo! We love you!!!!

Our Newest Addition

Here are a few pictures of our new baby girl. I asked David what we should call her on the blog and he said BB (as in baby). Anyway, so here are some pictures of BB. If you want to know her real name, you could email me. It's actually a cute name :) She weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz. She is a beautiful little girl, even if I don't recognize her yet (she doesn't look like the other girls to me and it is slightly bothering me. I have been reassured that she wasn't switched). She has jaundice right now, as did each of our little ones. But other than that, she seems to be doing quite well. I will talk more about her and add more pictures once I am off of the pain meds. They make me quite loopy. Here is our BB!




t

It's Not Permanent... Just Temporary

I will be out of the blogging world for a little while as I am headed to the hospital in a few hours (I couldn't sleep. Most annoying) to have a baby. Hope all of you are wonderful and that you take care!

First Day of School and More...

I wrote most of this the other day so it is kind of old already. It's been a tough week with the crying and such. You will read why...

Here are a few pictures from the summer.

Aww... so much love (or too much if you are iLyn).

Playing at Grandma's house.

I love this picture.

Outside of the temple at Julia's wedding. I can't believe it has almost been eight years since we were married. Time is flying by so fast!!

Fourth of July. It was kind of warm.

Sisters.

It's been a while since I posted anything worth while. We have just been trying to survive the heat. This weekend, however, we had a lovely treat when Nona, Grandpa, and Auntie Caiti came to visit. It was a short visit (a day and a half), but a wonderful one. We had a great time chatting, eating, driving, playing games, and getting caught up. The girls were so excited to spend time with them, but are sad they had to go so soon. Caiti is going to the Missionary Training Center on Wednesday to start her Italian mission. Lucky! Hopefully they can come back soon. Until then, we will miss you all :) Have the best time, Caiti!

Here are a few updates on the girls:

Miss Happy: She starts school tomorrow. Oh-My-Word! I can't believe it is almost here. She only goes for two hours tomorrow. They have just the kindergartners come in for a few hours to get acclimatized to the school. Wednesday will be all day long. I don't know how I am going to handle this change. She has been with me almost every single day for six years. She is my sweetheart, my little loving angel, my helper, my best friend, and my baby. How can I let her go so soon?? This is pure torture. Sure, she might get a little sad and homesick during the day (wishful thinking on my part... she probably won't even remember who I am in an hour), but I know she will have a wonderful time (until it's homework time). I love you precious girl and I miss you already. You have brought so much joy into our lives and I am so excited for this new adventure you are about to embark on. I will miss your singing during the day, but look forward to hearing about all that you learned and accomplished while we were apart. I can't wait for you to be able to read this someday and know the feelings in my heart at this time and always. We love you and are so proud of you!

**UPDATE TO THE UPDATE** Today is her third day of school (second full day) and it isn't any easier taking her there and dropping her off. She seems to really like it (minus the homework... who knew writing your name five times could be so painful). I can't believe she is gone all day long. It's really weird and sad. Little Miss asks if we can go pick her up every hour. I don't know what it is like to only have two kids. She looks so cute in her uniform. I have cried this entire week and will probably continue to do so. I just miss my Miss Happy so much!!!

All dressed and ready to go! The first full day of school she came in at 6:30 to wake me up. She was very, very ready. P.S. She got her hair cut. I will put up the pictures later.

We had donuts and juice while we sat together waiting for her to go.

Waving goodbye... so happy and me so sad.

Bye, bye sweet girl!

My dear friend decided I needed my picture taken while I cried.

After school with her best friend.

Little Miss: This girl has been all over the place lately. Her personality continues to blossom each day. I have to admit, three is a terrible age, but it really can bring out the best in her. She is starting to behave a little better. She has taken over the roll of big sister and is doing quite well. She still doesn't want to help, but I guess we can't expect that to change overnight. She sings random songs, but knows the words (she keeps singing songs from the Twilight soundtrack). She has been so much more involved in scripture study and prayer (as in she will volunteer to say the prayer almost every time). We were reading in The Book of Mormon about Lehi's vision and she told me that she would have yelled, "Hey family, come get some of this good fruit!" She is constantly asking me questions about the scriptures and does stuff like blesses ketchup and mustard. Hilarious. And somewhere along the way, she heard the phrase, "Honey Buns," and has incorporated that into her vocabulary. We love her anyway ;) She is becoming more and more independent and can now buckle her own seat belt. She is still our little firecracker.

She will fall asleep anywhere.

First visit to the dentist.

Everything checked out great!

With her best friend.

iLyn: This girl has come quite a long way. She started walking in May and has been non-stop ever since. I think I have called poison control almost 10 times in the past six months. I should be a frequent caller (or they are going to arrest me). She likes to put things in her mouth and get into EVERYTHING. You turn your back for a minute and she is eating Vaseline (how she got it, however, is beyond me). She loves knives (she pulls them out of the dishwasher) and, recently, has started loving taking off her diaper (annoying!). She has such a funny personality. She makes us laugh and is such a sweetheart with her constant kisses (only to Mommy and Daddy. The girls are still overwhelming). Of course, she still loves the toilet and has now incorporated cleaning it with the toilet brush. We are trying sign language with her since she still isn't talking and she is only so interested before she wants to go play with dolls or the toilet. I took her to the doctor the other day and she has grown four inches in six months. That's pretty good. She is finally starting to catch up. Now if only she would talk and say a word more than once...

Playing in Grandma's yard.

I thought she wouldn't eat black licorice... I was wrong. She loved it and went crazy!

Waiting for her sisters and looking cute.

Big smiles!

Is Anyone Else Sick of This Guy?

Okay, I get it. Your wife is kind of (pretty darn) mean and she has demoralized you on cable TV. Got it. But pick yourself up, act your age, and go home to your kids already (which is what you BOTH should have done a long time ago). These people amaze me. I honestly could not imagine having eight kids, especially six at one time. Yikes! However, I find it quite ridiculous that these two people have continued this show "for the children." Your kids don't care! They want parents, not camera crews. They want a mom, not an autographed best selling book. They want a dad, not a guy that can't keep where he is or who he is dating straight. I got news for you pals, you have EIGHT KIDS! Sorry you forgot that along the way. Take some time off to gather yourselves and realized you are not actors, you are parents. Plus, you are taking up all of the other great celebrity gossip and it is getting old! ;)

Side note: Although I think Kate seems like kind of a beast, I think I would be too if I had that many kids. I would hope I would be as scheduled and organized as she seems to be... just maybe nicer, but possibly not. He also seems like a nice guy, just pretty clueless at times. He seems like he is going through a mid-life crisis right now... at 32. I hope he lives longer than 64. I am super tired tonight and have nothing better to do than act like I am the female Dr. Phil. Apologies! Oh, and of course, I am the world's most perfect parent and have every right to judge someone else ;)

I am so Very, Very Lazy

... but, at least my house is clean (for a minute). We have been melting (I have not turned the oven on since I have been home. It's been salads, sandwiches, and sereal (I know, I had to spell it wrong). It's the summer of the "s" meals so I can save my sanity. TOO HOT!). We have been waiting for the rain that is eventually supposed to come and turn the horrible heat into slightly cooler, horrible humidity. I tell you what, the other nine months of the year this place is wonderful :)

Other than that, we have been getting ready for school. Miss Happy is starting kindergarten in a few weeks. I think I am flipping out a bit, but trying not to think about it too much. A child in school! I don't know how people do it. I thought Little Lady and I would be the only ones crying, but apparently, now that she realizes that she is going to have to work, Miss H is starting to get sad as well. She will get over it as soon as she realizes she doesn't have to be my helper all day long. Poor Little Lady's life is going to turn upside down! Somehow, I think we will survive.

There is a lot more to update, but like I said, I am lazy and hot. Maybe when we get a fan in this room, I will stay in here longer. Until then, you get updated with a little information and this picture that practically had me crying (or did, I can't remember). I am a nerd, but it was really funny to me :) Enjoy!

All Backed Up

Back home... HOT... tired... and still not quite up to blogging yet. Will rejoin the world soon.

Family Time

There are pictures, I promise ;)

Let me tell you about my weekend. It was all great fun hanging out with family until... Little Lady wandered off at my cousin's house. Can I just say it was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life? I couldn't believe my child was missing. It left me in a state of panic and shock. I constantly prayed and panicked. Thankfully, we were able to find her with the help of some pretty wonderfully teenagers and a great family who took her in and were about to call the police. She got confused and thought she was following her sister and her cousin and ended up down the next street. It was dark and there were a lot of kids and I assumed she was in the middle of them (because she usually stays put). I will have her on a leash from now on! That was the worst 20 minutes of my life. Thank you to all who helped!

I also went to a Blogger lunch. I was finally able to meet the famous Mrs. Pulsipher. She is hilarious and so nice :) I had a bit of celebrity shyness going on, but I did get to put a face to the Snuggie (okay, even I am starting to want one of those things, but only with bedazzles and embroidery). Good times had by all.

So, other than having my heart in my feet, not being able to breath, and following my child around like stalker, we have been doing pretty good. I have been sewing like crazy. I made two blouses, a slip, and a dress (I know, not much, but I don't really know what I am doing). I only have a quilt, two dresses, an outfit, two nightgowns, another slip, and two costumes left to go... and that is all I can think of right now. I am sure there is more, but my brain can only handle so much!

Oh, and the girls started swimming lessons. Little Lady and I have Mommy and Me lessons. It's kind of, well, geared toward younger kids or kids who are afraid of the water (aka, slightly lame). She is ready to jump out of my arms at any time. It's kind of hard wrestling with her in the water because she wants to swim and jump off of the side of the pool. She is doing very well putting her face in the water, however. That is my little trick to distract her long enough so that she will pay attention to what is going on. I technically think she could have been in the class with her older sister, but for now I just have to deal with her pushing on me to let her go and me holding her tighter so she doesn't drown. Fun times. Little Lady is on her own and she is so excited about everything she is able to do. She was ducking her head under the water yesterday and she kept yelling, "I did it!!" every time she came back up. She hugs her teacher, waves to the kids that are late in her class and says hello to everyone. She is just so happy to be there. I love it.

I also decided to add a few more pictures of the early days of our vacation (I don't think I can really call it a vacation anymore since it has been about a month... it's more like a live-cation). Anyway, since Uncle Aaron turned 22 at the end of May, we decided to head up to see some of our family and go see a baseball game. We had a great time visiting with the girls' great grandma (Granny) and great aunts and uncle. It was so lovely to spend time with them and see the girls with them. Here are a few pictures of our trip, plus a few extras :)

These two are the reason we came up. The wedding was wonderful. Julia looked breathtaking. She was so happy and relaxed. And her dress, well, I LOVED it. Aren't they adorable?

Little Lady with her Auntie Caiti.

The girls with Auntie Caiti, Grandpa, and Nona. I only wish we could have seen them more, darn week long fevers and colds!

On our way to Granny's and the game.

Aunt Kathy and the girls getting Aaron's cake ready.


Granny and iLyn.



There is always room for cake and ice cream!

Uncle Ray

Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Aaron.

Goofing around.

Granny and the girls.

Deep in conversation...

Three generations.

The girls and Aunt Suzanne going to the game. I got sick, so they took the girls to the game while I rested... with a restless one year old. I am so glad they were able to go.

She has loved to do this for years with necklaces.

* Yes, I do have one million pictures to upload, if you are wondering. I credit Aaron for these pictures.