Reaching Milestones

It is one of those days again where we have reached another milestone.  Jeron and I have talked about the day that he would take JJ to the priesthood session of conference with him.  The guys all go together and all the girls do something together while the men are gone.  JJ has always had to endure coming with us girls.  Now he is officially 12 which means he now goes to priesthood with Dad. 

Makes my heart smile a bit.

Here is the gang getting ready to leave.

Don't ask me why I didn't whip out my camera when the ladies headed to dinner.  Brynn, Ashlee, Mama, and my gang all went to Arella's for dinner.  It was delish.  

After we all met up at our house for some Just Dance.

The kids love to see the adults do it and so Smitty got up and shook his groove thang.  WHO KNEW?!? The boy can actually dance. 

One thing I noticed is he does the lip pucker that Elsie and I do while we dance.  

We must be a special breed.  hahaha

Brynn also got out on the dance floor with Emma and Ellie, that girl can move too.

It was a very fun time and the kids loved making these memories with Smitty and Brynn.

Of course Mama, Papa, and Ashlee watched.  One of these days we will get them up and dancing.

Jeron kind of bummed out.  Maybe he was intimidated by Smitty's moves.

After all he did dance to Jeron's song "Forget You."

Hmmmmm....Challenge is on hon :)

Finally we have a piano

My parents have had a piano in their basement for years that my mom had bequeathed to me years ago.  Ever since we moved to F-town I have been trying to get my hubby to move it over.  He really did NOT want to do it.  Now that JJ and Emma are taking piano they really needed to have a piano at the house so I pressed the issue a bit more...and by pressed I maybe sent all of his friends, brother, and my brother a text arranging it without his input.  Even when he tried his darnedest to get out of it I still prevailed.  hehehe

The guys that came to help were AWESOME!  I even think they had a lot of fun doing it.  My favorite part of the day though had to be when Jeron said "That wasn't so bad, it is a lot easier to move than I thought."  I look over and he is not even touching the piano.  Hmmmm.....We both laughed pretty hard at this and it was our little inside secret...until now.

They were all smiles, it couldn't be too bad.

Poor Smitty got attacked by the rose bushes.

He was pushed right into them and it cut his back.

He was tough though and kept on helping. 

It made my heart pretty happy to see it get loaded up on the truck.

I wasn't at the house when they took it in because I was getting drinks for the fellas.

I came home to that beautiful piano in my living room.

I love coming in that room and seeing my grandma's piano.  

Every time I see it I think of her or I think of my mom playing it.

It is a special piano to me and I am glad that it is finally here.

Thanks to Smitty, Richard, Tyler, Clay, Dad, and especially my reluctant hubby who grinned and bore it. 

I am one happy girl.

Dollys and Donuts

Elsie has been so excited for this party. She loved the idea of having her dolly and a donut so we went with it. This party was a bit of a stretch knowing that I was already on restricted activity, but then being put on STRICT bed rest just yesterday I was worried. I don't know why I was. The kids really pulled together and helped get decorations up, clean, and be at my beck and call. Jeron ran some errands even though he wasn't feeling all that wonderful. And last but certainly not least my mom and Ashlee came and were the best hostesses ever. I really sat on the couch and didn't do anything and for the most part it was the party I planned. And most important of all is that Elsie loved it.

When the girls first arrived they were directed to the table with their dolly's.  They had a high chair to put their dolly in and then they got to color. 

Once all the girls arrived we were on.

They first went to a little store to buy their baby a new outfit.

Emma was the store worker.

Next they went to Bug-a-Boo Adoption Agency where they adopted their brand new baby.

JJ helped get the baby for them, and Mama filled out the adoption papers.

Next they went to the Doctor and had their babies weighed, measured, and checked out.

All babies were given a clean bill of health.

Then they headed to the cleaning and dressing station where Jeron helped them get their babies all ready to go home with them. .

Here they gave their babies a bath and got diapers and wipes and dressed their babies in the new outfits they bought.  Each girl was given a diaper bag and money so she could pay at each station.

Elsie told me her favorite part was the doctor station.

This is not how Elsie was at the party but it really is one of my favorite pictures of her.

She looks so melancholy.  I love it.

She got to blow out candles again.

She is such a doll face.

The girls loved their pink milk and pink donuts. 

They had a lot of fun coloring and eating.

Then it was time for presents.

Elsie loved all the things that she got, and can I just say she was spoiled.

After presents we played pin the binkie on the baby, dolly dolly girl (instead of duck, duck, goose) and then to end we played freeze dance.  It was hilarious to see these little four year olds shake their groove thing.

What a fun FUN party.

A HUGE HUGE thank you to Jeron, JJ, Emma and especially Mama and Ashlee for pulling of the party that Elsie wanted.  It really went perfectly and the little ladies had so much fun. 

The dreaded bed rest has been ordered.

WARNING:  MAJOR PITY PARTY RANT!

Last night I had some strange things happen that made me wonder if things were not okay with my cervix.  I called my mom to get her advice and she deferred to my brother who is staying with them right now.  The reason being is that Smitty is doing his OB rotation right now.  Well, his advice was to go to the ER.  I agreed but really didn't want to pay the ER fee.  I decided to wait it out and if things got worse I would go in.  I had horrible back contractions but they started to calm down after about an hour.  In the morning I called my OB and sure enough they had the same advice that Smitty had.  So much for saving $$$ because they sent me to the OB ER.  I was there all day and they checked me out, did an ultrasound, and decided that I needed to be on strict bed rest, at least until I see my OB. 

So, I HATE bed rest but I know it works for me.  For that I am very grateful.  The only problem is I have 5 kids 4 kids and a husband that now have me on bed rest.  And not just any bed rest but STRICT.  Plus, Elsie has her birthday party tomorrow.  It will break her heart if I cancel it. This means I now have to put my mom, Ashlee, and Jeron out even more than I was already going to.  And on top of ALL of that my house is feeling the pains of me being on "take it easy".  Bathrooms are a hazardous waste zone, the house is a dusty mess, and every room resembles the city dump just a bit.  And now I get to lay here and look at all of it...ALL DAY LONG.  The mind is going to go crazy.  Problem is I know I need to not move.  On Thursday I stood for about 25 minutes cutting out circle and then felt like I went into labor at the store.  I know that if I do anything I am putting the baby at risk.  It is just the battle I have in my head that says but this needs to be done, and Elsie needs to be watched,and now I have to let Jeff and Tara down, and Jeron can't do it all, and crap I didn't change out winter clothes for spring clothes, and is it even safe to shower in that disgusting bathroom, and there is egg on my counter that needs to be wiped off, and the laundry needs to be folded, and the baby clothes are not ready, and the nursery isn't put together, and that clutter piles there and there and there and there need to be cleaned up, and the yearbook for Ellie's class needs to be completed, and and and.  That is why bed rest kills my mind.  I can't relax because I just stress about everything that needs to be done. 

I have some great friends that have offered to come and help me but really there is NO WAY I will allow them to see the state in which my home has gotten from being on "take it easy".  That means Jeron gets to take on all of this which in and of itself make me have major anxiety.  He not only has to continue on doing what he already does but now he has to be me on top of it.  Plus, he has to deal with all of the things that have been put on the back burner.  (which is way to much) To top it all off it is March Madness and if your hubby is like mine, he disappears during this month.  I don't even mind either, but now he cant so I feel guilty.  It is my own guilt and I know that but I still feel it.  I also feel extremely BOSSY.  No matter how nicely I say it, it still is naggy to have your wife telling you what to do from start to finish.  Thank goodness my good friend helped me get some {15} freezer meals in my freezer before this happened.  At least my family will eat a good dinner.

With all of that being  said this is why I will lay here and try my best to obey the bed rest but in my head I am anything but resting...in fact all I want to do is SCREAM!!!!

Down Syndrome Day

The months of February and March are very hard for Ellie. I usually make an average of 7 cakes. Each time I make one she wonders if it is for her. You would think out of seven cakes one would be right? Well I always have to tell her no and she gets so disappointed. I didn't realize this but March 21 is National Down Syndrome day. Since things are a bit hectic around here we only showed her special treatment but next year our plans are big. It really is a break for us to have a reason to celebrate her again in the year. It is her special day.

So here is to my kid having more chromosomes than yours.

Truly Priceless

pArTay fOr eLsiE aNd eMmA

Emma and Elsie celebrated their birthdays together this year. All of Dads family went out of town for Kylie's softball tourney so we postponed the party for both of the girls. That way everyone could try to make it. It was fun to have Uncle Smitty here too. The girls had a great time. Elsie was a bit nervous opening her presents in front of everyone.  She loved everything she got though.  In fact, I think she tried on every outfit she received at least once during the party.

It was hilarious, I would try to take a pic of Emma and Elsie would hurry and show me a present she got.  She thought the picture was for her.  Hahaha

Needless to say this meant Emma didn't get very many pictures.  She was just as happy to get her gifts and loved all of them. 

All the people who came for Emma.

and Elsie.

Emma and Elsie sure do {LOVE} all of you.

They felt very special to have so many here today.

This is the "cake".

Jeron couldn't tell what it was, and neither could Tara so lets see if you can.

It is ice cream cone scoops.

At least Emma and Elsie liked it.

We are very blessed to have these two beautiful ladies in our lives.  

We love you both.

Happy St. Patty's Day

We always have fun when the Leprechaun comes to town. This year he was a little low key. He did misbehave by peeing in our toilet and not flushing. Plus, he stood on the lid and left footprints. He really should wipe his feet off.

When we ate our breakfast he turned the milk green.  He did the leave the kids a box of Lucky Charms though.  They were pretty excited about that.  

Elsie has loved this invisible little man.  She got a real kick out of all he was doing.

Jeron and I went to an event for David and if we had missed the event we would have missed this...

I really wish I had gotten video of him running.  Imagine Will Farrell as Elf...that was David running.

and as an added bonus I got Jeron to do this with me.

We had our usual Haystacks for dinner.  It is such a colorful dinner that it is perfect for a lucky rainbow.  Again, Elsie thought this was pretty cool.  I think she even ate some.

pArK tiMe

It was a beautiful day today. When the kids got home from school I couldn't stand the thought of being inside so I told them to get in the car and we were going to the park. JJ didn't want to go and told me he was sick.  This is a reoccurring them with JJ when he doesn't want to do something.  Sure enough I made him go and when we got there I could tell he wasn't playing around.  So he chilled in the car while the girls played. 

We stayed for an hour and Emma watched the littles while they ran around and played.

Love days like these.

Our baby is {fOuR}

Elsie is finally four. She has been waiting for this day for a long time. Every time we see something at the store that she loves she will tell me how she really REALLY wants it. I will tell her "Ask for it for your birthday." That is all it takes and she stops asking. So, when I asked her recently what she wanted for her birthday she simply stated "EVERYTHING". It was fun to tease her with this because then we would say, I'm going to get you a snake then, or a dirty diaper." It became a funny game for a while...but also left me wondering just what to get the girl who has wants everything.

Our birthday tradition for this year is Balloons in the rooms.  Sure enough Elsie woke up to balloons.  She actually woke up in the middle of the night and got in bed with us and totally missed them.  I had to take her to her room this morning.  

She had a blast hitting them all off of her bed.

Due to more contractions than normal we had a low key morning. She was super excited that Mac was coming over for her birthday.  She just adores him.

She decided to go to playgroup because it was at her BFF's house.

Then Daddy came home and took her and JJ to see The Lorax.  

She loved it.  

Emma, Ellie, and I stayed home and got things ready.

I love this picture.  She is on the phone with Aunt Maren and Ellie wanted to come listen.

She wanted to play boolha boolha.  JJ, Ellie, and Emma hid all the presents, and Daddy helped her reach the ones up high.

She was so excited.  She said "I got so many presents".

She was most excited about Ella of Frell as she calls it.

I call it Ella Enchanted.

Elsie and I saw this cake months before and it is all she talked about since. 

Jeron stopped at the store to get the pan for me. 

Just so our little princess could have her princess cake.

Happy Birthday Boo!

We love you!

Emma is 10 on the 10th Double birthday baby

I can't believe that we have another child in double digits in our home. 

Emma is the big one zero today.

Not only is she 10 but it is also her double birthday.

Lucky lady.

We have been doing balloons in the bedrooms and it has been a hit.

Emma had fun hitting them all off of her bed.

So did her sisters.

After all the balloon festivities we ate German Pancakes for breakfast. 

I felt bad because Emma had to tend on her birthday.

We had a funeral to go to and Emma was very gracious about helping out.

Once we got back we headed to Layton Surf 'n' Swim.

The girls had a ton of fun.

JJ didn't get to go but he was missed.

Daddy with his little ladies

My little lady and me

After Surf 'n' Swim it was dinner time.

Emma picked Training Table even though her dad and brother tried to talk her out of it.

They wanted Red Robin.

She stuck to her guns and went to Training Table.

I love this picture.  Ellie is trying to do bunny ears on Emma.

Sweet sisters.

After dinner we headed home for cake and ice cream

Did I say cake and ice cream...I meant cookies and ice cream.

Emma doesn't like cake.  This is her second year asking for Snickerdoodle cookies instead.

We had a good night opening presents, and just enjoying each other. 

Happy Birthday Miss Emma, we love you.