Love that lasts a lifetime

This little girl loves her big brother.  One day she will forget how much she wanted him.  He will go on his mission when she is five.  It is crazy to think that she won't have much memories of moments like these.  I am glad that I have this blog so she can look back and see the love in her bothers eyes when he looks at her.  He may have always wanted a brother, but I don't think he would trade her for the world.  He sure loves her.  

Ellie also has a special connection with Emry.  From the first time she saw Ellie it was apparent that these two knew each other before that day.  I love the way that siblings can love each other.  It is such a great feeling as a mother to see your kids happy together.

{PROUD} of herself

I couldn't get enough of this face.  I put her in the front seat of my car to take Elsie to the house behind ours. She looked at me like she was so big.  Like, "Look at me, I am such a big girl now."  She had the face the whole time.  I was just giggling at her.  

Sleep Over

Ellie was so excited because Kaiya was sleeping over.  Every time someone came to the door she would say "Kaiya?"  Turns out Elsie was just excited.  Ryan, Kaiya's little sister got to come too.  The kids had such a great time with them.  It was just a big party.  Of course Ellie wanted to go to McDonalds and why not make it a perfect day for her.  

 After McDonalds we came home, took baths, and headed to bed.  I figured they would all go to sleep pretty quickly.  Ryan and Elsie went out fast.  Kaiya and Ellie stayed up talking past midnight.  It was so fun  to listen to them giggling and having a real sleepover.  I had to go in the room and remind them to be quiet.  It was the cutest thing ever.  

Safe for now...

Okay, so there is a down side to letting her sleep with us besides the sleep.  It is the endless worry of her falling off of the bed once I wake up.  Emry keeps really awful hours.  She is awake until 1am and then sleeps until 10am except for when she doesn't.  So, that means I spend about 3 hours in the morning wondering if she is okay.  Running back and forth between what needs to be done and making sure she isn''t awake yet.  It makes for a nervous mom.  As for now the pillows are keeping her safe.  

Wrapped around my little...ARM

This girl is SPOILED  is a mama's girl.  Just being near me is no longer enough.  She has to have her legs wrapped around my arm, and usually some form of my hair in her hands.  The worst part is it is all my fault and I am not sure I want it any other way.  On the rare occasions when she actually sleeps in her own bed I miss her.  I know CRAZY talk.  There is something about knowing that she is my last that just makes all the rules seem so stupid.  Yes, the lack of sleep is killing me and I look like the walking dead but I love this little leach.  

Who is that looking at me?

Tonight I caught Poppins checking herself out in the mirror.  She would look away and then look back.  It was the cutest thing.  It is so much fun to watch all the discoveries that are occurring right now.  Every new thing is a wonder to behold.  She is so much fun for all of us

.  .

A Special Visit

We have set up the slip 'n' slide, 

the kids are playing, 

I am trying to lay out and read...hahaha,
(like the kids are okay with me reading). 

I am about to fall a sleep (only for a second...relax)

When I hear

"Hi, GRANDPA!"

in and excited loud chorus.

My kids absolutely love when Grandpa Gene comes over.

He has been stopping in every week.

These are moments that the kids treasure.

He is only here for about 30 minutes but they love it.

Gene insisted that I get a picture of myself on "my" slip 'n' slide and post it on the blog.

So Gene these are for you.

Always a good time at the SNOW house.

Thank you Grandpa for stopping by once a week.  

We have loved it.  

We are sad that we have to go to school and miss out on our
"special Grandpa time".

We have an Artist

Recently JJ found a picture I drew of Jeron when he was three. He decided he wanted to try it out for himself. I taught him a few things that I remembered from art class and he was off. He loved doing it. It was great to see him hand connect to the paper and create his own masterpiece.

For his first try I am more than impressed. 

Caterpillar Craze

My kids were putting a warm fuzzy (pom pom balls) in a jar every time that they did a good deed.
Just like every other ploy or tactic I use to get them to be nice this 

-FAILED-

I think it had something to do with one sibling asking

"Can I get a warm fuzzy for not hitting my sister today."

Like I said

-FAILED-

Now I had a big ole jar of pom poms.

What to do?

Hahaha, not really

My kids immediately were in heaven. 

They made all sorts of things.

ducks, bunnies, pigs, birds, etc, etc, etc

But my favorite of the bunch had to be the caterpillar.

Ellie, Elsie and her BFF Paige played with these the rest of the time they were here.

Who knew pom poms could be so fun.

Why does my oven look like  fish tank in this pic???

Doing Hair

You can often find Miss Elsie doing hair.

Usually mine.

She will come up behind me and just start to comb.

I love these moments.

7-11

What's not to love about a Slurpee on a hot summer day?

NOTHING!!

I love that 7-11 gives free Slurpee's on 7-11

Oh yes, we went!

R.A.I.N.

Tonight it was pouring rain.

I went to bed and was all set to listen to the rain.

Jeron came in and said "Why don't you go out and play in the rain?"

He knows I love the rain.

Back in High school I would opt to walk home on rainy days.

Jeron left the bedroom and I thought about what he suggested.

Within seconds I was getting re-dressed and headed outside with my camera.

Considering I needed a P.O.T.D. I realized this was my chance.  

I loved it.

I splashed in puddles.

I ran in the pouring down rain.

I danced a little. ( I put Elanie to shame.)

I SMILED!  Really Smiled...all by myself

When I came back in I checked out the photos that I took on automatic.

This picture is the perfect picture to sum up how I have been feeling lately. 

So much of me is fading away.

I feel like I am bending, pulling, pushing, tossing, turning...

but still so much of me is fading away.

I pull to get me back

yet I push to find what else I want

letting go and moving on

I see myself in the young girl I use to be

yet I want so much more for the woman I am becoming.

Tossing and turning to keep it all

A true reflection of me...

Thank you Jeron for reminding me to be me.

P.O.T.D. 2

Now don't worry, I am not going to post every POTD but I am loving this.

I love sneaking up on them and just shooting.

Catching the real moments.

This is a real moment that happens everyday.

Now it is captured.  

LOVE IT

P.O.T.D.

My I wish good friend Becky Higgins has this fabulous idea.

She takes a Photo Of The Day everyday.

I love this idea.
She takes the everyday pic.  The one you might not think of taking.

It is such a fabulous idea.  I am going to try to do this.  Hopefully it works out.

So here is my first one.

It is just one of those simple moments that they do almost everyday.  I love this already.

Here's to 364 more.