forever ago since my boys were healthy! (this was taken july of 07) right now, chris and the 2 boys all have ear infections. they are all on meds. just as one recovers, the other gets sick..nasty bug here.. at least all of the girls are nice and healthy 🙂

speaking of my boys- i was looking through my cabinets and fridge that were just replenished a few days ago.. i can’t believe how much everyone’s growing. specifically, i can’t imagine how much food will fly off our shelves when these boys get to their teenage years… they’re already eating like crazy! i can’t keep up!

it ended up raining so we didn’t do anything outdoorsy for the birthday. i knew the girls were going to bake cupcakes but i didn’t know that i would look into the kitchen and have my heart melt. look at them in their aprons! cutest thing ever!!! looove how els listened to kira.. love how kira was so patient.. love that it took forever because of a. the toddler, b. kira is a perfectionist. 🙂

and when they were done…

i couldn’t just let them sit there with their sprinkles! they were so naked. needing some embellishments 🙂

she ate way too many cupcakes. i mean, way too much frosting. she ditched the cake part once the frosting was off.

while baking, elsie got a haircut.

🙂

while this is the mega post, i guess i will add my 2peas layouts for the month too 🙂 the theme is favorites. i could do this theme forever! you have to read the journaling to get this one:

and again, i can’t compete with mickey mouse clubhouse that was on right behind me. our day will be filled with horseback riding (or so she thinks she wants to do this), a trip to the park and lotsa lotsa cupcakes.

if you’re feeling sentimental like us.. you can watch her first days video here.

while searching my hard drive for a photo for an assignment, i came across so many little gems from the last few years 🙂 us– just me and the kids on our first big trip out with the new little baby.. april 06 – their faces crack me up here!

that pic just cracked me up 🙂 this one stopped me in my tracks. it’s not photographically amazing. but can you just feel that soft, flawless skin?? that classic newborn position…one month old.

lovely little lady sleeps like this now… love how her eyebrows and eyelashes have come in so nicely 🙂 remember when they close their hands up like that? and you would peel it open to feel the inside of the lovely palm?

she’s always taken the fashion risk with the clashing patterns.. love it 🙂

(last summer on the left, a few weeks ago on the right)

and the last one for now 🙂 such a goober 🙂

lately she ignores the camera. so nice to get a real smile today!

even though she is nearly 23 pounds, i stick her in these little 12 month sized onesies. 🙂 i love how her little arms look in them, her little skinny body, but then after a meal, her full little belly.

she likes to dress herself and has a say in what she wants to wear for the day. "long sleeves? no! socks please, my feet are cold. no dress today. heart shirt." yes, maam!

today we were out and about and she kept asking to go to more and more places.. the library, park, bookstore, grampies house, hamburger, please? i think she was avoiding going home because that meant nap time. she’s in that ever so lovely phase where she protests sleep. sigh. i never understand why kids don’t like to sleep. sleep is GLORIOUS! 🙂

to keep walking past her during her afternoon nap.. so hard not to climb in bed and snuggle that!

i dont know what it is about her little limbs. i guess we usually have them covered up but when i see them, i trip out because they are just so widdle! i can’t believe our baby is going to be 2 next week. yes, be prepared to read some weepy emotional posts for the next month or so. 🙂 so here are some pics of her from the last few weeks. just random. 🙂 her at the boy’s school- toting her strawberry shortcake book around. love me some str-str-str-strawberry! 🙂

back view of the pony- it seems like she has it up like this alot lately- but she doesn’t– it’s just the 2 days and we took massive amounts of photos. 🙂

sorting and piling and making rows- i LOVE this phase of toddlerhood. 🙂

but not so loving this phase of toddlerhood—

(her with caleb’s birthday cake) discovery of sugar and wanting to consume everything that contains massive amounts of it. and lots of crying and tantrums when she doesn’t get it. 🙂

happy friday!

she really does. she bakes us treats constantly. right now my kitchen is stocked with carrot cake and cream puffs. she makes them by scratch. on her own. she originally wanted to be a chef, but then a pastry chef, and now a wedding cake decorator. 🙂 i love that she has dreams! i am alllll for some homemade treats. 🙂 go kira!

and she really is a fabulous sister to her. she greets elsie with, hi best friend! 🙂 she puts up with the pushes and noooo’s that elsie gives her. she climbs in bed with elsie every morning and night to give her a snuggle 🙂 i am so proud of them. how many almost 13 year olds give their little sister her own playlist so she can listen to it when she wants?

one for 5gg’s 1product- american crafts foam shapes:

one for the sketch article that i wrote:

and one for the guest garden girl spot:
i really like this paper.  delish!

now the big dilemma this sunday afternoon— do i dare bother cleaning off my desk to scrap or just find a new place to clutter up for the day? 🙂

is driving me crazy. cold. then hot. then rainy. then blue. just when you think it’s time to break out the sandals, tees and skirts.. noooo, it starts raining. i know i’ll miss it in the summer– but i am so ready for some warmness!!! oh and i know i am a total baby, complaining about our 55 degrees here 🙂 and els is wearing a ponytail here. she never lets me touch her hair.  🙂

at least i got what i wanted for valentine’s 🙂

happy friday!