Happy Birthday Eli Sam!

What in the world happened that it can possibly have been 3 years since my baby was born? I am so so so sad that he's getting so big. Last night as I was snuggling him I asked him if he wouldn't at least consider staying my baby forever. I think it sounds reasonable...at least when he's snuggling me so cute! But he informed me, 'mom, I not a baby...I yo big boy!' Hughghggg....(big sigh)I am not sure what the rush is.

Eli is such a blessing. He is Nate...a GIANT spirit trapped in a little body.I mean that nicely...but anyone who knows Nate knows he has a ridiculous amount of energy! And like all things squished into small containers, the pressure at times builds up and explodes, damaging anything/person(sorry) in close proximity.

We fell in love with Eli the moment we saw him. When he was born he didn't cry, but he growled. I suppose it was our warning of what we were in for....that he is part animal. He has always been happiest when sitting atop someone else; there was a several month period where he bit harder and more frequently than any pitbull around;he has been Avery's master since he outweighed her at the ripe old age of 9 months;he idolizes 'bobee'(Kolbe) and does everything Kolbe does at double the speed! We are excited(and scared) to see this kid grow and develop! He's an animal...

Eli is my crazy child...and I know I've joked about how crazy this kid makes me. But he is the flavor of our family. So much energy and enthusiasm comes from within him. I can sit and watch his face expressions all day...he has never feared anyone, and has always instantly befriended everyone! He draws a crowd, and its fun to watch people drawn to his crazy little person!

Even experiencing all this....how is it possible he's 3? I think that time is a sad joke...some days seem to never end but when you realize how fast its gone, it just makes me sad.

Just a side note....My sweet Kenna is so thoughtful. On my birthday she quietly got up and made me a b-day card and decorated my seat at the table. Again, on Avery's birthday, she got up without anyone else and made cards, this time setting her placemat and making her breakfast. Last night as I tucked her in and we discussed today's schedule, she said, 'and I'll wake him up to sing happy birthday!' Being the nasty morning person that I am...I told her I'd be furious if she woke him up. She was crushed....I felt bad, and tried to convince her he'd be happier if she let him sleep and then did something special. At six this morning I heard the art cupboard open and close...then nothing else. When we all staggered out at 7:30....Kenna had made several cards and a birthday crown and had decorated his seat at the table. I don't know why I deserve her...she is kind and thoughtful way beyond her years!

"Choose your life!!!!"

I'm not exactly sure what this means, but Eli's been dancing around the house all day with his eyes squinted, swinging his new sword at anyone within reach. It wasn't until he 'sliced' my mom's throat that I figured out what he was saying...'choose your life!' I have no idea where he came up with it, but we laughed out loud! I love my monster, Eli....I really do hate games of killing and stuff...its ALWAYS my mom who supplies the weapons..here he is ceremoniously killing himself!

THE FUNNY STUFF THEY SAY...

JUST WANTED TO REMEMEBER SOME OF THE FUNNY THINGS THE KIDS DO/SAY...

1) THE OTHER DAY KOLBE WROTE A THANK YOU NOTE TO MY UNCLE AND HIS NEW WIFE FOR THE FABULOUS CHRISTMAS PRESENTS THEY GAVE HIM THIS YEAR. HE DIDN'T QUITE SPELL HER NAME RIGHT...OR SEPARTE THEM ON THE ENVELOPE...HE WROTE..."GAY TOM"

2) KENNA WAS CONCERNED ABOUT A LITTLE GIRL IN HER CLASS THAT HAD BEEN SICK DURING THE WEEK AND SHE WAS TRYING TO TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS...SHE SAID, 'YOU KNOW, MOM...AN ART INFECTION.' I WAS OBVIOUSLY CONFUSED AND SHE CONTINUED....'A CRAFT INFECTION' AND SHE WAITED FOR ME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I KNEW WHAT SHE WS TALKLING ABOUT. I THOUGHT FOR A MINUTE...AND THEN ASKED HER IF SHE MEANT A 'STAFF INFECTION' WE BOTH GIGGLED AND GIGGLED TO REALIZE THAT SHE MEANT STAFF...NOT CRAFT!

3) I DROPPED ELI OFF AT THE DAYCARE THIS WEEK AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO GO...HE CRIED AND HUNG ONTO ME. I TRIED TO COMFORT HIM BUT NEEDED TO GET GOING...SO I SERIOUSLY PUT HIM IN THE FARTHEST CORNER, PUT A TOY IN FRONT OF HIM AND RAN FOR IT(I KNOW, NICE!)...HE WAS OBVIOUSLY SCREAMING WHEN I LEFT! WHEN I PICKED HIM UP HE KISSED ME AND THEN SAID...'MOMMY, I MISSED YOU. I CRIED. I CRIED.' AND THEN HE SORT OF PAUSED AND SAID QUESTIONLY, 'AND YOU RUNNED!' LETS HOPE HE FORGETS THAT!!!

4) I ASKED AVERY WHAT SHE WANTED FOR LUNCH AND SHE SAID 'A CORN DOG.' SURE I THOUGHT...AND ELI SAID, 'YEAH...I WANT A HORN DOG!'

I LOVE MY KIDS...THEY KEEP US LAUGHING AND LAUGHING. THEY LOVE TO TEASE AND PLAY...AND I CAN'T IMAGINE LIFE WITHOUT THEM!

hmmmmm.....

Well, yesterday was fast and testimony meeting. And I was doing my best to ignore Eli and pay attention...which for those who happen to attend my ward know, is nearly impossible!(My apologies for the reverance ruiner!) He was trying to tempt my anger...and I kept my eyes up on the speaker...and he was touching me and bugging me...and after a couple minutes of quiet, and I thought I'd won the battle....he said, "mom....I wiped a booger on your face!" And what do you know....he had! All my parenting expertise from the other kids fails with him...I'm at a loss most days....thankfully the times he makes us giggle outweigh the others...like today, I think the booger is funny! He is the funniest kid ever...just stinking naughty sometimes!

Flower Girls

My beautiful cousin got married on the 27th and my most beautiful girls were flower girls. They were flower girls for my brother Brad's wedding, but since it was a temple wedding, their actual function was...well, nothing other than looking cute. Ash got married at the Catholic church so it was big time for the girls...they got new dresses...gloves...tights...sparkley shoes...and fancy do's for the occasion. Oh, and jewelry! Kenna LOVED LOVED LOVED the flower pedals. In fact she said she wants to get married there so she can have 'real flower girls' It made me giggle...anyways, here's the pics of the big day! Ash is stunningly beautiful, of course...and so are my other cousins...My blonde cousin is Randi, and my dark hair cousin is Brit...Eli has a thing for both of them!

Save some fun for next week you say?

So I've had it! No more complaining from my husband about the state of my pantry closet. I confess and willingly admit to being slightly OCD with my cupboards. I line everything up perfectly, all the time! But my pantry is where the snacks and cereal are stored and the kids rummage through it almost constantly. So OBVIOUSLY its a mess, most of the time! But this morning Nate grumbled something about being 'so sick of this crappy cupboard' that I decided that I was sick of 'something' too...So I redid all the cupboards in my kitchen...taking things from the downstairs rack up to the kitchen and vice versa. I am personally very happy with the results. I totally de-cluttered the 'crappy pantry' so when he gets home from reffing, I'm sure it will be the first thing he notices! HEheeee!

SHE'S 5!!!

I SERIOUSLY AM A LITTLE SAD THAT AVERY IS 5...FOR WHATEVER REASON I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE HER GROWING UP...REALLY I DOUBT SHE WILL GROW 'UP' BECAUSE SHE IS ABSOLUTELY TEENSIE...BUT SHE IS GETTING SO GROWN UP...SHE IS MY

QUIET GIRL...SHE LIKES TO DO HER OWN THING. SHE SQUEALS A HORRIBLE NOISE IF YOU (DAD) INTERFERE WITH WHATEVER GAME SHE'S PLAYING...SHE LOVES HER PRESCHOOL...THINKS MAX IS THE COOLEST PERSON IN THE WORLD...AND LOVES COCO WHEAT CEREAL MORE THAN ANYTHING. WHAT WOULD I DO WITHOUT MY MAVIS? WHY DO THEY HAVE TO GROW UP SO FAST? I THINK THE MEMORY OF HER AS A BABY SEEMS SO MUCH CLOSER TO MIND THAN THE OTHERS...IT CAN'T BE POSSIBLE ITS BEEN 5 YEARS. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL GIRL WITH CHOCOLATE EYES...