September 30th

September 30th- worst day of my life.

the reason.

Lex and Noah

There were a few birthdays I've missed in the shuffle...

Lexie- an amazing woman lucky enough to find my brother and set him straight! I can't imagine someone built more perfectly for him -to adore him like he deserves, and to be treated like I know Dave treats her. She's one of my heroes; knowing what she's been through, and seeing what comes out the other side -a testament of faith and endurance. Lexie, you know how highly I think of you, and how much you are adored in this family. You're as much a sister to me as any of my blood siblings, and I can't imagine my life without your contribution. I love you, and happy birthday!

Noah -Lex and Dave's son turned 2. The party was fantastic -and parks are quickly becoming the locale of choice. He's the most gorgeous baby -and his future is so bright. I'm so grateful to know this little man and to see first, my brother in a new generation, and second, see this incredible little boy develop and bring so much joy to his family.

I could start a blog simply writing about birthdays -but each member of this family is such a critical piece of the whole. I can only thank God for blessing us so abundantly.

OLD

Yesterday was parent-teacher-conference. As I walked to the school, I suddenly had a burst of severe old age. I know, many of my friends have been doing this for a long time -and it's certainly no big deal. This was a small seemingly insignificant rite-of-passage, but it really came in to focus to me as I approached. I wasn't the girl I used to know: the woman with no children, no husband, no responsibility to anyone other than myself. My life has transformed to being all about these other people around me, and I am lost in the shuffle right now.
...Maybe this is what growing old is.

UGH.

Happy B-Day, Tessa!

Happy FIRST birthday, Tessa-Roo!!! Look at this little love! Rach and Seuao make some pretty adorable babies.

Monday we went to SLC. The place was decked out in brown, pink, orange and green. Rachael had some fun games for the kids -with a "shoe" theme (those invited were asked to bring gently worn shoes to donate to "Soles for Souls" in Tessa's name. CUTE, huh?!) There was some fabulous bbq and lots of chatter and chillin'. It was SUCH a fun little party!

Here's the super-talented and beautiful mom herself, Rachael!

Here's my Ella-Boo during one of the games!

Me and Sawa-Bo-Nana. BRIGHT sun! :)

Here's Ella "helping" Mia!

The messy birthday girl at the end of the party. Good stuff!

*Rach, you did an amazing job. Love ya!

Happy B-Day, Chaedon!

September 16th was Chaedon's birthday! The fam got together and had a fantastic picnic at the park.

Left to right; Chaston, Ella, Mia, Aneesa. Do you notice our little Mia mooching some bites? ...Classic.

Here's our new teenager!! Terrible lighting in this photo! GRUFF.

Here's me and Mia.

Here's Chaedon and Ella while singing "Happy Birthday" --with no candles on the cake. :)

Me and hot-bunz.

More Mary Photos

It's not my fault. Mary is fantastic with the moments she captures -and I had to steal these too. ...Here's me with my newest niece Phoebe! :) -SUCH a doll.

Bri-Bri

Everyone likes to see the baby!

Here are some pictures I took yesterday!

I must also say that it's BIRTHDAY season! This used to be a dry-spell for my family, but with all the additions, we're looking at a LOT more! Today is Chaedon's birthday, and my boy is an official TEENAGER. I'll write more about him later when I score a good picture! :) We also hit Lex & Noah's birthday, and I must say that as mine is creeping up on Oct 2, we're starting to hit celebration mode for MEEEE (right, hunny?)

Pic for the ole' blog

Mary did this picture too... I believe this one was taken the night she was born -Mary came to see us right after the birth. It might have been the next day, but I don't think so.... I wanted to pop it in the ole' bloggoroni for safe-keeping. :)

Dave

My brother David

Dave is the most brave and ambitious person I know. He's my only living brother -and his place in my heart is beyond significant. Dave has the energy of all six of us kids put together. His incredible wife had to be so to keep up with him.
He has recently announced that the direction of his life is heading down a completely new path. He has gone back to school and is going to be an architect. This comes as NO surprise to those who knew him growing up. …Among his many talents, he was huge on architecture and design. I think it’s all part of his creativity. …This is a guy who has written some of the most incredibly beautiful music I’ve ever listened to, has played the Warped Tour with his little punk band (Woodly Bog) from high school, writes new business plans and ideas in his spare time (when he’s not playing with his family), and sings like a rock-star.
I don’t have the slightest doubt that Dave can accomplish anything he puts his mind to. I’m sure God led him to his last business venture (which was closed down after a short time) for a very sure purpose. This boy defines success -and if nothing professionally goes the way he thought it would, it’s for reasons he might never know, but others will. He doesn’t know about all of the people (myself included) he inspired with his ability to get himself up and keep going when the odds were stacked against him. He doesn‘t know about the lives he touched by providing the services he did -and does now. His knowledge and experience will be more than valuable -will be necessary to become what he is supposed to become. I just stand in awe at the amazingly educated, talented, and dedicated man he has become.
David, happy birthday -and I hope you know how much you mean to me. You’re one of my heroes.

Update

I don't want to neglect this blog. I owe it to my girls to chronicle their lives -and our life as a family. Sometimes, like tonight, I am barely keeping my eyes open --yet it's actually extremely important to put something down for the record on how we all are:

Ella - loving school. She seems unable to give me any kind of detail regarding her activities for the day, but that doesn't matter to her. She loves her time at school -and to be perfectly honest, I lover her time away at school too.

Mia- VERY miffed that I brought a baby home who takes some of the attention she's used to getting. She is very gentile with the baby, and for the most part, leaves her alone. It's me who takes the brunt of her frustration during this difficult time. She makes it very clear that I'm no longer the trusted resource I used to be. :( It's hard.

Brina is doing well -no longer nursing, but sucking up the formula like there's not gonna be any more coming any time soon... She's starting to spend more time with her eyes open -taking in her surroundings, as well as the faces of those who love her so dearly.

Personally, I'm so tired I could drop right here and now. "Sleeping when the baby sleeps" is a load of bull, and for any mom worth her salt, she knows this is the only opportunity to get something done!! Anywho, more to come when I sit down more coherently to write.

Some Of The Bunch

Mary's photography is too amazing not to share. From left to right; Phoebes (Dave and Lex's), Lily (Rach and Seuao's), Benny (Mary and Allen's) and Noah (Dave and Lex's).

I love these babies!!

Eating Sand = No Bueno

So what was an excellent time at Bear Lake -and what seems to be an excellent and delightful kid meal of sand and nasty Bear Lake critters- Miss Mia has given herself the digestive issues that no one-year-old wants to tell the tale of. The story of woe has led to an extensive abundance of diaper rash cream smeared upon many a frequent change. Lots o' tears at the house of S.

Parents: don't let your kids eat sand.

(A Classic Becca Pearl Of Wisdom; you're welcome)

the moment

I think I need to work harder to live in the moment. I was talking to my sister-in-law today about babies. She was saying how she plans on spending a lot of her time just holding her baby --she’s due in December. As we talked about it, I brought up a quote that used to hang on my mom’s wall:

“Cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow, for babies grow up, we’ve learned to our sorrow. So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep. I’m rocking my baby, and babies don’t keep.”

I’ve loved that quote as long as I could understand what it means. Yes, my floors need to be scrubbed, and YES, there are a million corners of my home that need to be dusted --but for this moment, my little baby needs me -even just to be cuddled and kissed. Thank you God for these tiny and incredibly significant miracles.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!

Okay okay okay!! School started yesterday. Did I get a picture of Ella? Of course not. I figured a "2nd day of school" shot would suffice, but who forgot again? ...The post-partum no-brained mommy o' tres. Poor Ella.

I WILL take a picture -because she's so darn cute- but the significance has disappeared a scoche.

I was at the doctor yesterday morning getting water pills (swollen like you wouldn't believe) and potassium. FUN! Baby is doing well and is in all the normal ranges -low for weight, higher for height, but she's doing well. I had a TON of energy to start, but it depleted quickly as the water packed on. It was the same situation when I had Mia... My nursing days are probably over, but it's all good. I'd rather have energy and NOT be prone to blood clots (lame-o).