Watching...

Lance is adorable with the girls. He's so sweet when he holds them and gets them to smile and laugh. Here he is with Sabrina. ...So cute.He had a big ole' cheeze for me when I took the picture!

Sabrina was pretty entertained too.

Sometimes I stand back and watch. There's a lot to take in. A girl's relationship with her dad is SO crucial in her development -how she'll interact with all men in her own life. Today isn't the day I go into depth on my relationship with my own father, but I wish and hope for these girls that they have more than what I did. ...That they'll feel his approval, his love, and always have the special bond that they seem to have even now.

Mi Familia

My sister put this photo on Facebook, and she did such a lovely job with editing it, I thought I'd post it here. This was taken when I was a junior in highschool. It's my immediate family -and yes- we all played those instruments! From left to right: Dave, Me, John, Mom, Dad, Sarah, Mary, Rachael. Aaaah, memories. *Fun to share!

I love this baby

"I love this baby" is what I whisper in my little baby's ear all the time. I did it with Ella and Mia as well. There is nothing more precious in this world. My children will never question their mommy's love.

Pumpkin Walk!

In efforts to get the girls out of the house and doing fun stuff, we hit the North Logan Annual Pumpkin Walk!

This looks like a lovey picture of Ella and Mia, but really, Mia pushes Ella away when she gets too close. She has a bit of a personal "bubble"...

Ella has a bit of an obsession with Ariel from "The Little Mermaid" -She heard "Part of your world" and loves the song. I'll take it! It's the ONLY Disney princess she'll have anything to do with!

Mia fights me for her personal space too. :)

Sabrina just tried to stay warm!

More pushing. Nice kid! Ella brought her pirate patch from a birthday party she'd been to. It's SO typical Ella.

Afterward, we went to my Mom's house for some lunch. Mom was blowing some leaves, so the girls had an absolute BLAST playing in them!

*Token self portrait.

*Love this shot. Great day!

Halloween Party Part 2

The Halloween party was so much fun -and there were SO many super cute photos, I had to post more! Here's my adorable Mia!

Here's Ella! *Thanks to Lexie for the face painting -SO fun!

Yes, some of the pix are stolen from my sisters (who edited them and made them all kinds o' cute) -thanks, girls!

Me and beebee.

Here's Mia against Nanny -while decorating yummy sugar cookies!

Sabrina and Nanny.

M'girls!

Here's all the kiddos before Benji made a mad dash and got away. Left to right: Tessa, Lily, Phoebe, Benny (back), Noah, Ella, Sabrina, Mia.

Ella has the sweetest smile EVER.

The kids went for a walk collecting fall leaves, etc. Here's Ella and Nanny.

Here's Phoebe and Sabrina -the two are only a few months apart. I'm sure they'll be good friends!

Update:

I'm doing much better. I was released from the hospital on Wednesday and have been recovering quite well. *Thanks again to all of you for your love, your support, and your help. :)

surgery

Headin' to the hospital in 45 minutes. Thanks for all your help, your thoughts and your prayers on behalf of myself and my little family. :)

Halloween Party Part 1

On Saturday we had a super exciting Halloween party for all the grandkids in my family. It was AWESOME! Here is me with the three girls!
Baby Sabrina!

Milly-Kisses!

Ella-Boo!

My sister Mary put this collage together of all the kiddos (including Rachael in the bottom right corner!)- how stinkin' adorable is that??

MUST DO

Not to self: get new camera battery. My blog needs new pictures!!!

This Monday...

This Monday I'm having a hysterectomy. The details of why aren't necessary, but it's something that I have to do.

There are a million thoughts and fears that go with something like this. ....Most of which can't even be voiced because it's such a strangely private and quiet ending to something that has defined me in a way -to something that provided my own personal meaning for my life.

That will be gone.

It's not an organ of my body that I'll be missing, it is a worth. My children mean absolutely everything to me. My body has told me (in a very painful way) that I am not supposed to have any more... It's the end of this era. I'm growing old. My life is so real -and is taking on a new shape of where I stand in it. I'm not 'young and fabulous' -I have years and years behind me. ...More than turning 32 years old, THIS is the moment I have dreaded: realizing that any youth in me is long gone. Realizing that there is no moving backward -and these three angels are the only angels I will bare.

I would not be doing this if I hadn't come to terms with all of it. I am absolutely greatful for each life I have brought in to this world; my role goes on to raise them now.

I can't put these words together right.

Mmm Not So Much -Phoebes