Feeling shallow

As I read back on blog posts, I realize I seem a bit shallow and like I don't have much to say. I have so much on my mind and am thinking so deeply most of the time that when it comes to blogging I just want to keep it simple and positive. Things in general have just really been bringing me down lately. I feel like there is so much sadness and evil and bad things going on I can hardly take it. I am trying to remember my life is so incredibly blessed and I don't need to feel the sadness, but I do. It is not only the crazy evil that scares me, but the every day things that just get me down. I have known of multiple babies die and some miscarriages that have happened recently. It upsets me too much to imagine it happening to me. And then I hate that the people I love the most I get mad at often and frustrated with them. I want to be perfectly loving to my family, and I'm not. It is so frustrating that i can't just be nice and patient all the time!  Poor Brett sees the worst of me every day. By dinner time I have usually just had it and have a hard time being happy. The little things make me look like a crazy lady and it is all brett sees of me with the girls. I promise most of the day I am nice and loving ;)  anyway, I think too much.

Entertaining

 Claire trying out her new goggles

Emma laying down to watch a show on TV. This is the expression Emma wears on her face about 50% of the time, 90% of the time if we are around anyone else!

Panties

If Emma ever finds a stray pair of panties, they go right on her head. She thinks they are hats. It is cute... until she puts dirty ones on. EW!

Making Bread

Claire really loves to help out in the kitchen. She actually is becoming a pretty good helper too. She is patient and does what I ask. I thought it was cute when she was helping make bread dressed as Snow White. Little Snow White in the kitchen making bread, very fitting!

Peaches

This last week end we got to baby sit a guinea pig. Her name is Peaches. The girls loved every minute of it! I on the other hand am not too fond of rodents. She is pretty cute, but I wasn't about to hold her. Luckily Grandma and  Brett are here and they would get Peaches out for the girls to hold. Peaches would make the funniest noises when you would pet her, and it made us all laugh. She was a sweet little rodent, but I'm glad her owners took her home!

Spring Break

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We had an ice cream social yesterday with a bunch of the girls friends. The girls have been working for about a month on charts with behaviors I wanted to enforce. Some things Olivia had to work on daily: Happy, positive attitude, reading every day, making her bed, helping with random chores. Some things on Claires list were: Leaving Emma alone when Mom said stop, making her bed, helping with chores, going potty on the toilet before it is too late, etc. The chart did help a lot, and for the most part they did the things listed daily! They had earned their ice cream social, and we decided to do it over Spring break. 

The girls each got to invite 3 friends. One of claires couldn't come, and we ended up inviting 4 of Olviai's- so it evened out. We made our sugar rush ice cream sundays and went down to the theater room and watched "Wreck it Ralph". It was a fun time for the girls, and since it was all girls they were pretty well behaved and I didn't have to do too much crowd control. I love having girls and I love having girl parties! If I had 3 boys, you can bet I probably wouldn't have done such a thing without Brett home! They are so much more wild!!

Easter Birthday

 This year my birthday fell on Easter Sunday! It turned out to be a nice relaxing day and it was nice to have both holidays on one day. Everyone had something fun to do and everyone got presents and treats!

 Olivia and Claire got matching Easter dresses. The dress didn't come in Emmas size (and she was napping when we could take a picture).

We had a traditional Easter dinner with Gary and Sherri. I had planned a great birthday cake, but it fell through. I tried making a flour-less chocolate cake (with other layers too). It ended up in the garbage it didn't turn out at all. So then I thought we could do some quick brownies from a box and ice cream sundays. Sadly- we didn't have any brownie mix in storage like I had thought. So- ice cream and berries on top it was! Which was fine in the end since we were all so full from dinner. Despite my birthday dessert failures, it all turned out great. We all had a great day!

Orange Ear Muffs

Olivia received some orange ear muffs for Christmas from one of her friends. When I saw them I was a little shocked at the furriness, the color, and the over-all wow factor. Olivia of course loved them. She has worn them faithfully every day this winter. She is so cute, I almost like the funny little things now. And plus- she is easy to spot in a crowd of children! Can't complain about that! Spring is here, the warmer weather is coming and I think I will keep my eyes out for some new ear muffs for next year.. ;)

Sisterly Love

These two are always picking on each other. One minute they love the attention, the next it is just too much and there is crying. Claire over loves Emma with her hugs and kisses, and just constant touching, while Emma likes to pull Claires hair, poke at her eyes, and pat Claire on the back. I don't think Emma is malicious, it is just her age and she doesn't know it hurts! They drive each other crazy, but they love each other and love to play together so much too.

#4

Baby #4 is due August 25. We are so excited! Of course Brett is hoping for a boy, but sure it is a girl. I do not mind either way. Another August baby. All I can think is "poor Claire, all alone in December.. right next to Christmas!" And then I feel a little bad that we will have 3 birthdays all right next to each other in August. Apparently no one will have their own special time in this house ;)

2 month catch up

 Emma was attacked with stickers by her sisters. She didn't seem to notice or care

 some time in December we made gingerbread cookies. It was very time consuming... and messy! It was fun though. 

 the girls on Christmas Eve in their new jammies

 Liv on Christmas day

  

 Claires' birthday! She was sick on her birthday and the day her party was scheduled, so we moved it to a week later. She had a Minnie Mouse themed party. She invited every friend her age and had a good old time.

 the girls tracing window stickers.

 we finally got a new table and some bunk beds for the girls! Now we can actually have guests over... or even fit our own family at our table! Yay! Now that Emma is at the table.. we had to get something to fit us all. Table for 4 was just too small!

Snow

We finally got some snow a week ago. The girls got all excited to play in it. After layering on clothes for a half hour, we were ready. Emma loved to run around eating the snow and trying to sit in it. Not good since she doesn't have snow pants! Liv and Claire had fun making a snow man and naming her "Delilah".

Emmas Blanky

 

 Emma has a blanky. It is cream colored with giraffes on it. It is very soft and cuddly. I have been wrapping her in it since she was a newborn. My friend Rocio gave it to Emma as a baby gift. Emma has grown an attachment to it, and will not go to sleep with out it. The other 2 girls had binkys. Emma never did the binky thing, so now she is a blanky girl! It is nice to know she has something that is comforting to her when I can't be there. Hopefully she doesn't need to take it to college with her though.. ! She only sleeps with it. I do not allow it to go every where with her. The only time it has left the crib is when I let  her take it with her when she had to be babysat a few times.

Chocolate cake

If there is one thing in this house we do not lack in... it is sweets. I am always making or baking something. Probably once a week. Brett would say more often, but really, it's not. Today it was a chocolate cake. I would normally save making a cake for a birthday or holiday, but my cravings got the best of me. This one is chocolate cake soaked in raspberry sauce. Hopefully it tastes good! I still haven't tried it. Claire loves helping me with every step. Emma just LOVES being the clean up crew. She loves licking  down spatulas and beaters. This makes her so smiley and happy ;)In fact as soon as she sees I am done beating, she comes running over begging for a beater to lick.

Talker

Emma is quite the talker at 15 months! She has been talking since around 12 months. Oddly enough- we think her first word was "apple". She says "aah-boo". Her other favorite words are: Mama, Dada, Olivia (Ah-ya-ya), and banana. She has also picked up on some signing words too. She just picked it up so easily! It is so crazy how different children are with their development. Some just do it, and other it takes so much work and patience!

Decking the Halls

 

Emma's latest "say cheese" grin

 The Christmas things are up! It still doesn't feel right to me though. The weather has been rather warm, and we have only had one small snow storm. We had hardly any snow last year too. We could be in a big drout if we don't get lots of snow this year! We want a white Christmas! Although- I don't want to have to shovel it... ;)
Back to the decorations- we have been decorating the past few days! The girls love it!They jumped up and down shouting "Christmas! Christmas!" Okay- yes, I did it too ;) When we put the tree up Brett insisted on Christmas music, a lit fire, and hot cocoa. I said no to the fire though because it is gas, and it gives me a headache! It is really too bad, because it is so fun to have a fire. Some day, maybe we will have a wood burning one. Although- I would probably oppose to that too- since I don't want the house smelling like smoke, and eventually giving me a headache. haha. Wow- I am a party pooper. 

Tap!

Claire started tap dance class! She is so excited and has so much pizazz when she dances! So much energy and funny faces! She is a great dancer, and very entertaining to watch. She has got the moves, and I'm sure some day could do very well as a jazz dancer!

1st day of Ballet

Olivia started ballet class. She loves it! She has been so excited to start classes for like 3 years now! Her first real class I was watching her not expecting much. She has some real talent! She points her toes and stands up straight, and looks like a real ballerina! She is a natural. I see a lot of potential in this dancer!

Halloween 2012

 Meow! Claire the cat

 Olivia the "Princess Pirate"

 And Emma the cutest elephant you ever did see!

All the candy from Halloween night!

school pic 2012