Oh, my sweet little Adelley-do

I don't think words are necessary to describe these pictures. Let me just say that this little one definitely keeps me on my toes!! I love her so much!!(Yes, those are panties)

It's official!

I am officially a licensed massage therapist! Hooray! I passed the national exam last month, received my national certification a few weeks ago, and received my state license last week. Lorianne and I also walked at graduation last Friday and I had the honor of speaking. Scary! I was really nervous but also very honored that I would be nominated, and then chosen to speak. I feel like all my hard work and time away from my girls has finally paid off. And I'm so happy that I was able to go through this experience with my sister. She definitely made it easier to get up and go on those freezing cold mornings, or when my girls would cry because they missed mommy. I love you, Lorianne!

Julianne and Jeff forever

My baby sister married the love of her life last Saturday, September 12th. The entire day was absolutely beautiful and Julianne made the perfect bride. Jeff looked so handsome and was just brimming with love for Julianne! I am so proud of them for being married in the temple and that they found eachother. I love them both SO much and I am excited to finally have a brother. Oh my gosh, I have a brother!!

Um, Dad?

Actually...

Today was my first of four VERY, very long days this weekend. I'm completing a pre- and perinatal massage therapy workshop to certify in pregnancy massage and to assist in labor management. I'm gone all day from about 8:00 am until 6:45 pm (which I quess is a normal work day for a lot of people, but still!) and I missed my girls like crazy today. I told Alexa how much I missed her and she said, "I missed you too. Actually, I kind of forgot about you." Oh. (Grace's response was "I finally found my muth-oh")

Catch-up

Okay, brief catch-up:
Alexandra's and Grace's first days of school (Oh my gosh, Alexa's in 1st grade!): Lorianne and I FINALLY graduated from school and soon I'll officially be a Licensed Massage Therapist. Hooray!!!!!!!!!! And we planted a maple tree in the front yard to celebrate.Grace is learning how to use "cwuntches" (crutches)

"-isms"

Grace-ism: I was listening to Dr. Laura on the radio the other day and Dr. Laura suggested to someone that they throw a party. I didn't realize Grace was listening until she said, "a throw-up party!?" Ew.

Alexa-ism: Alexa came home from school with a child I.D. kit (I just hate the thought of ever needing to use one) so I swabbed the inside of her cheeks with cotton-tipped applicators to save as a DNA sample. I tried to explain to her what they were for but apparently I didn't do a very good job. Later that afternoon I overheard her tell Grace, "Mommy put computers in my cheeks so that if I ever get lost or stolen then people will know who I am."

Alexa-ism: "Mommy! I just saw a deer sleeping in the grass by the road!" I don't think that deer was sleeping!

Hike to Timpanogos Cave

Last month we thought we'd be the funnest parents ever and take the girls up to Timpanogos Cave. Our hike started off great with three happy girls and two happy parents...

It was hot and we were tired and it was SO much working hiking up the mountain with a child on our backs, but it was SO much fun! Then we got to the cave. About two seconds after we entered the cave (and reached the point of no return) Alexa announced that she had to go potty. This was after she had gone potty three times before beginning the hike! I guess I did a good job keeping her hydrated. Then Adelle started crying. Then Adelle started screaming. Then Alexa started crying. Then Phillip and I were in a near panic trying to keep Adelle quiet as her screams were beginning to shake the cave walls and tour-guide Charles was trying to talk. Yeah, not fun. Poor Alexa was just sick she had to go potty so bad and was in absolute misery. Then an angel came to save her. A sweet little ranger noticed Alexa's dilemma and brought her an emergency bag to relieve herself in. So we found a private corner of the cave and helped her do her thing, which ended in more tears because I didn't have any toilet paper or hand sanitizer on me. (Just for the record, the hand sanitizer was a few switchbacks down the trail where we had to leave our backpacks) Adelle continued to cry throughout the entire tour and was very mad at us when it was over.Her sticker says, "I helped protect the caves today!" Yeah, right.

Alexa with her little blue bag. Thank goodness for little blue bags filled with fluid-absorbing gel. Adelle slept through the entire hike down while Grace reached her breaking point. I think the quote of the day was when we were about halfway back down the trail and Grace whines to Phillip, "Daddy, I'm tired of you walking!" Wow.Well, it took a few minutes for me to decide if the trip was worth it and if we were the funnest parents ever, and I answered, "yes!" This will definitely be an outing to remember, and one that we will probably laugh about for years, but I loved being with my girls and being in the mountains!

PS. One high note: Grace stood completely independent for the first time EVER!!! This is an image that brought tears to my eyes and made me cheer loud enough to attract way too much attention!

Happy Birthday Alexandra Marie!

Alexa turned six years old on July 26th and I'm afraid I'm struggling with this birthday. Five years old was hard enough because it meant she would be going to kindergarten, but this is killer! I don't know what I'm going to do with all-day first grade!!!

I feel very blessed to have Alexandra as a daughter and I am so proud of the good girl she is growing up to be. She has always been my little friend and I hope to maintain this friendship I have with her throughout our lives. I love it when she gives me a hug so tight that it hurts my neck and she says, "Your the best mommy ever! Even when you're mad at me you're still the best." (Yes, I do get mad sometimes. Ugh.) Or when she says, "Will you still be my mommy when you're old and I'm a mommy?" She is so sweet and loving with her little sisters and is always trying to make them happy. She takes such good care of Grace and has no problem adjusting her games to accommodate Grace's abilities. I love that we can sit and have a grown-up conversation and be the best of friends. I love it when she follows me around the house and talks to me while I do my chores. I love that she likes to scrapbook with me and do our homework together. I love that she is so willing to give me hugs and kisses and is never afraid to show me that she loves me. I have always felt so blessed that she is such a polite and sweet little girl and I love her so much!

I can't believe I have a mother!

A Grace-ism: We spent a weekend in Park City recently (pictures to come) and we had a little movie night with the girls in the hotel. Grace kept giggling and laughing while hugging me and saying, "I can't believe I have a mother! I can't believe I have a mother and a father and sisters!" Acutally, it was "muth-oh, fath-oh, and sist-ohs". Sometimes I feel the same way and want to laugh out loud and say "I can't believe I have a Phillip! I can't believe I have an Alexandra, a Grace, and an Adelle!" It is so easy to get caught up in the frustrations and stresses of daily life that sometimes I need to step back and just look at how blessed I am. I love when that moment sneaks up on me and I get that warm feeling knowing what a wonderful and beautiful life I live.

Super-Star!

Grace had a couple of appointments at Shriner's Hospital today and we ended up being interviewed for a news story! The hospital's PR guy came into our treatment room and asked if Grace and I would agree to a TV interview for Channel 2 News regarding our experience there at Shriner's. Of course I agreed to it but my first thought was "how is my hair!" It should have been, "I hope I have something smart to say" but my vain side took over. It was so much fun and I felt like such a star with the camera following us around and the bright lights in my face. Maybe I should bag massage and go into acting. ha ha (courtesy laugh). Here is the link to the video:

http://www.kutv.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=90096@kutv.dayport.com&navCatId=5


I think Grace just looks so darn cute!!! I don't know how long this video will be on KUTV's website, hopefully for awhile.

Darling Little Girls

The other day I was next door at my parent's house (yes, I live next door to my family and we love it!) and I had my arms full so I asked Alexa and Grace to start walking home ahead of me. I watched them walking and Alexa had her hand on Grace's back guiding her up to the porch. I saw the love they have for eachother shining in their eyes as Alexa helped Grace along and then as they stopped and hugged eachother when they got home. Alexa caught me watching them and shrugged her shoulders and said, "Well, we need to help her. She isn't very strong." Grace immediately retorted, "I am too strong!" to which Alexa replied, "Yes, you are strong. You're just...unique." It was so sweet! These two little girls are the best of friends and I know that Heavenly Father sent Alexa to be Grace's big sister for a reason and I'm so thankful He did.

Last night we were reading a book to Adelle which had pictures of different animals and living things in it. She would copy us when we'd tell her what sound each animal or creature made and it was so cute! Each time we got to the ladybug page she would lay her head on the book like she was giving the ladybug a love and she'd say "buh lay-lay". I just love this age and the fun new things she is doing and saying. She will look me in the eye and have a nice long conversation with me, deliberately choosing her words, even though I have no idea what she is talking about! (And sometimes she will look me in the eye and yell at me, deliberately choosing her words, even though I have no idea what she is angry about!) She is a fiery little girl who knows what she wants and will settle for nothing less. Her body language is so funny and so expressive. For example, when she is given something she doesn't want she will hit her head with both her hands or cover her mouth as if it is the end of the world. If offered something she does want she nods her head with all her might, shaking her whole body in the process.

I just love these three little girls and am so excited to experience their childhood with them!

Cute Pictures

Grace was so sleepy after our long drive home from California that she fell asleep on Alexa's bed reading "Goodnight Moon." What a sweetie.

Alexa was yelling, "mush! mush!" and Grace thought it was the funniest thing ever. (So did I!)

P.S. Adelle FINALLY took her first two steps today! Hooray!!

Huntington Beach

A few weeks ago my family drove to California to attend the funeral of a very close family friend. We tried our best to make the most of the trip so the girls could have a little fun so we spent a few hours at the beach. Unfortunately Adelle became very sick and spent half a day in a gross E.R. just so the doctor could spend 3 minutes looking at her telling me not to worry about her fever of 104 degrees, but that's beside the point. Here are some pictures of the best two hours we had during our five-day adventure.

Alexa made this heart for me: