Aunt Nicole

Nicole is going on a mission. We decided it would be fun to take a poll with the whole family and see where everyone thought she would go. I put up all the votes on a map and we had a little party with cookies and an array of hot chocolates. It was a fun night. We were excited to know that she would be with us a little longer till the end of March. The Manila Philippines are so lucky to get this wonderful young lady. We love her so much!

The whirlwind called The holidays have now come to an end

I finally feel like I can take a deep breath in and feel as if "normal" life has been reborn. It has been a long time since I have felt that way. Now I need to back pedal and rush around to get my house, and everything that goes along with that, back in order!

The holidays around here are SO much fun! Really they are. We are lucky enough to be the main gathering place for Andy's family. Our house is much more conducive to larger numbers and SO much easier for me. I have my kids beds here for starters and since the nights are long, that is a nice bonus. I do feel, however, that I am constantly cleaning up just to have a mess again and then cleaning up again just to have a mess again. It really never ends. I also felt like I was constantly coming up with new food ideas and something that is not too messy or costly, but that is still fun and good. Oh man, I am getting a little anxious just thinking about all that again!

Anyway, last night we celebrated Maddox's birthday with my family so now we are officially done with parties and get togethers. I always kind of feel bad for the poor kid kind of having a after the moment birthday, so I try to go all out for his day as much as the other kiddos. It is exhausting coming right off the holiday shuffle, but I managed it. Now that it is all done, I feel like I can get back to my life. The gym, preschool, cleaning my house more regularly, organizing more, healthier meals, less junk, errands ran and bills paid...you know the usual. It is kind of good actually, it gets me excited to just have my plain life back.

Speaking of my life, the other night Andy and I took just Maddox out for his birthday {more on that later} and I was telling him about a personal prayer I was saying the other night. It caught me off guard when I was done with my prayer, because I am just so happy. Yes times are crazy. All these little kids can get crazy and that is an understatement, but there is no other place I would rather be, no other time I would rather be in my life, no other children or husband that could possibly be better for me. I just feel so very blessed. It is a good place to be!

On to other important things, I am rather backed up on my blog and it is bugging me. I need to focus and get to all of these items of business...
The twins party
Bennett's class party
Our company party
Lot's of family in town
Christmas and all the festivities
Brandon's kids with my kids
New Years Eve
Maddox turns 3
Nicole gets her mission call
and I am sure there are more that are keeping me behind not to mention I am still behind on Disney and Hawaii! GASP!

I am excited for this new year. I think it will be good. So much growth and so much to learn. I am just enjoying every minute of it. I wish, as I have said before, I could just push the pause button on my children because this moment in time and their ages just could not be any better! So here is to slowing down and little bit more and taking in all these glorious moments!
Happy 2010!

The Little Gym

We did the little gym this winter. The two littlest boys did at least. Maddox just loves it. It is like his little thing. This winter we decided to let Paxton do a few classes too and it was so much fun to do that with him. It was like our little thing together. It was so fun. I just love these little boys!

Bennett

We just all loved having Bennett home and off school over Christmas Break. We can't wait till summer vacation. It looks like he was a bit sad to go back and leave us too!

"Bye Family! I had a blast playing with you,

but it has now ended."

Love,

Bennett

PS

"Sorry it is so sloppy, I had gloves on."

Is it possible to get cuter than this???

Maddox is a three year old!

Our Sweet little Maddox turned THREE! His little life has just flown by. When I as pregnant with him it flew by since when I found out he was coming I had three month old twins. I am so happy he just fits right into our family. He is in no way an after thought, he was planned. He is supposed to be my fourth child.

Maddox has an obsession with the color green. He loves it. With my kids I have a color system with them. Their plates, towels, blankets and such are all in their colors. It is very convenient to know who left their towel on the floor or who didn't put their dishes away. His color is green and boy does he love it. Every one knows that is his thing too. So adorable.

So naturally we had a green party. We had a green party with my family and Andy's family. We also went to see Elmo live for his birthday just Andy, Maddox and me. It was so fun. He felt so special. On his actual birthday we used some Chuck E Cheese coupons and celebrated there. They all had a ball.

This boy is still just as sweet as the day he was born. I get random hugs, kisses and "I love you mommy's" all day long. I love it. I love him. HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU SWEET BOY!!!

We had green calzone's, green grapes, green broccoli, green sugar snap peas, green cucumbers, green peppers, a green artichoke and spinach dip, rye bread with a dill dip. It was green let me tell ya.

His sad little Brobee cake. He loved it and that is all that matters!

Great Grandpa and Maddox almost share a birthday. Only a day apart.

They both look really happy about their birthdays, don't they?

He got lots of fun things. One being this fun little piggy bank filled with money.

Elmo live!

Lovin' cotton candy!

On the train to Elmo live. I think he liked that as much as he did Elmo live.

Chuck E Cheese

With Grandma and Grandpa E.

When the kids turn three my parents take them to Build-A-Bear. This year my mom took him and he got this rather appropriate frog. He really likes green. Unfortunately my camera battery died and I didn't get any other photos.

How did I get so lucky?

Today three years ago the sweetness little sweetie blessed our family. Man how I love him! He out of all of our children is one that at the time we had no idea how much he was needed. I know I have mentioned before how I called two dear friends and bawled to them not knowing what I was going to do or how I would handle three babies. Somehow, I did, or am I suppose. Just like always the Lord knows what we are need of and blesses us with those things even if we aren't quite aware yet. I remember just saying over and over to Andy how can I beg for a baby for four years and nothing and then three babies in one year?!?! Again, we are on his timing I am sure of that and looking back there is no other way it should have been!

When Maddox was born all Andy could come back and report to me was that he is so sweet. I wasn't sure how to take that, but sure enough when I finally got to see him the next day, that was the word that screamed out to me too. Nothing has changed. He is quiet and sweet and just melts my heart with every word he speaks.

Last week they were all watching a movie one night and I came into the room and was just overwhelmed by all these little cuties that are mine! I looked at Maddox looking so old yet still ONLY two and I ran to him and he opened his arms and kissed me before I could kiss him and held on to my hug longer than imaginable. I wanted to freeze time right there. That was a moment I will NEVER forget.
Dearest Maddox, we will forever be grateful to have you in our family. Your sweetness is indescribable, your dark brown eyes are beautiful, your charm is adored, you my little friend could not be any more wonderful than what you are. Please know how much we love you and how much you are needed in this family. We love you dearly!

Love, mom

Random January

Looking so cute for church.

Cortland loves his nite nites and if he green and blue one are not clean the pink one will do. As soon as he gets his nite nites his finger pops in his mouth.

Bennett and his best friend {future wife} Karli.

Playing our memory game. We play this game a lot and by a lot I mean every other hour.

This baby makes me want 100 more just like him. He is just so amazing.

I love how well the little kids and Bennett play together. They love playing together. They were all hiding from Bennett and Bennett would come around the corner say Gotcha! They loved it!

These two love each other so much. Nothing like a hot chocolate milkstache.

So pretty for church!

While going through some pictures I saw some random photos that I had not used on my blog yet and they were too cute or fun to miss. I love these little ones so much!