Easter Party

Each year we try to get together with my family to have an Easter party for the kids. The water slide was such a hit last year, so my parents rented that again. The kids had a blast on that and then each of us planned a game or an activity. Dan and Chris did running charades and Brian and Kamille colored Easter eggs with the kids. We did the limbo and a game that we probably won't repeat again because it got poor reviews from some of the kids--we won't mention Dallin and Luke's name too much. :) It was a relay where you hold on to your ankles and then run/walk/hobble to a certain destination and then turn around and go back. It sounded fun and was pretty fun to do/watch, but not everyone agreed with that! The kids also got to hunt for Easter eggs. We had pizza and wings for lunch and plenty of sides and sweets to go around!

Waaaaay Behind!

I think my number of recent posts is directly related to how busy I have been lately. I can't seem to hardly come up for air! It's overwhelming to think about catching up, so I'll just go a little at a time and maybe I'll be able to catch up. It's a lot though as I need to post about Disneyland, end of school year, youth conference, Ezra and the girls, and more I'm sure!

Chicago

A couple of weeks ago, Brian went to Chicago for some training and Ezra and I got to tag along. We flew in on a Wednesday and that night we went to Gino's pizza. The crust was different than I was used to, but we did enjoy it. When we ordered, the waiter said that it would be about 45-55 minutes for the pizza and I thought he was just pulling our leg. I realized he wasn't kidding! Ugh! It went pretty quickly though and we munched on breadsticks and wings. On Thursday, Brian had classes most of the day, so Ezra and I hit the town. We did some shopping along Michigan Avenue. Our hotel was hooked to a shopping mall that had the American Girl store, so that was fun to go to. My girls would have gone crazy in there. I couldn't believe how big it was and everything they had! After Brian was done with his classes, we did a little shopping together, then we went to the top of the John Hancock Building. Brian listened to a guided tour that he enjoyed. When we came down, we grabbed dinner at Cheesecake Factory and brought it back to our room to eat. Then Brian went out and found a yogurt shop for a treat. On Friday, Brian had some morning classes. I took my time getting ready, then Ezra and I headed out to grab some breakfast and to do a little more window shopping. I stopped and got us a treat at Sprinkles. I had the s'mores cupcake--it was so good! Brian snuck out of his meetings a little early because we went to opening day for the White Sox. We lucked out and got some tickets from a friend who is a pitcher on the team. We had a great time, Ezra got a lot of attention at his first baseball game and we got to see Matt pitch--and help win the game. We rode the train there and back, which was an experience. After the game, we went to Navy Pier and walked around for a while. We had dinner at Corner Bakery and then took a boat tour on the Chicago River and learned about all the different types of architecture that is there. We really enjoyed the tour--it was one of our favorite things we did. It got really cold, but we had bundled Ezra up and he just slept most of the time. We may or may not have gotten another yogurt before heading back to our room. On Saturday morning, we went to Fox and Obel, which is a fancy grocery store. There was a bistro there where we had lunch. Lunch was so tasty. I also discovered the best caramels--Bequet is the brand. Oh my--they were amazing! They had different flavors, but all the ones we tried were melt-in-your-mouth incredible. After lunch we went back to the hotel and grabbed a taxi back to the airport. I would love to go back and see more of the city.

at the game

Navy Pier

on the river tour

a huge statue of Marilyn...

river tour

walked through a fancy car showroom

dinner

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taken from the top of the John Hancock building

first baseball game

there were tulips all along the sidewalks

lunch at Fox & Obel

smores cupcake

Bangs

Ruby has "bangs" now thanks to Hattie. Hattie was in our den doing some sort of art project when Ruby came into the kitchen where I was and said, "Hattie cut my hair." I was like, "Uh, oh." So I went in there and saw little tufts of silky blonde hair on the floor. Ugh!! Luckily it's wasn't too much and I can kind of blend it in with the rest of her hair. I was so sad though! Ruby still talks about it (usually when she sees a pair of scissors). Let's hope that was an isolated incident!

Hattie's 5!

Hattie turned five at the end of February. She had a little party with some friends and cousins. We played games, decorated cupcakes, open gifts and let the kids play. I can't believe she is 5! At this age, Hattie...
--loves to be fancy--fancy skirts, jewelry, shoes, etc.
--loves to change clothes.
--loves preschool
--LOVES to draw and is quite good at it
--loves her friends
--loves to hold Ezra and make him smile
--she is very passionate about things, which can lead to much drama, but we love our Hattie!

Human Ice Cream Sundae

In January, my girls' school had a read-a-thon. Libby and Ellie won in their grade for the most hours read for the month. They got a certificate, coupon for a free meal at Rubio's and got to turn their principal into an ice cream sundae.

Tender Mercy

I think the Lord knew I needed a tender mercy to help encourage me during these past couple difficult months. So He had Ruby potty train herself. Seriously.

I had been wondering when I would do it and when I would have time to dedicate to it with a new baby who was still nursing. One day a few weeks ago, I put Ruby in underwear and thought I'd give it a shot. She didn't go at all (in the toilet or in her underwear) for most of the day. But I had a babysitter come while I took Ellie, Hattie and Libby to gymnastics, and she had an accident. I decided I would just put her back in diapers and try again when I could be home solid for a few days straight. Well the next day she was in diapers just like before but that night Brian was at my parents' with her while I attended a New Beginnings for another ward. I got a text saying that Ruby had asked to go to the bathroom and that she did. I thought that was kind of weird, but okay, good! The next day I had her in a diaper (I didn't anticipate that she would keep it up), but I did tell her to let me know if she needed to go. Well, she did each time and we haven't looked back since. It has been a tender mercy to say the least in that I really had nothing to do with it. Yay, Ruby!!!!

Moving, Not Moving

The past couple of months have been the most trying, difficult, discouraging, tearful I think I've ever had. We had been looking for a house since about July/August. We found one we really liked and that would really fit our family, so we put an offer on it back in August. We went back and forth and back and forth with the bank on it (it was a short sale) until December! We were told that the bank accepted our offer on December 12--two days before Ezra was born--but that we'd have to close by the 28th. It was a crazy time in that we were going to have a baby and that it was Christmastime, but we decided we would go through with it. So thinking that we were moving, Brian was released from his calling from the bishopric. That was emotional for me since it happened while I was in the hospital--not the greatest timing in my opinion--but it is what it is. He was actually released that next Sunday, but since I had just had Ezra, I couldn't be there. I think I cried the whole time they were gone at church that day. I tell ya--these past couple months have been doozies! It gets better though. Ha! That next Monday, we were told that our offer had only been "verbally" approved and that the bank really was wanting more money from us to close the deal. At that point, we were done. We felt like we had gone up and up in price and for them to want more money was ridiculous. So we backed out of the house. We decided not to do it. It wouldn't have been so bad if it hadn't set the ball rolling for so many other changes that took place rather quickly when people heard we were moving. You can only hear comments like, "Well, that is one way to get out of your calling" so many times before you want to pop the next person who says it. We had even started packing.

I guess things happen for a reason, but we are still trying to find that reason. We are still looking for a house with another bedroom or two but nothing has worked out yet. We've had a couple of possibilities, but nothing yet. We'll keep looking. Hopefully I can look back on this experience as a trial that helped us grow. Until then, I'll try not to be reminded of it as I look around and see packed boxes and empty shelves.

Ezra's Baby Blessing

January 15th was Ezra's baby blessing. It was so nice and meant a lot to have most of our family there with us that day. I went back and forth on what to have Ezra wear, but in the end I settled on just regular church clothes. We think he looked so darling--like a little man! Brian gave him such a nice, meaningful blessing. What a happy day!

Laundry

One sign of a big family. Just a normal laundry day here!

10!

Eliza's birthday snuck up on us again this year. It comes so quickly after Christmas! I took ice cream sandwiches in to her classroom and they sang to her--the "tall" version (why she is up on the chair). For her birthday dinner we went to Grimaldi's. We were having our family pictures taken and that restaurant was right there, so she opted for that. The pizza was great! I felt like we were kind of a spectacle as they aren't really equipped for bigger families to eat there. They accommodated us though and were great with the kids--they had the person making the dough throw it up really high for them and they gave Ezra a onesie from the restaurant.

For her birthday, Eliza wanted a "day out with Mom." So that is what we did. She and I (and Ezra) went shopping and to Olive Garden for dinner. She got a pair of pajama bottoms, then opted to get the cash for the rest to put towards a Kindle Fire which she really wants. Now it might be an iPod Touch. :0 We had a fun time together.

At age 10, Eliza:
--still loves art and is so good at it. She can draw anything.
--loves sports
--is doing track for the third year
--is good at doing hair--hers and others
--loves putting fun outfits together
--loves making lists and schedules
--has some less endearing qualities, but we'll save those for another day!

Happy 10th birthday, Eliza!

Random Pictures

Here's a quick update since I am so behind again...

One day when I was feeding Ezra, Hattie and Ruby thought it would be fun to throw all the ponytails (the tiny ones, too) into the air. Ugh!
Just one of the many things Ezra will have to endure with having sisters. (American Girl glasses)
We had our family pictures taken last week and then finished the evening off at dinner.
Ezra in the outfit Libby picked out for him.

Brian thought it would be fun to pay money to be tortured in the Tough Mudder. It was hard, but he said he had a good time.

Sweet Ezra

Just a few of his cute baby pictures!

Christmas

It didn't feel like Christmas this year to me. We were so busy having a baby and moving and then not moving. But Christmas came and went. We had a nice time though. My parents came over on Christmas Eve and we had Christmas with them. Then on Christmas, the girls were up around 6:30, but we made them wait until 7 to go in and see what Santa left. Then we got ready for church and enjoyed music and narration during Sacrament meeting. After church we went over to Brian's parents to wrap up the day.

Gingerbread House

Our girls were very creative with their annual gingerbread house creation. There was also a lot of candy-eating in the process!