Birthday Review

We've been celebrating birthdays at our house and boy what a party.

Liesel is now 4 and loving it. Her favorite thing about being 4 is that she sits in a booster seat (in the car) just like Eliza. She had hours of fun with her make-up kit from Gma Nan and loves the "bike hat" from my mom. She feels independent and free riding her 'new' (Eliza's old) bike.
Eliza is now 5. She loved her Care Bear Rainbow cake and her new "Big" bike. She is thrilled that she will start school in the fall and has stashed her backpack of school supplies from Gma Nan in true Eliza style.
Peter turned 1 a week after the girls' birthday and I can't believe how quickly that year has gone. No picture of him with his cake (it was a little bit of a crazy day).
But here he is with his Daddy. Peter's favorite thing about being one is....okay I don't really know; but my favorite part is that he has nearly mastered going up & down the stairs. That certainly helps my fears and my back.

Overall we've had a great birthday month. Thanks to all for the birthday gifts and calls.

I took the kids yearly pictures yesterday. I'll sort threw and find my favorites and then let you pick the best.

Until then....

Ten on Tuesday

1. It has been ciaos around our house the past two months. We have big news to share and haven't had a free moment to do so until now.

2. The biggest news....Daniel is going back to school. He has been accepted into the Marketing PhD program at Michigan State. Go Spartans!

3. So we're moving. The past two months we have been packing and getting our house ready to sell. It is on the market. You can check it out if you know our street address and add .blogspot.com after it.

4. We planted our garden. I know if we are moving, why plant? Because we are hoping that this is our best garden year ever. Here's a couple pictures of the help.

5. We are headed to Idaho for Memorial Day weekend. We are hitting Daniel's family camp out since we'll miss it the next four years. It looks to be a rainy weekend. Thanks Rachel for the raincoats...they fit all three girls perfectly.

6. Lydia's leg was broken. We took her to the doctor to get the cast off and they took and x-ray. Sure enough there was new growth on the bone and the doctor said it must have been a large break in the middle of the tibia. But she walked right out of the doctors office and earned two suckers for that.

7. QOTD: Daniel was talking to the girls and asked if we should get a dog. Eliza: "NO! We have a brother!"

8. Speaking of the brother...he is now getting his 5th tooth and in to everything his little body can reach. Daniel and I keep wondering when our mellow baby is going to get here.
9. My parents were here for a quick trip. My dad fixed up our storage closet and did a plethora of other projects while my mom sewed pillows and baptismal outfits and watched kids so Daniel and I could go to Michigan. It was so great to feel out the area before we move and make some progress on our house. Thanks again Mom & Dad!

10. And the BEST news....my sister Heather is engaged and going to be married in July. We love you Jared and are so happy to have you in the family. Heather, I love you so much and can't wait to celebrate this wonderful event! Congratulation!

Excuse our absence…

....we've been busy making these....

...and getting this.

A folding table was propped up against the wall at church and Lydia ran into it and then it fell on her ankle. Two x-rays showed no break in her foot or ankle but it has been two weeks and she won't walk on it. So the orthopedic doctor thinks it must be the tibia. We'll x-ray the foot again in three weeks.

Can you tell how we all feel about it?

mobility

Oh the joy that it brings!

ten on tuesday

1. I have been sewing like a mad women lately to finish some baptismal clothing I am making for our ward. Today I finished two of the 10 outfits we are making. It was a big success and most of the thanks goes to my mother who's tela-sewing lessons really saved the day.

2. Peter seems to be looking a bit better. Here are some before & after pics. He still gets bright red some days but the bumpy rash has subsided.

3. Liesel and Lydia have taken to playing house all day long. Often Lydia will be yelling for Mommy and when I reply she will say..."No pretend Mommy!" I don't know how long Liesel will manage to be 'Mommy' but it certainly frees up my schedule.

4. Eliza is becoming a different kind of care giver. Today I found her putting Peter's Vaseline all over her teddy bear.

5. We got a new bishop in our ward on Sunday. It was quite an exciting day. Daniel has already been put to work and I am sure to be released soon since the Bishop's wife is the Primary President I work under. It will be two years next month serving in Primary and I am mourning the loss of teaching Sharing Time already.

6. QOTD: (As I am trying to get the girls to come down stairs and play so I can keep an eye on them.) Me: You aren't playing in the bathroom are you? Eliza: NEVER!

7. We hit the Free Day at the Denver Zoo last week. It was SO fun. It always feels wonderful to just enjoy the park rather than 'get your money's worth' out of it.

8. Got my phone bill the other day and it was 5 times the expected amount. I am learning to record everything these days.

9. Been trying to watch some of the Olympics on the Internet. Eliza is convinced that the figure skaters are Princesses and she wants to grow up to be one of them.

10. Been searching for some new snack ideas. I found a fun Chex Mix I hadn't tried yet. You can see it here. Have any snack favorites? I would love to hear about them.

ten on tuesday

1. I don't realize how quickly time has gone until I look at a friends blog list and it says we haven't posted in 3 weeks. Sorry about that.

2. Peter and his rash have consumed my days and nights. Allergy test--negative. Next step--dermatologist. We saw him today. Apparently its a bad cases of atopic dermatitis--or just plain old ECZEMA. The doctor's suggestion--stop lotion--forever.. Vaseline and a $90 topical steroid are to be applied religiously.

3. Did I tell you Daniel is building me a window seat complete with cute baskets to hold our toys. It only took us three trips to Lowe's to actually cut and buy the wood.

4. Is it just me or are automated phone directories worse than getting a root canal. After trying to call four different companies and waiting at least 15 minute before I get to even talk to someone, and then needing to be transfer twice and on hold at least five more times---I think they should be destroyed.

5. Have you heard of Dave Ramsey? We are in the middle of Financial Peace University. Thankfully I've talked our 'saver' into a small BLOW budget every month. And our 'free spirit' has convinced me that my budget committee meetings are always too long and too frequent. So we are compromising.

6. We got our tax refund last week. Any guesses on how we are going to spend it?

7. We pulled out the sled for our snow day yesterday. Fun, fun, fun!

8. The girls and I are planning a Valentine Party for a few friends. Complete with games, crafts, decorations and donuts, it is sure to be a raving success.

9. Peter's new favorite food--anything--and a lot of it. He got a new seat to eat at and as soon as anything lands on it...it's on its way to his mouth. Poor kid is sure we are starving him. He is accepting any food rations.

10. So #6 is a trick question. When you have a saver such as our's in the house you don't spend tax returns--you save them.