Coming Home

In my attempt to catch up before school starts and I have all sorts of new and exciting pictures to post, here are some pictures of Violet in her first few days home with us.  The kids spent every available moment kissing and loving her.  I thought that the novelty would wear off but two months later they still can't get enough of her.

Look at that face!!

They insisted she "play" outside with them on warm days.

Reading her a story.

Snuggling with Daddy.

Proud big brother.

Playing Catch Up

Since I took a bit of a hiatus from blogging there are lots of pictures that I haven't posted that I wanted to.  I'll do my best to post my favorites over the next couple of weeks so that I can get caught up.

These pictures are from an evening that we spent with Allan's brother and his family this summer.  Lillian and Jimmer have become very good friends now that they are old enough to play without fighting over toys.  On this night the older kids decided to have a wedding for the two of them.  They spent a long time in the playroom dressing Lillian up and then had a little ceremony outside for them.  It was pretty hilarious. 

It's been so fun to see their little friendship grow.  Jimmer used to cry when he would get to our house and now he cries when he has to leave.  It makes me so happy!

And here's a picture of our pretty baby.  She still hates her baths so much that by the time she's finished all she wants to do is curl up in her towel with her Nuk and fall asleep.

Violet June

On June 14th we welcomed another beautiful baby girl to our family.  Her name is Violet June and she is just as beautiful and perfect as can be.  She was 6 pounds 6 ounces and 20 inches long and is growing like crazy.  She is the first of our babies to have red hair just like her mama which, although it is probably kind of vain, makes me so very happy.  Her brother and sisters have fallen head over heels in love with her and she fits perfectly into our now rather large family.

Adjusting to being the mother of four certainly hasn't been seamless but I feel like I am slowly figuring things out.  On most days I feel like all I do is laundry and nurse and I don't know that I'll ever get on top of house work again but for now I am just enjoying having a newborn in the house again.  I don't think there's anything more wonderful than bringing a baby home who was with our Heavenly Father such a short time ago.  Everything about her perfect little face and tiny body remind me of the miracle of life and the blessing and privilege of motherhood and family.  

 

I find myself trying to draw out every moment that I have with her as she'll be the last of our babies that I'll change and kiss and nurse and snuggle.  I'm finding it easy to endure the exhaustion that comes with midnight feedings as I try to enjoy these first months that always race by so quickly.  Patience comes easily when she's fussy and unsettled because I know that all too soon these moments will come to an end and she'll be walking and talking and racing to keep up with her older siblings.  Siblings who have taken to calling her "Viley" and holding and kissing and loving her every chance they get.  It has been so exciting to see Emma, Walker and Lillian welcome her into our home and get to know her.  All of them are always sure to know where she is and what she's doing at all times.  I have no doubt that Emma will be her mentor, Walker will be her protector and Lillian will be her best friend.  

My new goal, for only the hundredth time, is to be more consistent in posting and hopefully now I'll be more motivated as our little Violet will grow like a weed in the next several months.  Our talented friend Alyssa from www.studiocampphoto.com was sweet enough to take some new born photos of Violet when she was just two weeks old.  They turned out so beautifully and I can't wait to get them developed and framed throughout the house.

This one is my favorite!!

Could she be any more beautiful!?!

To wives: Before you were Mommy

As I ate my Special K with strawberries this morning and read Deseret News, like I do every morning, I came across this article http://www.deseretnews.com/865596178/.  I don't know if it stuck out to me because valentine's day is around the corner or because baby four will arrive in a few short months or because the night before at our house had been much like the one she describes in the article but whatever the reason it had me crying into my cereal.  How easy it is as moms to forget that we were wives first.  I feel like this is something I figured out after Lillian...finally, but this article was just a beautifully written reminder of it.

Cute Kids

I can't believe that I forgot to post my most favorite Christmas gift this year!  Allan surprised me with pictures of the kids that he had taken by our good friend Alyssa.  She has started her own photography business and takes beautiful pictures.  Her website is here.  I was so surprised Christmas morning to open an envelope full of portraits of our beautiful kids.  Now I just need to get them framed and put up in the house.

 

There were a whole bunch more but these are my favorites.

The Boy, the Bunny, and the Baker

Just some random pictures from the past week.  Walker and Lillian love to cuddle on my bed and play the iPad while I do my hair and make up in the morning.  On this particular morning Lillian had invited herself into my shower and after getting bundled up in her bunny towel curled up next to Walker.

 

 

 

This picture was taken moments before Walker head butted her because she was invading his space.  So sweet. 

 

Emma got an easy bake oven from Santa this year and has been a baking machine.  She was especially proud of this double layer cake that she made for her Grandma.

 

Christmas Pictures...Finally

Here are the highlights of our Christmas here at home.  We spent lots of time with family and friends as well but unfortunately I didn't bring my camera, and the craziness and excitement of Christmas Eve and day made taking pictures kind of low on my priority list.  Luckily it is always top of my Dad's so he has countless pictures that I can steal for scrapbooks later.

 

 

 

 

 

Rudolph pancakes, our Christmas Eve morning tradition.

 

Another favorite tradition...Christmas Eve pjs

 

 

 

 

Sweet Sisters

 

Waiting patiently (yeah right) Christmas morning for grape juice to be made, a fire started and cinnamon buns put in the oven.

 

FINALLY!!!

 

Lillian getting ready to finish off Santa's cookies...

 

and showing off her new shovel.

 

 

LEGO, easily the best gift ever.  I love how it makes their little minds work.

 

 

Lillian got a whole bunch of princess dresses from my parents and this is her favorite.  Mostly because it matches her big sister.

 

That's about it.  I feel like my parents always had countless pictures and videos of us from Christmas mornings and I don't know how they managed it.  I can barely keep up with watching the events unfold before me never mind get pictures of it at the same time.  Maybe next year.

 

One of my resolutions this year is to update this blog weekly.  I'm going to try REALLY hard.