Happy Birthday Ev

This LOOOONG overdue, but better late than never:) Everly turned 1 on January 16th. I cannot believe that she is one and that I don't have a baby anymore. It is definitely bitter sweet because she is just so darn cute right now, but I L-O-V-E-D the baby stage with her. Maybe it is because she has been the easiest baby, like sleeping 7 hours at a time by the time she was 3 weeks old kind of easy (sorry if I am bragging). OR maybe it is because I don't know that we are going to have any more kids so it is hard to imagine that my "baby" is no longer a baby. Everly is the sweetest little thing. I always say that she has a sensitive soul because you can practically just look at her the wrong way and she gets sad...bless her little heart. She is not walking yet, but manages to get around just fine. This girl could beat anyone in a crawling race I am sure:) I sometimes feel like I just chase her around all day. Everly loves her sister so much and already wants to do everything she does. It melts my heart to see them together.

Happy birthday to my sweet Everly. Man I love that girl!

Birthday dinner at Claim Jumper

Not so sure about the cake

This cake thing is serious business!

Oh Canada

We made a trip to Jeremy's parent's house this past weekend. Julianna always gets so excited because she gets to ride on a ferry and watch movies in the car:) We enjoyed lots of family time with good food, some ice skating, and church. We also celebrated Everly's 1st birthday. I cannot believe that in a week she will be 1! To her delight, she got to taste cake for the first time, and though she had trouble eating her dinner that night, she surely did not have any trouble eating her cake:)

She L-O-V-E-D her cake

Seriously the most precious thing to see them skating together

A natural

So, so thankful

I feel so thankful for so many things. Christmas once again reminded me of all that I have to be grateful for in my life. Though sometimes I have to choose to thankful amidst temper tantrums, poopy diapers, and laundry, this past weekend it was easy. Just look at these precious faces:)......

Santa...aka my dad...made a visit:) This was the best we could get

Every time Everly sat on Santa's lap, she clapped

Julianna on Santa's lap

Ooh I love that face!

The princess jewelry was a gift from a friend...this pretty much captures who Julianna is:)

Busy and blessed!

We have been so busy, just like everyone else, with the holidays coming (and going). Lots of family time, CAKE, and laughter have been going on around here lately:)

The big 4 year old

Azteca!

Fancy Nancy birthday party

Everly's dedication morning

Grandpa and grandma

Dedication

4

My BABY is 4. She clearly is not a baby anymore but, as you moms know, they will always be your baby. Julianna woke up this morning and the first thing I told her was that I was so excited that she wears big girl underwear to bed now (which was just recently accomplished), and she responded "well I am so excited that I am 4". It is ALL that we have been talking about lately so she knew that today was the day. She obviously wanted to wear her sleeping beauty dress and crown for her birthday outfit so we put that on and made blueberry pancakes with whipped cream for breakfast. Her and her daddy went to the library to get some new books so that I could have some time to get ready for her little birthday party with her friends. Julianna was full of energy today, and barely took time to breath. We ate cupcakes and ice cream sundaes, played pin the tail on the donkey, and opened presents. From all of the excitement/chaos :) by the time her party was almost over, she was in tears, completely exhausted and sooo ready for a nap. THANK YOU JESUS that she still naps:) After her nap she said that she wants to go to Azteca for her birthday dinner....a girl after my own heart. Then we will skype with grandma and grandpa in Canada and I imagine after that, she will be SO ready for bed! My little princess is 4, and I can hardly believe it.

 Birthday girl

 Daddy and his girls....this is the best we could get

 Mommy and the birthday girl....best we could get:)

 Birthday breakfast

 Pin the tail on the donkey

 Most of the kids

 Blowing out her birthday candle

Almost 4 and 9 months!

Julianna is well into preschool and having a blast. She is quite a social little thing and I so enjoy watching her interact with other kids....as long as she is not crying or bossing them around which tends to happen here and there:). If she is in a new place with children she doesn't know, I have seen her walk up to someone, introduce herself and ask them if they would like to play with her. She is very independent now, wanting to do everything herself. She really is changing from a toddler, to a little girl, and I have to admit that as great as it is to see her be a little more independent, it also makes me sad. Especially when I look back at pictures and see that not so long ago, she still looked so little. She is very impressionable and wants to copy EVERYTHING that Jeremy and I do. We are realizing that now we really have to watch everything we say and do around her, because even if she doesn't look like she is listening or observing, SHE IS:)

Sweet little Everly is just that. S-W-E-E-T. She loves to cuddle, and laughs at anything her sister does. She sucks her thumb, usually when she is tired, which is adorable, but I keep thinking that 3 or 4 years from now it won't be so cute:) She just cut her first tooth and is working on the second one, and even through that, her fussiness only includes an occasional grunt here and there. She is seriously such a joy, and dare I say it, easy baby:) I know things can change, but so far, so good which is making me want a 3rd...Jeremy?????

 Cousins!

 Preschool pumpkin farm trip

Julianna and Harper

My little thumb sucker

Goodbye Summer

Goodbye summer. Fall is creeping up on us and I have to admit, I am looking forward to it. Don't get me wrong....I LOVE the sun and warmth, but I also love the changing of seasons with the cool mornings, changing of all of the leaves, and lattes! Julianna started preschool yesterday and I am pretty sure that I was more excited than her, and she was pretty excited:) She marched into her school, and as we walked past her old classroom I did get a little teary eyed. I can't believe my baby is in her second year of preschool already. She looked so big next to the little 2 year olds. It does go FAST!

So here's to a little more routine, those pumpkin spice lattes everyone talks about, and for everything that these fall months have to offer:) 

Here's a little of what we have been up to lately...

 Papa Dane and his girls

 Julianna pulling Ella

 I love this face

 ...and this one!

 Slip n slide!

 Beach time

  Everly and mommy 

Daddy and Jules

Julianna on her first day of preschool