New-ness

 

New happenings.

 

*I've ventured into the world of Yeast. This was a big step for me. I'm scared of yeast. I finally got over it for Matt. I learned how to make rolls for his birthday. Since then, I've been slowly getting used to using the stuff. It's not as scary as I thought it was.

 

*I'm considering Potty-Training Sloane. Sloane isn't going to go down easy. I expect a lot of tears (from me, not her). Sloane is a spitfire. She knows who she is and what she wants. She's sassy beyond belief. I think it'll be harder then Holynd, which was already pretty hard.

 

*Maddox is currently cutting four teeth. Two top teeth and two molars. I hate teething. He's actually pretty pleasant while teething, but even semi-fussy days make this mama tired lately.

 

*After a week of dealing with an inversion, I'm ready for spring. Holynd and I made sugar cookies the other day and she said, "Mama, can we make flower cookies? I miss the flowers." I miss the flowers too.

 

*I'm starting to notice that Valentine's Day is no longer a go-to-the-store-and-pick-out-a-cardboard valentine kinda holiday. Pinterest has opened the world up to a whole new Valentine's universe! I'm a little peaved. Especially since I just finished putting together a birthday party, but alas, I guess I'll be sitting on Pinterest with Holynd - helping her choose the perfect Valentine to give her friends. Something, I'm sure, she'll take very seriously.

 

*Sloane has reached a stage where she talks A LOT. Something that is very new for us. The problem: She talks about a million miles an hour. Maybe even a billion. It's like listening to the Chipmunks after seven Mountain Dews. Gotta love her though. Her newest favorite: "guys". Any tiny doll/dollhouse person is one of her "guys". She carries them around all day long acting out different scenarios. Most of the time, the two characters fight, hit each other and then Sloane tells them they have to say sorry and make-up. Hmmm... this sounds vaguely familiar.

 

*I'm coming to terms with the fact that I will be register TWO children for Pre-School. Actually, it's safe to say that I'm looking forward to it. Holynd will be taking more hours, more days a week and Sloane will be starting two days a week. Both of them need it so I'm content with it.

 

*Maddox still isn't walking. I'm in no hurry, honestly. He'll push different things around and walk behind them. No big deal. He just isn't quite ready to take-off. I'm not quite ready for the "LET ME DOWN SO I CAN RUN AWAY IN THE OTHER DIRECTION" phase. I've had 3 kids, I know what's coming. ;)

 

*We have FINALLY moved to 9am church. I was a little worried we wouldn't make it there until 10am, but we managed to make it right as announcements started. Also, sacrament was still pure chaos, but manageable. Picture me, in the bathroom with Sloane, toilet covered in you-know-what, and Matt is in the chapel with the diaper bag. Now picture me, wiping Sloane off with toilet paper the best I can, pulling up her tights and praying she doesn't pee on me while I run down the hall to get the diaper bag. And now picture me, running back to the bathroom to put a diaper on. After we get diaper on and secure, we go back to sacrament meeting where Holynd is on the floor crying because she has a HUGE run in her tights which is slowly forming a bigger and bigger hole. Lovely.

 

*Now that Maddox is eating all table food, I've realized that recipes don't seem to be leaving hardly any leftovers. This means that I will soon be doubling all my recipes and, yes, doubling the grocery budget. (Sorry Husband.) I used to think that buying in bulk was for families with over 8 kids. Seriously. But, I do cook every night and things like milk, eggs, bread, butter and flour run out VERY quickly. How does 6 gallons of milk A WEEK sound? Better yet, how does STORING SIX GALLONS OF MILK a week sound?? A small price to pay for the best kids in the world. Needless to say, we're probably going to need a bigger deep-freeze.

 

 

Partied Out!

Ok.

 

I finally bit the bullet.

 

I finally threw a full-fledged Birthday Party for Holynd.

 

It wasn't something I did very willingly. I was really apprehensive because her birthday is just so close to Christmas.

 

I went back-and-forth on dates many times. I finally settled on January 5th.

 

BUT!

 

That meant that we've had a party every weekend for... well, forever it feels like!

 

Between Christmas, New Years, having the Grandparents over for Holynd's birthday and then the Friend Party... this mama is PARTIED OUT!

 

Which leads me to my next point, having a birthday near Christmas may not be the end of the world. Apparently, you get to celebrate for an entire 3 weeks. ;)

 

Holynd's not a fan of change, so when I asked her what kind of cake she wanted for her "Grandparent Party" she said, "Ice Cream. Duh Mom!"

 

Duh, indeed.

 

Since, I'm not a huge fan of "character" themed items, I basically picked the theme for her bigger party. However, for her Grandparent Party, she got full reign. Her choice, "Aurora Birthday Party!" I even took her to Partyland and let her pick out as many tacky decorations as she wanted. She wanted everything including the creepiest looking Princess Candle she could find.

 

Her next celebration, Paris Party. I found this idea on Pinterest (of course) and really didn't have a hard time finding what I needed.

 

 

I was in love with these little favor boxes. Each one was filled with "girlie treats" and personalized.

"Mademoiselle Kate".

 

The little girls made bracelets and enjoyed cupcakes from Cupcake Chic. (My favorite!) We also served ice cream... Not really that "French", but it's not a party without ice cream. This reminds me, does anyone else get really overwhelmed in the ice cream aisle?? We really don't keep ice cream in the house. In fact, we usually only buy it on Halloween. There are so many choices in that aisle that it pretty much gives me an anxiety attack.

 

Holynd is just a social butterfly. She has so many wonderful friends. I really love this about her. She truly cares about every single one of them.

 

 

Do you spot Sloanie?? Sloane was a teeny tiny bit mad that Holynd was getting all this attention. She basically followed me around until Matt finally got home.

 

Oh wait. There she is again!

 

 

It all turned out wonderful.

 

I don't know if I'm going to turn into the Birthday Party Planning Queen or anything, but I'm really happy with how it went. Also, I'm pretty sure Matt's going to ask for a divorce if I throw another party anytime soon. ;) I do really well planning the first party... but when it came to the third and fourth party of the season... I was done. :) What a trooper I have for a husband.

 

Holynd. I'm so proud of the little girl you have grown into. You are amazing.

 

Want proof?

 

Ok.

 

We took the everyone to City Creek for New Years Day. The girls were so SO excited for go to the Disney store.

 

"If everyone is good, we'll pick out a small toy". I said.

 

Luckily, everyone was wonderful on the way up. (Other then, Sloane walks slower then any other child I know!). So, when we got to the store I told Holynd that she could find a small toy to take home.

 

She responded, "Oh. No, thank you. I got a lot of toys for Christmas". She then proceeded to leave the store.

 

Sloane, who's pretty good about following her sister's example, left without looking for a toy either.

 

Actually, Sloane's response to the entire experience was, "I hungry!! I want nuggets Mommy!".

 

Just when you think it's not possible to love them more, you do.

 

Even on bad days.

 

Sidenote: Twitch! Do not call me upset because you were not mentioned in the title, "Grandparent Party". ;) I will forever remember that you were there. Also, thanks again for watching the kiddos so we could go to lunch with friends (...and to pick out new carseats. Because when you have three kids, that's what you do on dates.)

 

Christmas was wonderful, but...

Christmas was pure bliss in this house.

 

It was the first Christmas in awhile that we haven't had a "first".

 

Holynd, Sloane and Maddox's "First Christmases" were all back-to-back.

 

It was a little out-of-the-ordinary for us.

 

However......

 

The excitement of Christmas is quickly trumped by this little girls' birthday!

 

Happy Fourth Birthday Holl-e-wood!

 

Holynd is quite the kid.

 

For the first three years of her life, she was her daddy's buddy.

 

But lately...

 

Lately, mommy has become a little bit more popular.

 

You see, Holynd is a girlie-girl. This girl is all about the PINK!

 

She's started to notice that mommy gets pedicures, puts on make-up, paints fingernails, wears jewelry, wears dresses, curls her hair, watches wedding dress shows, knows all about princesses and barbies, etc. And Holynd... well Holynd thinks that this is pretty cool.

 

She still jumps up and down when daddy walks through the door.

 

That's totally fine. I really hope that never goes away.

 

Holynd is still growing like a weed. She loves anything and everything GIRL. Her favorite show right now is My Little Pony, she likes to help me cook and she loves playing with her friends.

 

Her latest accomplishment: Reading!

 

 

I'm not going to lie. I cried twice today.

Shout out to Aunt Twitch!

 

Aunt Twitch lives away from home nowadays. She says she checks my blog often (even though it makes her miss my kids).

 

She also says that she never gets a "Shout out" on the blog.

 

So, Aunt Twitch, this post is for you.

 

I knew you'd like this post.

 

*****

 

Lately, I've been noticing something about my baby boy.

 

I noticed it first, when I posted his birthday party pictures.

 

I noticed it again a few days ago during dinnertime.

 

And I saw it again while we ate pizza at Costco.

 

Maddox has been using his utensils with his LEFT hand.

 

I'm not ready to actually "call it" yet, but I'm kinda wondering if he might be a lefty.

 

That's totally ok. One of my favorite people is left handed.

 

*****

You are you....

 

I've been really grateful for my kids and their siblings lately.

 

There is never lack-of playmates in this house. Makes my life chaotic, but also makes it pretty convenient.

 

I went to the dentist a couple of weeks ago. I sat in the chair and waited for the dentist. I hadn't seen this dentist before, so we chatted a little after he introduced himself.

 

He asked if I had any kids.

 

"I have three."

 

"You don't look old enough to have three kids. How old are they?" He replied.

 

I get this comment a lot. I used to take it as a compliment, but now I realize that some people just assume that I must have been a teenager when I had my first.

 

"I have a 3 year old, a 2 year old and a 1 year old."

 

His eyes grew very wide.

 

My eyes grew wide too.

 

That was the first time I had ever said it out loud.

 

A 3 year old.

 

A 2 year old

 

A 1 year old.

 

Crazy? Yes.

 

Blessed? You betcha.

 

Done? Probably not.