Blessing Day

After two attempts we finally did it! We blessed Tate last Sunday. (The first attempt she ended up getting RSV three days before.) I don't bear my testimony really ever because it ALWAYS turns into the ugly cry complete with sobbing and no one understands what it is I am saying between all of my blubbering. BUT I love these four people so much and am so glad they are a part of my life. I feel so blessed to have been entrusted with my three sweet girls who I love so much for all so many different reasons. They each are definitely their own person and I am so grateful for it! And words can't say how much I love and appreciate my husband. I am grateful that through the gospel we can be an eternal family!!!! (This post is not intended to make our lives look perfect just once in a great while you get a glimpse of heaven!)

Twilight, Edward & PHIL

In an attempt to get ourselves bikini ready (not that either Phil or I would ever wear such atrocities...just atrocities on us-can you picture Phil?) Phil and I made a "deal". If he went out to eat for lunch during the week and didn't get something healthy he would have to read the first book of the Twilight series. Three days later I WON!!! So he renegotiated that if he swore more than three times in the next week he would have to read the first TWO books. Yes, I won, only by one or two words but bring on Edward! I have to say that I didn't make this deal because I absolutely loved the books, because as a freak of nature I really didn't but it's all about the most amount of pain and suffering I can inflict. Phil's cousin Russ is so happy about the situation that he has found many a website of paraphernalia for Phil to have to carry around with him. Its been real fun.

Charlie is FIVE!!!

As the terrible and severely tired and distracted mom that I am this post is coming about ten days late but fortunately for me Charlie doesn't check the blog frequently so she'll never know...I can't believe my baby is FIVE. What happened??? I took her over to the elementary school to sign up for Kindergarten last week and just about cried the rest of the day because I am NOT ready for her to grow up. Seriously. Its the beginning of the end.
But this post isn't about me, now is it? We had a great celebration involving my family and the five of us. Phil and I finally broke down and got the girl a goldfish (okay, breaking down really would have been a dog but we're not ready for that kind of responsibility or chaos). Heart, the fish, gave out no more than four days later so Phil took the girls back to the pet store and Charlie picked out two new fish (guppies this time) named Shiny and Flower.
She (Charlie, not the fish) maintains the soft spoken, sweet little personality she has always had. She is so wonderful to her sisters and is trying so hard to learn how to do everything that grown-ups do. She has recently become very interested in the piano and cooking (as soon as I can teach her all I know, which isn't much, she's in charge of meals). Her toes remain her source for walking and she has learned how to stand on the very very tips in all of her shoes and will do it whenever we stand still for two minutes. She absolutely loves to draw and is exceptional at coloring, loves to sing and dance, and watch Tom and Jerry cartoons. Charlie's best friend is Brit, who is so thrilled that her older sister tells her that and is so willing to play with her the majority of the time.

I can hardly believe its been nearly three months since Tate was born! She LOVES to be talked to and tries her hardest to talk back. Her newest trick is if her binky is nearly all the way out of her mouth she has figured out how to push it back in. What talent! (Of course she wouldn't need such skills if she were a little better at the binky but we'll take it!)
As for our other girls...we started giving them a performance based allowance (they have to do certain chores every day without crying). We explained the whole tithing thing in simple terms and the rest of the week Brit kept saying "I will give Jesus my money!"
As for Charlie, she is trying so hard and learning how to read. Last week she kept asking us for plain milk so she could grow big and strong. On Sunday she made a comment that made me realize she thought the milk in the fridge was the same milk Tate drinks (I am nursing). Straightened that one out real quick!

Could it really be???

I woke up Sunday morning knowing my kids were all staying home from church due to illness AGAIN and decided it would be the prime day to start potty training being that Phil was technically home for two days to help out. I have to say this is something I have put off for MONTHS, I had a good excuse with having a baby but I knew my time was up.
You see, I had to potty train Charlie three different times before it finally took and each time was more miserable than the previous. It has a lot to do with SEVERE frustration all the while having to fake nonchalant-ness after an accident and overly joyed at something that really had been taught and learned many times before.
I think I figured out my problem. Charlie WASN'T ready! So yes, Brit is on the verge of three and that seems to be the trick! We had one accident Sunday, one Monday and so far none today! WAHOOOOOOOOO!!!
The best part of potty training Brit is there's always a song and dance to go with whatever she is doing. For those of you who have seen the "stinky bottom" dance it is now the "potty" dance. And apparently if she goes in with Phil she has a song (which she refuses to sing for me) that goes a little like this, "Go potty, go potty, go potty!"
I will get video of the dance for all to see one of these days but just know it has to do with sticking her little backside out and shaking it side to side. Its a riot!

Miracle of miracles!

Two weeks ago Phil took Charlie up to Powder Mountain for some ski lessons with the intent of having two quiet hours to himself to read in the lodge. One of the instructors found out he couldn't ski and would NOT take no for an answer. He only fell once and loved it so much they are going back this week for more lessons. I was so proud I could have cried.

Recently....

We all grew over the holidays-Tate is now out of her "up to 7 lbs." clothes, Brit grew (or jumped feet first) into a big sister, Charlie grew into the oldest and wisest and Phil and I grew in ways we just won't discuss. That brings up the fact that I've been to the gym twice this week (or since Tate was born) and my pre-pregnancy clothes STILL don't fit. Shouldn't twice do it??? Oh, and Nat brought Ava and Alex out to visit so Christmas was complete!!!