Officially - 4 days left

I'm going to miss my sweet Addie-babe when she leaves me and heads back to school - the big second grade.

I'll miss her because we probably won't get to read together as much as we did this summer.  Some days we spent 1-2 hours reading Harry Potter 7, but we finished and we are ready for the movie this Fall.

I'll miss her because she so dutifully did her 3 jobs every morning with this sweet, cheerful little attitude.  She was actually excited the days that she had to clean her bathroom - one of the new jobs she learned this summer.

I'll miss her because she became my big, mostly responsible, babysitter.  She and Olivia started babysitting themselves and Drew while I worked downstairs.  They made a little extra money, taught Drew so new tricks like High Five, and contributed to the family "team" that together makes it all work. 

I'll miss her because she's my new shopping buddy.  She's not just there for the ride, she's in charge of the list.  She's looking at the prices, she's doing the comparisons, and she's directing the way.  She's discussing with me what we could make or do with this and that.  This is a new thing and I've just thoroughly enjoyed my partner this summer.  She'll miss most of the shopping now since she'll be gone.

I'll miss her because she is my second in command when it comes to getting out the door.  She helped me get sippy cups, diapers, waterbottles, treats, suncreen, wipes and all the necessities for a day of errands or fun.  Now that we're at the end of the summer, she comes to me with the run down of everything she already took the initiative to gather into the car and ask me what's next?  Seriously, amazing!  I have no hope without her. 

But mostly, I'll just miss her cute face, her big toothy/toothless smile, our conversations, her great example and her eagerness to help, to be part of our family and to be loved.

So I'm sad.  I'll miss my sweet girl. But I am excited to see her grow, to see her learn and hear about her day . . . away from me.

Run with it

This is the pink pajama shirt that Addison passed down to Olivia that Olivia wore EVERY night and most days over her real shirt (I'd make her take it off if we went anywhere) for most of last winter. 

(None of these pictures are good, but they illustrate the point . . . and this was an early bedtime, not a late pj day since that's dinner on the stove)

She likes those footed pajamas too.  So she'd wear the footed pajamas, unzipped, so she could still play with her belly button as she feel asleep (remember her Belly Button obsession here).

(again not a good picture, but can you see them unzipped to her knees?  THAT was for belly button access)

Then when she was given the fav pink shirt, she would wear it under the footed pajamas EVERY night. 

I'll just say, she has some of her own quirks and we just go with it.

Summer 5 years ago . . .

I got to spend every day, all day with this sweet face. We usually went to the store with her dressed in her Belle dress, her princess shoes or a tiara. She had an imagination to beat all imaginations and often needed the car window down so she could hold Steady's leash while he ran beside the car. Luckily, Max, Mushu and Raja could fit in the car - unless I shut the door on one of them - it was hard to know. This was the beginning of the daily fashion show of 10+ different outfits per day. We still took naps every day, took leisurely walks around the condos, stayed up late and slept in late, loved The Wiggles, ate oatmeal every morning, watched Nemo every day, had a clean house, and started our very first play group.

Here's what else we got to do . . .

Addison played outside our condo . . . by herself . . . with her toys and her imaginary friends - Mushu (Mulan), Steady (the horse), Max (the dog) and Raja (Aladin).  I was just starting my venture with little girls' hair.  I had more time in those days for intricate designs. 

We went to Lake Powell with little Addison . . . and Ryan, Kendall, Jeff, Banna and Branda.  Kendall had the "bathroom incident", Dad went hiking to no where, Jeff got the "side" of refried beans, Ryan wore his underwear swimsuit, Ansen ordered a "small" pizza for himself, and I bought Ansen a delicious meatball sandwich.

Addison continued her love affair with Rowdy.  Her first sentence was "it's my buddy, Rowdy."

We took Addison camping with Consuela and Spencer to almost literally the middle of no-where :)!  It poured rain right as we got the tent up so Addison and I hung in the tent and read People magazine on the air mattress while we waited for the rain to stop.  It was fun in the end and the dutch oven food was fabulous . . . I still remember that!

This was the Memorial Day of this family favorite picture.  After grave site-ing we usually stopped by this park for a picnic lunch including apples and sweetened condensed milk carmel.  One year we spent some quality time on the swings and one year we figured out the hard way that the the jungle gym had just been painted . . . no, no signs. 

Our cute little niece Diane was born! 

Addison and I made our second of three trips to Oregon for the year!  This was the beginning of the take over of the the next generation of cousins.  Addison and I made 7 trips to Oregon in 2 years and that was some valuable time with my grandparents I will never forget!  I'm so glad we took the opportunity when it was there because heaven knows that would never be possible now!

Grandma Carol came to visit and Chris was still living here going to BYU!  I think this was the summer that Chris babysat for us for almost a whole day and even braved a stinky diaper.  He said he realized he still had hours before we were home so he was going to have to do it.   

Grandma Carol started sending a letter to Addison EVERY week with $1 and stickers.  We'd always stop by the mailbox on our way out of the condos, I'd read her the letter, hand her the letter and the stickers and she'd spend the next little while excitedly putting her stickers all over her letter.  And we still do the same thing now . . . just with 2 letters to 2 girls. 

Ansen was traveling a lot more in those days.  He went to NY this summer and brought me back my fake Kate Spade bag.  I think I spent one whole 4 day trip cleaning the house from top to bottom to surprise him and I don't even think he really noticed.  Those were the days . . . I actually had 4 whole days to clean the baseboards, the window tracks, organize the closets, clean inside every kitchen cupboard, re-bleach the tile grout and sweep and mop the garage (we painted the floor).  Seriously?!

I miss those days!

Birthday Babe!

Livvy Lou Who turned 4!  I know, 4 . . . how did that happen so fast.  She is the last birthday of the year for our little family and she was dying for her big day!  And a big day we tried to make, but first . . .

She was 3 days late, she was my easiest labor and delivery (but made up for that later). 

I'm not sure what my problem was, but I couldn't open my eyes all the way for the any of the pictures that day.  And when I look at this picture, there is no mystery as to why I have lingering stretch marks.

She had the most amazing hair!  It really looked like I carefully took the time to highlight this little lady's hair and then bleach the tips.  People asked if I did, lots of people asked. 

This is the best picture I could find that to show off the highlighted, bleached tips she was born with . . .

And at 9 pounds, she still looks tiny to me in this picture. 

I remember this little moment so vividly.  This was when she was still sweet, and still quiet, and still easy.  This was before her loud voice, her big personality and strong will appeared.  This is when I first fell in love with her and luckily that love has lasted and is stronger than ever. 

 

Anyway, thanks for indulging me, back to the birthday of 2010.

Breakfast at Kneaders . . . great, except she claims to have only gotten 2 drinks of the orange juice.

Water Party . . . Popsicles, sugar cookie decorating and presents.

Addison was a trooper, she helped me set it all up and then helped me keep things under control until Ansen got home to help.  It's nice she has a summer birthday, because setting up a few pools, the bounce house, the slip n' slide and the iPod was a breeze really. 

I know parties can be a lot of work, but I think it's fun for every child to get their turn being in the spotlight for the hour.  It's so cute how they all clammer around, begging for their present to be next.   

And then straight into the Family Party . . . pizza, presents and then cake.  All she talked about for 2 months was the Tiana doll in the blue dress.  Dreams can come true . . .

The cake was a creation and pink ice-cream of course.

(I'm not sure what I was doing with this odd colored backdrop to the cake pictures.  I think I did for Drew's b-day too . . . oops.)

Happy Birthday Olive! 

I've finally decided that I think Olivia is going to be alright.  She's been a "test" for us, but I think she's turning out to be a pretty sweet, kind child that still just happens to cry a lot. 

Love you Ollie Dolly!

Up to her old tricks . . .

Olivia was back to her old self when she ate a marker the other day.  She still had blue on her face the next morning for church.  This was our first "mishap" in quite some time.

Love this girl!