Grams

While Joseph and I were celebrating 10 years of marriage bliss, awesome Grams came to watch the kids.  Oh how they loved it!

He kept asking to snuggle with Grams. 

He kept asking when she was going to make her yummy food.

He kept asking when he could play with Grams.

 

She kept asking just to see he because, "I just always miss her so much, but next time she needs to let Pa come".

I kept wondering all of the above.  I really have a great mommy.

Thanks again Grams!  And, according to the children Joseph and I need to leave more often so that Grams can come play more!

Love you! 

(- and no worry kids, 'next time' is already in the works!)

YELLOW BELT!!!

Belt tests make me so nervous.  But here he is at another one, (which we are thrilled about by the way).  He is testing for his Yellow Belt on March 28th.  Oh golly I am such a nervous wreck the whole time I don't know how I am going to handle when he has to start breaking boards!  EEEK!

His Kata looked great!!

He did super well with his sparring.  Hopefully by the time Z is doing this, I won't be close to hyperventilating!!

Fourth exhausted kid over is my boy.

You can see how tired he is.  I love how hard he works.

So exhausted.  Yet so pleased.  

I had asked him what he was thinking here, and he said, "Man I am hot and thirsty and this floor is hard!!"  Guess I would think that too!

Getting the belt!

Here was the whole group that tested.  He really did an excellent job!

Lucky Poor JellyBean had dance on this night, so she couldn't see it.  But seeing as I am such a wreck during it, I know she would follow suit!  It is just so intense for me!

We are just so pleased and proud at all the hard work he has done!  It is amazing to see him grow and do so well!

Way to go Chunk!!

A Baptism for Her

So my sweet little darling turned 8 years old.  She made the choice to ask her daddy to baptize her to become a member of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints on January 5, 2013.  It was such a special day filled with love, family and friends.

We have such a supportive ward family and family family and friends family.  On the way home, JellyBean looked at me and said, "WOW!!!  I really can't believe all those people wanted to watch me get baptized!  That was so fantastic!!"  

Proud Parents

Proud Extended Family

Afterwards, we had a small lunch for the family at our house.  It was filled to the max and we loved every second of it!

All the kids, all the grown-up.  I was just trying not to burst being surrounded by everyone! (Yes, I know how cheesy it sounds, but it truly was awesome!)

Here we will have just some snap shots of those I could catch randomly.

Mom and Mallory

Chris and Mom

Sisters!!! (Me, Diana, and Mallory)

Cousins!! ((l-r) Anisley, Chunk, Dylan, Makenna, JellyBean, Z, and Monkey)

Dia, Daddy, and Mom

Pa and Z (he would let Pa zip him around all day if we let him!)

We are all so glad that everyone to the time and effort to come down!  It was so great to sit around late at night and talk.  We are so blessed!

He made it to 3 years old!!!!

We are all happy and surprised to see that he lived this long.  And boy are we sure glad he has!  He is such a spunky little guy that has a never ending supply of energy and creative ideas that it is exhausting.  How he will change the world, it knows no bounds.  Yes- there are days where when nap time ends part of me wants to cry.  But when he sits on that couch and pats next to him and asks to 'nuhu up peeeeessseee' (snuggle up please) I truly can't resist.  When he comes down at 5:45 in the morning, snuggles up and hands me the remote asking to 'wah mihe mou' (watch Mickey Mouse) and promptly puts a pillow on my head to block the sound.  I just hug him tighter and savor the fact that he decided to hold hands with me too. (I am also super reassured that I know EXACTLY where he  is, what he has, and what he is doing).  But it all happens way too fast.  His sentences get clearer and longer.  He is more determined to do more on his own.  He decides when he is a 'bee boy' and when he 'ju a illel boy'.  And he looks at you with those big clear stormy steel blue eyes and you find it hard to resist him.  It's amazing how he does it!  

We did celebrate his birthday- we just can't find the pictures.  (Yes, the mommy guilt is eating my up about it too)

But he got a scooter that we can't keep him off of, and it doesn't feel good when he races over your toes squealing because he is loving it.

He also devoured twice as many cupcakes as everyone else because he was faster than everyone else and sneakier about it than everyone else!  But that is so totally Z it kind of made it ok.

Top 3 reasons we love Z:

1- He has helped us grow in ways we never knew we needed to grow.

2- He knows how to make any situation fun.

3- He is my baby and know it!

Love you little Lovie!

My Beautiful Dancer

So I really have a hard time every year at recital time.  Not only is it a crazy schedule, but it really shows me how much she is growing up!

And it kills me a little each time.

And to make matters worse, I think time is moving faster.  Such a bitter sweet reality!

Dress rehearsals are the times when moms can become the paparazzi and take endless pictures of their girls.  And it is definitely taken advantage of.  They have backdrops up to take pictures with, and by the end of the long night of pictures and dances.  The girls are done.

We start out happy!

We like posing. 

We even get asked to take more pictures in different poses! 

We get an awesome end pose with the whole class! 

Then they dance the same dance again and mom's go crazy taking pictures of the darlings dancing!

It is after that first dance most of them decide they are done.  They don't like 'mommy-razzi', and they don't like the make-up.  One is lucky to get any happy pictures after that.  And, most of the next dance is halfway done. 

And the group smile are forced.  But still adorable. 

But after some loud music and dancing in the car- we get a real smile.  And a precious fleeting moment that was gone too soon.  But a glimpse of more of what was to come.

Then come the day of the recital show.  Jerra's friend Lucy came over so they could get ready together.  They thought they were so grown up getting their hair and make-up done together! 

Then before the show, we again, get to take pictures with the backdrop. 

This time there are big smiles fueled by nerves and excitement. 

And you are again floored by how big she has gotten in the past year. 

And you are so happy to see her so happy. 

And back stage it is all you can do to sit back and watch as she needs you a little less each time, but when she asks for a picture with you, you can't help but beam with her and squeeze her just bit to much. 

And then you see another glimpse of her in 8 years. 

And as you watch her float through her dances she has practiced so hard on from back stage, you are just glad that your baby girl is so happy, and talented, and sweet, and extra glad she's beaming on stage while you watch on the wings trying not to cry because you are just so glad about who she is growing up to be, and glad to part of it.

Love you JellyBean!