Who Has Had a Birthday?

It is always the same when one of the kids has a birthday, amazement at how fast they change and grow. Since memories of Mary and Elizabeth as babes in my arms are vivid in my mind, I can hardly believe they are 7 and 9! They are so different, night and day, salt and pepper. Mary is competive, passionate, quick-tempered, loves nature especially birds, can find anything that is lost, sensitive, forthright with her feelings. Lizzy is sensitive as well, tender-hearted, creative, driven in ways that may not be evident, happy to let others be in the spotlight, happy to let others win, weeps easily, keenly aware of how others might feel, notices the details of life around her, avid reader, lover of nature especially flowers. I love these two girls so much, they both have a special place in my heart....always have and always will!

Sabbath the Benders came over for lunch. Lizzy monogrammed party hats for everyone, even Wanda....who I must say was a very good sport about it! Baby Carson is walking and gets around pretty well too!

Doesn't Wanda look like she is smiling and digging the hat?








Mom carried on the tradition of 7 gifts from her on the kids 7th birthday. We enjoyed having mom on speaker phone while Mary slowly opened each one in order! Thanks mom for creating cool traditions for the kids to look forward too....(not sure what Mr Thomas is doing in this pic)

Of course with Mary's birthday on March 17 we are all wearing bits of green. I wore my new Green Crazy Earrings which cost a pretty penny at Old Navy!


We woke up on the morning of Lizzy's birthday to big flakes of snow falling. Their was shrieking and such from the kids and Lizzy exclaimed "It is actually snowing on my birthday, a wonderful present!" It didn't stick at our house but the snow was so beautiful on the hills around us. Since we couldn't have the girls Penny Carnival I took the three older girls and Gabby to see Lorax in 3D. We enjoyed the outing, but agreed afterward that we would all rather watch real people do real things!



Sweet Elizabeth Turns 9!!!!!! (wearing her new "9" sweatshirt)

Katherine played in the Honors Recital after her Certificate of Merit evaluation. She and Kara played a beautiful duet called Colorado River Rapids. I am so proud of Lizzy and Katherine who both did so well this year, despite the major changes and stresses in their lives.

Spring Has Sprung Around Our Home

Wanda Wanda Wanda


Splurged on these two boxwood plants when I was at Roger's Garden a couple weeks ago. They really freshened up the patio, making it so inviting.


So fun to have daffodils around the house...
Eggs are plentiful...lots of egg collectors in our family and lots of customers buying on Fridays. What good little chickadees!

It is so fun to get dressed now that I have dropped a couple sizes. Fun to accessorize....

Without Accessories

Adding in a necklace(from Silpada)and flower pin made by a friend

Another Cold Day

The kids had so much fun going to Newport Beach even though it was in the low 60's. Kids are like that...they can find joy in the simple, the unlikely. I had spent a bit of time being disappointed because I had built up in my mind, taking them to the "sunny" beach. I think they had just as much fun, maybe even more fun playing together. And guess how much complaining I heard?.....None at all, they were having the time of their lives!






Lizzy and I hundled up and tried to keep warm as we watched the crazies get more wet and more wet. We enjoyed predicting who would get wet next. We knew we were the "smart" ones!!!
Twins had a total hoot playing together in the water!






Katherine and Mary managed to get completely wet! It was bound to happen on such a balmy day!!!







Showing Big Sister her Heart Shell