Great grandmothers

Recently my grandmother on my mothers side passed away. It was unexpected, she wasn't super sick but she was 85. What a blessing to have lived for 85 years. She was able to spend many years with

 with her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids.
She was a beautiful painter, she loved the ocean, and she loved to hold your hand.

She was my last grandparent and I will miss her!
 

These were pictures from her 85th birthday, she came out to visit

Her birthday a few years ago
My aunt Collette, Sister Carol, Grandma Lee, me, Sister Beth and my mom Electa
It was a wonderful day with all the girls!

then there were 5

In December we found out we were expecting a surprise!

A new baby to add to the crew! Let me just say we are still shocked and amazed and feeling so blessed! My silly husband says only 2 more and we have your dad's record beat!

This special little baby is due July 29, 2014. 

Only 3 days after the little kids 2nd birthday. July is going to be busy and amazing! 

First photo!

Our announcement.

kix in a cup

My kids are big....they are eating kix in a cup, applesauce with a spoon. Noah is starting to help make dinner.

 

I keep seeing little things and big things that make me realize how much my kids have grown.

Noah is much taller than me, he likes to remind me that he needs to lean over to give me a hug.

He has a deep voice and is starting to look like a man, not my chubby cheeked little boy anymore.

The little kids are still my chubby cheeked little cuddle bugs. But they are also growing up.

Gunner said "bye bye grandma" yesterday to my mom when she left.

Our first sentence! He is my quiet boy but suddenly he has started talking, even more than the others.

He says thank you, moo, yucky, and cracker along with the rest of his words,

these are just the new additions.

He likes to clap and say "yay" for his brother and sister whenever they do something good!

Sometimes I will forget and he knows when it should be done and will start it!

What a great brother they have!

Hunter said ball at Christmas when he saw his new truck with the boulder in it.

He has started wearing his new big boy boots all around the house.

We have been sick so we have only gone outside with them once. He was excited!

He is also obsessed with hair. He rubs his hair when he is tired and he likes to tangle his fingers in mine too. Ouch!

He is very smiley, smiles at everyone all the time.

Maarii is my little mama.

She will go and grab one of the boys when I call them over to change them.

She grabs their shirt and drags them over to me. She even gets the right one.

I can ask her to go and bring me things and she will.

She will find a pacifier for Hunter and put it in his mouth.

She cries when Gunner gets really upset and tries to comfort the boys by hugging or patting them.

She loves to give her brothers kisses.

She likes to clean! YES! She will pick up toys, put away the kitchen towels, and wash their table.

 

And of course they all like to tell each other no, no ,no!

 

Sibling love

This week we have had some sick kiddos. Runny noses all around, which has caused more cranky babies and lots more complaining because they don't feel good. Today however I got to see a lot of little loving moments between the kids, it warms my heart!

big brother moment

Noah is really an amazing older brother, the little kids just light up when he walks into the house after school. Today as the trio were sitting on the couch he came in the door and got 3 huge grins. He came over and gave everyone hugs and attention and they loved it! He has also been good this week about entertaining them while I cook dinner. He will wrestle with Gunner, giggle with Hunter, and cuddle with Maarii. I am so thankful for that big brother!

 

 

lots of kisses



Today while I was holding all 3 little kids (which was almost all day) Maarii started giving Hunter who was in the middle kisses. She would lean over and kiss his mouth, then his forehead, then his hair. Gunner thought that looked fun so he leaned over from his side and started giving his version of kisses. They start out as a kisses but once he gets close to you he opens his mouth and slobbers on you then laughs because he thinks it's hilarious! So little Hunter was getting love from all sides, which he tolerated for quite some time too.

 

sweet sister moment 

Later Gunner tripped on a toy in the hall as started crying. As I was going to get him Maarii ran down the hall to give him a big hug and tried to comfort him. 

Gunner and Maarii were sitting on my lap and Maarii started coughing so I was patting her back. Gunner reached over and started patting her back too. 

 

mama's boy

My sweet little Hunter walked up to me while I was sitting on the couch and have me a big hug, then he took his pacifier out of his mouth to give me a kiss. Quite a gesture to take out the pacifier.

                    I just love all these sweet moments and I want to remember them, always.

 





Night owls

My little boys have become night owls!

They go to bed at their regular bed time than a few hours later one if them "sounds the call" for the group and they get up. They take turns on who is the caller, something they have always done. 

Tonight Maarii decided to continue her beauty sleep so it was just me and the little boys.

We had some milk and a snack. Then a little play time with Sesame Street.

Funny thing is that Hunter now associates being up late with our smoke detector. A while ago during one of our late nights with daddy the fireplace started smoking and set off the alarm.

 Hunter was very interested in that very loud noise so josh had to take him and show him what it was.

 Now all late nights he goes over to the wall it's on and points and starts talking about it.

Funny the things they remember. 

After we were done with snacks Hunter kept walking down the hall to his bedroom door.

 I kept bringing him back, assuming he was trying to wake Maarii. After the 5th time or so, I thought maybe he is trying to go back to bed. So I gathered the boys up and took them back to their beds. They both laid down quietly and went right to sleep. I guess they just needed a snack and some play time, and were ready to hit the hay!

 

Snow Snow Snow

Today we had our first snow since the babies were born! They were so excited when I got them out of bed and held them up to the window to see it! They immediately ran out to the dining room to look out the sliding doors.

So of course we had breakfast then went out to play first thing!

 Even Noah was excited to take them out in the snow!

 

First snowball! He loved kicking his feet in the snow

 

 

Yummy snow!

 

 

 Hunter wasn't sure about all that snow on his pacifier

 

 

 We need some boots!

 

 

My loves!

 



where has the time gone....

Everyday I am amazed at all the new things we are learning and doing, these are no longer my little babies. They are now my little big kids, with long legs, long hair, silly words and giggles.

 

Gunner's favorite words are bye-bye, uh-oh, dog, woof-woof, mama, dada, thank you, moo and suddenly he is just babbling up a storm about everything. My busy quiet boy has become quite the talker! He loves to be outside and can't wait to see the dogs he isn't nervous about them at all. He has started shrieking at the top of his lungs when he is upset (usually after his sister has bitten him) ear piercing screams! When he is tired he likes to snuggle and suck his thumb, he likes to dance and shake his head to feel his hair swish back and forth. He loves to ride the zebra rocking toy, and he shakes his crib back and forth when he is ready to get up from a nap. He got his first hair trim because his hair was in his eyes, he is such a handsome boy!

 Gunner weighs 23.6lbs, is 31.5in tall, and has 10 teeth.

 

 

 

 

Hunter's favorite words are dog, bye-bye, woof-woof, mama, dada, go (as in where did it go? usually about his pacifier) and he crows like a rooster! He loves going outside and always wants to go see the chickens and the rooster. He likes the dogs and gets excited but he doesn't like it when Hasslehoff gives him too many kisses. He is still my snuggly mama's boy that sometimes comes to snuggle with us in the middle of the night for a little bit, but after about 30 minutes he has trouble finding a comfortable spot so he goes back to his bed. Hunter loves to dance, he does a rocking from foot to foot with his hand raised. He has started temper tantrums where he runs to the corner away from everyone and cries. His face and eyes get all red and he cries big crocodile tears, definitely my little red head! His hair is starting to curl in the back.

Hunter weighs 21lbs, is 30.75in tall and has 10 teeth. He is still my little guy!

Maarii's favorite words are baby, bye-bye, dada, dog, thank you, go (as in go away brothers) and mama. She is super giggly and does a funny little laugh that sounds fake she has started laughing like the Count on Sesame Street. She loves babies and loves to give hugs and kisses. She is very interested in clothes and has started bringing me clothes to put on her. Her favorite is her striped cardigan sweater. Good thing it washes she has worn it for a week straight, even with her jammies!

She loves to play outside and get dirty. She always has sticks, dirt and leaves in her hands and mouth. She tolerates the dogs but has fallen in love with grandma and grandpa's kitties.

Her temper tantrums have started with throwing herself face first on the ground with tears. She loves to snuggle on the couch with her blanket and suck her thumb first thing in the morning while she is waking up. She carries her dolls, bears and blankets around with her. She and Hunter love shoes! She is a tough cookie who shows her brothers who is boss and is not afraid to bite them. She is a big time daddy's girl, she throws a tantrum when he leaves her at home and is the first to greet him at the door.

Maarii weighs 24.8lbs, is 32.25in tall and has 14 teeth.

 

These kids are truly the most amazing blessings in my life! 4 very special reasons to be Thankful this year!