Sophia's Birthday

Little baby Soph turned 3 last week. My baby is growing up-happy? not sure-
We took the girls ice skating-everybody really enjoyed it except the birthday girl. I literally drug her around once then we took turns sitting by the fireplace with her-so exciting.

Sophie is obsessed with Duckies lately. She has a massive collection of cheap plastic squeaky ducks. I've tried to buy her cute cuddly ducks, and we even took her to see real live ducks-she was not interested in any of them except the cheap 1.99 walmart squeaky things. So hence the ducky themed cupcakes, and all the ducky toys.

My mom says Sophie looks just like I did when I was her age-I don't see it...

Happy Birthday "little big girl"-she has made it very clear she's not a big girl yet, and she's not a little girl anymore-she's a "little big girl"-I think her 3 year old logic thinks it can manipulate this way to receive every possible advantage- cute.....

Olivia's Baptism

Isn't this cute! We were so lucky to have my 2 nieces come all the way from Utah for Liv's baptism. The girls had sooo much fun, little sleep but who cares about that except the mom.... all the girls ready for church-I don't know how I would ever be able to do 6 girls hair everyday, just even brushing out all those snarls was horrible...

All 6 girls sang at Olivia's baptism. We practiced and practiced the night before and they were only slightly off key.....

The actual baptism was so nice. My mom, Trent, the Bishop and Primary rep. spoke at the baptism.
(my mom cried-she never ever cries)

My sweet elderly parents

If Trent were writing this I think he would say what a privilege it is to be able to baptise your own child. From my(the mothers) point of view-what a great feeling and blessing it is to have a husband who is able to baptise and confirm our child.

Olivia was so sweet and grateful that day. This is just the beginning-

It's hard to believe I have an eight year old!

Olivia's 8th Birthday

Little Olivia has turned 8. It's a big birthday for her. We do birthday parties every other year and it fell on this year, but the most exciting part is that she can be baptised (will post pics soon). She really wanted to have a rollerblading/skating party (there are limited options in the middle of winter in western PA) so that is what we did!

This picture really doesn't have anything to do with the party-but....isn't it awesome- that's Trent cleaning under and over the tramp

the birthday girl

Singing happy birthday

the girls on the rink

Adam Lambert Concert!!!

Last night Trent came home from work with a babysitter lined up and saying he was taking me out-this is not a common occurrence. He surprised me with the greatest surprise ever!!! Adam Lambert made an unexpected one night stop here in Erie at the Warner theatre. It sold out in minutes after it was announced, but somehow he got us tickets, on the 2nd row of all places. (it actually was because some woman was selling them at face value because she had bought them for her son and he was now grounded, his loss our gain-be good kids)

This first picture Trent took. The audience was the most diverse you've ever seen or heard of. There were a ton of goth, men looking like women, women looking like men. And then this 92 year old woman on the 3rd row with all her senior citizen friends. She must have been some American Idol fan.

He is an amazing performer-but I wonder how the old folks hearts are doing today. There were many moments I was shocked, some things were quite risque (and on the whole I don't think I'm easily shocked) and over all it was a pretty dark concert.

Trent you are seriously the best, this was an extreme concert, never been to one like this!

He had the best costumes(of course)
I also think this is the best picture I got of the night. It was not only dark in meaning, but the lighting was also very dark and goth. It was seriously quite an awesome experience!

Madelyns Birthday

Oh my little Madelyn. This should have been posted a long time ago, since her birthday was March 30th, but we're doing a little catching up and I'm starting with her birthday. Maddie is five now and it's hard to believe that in just another month she'll start all day kindergarten. I can't quite pinpoint why it appears I'm going to be hurting the day she starts, but I believe it has something to do with her not being the first, but by being the 2nd it truly means my family is growing up(I always looked forward to my first doing things for the first time, but it's not the same for the next) and these little girls wont be little for much longer.

Here they are at an Easter Egg hunt right after Maddie's birthday-yeah, um that was only what 4 months ago?
Isn't she sweet, Maddie's favorite color is blue and it has been blue for as long as she's been able to say blue, so she had a blue birthday, for the 2nd year in a row.

On her new blue bike

Being a middle child(which I was one of) I'm afraid she might sometimes feel a lack of attention stuck in between the oldest and then the baby. I know how it goes, but now as the mother of a middle child I realize how much even love you have for each child and how even though by chance she's in the middle, it's actually quite a blessing. She has always been so independent and she has a strong will, but such a sensitive side. At five years old Maddie is able to play well and follow the advice of other kids and give her own without being domineering, she's ready to start school even if it is all day! Even now I feel a loneliness in me just thinking about all the quiet afternoons I'll have without Maddie curled up on the couch beside me while Sophie sleeps. She hasn't started school yet, but I'm already missing her, how is that possible? I love you so much Maddie, you bring such happiness to your family.

Sophia's 2nd Birthday

I am sorry, I'm a slacker, Sophie's 2nd birthday was back on February 21st. But it's better late than never. For the children some day who will read this-in my defense it's been a busy few months. She wanted to open that Elmo bag soooooo bad! The party hadn't even started yet and she was already crying
She loves Elmo-started stripping as soon as she saw the new Elmo clothes

So cute!!! (the "you are special today plate" was bought for .50 cents from my sister-in-laws yard sale some 8 years ago. I just barely started breaking it out-I had never seen one before, but their kind of cool-right? Your loss Emily!!(I think we've been saying that for the past 8 years))

Sophie and Grandma on the day Grandma left-Sophie still asks "where's Grandma" and when I respond with "she's at her house" Sophie gets mad and says "Grandma my house, my house"

Nice Little Outing

Trent and I feel so lucky, we just got back from one of the best vacations ever. There are a lot of components that factor into what makes a vacation a "great vacation". I think the biggest factor in making this such an amazing vacation was the fact that we went from hellish winter in Erie, PA to perfect, sunny, beautiful southern Florida. I think that fact also contributed to why I experienced such a feeling ecstasy laying in the warm sand on the most beautiful beach in the continental U.S. Because this blog doubles as a photo album for us, be warned there are a lot of pictures. Here I am getting fried on our way out deep sea fishing
Trent and I on a bridge overlooking the Fort Lauderdale canals


On Fort Lauderdale Beach


Eating on the Boardwalks

Our hotel in Islamarada-central Keys in the Florida Keys

Driving down to Key West from Key Largo-breathtaking views, seriously

Trent on the airboat tour in the Florida Everglades

Trent and I in the Everglades-creepiest place that is somehow still beautiful

The beautiful canal streets leaving Fort Lauderdale and Miami-where Shaquille O'Neal has a place

Trent with the King Mackerel-we ate that fish a hour later at a trailer restaurant down in Islamarada-it was incredible

Key West

Trent and I going out snorkeling in Key West

Snorkeling-35 minutes later I was throwing up in this water with fish swarming around me eating my upchuck-At least the Barracuda's didn't bite-I'm not kidding. Shouldn't have swallowed so much sea water.

Just off the reef, Trent had just finished throwing up in this picture-same problem, we swallowed too much salt water. Thanks so much to my wonderful Mother-in-law for watching our kids for us and only knocking one hole in the wall.