Yay for Number 2!

My sweet little blessing, Elise, turned two years old on October 11th. She spent the day going from soccer game to soccer game. Here she is with her best little friend, Lizzie.
We decided that we needed to do something other than drag her along to everyone's soccer games, so inbetween, we went to Three Cedars Farm. I was so sad that I forgot the camara!!! She had fallen asleep when we got there and so totally missed the hayride out to the pumpkin patch, but did wake up in time to choose the cutest tiny pumpkin. I think that she was totally jostled on the hayride back, but did manage a few smiles in between looks of concern. She loved drinking cider and eating donuts, though, when we were done with our hayride.
After the last soccer game, we went out to Red Robin (kind of a family birthday tradition). She LOVED getting a great big ice cream sundae and put up with the waiters and waitresses singing to her.
Elise loved opening presents, and the kids were so happy with her reaction to the presents they picked out.

That night we went to a friends house to watch the BYU game, and I made her this crayon box cake, since one of her favorite things is to color. It was gone very quickly!

It's hard to believe, two years later, how hard it was to get her here to earth. It was not easy, but so worth the pain and suffering!! She is definitely a light in our life!

Mommy's little helper

Elise loves to be with Mommy all of the time, but especially when I am cooking. She loves to stir everything, but has had to be taught how to take turns. I love having little helpers (Natalie loves to help me, too.) Elise and Natalie both love their new aprons made by Aunt Larraine!!

One Fine Day

Our Primary sponsored a ward Talent Show. As a primary presidency we performed a lip sync of "One Fine Day". I was the designated hair and make-up person, and we all had coordinating outfits. These pictures were taken after we got home that night, so I look a little worse for wear, but you get the idea. We were a big hit (we had choreographed the whole thing) and lots of people almost didn't recognize the president and the other counselor because they looked so different with the whole sixties hair and make-up thing. My favorite part was wearing false eyelashes!

Two little buddies

Natalie and Elise have really started to play together. They are little buddies and have so much fun together. Elise loves to wait for Natalie to come off the bus every day. She's so glad that there is still someone in the house who still likes to play babies.
Ashley took this picture of Elise and Natalie showing off their "bracelets".

First day of school!! 9/2/08

Today was a big day for Ashley. The first day of middle school!!! She was so excited and cute and had a great day. She is just thriving in her new environment.
Natalie and Zach are my elementary school kids. Today was Zach's first day of 4th grade. He told us that his new teacher, Mr. McMaster is pretty strict, but that he thinks he'll be good.
Natalie LOVED kindergarten! She has been so ready for school to start! She came home telling us that her teacher is Mrs. S'more (can you tell we just went camping?). Her real name is Mrs. Moore.
Natalie didn't want to let go of Zach getting on the bus! He was a good protective older brother and showed her the ropes.
Natalie was so happy coming off of the bus. Kindergarten has been so much fun. Natalie is so sad when it is a weekend. She doesn't want to miss a single minute of it. When was the last time you were sad to see the weekend come? (When you were in Kindergarten, maybe?)

Labor Day Vacation 2008!

What a crew! We had a great Labor Day camping trip with Mom and Dad, Michelle and Sarah and Jeremy's family! We especially loved swimming in Rousch Lake. We made a chain of people on floaties. The kids loved it!
Zach and Brayden spent a lot of time on Aunt Michelle's air mattress (who would have thought?) and never wanted to get off.
I had to show proof that I was actually there!!
Natalie and Rachel loved hanging on to Grandpa's toes and dragging him around.
The kids really loved camping! We hadn't gone for many years and after this I'm sure we will be going more than once next summer. They loved our monstrous tent, hanging out with cousins, attempting to light a fire with real flint and steel and carving anything they could get their hands on with pocket knives. One of my favorite memories was going mountain biking with Will and Jeremy, Ashley and Zach, and Brayden and David. I had Elise in the child seat on my bike. It was hard work, but there were really fantastic views!!
Elise loved playing with her big sister, Ashley!
Natalie always has a good time as long as she has someone to play with!
These two boys couldn't be closer if they were blood brothers. They have such a good time hanging out together!
The three cute little girls have a sandy lunch by the beach.
What fun to have Aunt Michelle come play with all of the nieces and nephews and teach us all the most fun camp songs! I think that will be one of my kids favorite memories!
I have such a great family!! Hopefully next time, we'll be able to have more of the family join us!

Elise's first haircut- Sept. 1, 2008

Elise had her big moment! The first few locks cut off of her hair. She sat very patiently while we trimmed the ends and wanted her hair dried like the big girls.
She thought her reflection in the mirror was very pretty!