{Love for Sadie}

Last year I babysat this sweet little girl and her little sister every day while their mom taught school.  I still cannot believe that sweet, energetic Sadie has survived a liver transplant and is in Primary Children's hospital right now! 

Her and her family need our help! 

There is a fund raiser for Sadie Saturday, February 18th at Midway Middle School in Rigby, Idaho.  There will be a dinner and lots of items for purchase.  Here's the link for more information, it also has her aunt's info if you want to get in touch and help in any other way.  They also have set up a blog Love for Sadie, of you want to follow her story.

Our prayers are with you and your family, Sadie!  Get better soon!

{The "P" Party}

Not only has Caroline waited forever for this birthday, she has been planning her birthday party for just as long.  What exactly did she come up with?  A "P" party!  Pajamas, pillows, pizza, "P" games (didn't get any picts of those, but we played pop balloon games, musical pillows, a memory 'p' game and some others.  They were so fun!), the works. 

The kiddos:

Top row: Elizabeth

Middle row: Analyse, Louis, Brooklyn, Sierra, Bella

Bottom row: Anna, Caroline, Addy and Lacie

Making their own little pillows:

Making their own little English muffin pizzas

Present time!

Levi and Nana were overseeing all festivities to make sure everything went smoothly!

Then the girls got to decorate their own cupcakes (noticing a trend here?!? The more they do the less I have to do and the more fun they have -- hopefully!)  Check out the sheer frosting height on some of these cupcakes! 

Notice Caroline's birthday place mat she made for herself.  I'm telling you the preparations for this party went on forever!  She was so excited!

I'm so glad that Caroline has such sweet girls as friends.  They were so cute, it turned out to be such a fun party!

{Eight. That's right, 8!}

My sweet little Caroline is eight!  Somehow I am now the mother of big kids.  I have no idea how this happened.  Caroline is my sweet little social butterfly with a happy soul and a sweet giant giggle.  She's not one to cause a fuss, and is always in for a hug or a snuggle.   It seems like she has been waiting for this birthday forever.  It turned out to be quite the extravaganza, so I hope it was worth it! 

First off, gotta go get those ears pierced!  She jumped so high after the first one, I was sure it was going to be all wonky, but thank goodness this gal was a pro.  Caroline said it wasn't the hurt that surprised her, just the loud clicking noise the piercing gun made!

For the next three days she asked me over and over, "Do I look older now?  Do I look older?"  Yes, my sweet little baby girl, you do.  *sniff, sniff*  Stop rubbing it in, will ya?

Next up, the family party.  Heavy heavy hang over, thy poor head.  If this drops, you'll drop dead.  Whatcha gonna do with it?!?  Deep question.

Chocolate cake.  Chocolate frosting.  Every year.  My kind of girl.

The Birthday Tree!  We don't do this every year, but she loves it when we get our tree early enough to.  I tried really hard to convince the kids to leave it this way through Christmas (we are celebrating a birthday after all!) but they wouldn't hear of it!

{Random Wonderfulness}

This one pretty much speaks for itself...

The power stance. Rock on!

Elizabeth earned this from her primary teacher for reading the entire New Testament!

Wonderfulness.

 My bestie and big sister moved away.  NOT wonderfulness. 

But these pictures of her and hers and mine are...

 Why...?  I dunno.  But it makes me laugh!

The mutual admiration society.

...or...

Todd and Tiny Todd

...or...

Todd's Mini Me.



{Daddy Daughter Date}

The Daddy Daughter date, aka, now you can no longer ignore the fact that your daughter really is growing up right before your eyes.

The big night included a fancy dinner and dancing. The theme was "A Pearl of Great Price" and their leaders gave them a beautiful necklace and some wonderful words to live by. I'm so thankful for strong, wonderful women who reinforce what I'm trying to teach at home and are good examples!

Todd and Elizabeth won 2nd place in a the dance compition. When the music stopped Elizabeth had to sit on his lap and not tip over. Todd reports feelin' the burn!

These two are amazing together. Todd just gets Eliabeth in a way that I don't. She adores her daddy. And I adore that.

{Picture Time}

I've wanted a decent family picture since Levi was born, so one Sunday before Christmas I decided I'd make it happen so I could send out cards. One good picture, that's all a mom wants! I had to wake Mr. T up from a nap (thanks for your sacrifice, babe) but we got it! (With the self timer, no less!)



I even got a pretty cute one of the kids! Miracles DO happen! ...now getting the actual cards out before Christmas? Not so much, but there's always next year.

Every year for Christmas I make a calendar for my mom and dad, and they'll probably get one until the day they die. It's become a Christmas staple, like pajamas. I took these of all the grand kids, numbered in the order they were born. I LOVE this idea and want professional family pictures taken this way when baby grows up enough to hold his own number.

#1 Elizabeth

#2 Angelina

#3 Caroline

#4 Elyse

#5 Aiden

#6 Louis

#7 Maren

#8 Levi