{Dear Elizabeth,}

Oh, Elizabeth.

My sweet, serious, big-hearted Elizabeth.

You are growing up right before my eyes. So beautiful.

Now you want to hang out with the grown ups instead of the little kids (even though I can tell our conversations totally bore you). You are so sensitive to everyone around you, such a people-pleaser. Now you are asking questions. Oh, the questions. I never know what is rolling around in your head, or what will come out of your mouth next. Sheesh, there have been some doosies lately. DOOSIES!

I hope you read this someday and know how much I love all these things about you. I hope you always have the same drive to to what is right. The same drive to want to know everything about everything. The same drive to make those around you happy. I hope you learn to always keep that happiness inside you. I'm so proud of you, baby. I love you!

{Hair!}

It all started so innocently when I was bored and wandering around checking out the links on every body's sidebars, when I stumbled upon these two blogs:

Princess Hairstyles and She Does Hair

Even the girls got all excited... for awhile. Now Elizabeth is famous for saying, "That's really cute, but it looks like it would hurt!" which immediately makes me have to choke back the old "No pain, no gain" remark. I haven't even called her a party pooper (out loud).

Anywho, I digress. Here's a few of our favorite new fun hairdos. I love to get ideas off of blogs or things I see, then make them our own. Just thought I'd share since these first two would be perfect for Valentine's day tomorrow: (Both of those other blogs have TONS of other cute heart ideas on them too, so check them out!)

I had to adapt this one a little. The short hair version:

...and the long hair version! She totally needs ribbons or flowers, but I didn't want to hide too much so you can see how I did it. Just do a backwards loopy-do (tiny ponytail parted, then pulled through). Divide the two sides and braid for as big as a heart you want!

This one I saw at church and fell. in. love. So cute to leave the back of the hair down, or pull it into piggy tails! I just do the first row of tiny pony tails, add the headband, then finish up with the second row. Caroline asks for it almost every day, and she loves all the compliments she gets!

Elizabeth has less patience, but more hair to play with -- go figure. I did this one really fast before school today. Just your regular looped pony tail, but I pulled the ends up and around the elastic and curled them out. Add a flower, and it's ADORABLE! She calls this one "Crazy Peacock Do." Perhaps she should not be in charge of the official naming...

And since Elizabeth got to have crazy hair, Caroline wanted it too. This was her very own idea. Tiny "crazy buns" with a bow.

I have so many more that I just never took pictures of, so I'll add some more ideas later! Does anybody else have a hair blog that they LOVE?!?

{Livin' With Lou}

Louis as I'm snipping his fingernails:

(snip) "I freakin' out!" (snip) "I freakin' out!" (snip)

Louis as I'm changing his super-stanky bum:

"I diein'! I diein'!"

Oh, the drama.

Louis doing a mean impression of Joey from Friends:

"How YOU doin'?"

Just. like. Joey. *sigh*

Louis as we squeeze between two carts in Wally-World the day before the super bowl:

"WATCH OUT LADIES!!!"

(...and not a hole in sight for me to crawl into...)

{All Grown up!}

Me grown up, not my kids (yet).



Why?


Todd made me something wonderful.
Something amazing.
Something that makes me feel all grown up.
My very own headboard.
It's my late Christmas / early Valentine's day present, and I'm in love!



See?



It's a real piece of furniture, not some cheap crappy thing from a Mart or Ko. Not somebody else's old hand-me-down. It's new, and perfect, and made just for me! He painted the bamboo on free hand. Mr. Talent-ed.

Like I said, I'm in love.




His next project? Matching side tables. I can't wait.

P.S. Looks like Louis is going to have to make friends with the air compressor.

{Little Boyfriend}

Turns out I am a very popular woman.

Todd has been working out of town, so we planned a day for just us to do a little shopping, lunch and a movie -- a real date. After my shower in the morning I had a face mask on when Louis came walking in and just stared at me for awhile.

Louis: What on you face?
Me: It's to make me pretty for my date.
Louis: You date?
Me: Yep, with my boyfriend.
Louis thought about that really hard for a minute, then said, "I you boyfriend," and he snuggled up against my leg.
Me: You are? I thought Daddy was my boyfriend.
Louis: Nope. I you boyfriend. Dubba Daddy's boyfriend. (That's what he calls Caroline, but that's another story!)
Me: Are you my little boyfriend?
Then Louis puckered up and made kissy noises. Lots and lots of kissy noises until I finally gave in and planted a big one on those sweet, slimy lips. Then he said, "Yep, I you little boyfriend." ...and he kept that up all day.

By the way, Todd and I had an amazing day. Did a little shopping and got a few things I've really been needing -- even got a new purse. It's like I'm a new woman. Todd even found a hat that fits his tiny head so we bought 4. He's very picky about his hats, and his old one is beyond nasty. Thank goodness Nike still makes black hats with white swooshes. Then we went to a movie and lunch. I. love. lobster. ravioli.

It's so nice to be loved by my big boyfriend and my little one too.

{The Loose Tooth Contest}

Both Elizabeth and Caroline had a loose tooth, so I decided to inspire a little friendly competition to see who's tooth would come out first (gotta give them something to talk to their future therapists, right?) Caroline won, and lost her first tooth yesterday! She asked me to pull it and I told her I didn't think it was ready. She apparently didn't like my answer too much, so she did the typical kid thing -- she went and asked her Dad. He wasn't sure it was ready yet either, but didn't tell her that. He just pushed it straight forward and popped it out! Caroline was so brave, she barely flinched -- Todd was super impressed. Now she just glows when we call her Toothless Jo (her middle name is Jo)! Check out her new grin!

This is why we were so motivated to get that tooth out. Check out what's going on behind where it was -- more teeth are already growing in!

Louis was really got into all the excitement! He thought Caroline was pretty cool and kept asking to see her "loose toof."

{Merry Christmas!}

(Yes, I know. It's the middle of January and I'm still stuck in Christmas-land. Just spreading out the holiday cheer, and ignoring all your dirty looks! I will document! Then I will make a blog book! I am woman, see me BLOG!)

One last Christmas eve pic. Behold, Todd's future -- a cowboy Santa. :) This is his Christmas pajama box from when he was a kid. Now he's really staring to look like it!

Christmas morning rolled around a little too early for my taste, but way too late for the kiddies. Louis always goes into the girls' room first every morning to play (they must be more fun that watching me try to force myself awake), and Todd told them they couldn't come out until he came and got them out (a great tradition from his side of the family). We woke up to the kids chanting over and over, "Dad! It's 7:30! DAD! IT'S 7:30!!!"

Santa was good on his word and did come back to leave a thing or two. Looks like dental hygiene is a big concern these days.

"Mom! I smells so good in here!"

Finally, it's time to open presents!

Does this look like the face of a morning person to you? I was doing my best by this point! This is the present the girls made for me and wrapped all by themselves. Not only did they pic this pretty pink bag ;), they make their own "tissue" paper by drawing hearts all over actual tissues and tucking them on top. Loved it -- love them! Just so you know, there was a necklace they had made inside.

Daddy got new steel-toed boots. Yep, they work!

Lou now gets to burn a little extra energy by chasing around his new remote controlled car!

We had such a nice, relaxed Christmas morning. The kids brushed their teeth about 100 times until Todd got the Wii set up and we all took turns playing! So fun! I finally was pulled away by my new steam mop. I. was. in. love. Yes, I mopped on Christmas -- but it was fun! *sigh* I'm getting old, aren't I...?

Next we headed over to Nana and Papa's house for food, presents, cousins, and more presents!

This book should be called "Louis Gets In Trouble" instead. It's his #1 new favorite book and we read it a million times a day. I think it's may be a bad influence and giving him too many new ideas! There's one page where David is supposed to be eating his eggs and he says, "Do I have to?" Louis always pipes out with a big, "NOPE!"

Lots of manly bonding going on. Boy toys are so much fun!

The next morning we headed out bright and early for Utah! Grandma made each one of the grand kids their own quilt. May you have long and sweet dreams, my children. LONG and sweet...

Grandma also knew just what Elizabeth wanted. A real porcelain doll. I think she finally settled on naming her Laura Clair. I'll ask her again tomorrow!

Melodie inherited one of Ken's elephant pieces from his huge collection. Inside this bean are 12 (I think) tiny carved elephants!

It was such a wonderful Christmas. Full of family, laughter and just time to be together. We are so blessed. I love my kids -- they made this Christmas just amazing! It was so wonderful to see them so excited (always peeking under the tree -- Elizabeth and Louis both had who every gift was for memorized!), so generous (without any prompting, Elizabeth and Caroline picked out and made a super thoughtful gift for everyone), and surprise (thank you again Secret Santa)! Merry Christmas!