Visitors from both Coasts!

Just before Valentine's Day Mom, Dad, Hannah, Rich, Erin, and Zeke came out to visit us. Each time I wish more and more that we could all live near each other and have our kids grow up pretty much as siblings like we got to with the Rathgebers. It is just beginning but it is still great to see them all together.

I don't generally think these two look too much alike but in this picture they have pretty similar features.

Pebbles on spit up patrol. Lucky for me she loves spit up.

Zekey enjoying the life of a dog.

Wrestling match. Eric vs. all the kids. They always love that.

The girls loved playing with Zeke and following him around. This was the first time we saw him walking and it was just too cute! I can't believe he is so old already!

Bath time for the three youngest. Zeke is a ham for the camera.

And Ellie is just trying to survive.

Nerf gun fights!! We all had so much fun and laughed a lot. The kids were moving targets who would tell us how many points they were worth. Colt was the bullets collector and he would yell "Give me more bullets!" And Hannah became target practice on the window.

Another fun time at bouncin' bears!

Grammy taking on the slide.

Poppy giving the kids a good bounce!

Dad getting some air with Han.

Story time with Grammy. So spoiled by all the attention. They love doing just about anything with Gram and Pop.

The two boys sticking together and entertaining each other.

The gang!

The Psillos Cousins so far.....

Thanks for coming and for another great time. Building memories, but thank goodness for pictures!

We lost a friend that weekend while everyone was visiting.

It was a tragic and unexpected loss and we will truly miss you Chelsea.

Artwork and Quotes

Olivia. Here is some of her art from school from before Christmas. That is how long ago I started this post! And here are some of her funny things she said that I jotted down.

While looking for a Christmas tree we went to two places. After we found one Eric said this one's a beauty. After we got back in the car Livy told Rae that we had to come to this place because the other place had no beauties.

If Rachel is upset about something Colt does, Livy comforts her by saying, "don't worry, I will teach him a lesson." But totally doesn't know what that saying means! She says is in a sweet, comforting way, not a mad and punishing way.

We were watching the movie Enchanted when she is singing and all the rats and cocroaches come out and help her clean the apartment. During it Livy got all upset and started crying. I asked her why and she said "how come all the bugs and animals in our city don't like us like that?" Poor girl, crying that the roaches don't play with her. She is such an animal lover and bug lover. She loves playing outside catching rolly pollys and naming them Sparkle!

She ran down stairs one morning saying "Mom, come quick, there is a wing flipper on Grandma's bed!" A what?  That is what she named the kind of bug flying around. She cracks me up how straight forward and logical she is. It had wings, and it was doing flips.

Trouble. They wanted to paint their nails and I wasn't fast enough in getting to it for them. Luckily they took it outside! First self paint job.

Rachel's artwork from school and just a few of the many hilarious things she says on a dail basis!

They had a pajama party at school and I asked Rachel what kind of pajamas everyone else had on. She replied "Nothing too impressive." And that was that.

She is trying not to suck her thumb and I caught her sucking it while watching a movie. She said "oh, I just got carried away there."

I don't even remember what she was talking about but she uses the expression "We've got a duzie here!" She comes home from school with all sorts of funny expressions that are so funny coming out of her mouth! She has gotten better about being so sensitive and people laughing at her.

We were playing with the stuffed animal dogs and I was the vet and Livy was the groomer. Rachel told each dog where to go and she could not for anything remember how to say groomer. I was laughing so hard. She'd say "take him to the broomer, the roomer, the froomer, I mean the groomer." Funnier when you were there but she is not one to mix up words normally so it was entertaining.

Talking about the nail polish remover in the previous pictures of the nail polish mishap, "it can clean anything, it's cleanarific!"

We were at the mall and she saw a girl with huge hoop earings that touched her shoulder. Rachel leans over to me and whispers "Now that's what I call fashion." Oh, boy, we are in for it with this little girl.

Happy 5th Rachel and Livy!

Today is Rachel and Olivia's 5th birthday! I rarely get a chance to look back at these pictures but I love it when I do. It is unbelievable to me that you guys were so tiny at one point!

You are both amazing girls. I am so proud of you and happy to be your mom. Thanks for being patient with me and sweet just when I need it most. You are wonderful big sisters and Colt and Ellie adore you. You're the coolest to them. I love seeing you grow spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, and physically. It is a pretty amazing plan Heavenly Father has for us to experience here on earth. I'm grateful for you and I want you to know I am proud of you and I love you each and every day, even when I'm cranky! 

I will forever love you Rachel and Livy.

Happy 5th Birthday!