Marking Time

March 2013

Rachel, 6, Olivia, 6, Colt, 3, Ellie, 21 months

I love getting to see lots of their different expressions and interactions in all these pictures. So many faces that they make constantly and I love getting lots of them recorded. I'm hoping you had a happy day too!

A Little Bit More On Rachel and Livy

Happy 6th Birthday! 

Rachel has a new love of monkey bars. She is always trying them at the park and getting better and better at them. She is also talking a lot lately about her talents and trying to figure out what her talents are. She now says monkey bars are one of her talents. I told her another one of her talents is making people feel loved. She is awesome at giving me lots of hugs and telling me she loves me even when she is busy! She has conversations with me that make me laugh and keep me surprised by what she says all the time. She loves spending time with her daddy and is all smiles when he gets home. She is quite a special little girl. And when she turns her attention and affection to Colt and Ellie, they are as happy as can be. You really have a talent for showing other you love them and you will grow to see how wonderful that talent is Rachel! 

Rachel is the thank you leader around here. She is always the first to say thank you for doing something for her or taking them here or there. Everyone else follows after she says it. I love that is helps everyone else remember and sets a good example for those around her. She is growing up so fast! Easter afternoon she said, "Thank you for a lovely Easter mom." Still cracks me up :) 

She loves watching Full House and has adopted the saying "oh nuts" from the show.  

She calls "stupid" the "s word" and is quick to report if anyone uses it. They catch lots of adults using it and it us funny to hear her say she knows what the bad s word is! Stay so sweet please Rachel!

She loves to snuggle and give me hugs. She is always wanting me to do stuff with her and be my buddy and I wish I was able to give her more individual attention without interruptions. 

I don't remember what we were talking about but I figured something out and she said "that's a good brain you got there!"

Livy and her were flipping a coin and Livy said, "heads or tails." Rae turned to me and said "I can't remember, is it tales or stories?"

Livy is an awesome big sister. She is always trying to make everyone else happy by giving them what they want even if it means she ends up with nothing. Example, at Chuck E. Cheese Rachel only had enough tickets to get a candy and she wanted a wand. Livy heard this and used all of her tickets to get the wand for Rachel, Rachel shared half of her candy with Livy. Livy is unbelievably generous with her siblings and it touches my heart every time. Whether it is using her own money to by Colt and Ellie something from the book fair, giving Colt her toys to reward him for good behavior or doing whatever she can for Rachel, this girl has a heart of gold. 

We went to the park one day with some friends, one of her children was sick and not feeling well. We had been talking praying for her and talking about her at home. When we got there Livy saw her sitting on a blanket not too happy and went over and took her necklace off and put it around her neck. It was a simple thing but I saw Sarah smile and it made her happy for a little bit. Just as sweet as can be, you have a gift Livy, and this is one of your most amazing talents!

On the way over to Grandma and Grandpa's house one night we were reminding the kids to go say hi and talk to Grandma and Grandpa before running off to play. When we got there they came in the kitchen, asked how their day was and then Grandpa took them to the playroom to turn the light on. 

Grandpa "Are you gonna play now?" 

Livy "Mom says we need to talk to you first before we can play."

Grandpa laughing "What do you need to talk to me about?"

Livy serious "I don't know, let me go ask mom."

We all had a good laugh about this one!

Skylanders - Barbies

Dresses for comfort - Dresses for style

Loves P.E. - Hates P.E.

Loves school - Is not thrilled with school

Hyper - Mellow

Thinks things out in her head quietly - Thinks things out by talking about it

Perfect compliments to one another!

I love seeing these two together. They are a perfect pair. Even though they have so many different interests they get along so well and love being with each other. They are in the same class at school this year and so far they say they want to be in the same class again next year. It makes my heart happy that they love to be with each other. 

Rachel

Favorite Color- Blue

Favorite Movie - Tinkerbell

Favorite thing to do - Play Barbies

Loves to Eat - Pepperoni Pizza

Dislike - Sitting Still

Olivia

Favorite Color - Purple

Favorite Movie - How to Train Your Dragon 

Favorite thing to do - Play 

Likes to eat - Macaroni and Cheese

Dislike - Sitting Still

Happy faces, faces I love. Colt says you are his best friends. Colt and Ellie are so lucky to have you two to look out for them and love them. 

Colt and Ellie

My sidekicks. These two are always with me. Colt is growing up so fast and loves being included in the older kids stuff now including a later bed time. But during the day he is happy to be the big kid with his little sister. He does pick on her a lot but when others come around he is protective and watchful of her. At the park one day a while ago a little boy was roaring like a dinosaur at Ellie. Colt went over and told him "You don't do that to my sister dinosaur!" 

When Ellie wakes up in the morning or from her nap the first thing she does is say "Toltie? Toltie?" She is always looking for Colt!

When Ellie was crying I said I don't know what she wants and Colt didn't miss a beat and said "she wants me to hold her." And went and did it. So cute together when they are not hurting each other. 

Colt has turned into my helper and Ellie is quite the handful. She is so busy and fast and always into something. Dog food, sink, toilet, climbing, falling, water, markers, dishwasher, and anything else she can reach! 

Colt was eating a banana the other day and this is what it reminded him of...."You know grandpa, not grandpa at grandmas house but big grandpa at grammy's house, he eats cereal with banana and shares his banana with me. He is a good boy, he talks to me everyday." I love how they think at this age and how they use the words they have to express what they are thinking, it is just adorable. 

Every night during scriptures he raises his hand and asks the same question, "did they have beds?" He just wants a turn to talk! Now the girls don't even let him ask, when they see his hand up they just say, "yes they had beds Colt." 

I love how Colt looks so in charge here, like he's got it all taken care of and she would follow him anywhere! 

Rachel & Livy are 6!

Olivia and Rachel are six already! Who would believe it! It is just crazy is all I can say about how quickly we got to this point!

Their birthday weekend started the day before with and early dismissal. They were so happy to get an early dismissal on Friday afternoon you would have thought I got them a puppy! We went to the bounce place and McDonald's for lunch and they seemed pretty happy!

Happy happy birthday bright and early! They are sticklers for decorations so we had to put streamers all over the place!

Yes, they woke up very early on their birthday, this is morning darkness not night time darkness!

Traditional birthday strings with money and candy! Thanks for starting it mom!

Fun birthday cards from Aunt Hannah! Thanks for our legos and clothes Grammy and Pop! 

I don't have a picture of this but just wanted to write it down because it was funny. Erin sent the girls workbooks for their birthday, thank you guys! Rachel opened it and said "Homework for my birthday, yuck, I am not doing that." I couldn't help but laugh! Livy opened hers and was so excited to do it! Could they be more different! They both ended up happily doing them the next night, they thought it was so cool because they were first grade books!

Colt loving it like it was his birthday. I guess he doesn't remember what it is like to have someone else's birthday because he had a really hard time (tears) when he didn't get presents too!

Out to breakfast at Denny's for the birthday girls and then off for a day of fun with mom and dad. Colt and Ellie stayed home with a babysitter and it was just us and the girls for the day!

They chose to go to build a bear and loved picking out new animals and clothes! 

Livy made Snowflake the cat and Rachel made Hope the bear. 

I loved doing this stuff with just them. It is great to be able to just spend time with them and give them all of our attention. You are both great big sisters and we know that it is hard with two younger siblings who require a lot of our attention. Thanks for being such awesome girls. I couldn't love you more!

Next it was off to the movies! They weren't sure they would like the movie (Aliens escape from earth or something like that) but ended up really having fun and liking the movie. After that it was some silly pictures in the car with us and them and then to Target to pick their own toy out. 

Silly kids! I love how happy they are in these pictures! Happy 6th birthday Rachel and Olivia! You are super special and we are so so proud of the little ladies you are becoming!

We went to dinner at the Drunken Oyster and they heard it was their birthday and put this on their sign out front! It was pretty fun and of course the girls loved it!

Happy Birthday dinner! Popcorn shrimp is what they wanted for dinner. Thanks for joining us Grandma and Grandpa to celebrate Rachel and Livy!!

Best buddies and an incredible pair. We are so blessed to have both of you. 

We went to get frozen yogurt and sing happy birthday there since we didn't do a cake on their b-day. Yumm!

The next night we celebrated with all of the Williams family for all of the March birthday girls! There are a lot of us and it was a great little celebration! Happy Birthday everyone!