3 1/2 Months and Because She's So Stinkin Cute

I realized I have a gazillion pictures of Kael and Eden as babies just to try to remember their facial expressions as babies. I haven't taken that many of Elara. This is the first time I went crazy to town with her. The big kids were napping, so we had a fun Mommy pesters Elara photo session. She laughed and giggled, and smiled a ton, just not in front of the camera. :)

 Seriously, she is that cute!

 "Seriously, Mom that flash is annoying me now..."

 "Say whaaaaat?!"

 I'm really getting annoyed at that flash mom....

 But, I guess I can laugh this once.

I would tickle her neck and she would giggle so much, but by the time I got the camera she stopped. This is the one big smile I got out of many she gave me.

 Her I'm happy and content smile.

 Elara always has her hands in her mouth. She doesn't favor any fingers over any she just sticks them all in there and goes to town. She refuses a pacifier still. It is weird not using a pacifier, but she is so much better at self soothing than Kael and Eden were. I totally love it. She is such a good baby. I wanted a picture with her fingers in her mouth to remember how much she has them in there.

 No really I was done about 50 pictures ago Mom....

But her cry is too stinkin cute so I wanted to remember that too...

 Hey there look at me. I'm a cutie!

 Whatcha lookin at?

Seriously!!!

LOVE THIS GIRL!

Toes

Baby toes... Seriously, who doesn't love them?! Makes me want to nibble them.

Snow Snow Snow Our 3rd Winter in SLC, UT

We were finally home for a big snow storm and it was a BIG snow storm. I got the kids all bundled up and ready to go outside and Elara spit up EVERYWHERE. It soaked all 3 layers of clothes she had on. So, I unbundled her, changed her, and put her to bed. Thank goodness I didn't have to bring her out. She took a nap in the house instead of out in the cold snow.

 All three kids bundled and ready to go out. It took me 45 minutes to get all 3 kids and myself ready. It would have been less if I didn't have to change Elara and keep her inside, but that is life, plan for the unexpected and plan for your plans to change.

 Eden was super happy and excited when we first started out. I pulled both kids around on the big sled. There was just so much snow it kept piling up on them and they laughed and laughed. When we got to the hill to sled the snow was just too deep and too soft and the sled wouldn't go down the hill. It needed a couple days to solidify first, which now a week later it would probably work great. Hmmm idea for an activity tomorrow while Derek sleeps....

 Kael is my snow lover. He played the longest. Eden lasted until we got to the snow hill and then she was done. Kael wanted to keep playing so I sent Eden in the apartment and I played with Kael. We went down slides and dug in the snow and then all of a sudden he was just dieing ready to go inside. He was super happy and then hysterical crying of how cold he was. It was comical. His cheeks were purple though so it was time. It was still snowing while we were out there. I always forget how much fun it is to play with the kids in the snow. I never forget how much work it is though.

Hiking to the hill there were parts that were so deep that Kael sunk to his hips! He was such a trooper and plowed through it though. He is amazing!

And Eden is ready to go inside. 

We LOVE Salt Lake City and our four seasons.

Angry Birds

I think Kael is trying to get her started young because Eden doesn't play Angry Birds with him very much... ;)

Elara

Today January 12, 2013 a Saturday, little Miss Elara decided she wanted to start consistently rolling over from her stomach to her back. She is only 3 1/2 months old. Slow down kid, seriously! In other news, Eden thinks she is dieing from an ear infection and Derek has a 30 hour shift that starts at 6 am. Ugh. (1/17/2013) Turns out Eden was having a hard time with a double ear infection, urine infection, on top of congestion, cough, cold.... Oops. Sorry kiddo. I did take her to the doctor and she got on an antibiotic... We survived and now she is feeling better, but yet again, Derek is on his 30 hour shift...

Kids

Kael has a certain phrase he is loving saying lately. Tonight I was cutting up an apple for the kids and a seed fell out. I gave it to Kael and asked him if we planted this seed do you know what would grow? He responded, "A tree". That's my smart little boy. Then, I said, Yes, but what kind of tree? To which he said, "a red one", hmmmmm. No an apple tree kid. So, I tell him no silly, an apple tree and looks up at me and said "THE PHRASE: Whaaaaaaat?! That's soooo CRAZY!". Yup, that's my kid. He says that all the time. Then, tonight Eden was eating dinner and yelled, I gotta go poop! So, she ran to the bathroom and then yelled, Mom I pooped. Which means come wipe my bum please... I get in there and I see Eden sitting on the toilet with her pants down and a HUGE log standing upward right next to the toilet. Me gasp. "Eden, what happened?" Eden: "My poop just fell out Mom!" Why yes, yes it did. I cleaned it up and she then proceeded to poop some more. Thankfully on the toilet. Speaking of toilets. Last night the girl insisted on NOT wearing a diaper to bed. I gave in and finally let her try. Low and behold she stayed dry all night long and then peed on the toilet in the morning. I think the only reason she pees her diapers at night is because she can't get it off. Needless to say, it made me one proud Mama today. Little Miss Elara caught Kael's bug. I'm pretty sure it's probably RSV. She has the saddest cough and is super congested, but looks up at me with the biggest cutest smile and still tries to be happy. I couldn't have asked for a better baby. It makes my heart break seeing her so sick. She really is happy through it all though. Derek is on his pediatrics rotation. He is starting Q4 which means on call all day then night long every 4th night averaging a 30 hour shift. Tonight is his first call night. I braved the store with 3 sick kids because we haven't been since they got sick. Needed the essentials and I promised the kids Orange Juice. Well we go shopping and are having a great time, get through the check out and of course when I look in my wallet the food stamps card is missing. UGH. Derek must have it in his wallet from shopping for me twice in one day about a week ago the last time we braved shopping. I almost cried right there. I thought/hoped it might be at home, so I drove home and searched to no avail. With Derek on call I can't call him to find out if he does indeed have the card. So, I drive back to the store and just buy eggs and the orange juice and leave the rest of it at the store... Tears were shed. By this time Elara started coughing and crying and the kids were upset, so we went to the bank to make a deposit and of course got suckers and life was better. For the kids. I didn't get a sucker. Or my spinach I wanted to saute tonight. Oh well. That's it tonight.

Ice Skating

We started the new year off right by going ice skating with Grammy and Grampster. I think I loved it more than the kids this year. Kael kept saying Mom, I need to practice ice skating. He got better and better, and Eden went around the rink twice and then was done. Elara slept in the corner like a good baby. We sure had a great time. I think it needs to be another yearly tradition!

 Eden was playing on the bleachers and had a hard time getting back down.

New Years Eve

Don't mind the red eyes. I haven't found a free photo editor that I like yet, so I'm having to be ok with red eyes, so you need to be ok with it too. Grammy and Grampster brought silly string and hats for New Years Eve. That was the extent of our partying. We really don't stay up late anymore... Kael and Eden had a blast. I think this is going to have to be a tradition. 

Christmas 2012

Wow. The photos came out worse than I thought they would... Let's just say I didn't check the camera the night before to make sure the batteries were charged and everything was functioning working properly. It lasted a whole 5 minutes maybe and none of the videos worked. It was more fun playing with the kids than taking photos anyway. This Christmas was a little frustrating for us parents. I'm sooo not going to use internet deals to save a little money next year. We bought stuff a month in advance and it didn't ship in time. In fact we are still waiting on 2 items to get here. Ticked off. YES! Santa brought Kael 2 remote control fish. He specifically asked for the shark. Santa gave him both though because his other Santa present didn't show up. Santa is STILL working on getting it here. He asked for a remote control helicopter also, but those elves need to get busy. He got over not getting the helicopter pretty quick because he had so many other awesome things. He also asked for transformers from Mom and Dad. The ones we bought ended up being junk! So we returned them and he got new rescue bots that he LOVES. He totally thought it was worth the wait too. He is such a good kid and is growing up so fast! Eden asked for a kitchen (and another doll) from Santa Claus and boy howdy did he deliver! Mom and Dad got her a new doll and Santa brought back all her baby dolls she had thrown away from having potty accidents. She stayed dry almost a whole week before Christmas. Santa coming was a great incentive. She has had one accident since Christmas and that was during nap time. She made the whole trip to grandma and grandpa heaton's without ANY accidents. She has been working hard and we are so proud of her. She also got her first barbie doll from mom and dad. Elara got a cute little butterfly toy from Santa and Mom and Dad thought she was too little for presents and that was plenty for her. The kids got new PJ's on Christmas Eve and loved putting them on. Derek spoiled me rotten with gift cards, new boots, new regular shoes, new family photos on my walls, favorite foods, and a whistle key finder! I'm excited for that one to finally get here. Once again ordered it in Nov and still not here.

I am terrible at gifts and let Derek pick whatever he wanted. With some discounts we got he was able to get the new kindle fire HD. With the last Wheel of Time Book coming out that should be fun. :) Christmas gets better and better each year. We sat down this year and thought out how we want to teach the kids about the Savior and His birth and how we want to implement it for future years. We talked a lot about it before bed the nights leading up to Christmas, but they aren't quite grasping it yet. Kael still tells me about how Jesus was born, died and went to Heaven to get medicine for Fishy the Fish... Working on it people. Anyway, love these kiddos so much! I also got my dream of a white Christmas!!! I was so excited to wake up to fresh snow. The kids usually beg for me to take them outside to play in the snow. However, with all of their new toys to play with on Christmas day they had no interest at all going outside to play. They were happy and content to play with their toys all day inside! It was hilarious. Derek has taken them sledding since and the snow hasn't left the ground yet. Seriously, I think Christmas is the best time of the year!