Mommy and Sis

 This girl and I got a special mommy and daughter day during Christmas break. Makenna has been dying to go ice skating, so I decided to surprise her with an afternoon out on the ice together. She was so cute while I walked her with her eyes closed through the mall, through the food court and out to the ice rink. The smile on her face when she realized what we were doing was too sweet. She was pretty nervous getting out there at first, but this natural little athlete picked it up so fast! Before I knew it she was off, way ahead of me, cruising like she had been doing it forever. She did fall quite a bit, but the main reason she fell was because she was trying such brave stuff for a girl who was on the ice for the first time. She did fantastic and I was so proud of her. And even when she would fall she would get right back up and keep going.

 I have to admit it was a lot of fun for me as well. It had been A LONG time since I had gone ice skating and it felt like such a care free thing to do with my daughter. I felt like a little kid again!

 So at one point Makenna had fallen a few times in a row and was getting bummed out that she was falling so much and that I had not fallen at all. I told her it was just because I was being more cautious. So at one point I pretended to go a bit faster than I had been going and then "slipped" and fell on my bum. After Makenna checked to see if I was okay, she started cracking up! It was so funny! She thought it was the greatest thing ever to see her mom fall. Even though it did hurt a bit (falling on the ice at 30 years old is different then falling at 16 years old) it was worth it to see Makenna smile and laugh.

I love my girl so much! I love that she is the sweet little spirit that made me a mom. I love being with her and spending time with her. I love the way she makes me feel when I am with her. I love how much she laughs and smiles and what a happy girl she is and how contagious her happiness can be. This little girl brought my life back into perspective and have made me the woman I am today and I am grateful to her for that every day of my life. I love you Makenna Mae!

 Time goes by so fast, and these little ones never seem to stay little as long as you would like them to. So while Grandma and Grandpa were here visiting we took the opportunity to run over and get some family pictures taken. Even posting these pictures 7 months late (I am determined to get caught up some day!) I can already see how much each of these kids have grown and changed in just those 7 months. I might have a few new grey hairs as well...

The Lucky Lady!

When you have a lot of little kids all at once, it is sometimes tricky to find the chance to have some good, one on one time with each of them. I don't get to do it as often as I would like, but whenever the opportunity becomes available I try my best to take turn with each kid going on a "date". Some special one on one time where one kid and I get to go do something fun, just the two of us. It's so interesting to be with your child alone....away from their siblings and their friends, and see what they are like when it is just you and them. I hope this is something that I can always keep up on, and something my kids will always be willing to tolerate ;) 

 One thing I love about being alone with Kellen is that he is a hand holder! Whenever it is just him and I, he holds my hand almost everywhere we go. And I LOVE it! I think it is so sweet that he wants to be close, to be touching. He is such a loving boy with a really big heart and a very sincere personality. I just adore this dark and handsome boy to pieces. And of course we at our Favorite mac and cheese for lunch on our date...Panera!

 After lunch we went to boomers to play miniature golf together and go on a few rides.

 I have never been one to brag about my mini-golf skills. But when your 5 year old, inexperienced son beats you,  you know you are really bad! 

 When you get Kellen alone he can be a Real chatterbox (which is actually one of the things I like about my one on one time with my kids...it gives them the chance to talk about what They want to talk about). He was cracking me up though because even while we were racing on the go karts he was wanting to ask me questions or talk to me. I will just take it while I can!

Grandma and Carys have a really sweet little relationship. Carys always warms up so fast and then makes Grandma her best friend the whole time they are together. I just love sitting back and watching the two of them play together. Warms my heart.

 While Grandma and Grandpa were here, she and Todd took on the BIG task of making a Huge, Amazing coconut cream pie! I am not exaggerating when I say this pie takes all day to make (due to time where things have to refrigerate and what not). It was a long, labor intensive project. But I am so glad that the two of them had the chance to do this together. And my belly also greatly appreciated their hard work and efforts. By far the best coconut cream pie I have EVER had!

 This smiley girl, sporting her first little pony tail! Such a doll!

 Grandma and Grandpa with the kiddos before they took off to go back home. It is always hard to say goodbye. We cherish our time with them so much and hold the memories dear to our heart. The relationship between children and their grandparents is something magical. And something they will always remember and cling to. I feel blessed to have such wonderful examples as grandparents for our children. They are so very loved!

 Look alikes!!!

 This Girl....7 going on 17!

 Sunday evening at Grammy and Pa's. It is one of the evening of the week that my kids look forward to more than any others! They love getting to play at Grammy's house on Sundays. A fun game of trouble and then the kids (with some adult assistance) assembled Makenna's new marble tower and successfully made the Tallest one! It was awesome!

 I guess you aren't officially a baby if you don't spill cereal all over the floor at least once!

 At the park with the coniglios! How did we get so lucky to have such incredible neighbors move right next door?!!

This girl cracks me up! She is already girly to the core. And I have decided it is something you are either born with or you are not. It is not uncommon to find little Carys in the bathroom, standing on the stool at the counter with the drawer where the bows and hair pretties are, trying to stick them on her head. If you tell this girl you want to brush her hair or put a pretty in, she is all about it! She Loves her bows and keeps them in so well. She checks to make sure they are there and gets sad the minute they are gone! Love my little Girl!

A Typical Series of Photos With One of Our Kids

Christmas aftermath

 The kiddos all enjoying their Christmas spoils!

 On a side note, is it not spectacular that in SD you can have a plastic pool on the grass in the background of a picture taken on Christmas day?!!

 The kids love when Uncle Ding is home! They adore him so much and he is such an incredible uncle to them. I feel so blessed that they have him around!

 Christmas evening at Grammy and Pa's house for Christmas dinner and presents there afterward.

 I always tease David that people could thing Makenna was his daughter.

 The mom and Dad!

 Poor Toby. Carys takes claim of his crate on a regular basis. It is even better when she corners him inside and then closes the door on the two of them. He is a patient pooch, that is for sure!

 The boys and I decided to set up some target practice for them to try out their new guns with. Their testosterone driven little bodies may be a lot to handle some times, but I love watching these boys be brothers and do fun, boy things together. I am so happy they are so close in age and are such a good balance for each other. 

 My sweet baby girl. Starting to look less and less like a baby and more and more like a toddler.

 I have never known a brother to be so in love with his little sister. Carys gets no shortage of affection and kisses from this big brother!

I always knew that Kellen would be the kind of kid to make this kind of stuff and leave it for me all over the house. And boy was I right. This one in particular made me smile. That boy has such a big heart!