It is decided

*Paul 1987

Paul accepted an offer from Purdue University and will start their PhD (in Accounting) program this fall. West Lafayette, Indiana will be our home for the next 4 years.

Easter

Hoppy Easter Ruthie Toothy.

Hunting eggs

It was a wonderful conference weekend. Loved every talk and every minute together as a family.

6 months

My BabeRuth...

is NOT rolling over, sitting up or bouncing on her knees. She loves to nurse and hates formula.

Thank you Ruth for still being my baby, I love you, I love you.

- She ALWAYS grabs my face and holds it in her little hands.
-She puts her binkie in her own mouth.
-She is still sleeping in the cradle.
-She still likes to be swaddled.
-Her hair looks like it was dyed because golden blond is growing from her roots.
-When I hold her on my hip she often opens her arms wide and nestles her head on my shoulder (usually it means she wants to nurse...but I pretend she is giving me a big bear hug).

For all my early 90's sisters

While looking for spring accessory ideas I came across this ridiculous top. Forever 21 is a great shop for accessories...but tops?

Are you kidding me.

I laughed out loud when I saw the shirt was $15.80.

For sale?

I used to have a shirt exactly like this...well, longer of course. I wore it over my swimsuit.

Remember when we put beads at the end of our hair for girls camp? We were so hot.

Anyone else? Seriously...what has teenage fashion come too.

Trends are a joke.

Cheese & clothes

I always thought I disliked cheese. Now I realize I don't like MELTED cheese. I don't like cheese in my soup, on my pasta or on top of casseroles. That is the way cheese was served to me growing up.

For the first time ever....I bought Goat cheese. Leah would be so proud of my salad. I still would not consider myself a cheese lover. However, I do love fresh (which is an odd word to use considering it smells like stinky feet) cheese with salads, tomatoes, apples or nuts.

Eden at 10 months.

Ruthie at 5 1/2 months.

People said Eden looked like Paul. Now people say Ruth looks like Paul. Umm...but they don't look alike.

To me they don't even look like sisters. All my children have their own unique look. I probably wouldn't group them together as siblings. As a baby Eden had short legs & a long torso. Ruthie has a short torso & long legs. I swear all of Eden's baby clothes shrunk in the attic because Ruth has outgrown most of them.

One more picture...so you can see how short the outfit is on her. What about Ruthie's hair? My mom's hair wasn't that long until kindergarten!

In 5 years

3 moves, 1 mini van, 3 degrees, 1 flat tire and 3 children.

We spent our anniversary/spring break weekend as a family. 5 years ago how did I imagine my life? 5 years ago what were my expectations? I have been pondering this...what if Paul didn't go back to school. What if we stayed in Utah? What if Paul was still working as an accountant?

What if.

Then I realized...we still would have had three children. That's the most important thing. It doesn't really matter where we live or work. We would have Eden, David & Ruth. We would be happy.

Paul gave me this beauty. Just perfect.

We make decisions in our life with the knowledge we have at that time. We make the best choice at that moment. We don't know the future. I made the best decision marrying Paul. I will never regret that decision. It has been an exhausting 5 years. It has been a humbling 5 years. I have loved these last 5 years. Happy Anniversary.



Day 1: The GEORGIA AQUARIUM was awesome!!!! The largest aquarium in the world. We went early in the morning before the crowds

(imagine the pictures illuminate with vibrant colors).

David head to head with an alligator! The exhibits were absolutely brilliant.

Ocean VoyageThank you Finding Nemo for helping my kids LOVE the reef! Day 2: Six Flags, it was a perfect spring day. The kids had a blast! We never had to wait in line. They went on the flying pig, swings, airplanes & truck drive over and over and over again.

Watching to see if it is "too scary" for her.It is so fun to see them ride all by themselves. Their little bodies are getting so big.You can't have a family picture without an animated character. Of course, it won't be complete without winning a ridiculous prize. Eden loved it.

We knew it was time to go when David climbed in Ruth's carseat to rest.

He just couldn't make it to the car...what a kid.

This one was also exhausted.

Funny lines

Me: "David, stop picking your nose...it is sick!"

David: "No mom, my boogers feel better."

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Trying to pick up Ruthie's car seat:

Eden: "Mom, I lost my muscles."

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just a smaller version

Yesterday I randomly watched a video of the kids around this age. Their voices, laughs and cries were the same...it was just a smaller version of them. I couldn't believe how small David was. I had forgotten about Eden's big belly.

I went upstairs and climbed into bed with David. It is hard to imagine them grown up. Most days it seems like they will never change. They do though...when I'm not looking.

This morning I was in the shower and David snuck in with his cars. He loves to play with his cars as the shower water beats on his back. Obviously this habit won't last long... but I just can't think of him getting any bigger. Maybe I'm the reason he is still in diapers?

P.S. Mom moment:

Today we went to the park and it was wonderful! The kids played together on the slide, swings and sand pit. I didn't panic every time I couldn't see David. Growing up has it's perks. They are more responsible. David doesn't cry at the top of the slide anymore. Eden doesn't need constant attention. They have each other. I am so glad I have two children close. It was the best decision. I am looking forward to a wonderful park season with children who can now actually enjoy the park together.

5 months

ROOF,

You are a joy.

15.5 lbs, 25 inches

You love to lay on your back and grab your feet. You always smile when you see me. You love to suck on your binky. You have discovered your hands. You love breast milk. You gag on formula and rice cereal seems to constipate you. Sometimes you roll over. You take three naps a day. When you are over-tired daddy is the one who gets you to sleep. He wraps you really tight and bounces you around. He has the magic touch.

Your hair is still dark and keeps GROWING.

You wear 6-9 months clothes. You have a blow-out about once a day.

You are ticklish and laugh when we scare you. I love you so much.

Love, Mom

Laughs

Ruth's hair is always a crowd pleaser.

Eden has been wearing this "pretty necklace" all morning. Are you gagging like me?

Life

I know my blog is boring. I only talk about the kids. I do have other things to talk about though. A blog is like a journal, I always feel like writing in my journal when I want to complain or vent. I try not to do that with my blog, so the fact that I haven't been saying much is actually saying a lot.

It looks like our Spring Break will be spent with Paul in the library. I am selfish. I am so disappointed and almost resentful towards Paul I don't want to talk about it.

Usually I don't talk about my job because there isn't really anything to say about being a waitress at Chili's. I burn my hands on hot plates and come home with sore feet. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy work. I have been able to experience Mississippi through the eyes of a blue collar worker.

It snowed again on Presidents' Day.

Eden claims Ruthie is rolling over. I have seen her rollover once but every other time it is Eden giving her a little nudge. I do not have a picture of Ruth without Eden in the background. Eden calls Ruth her "squishy" and loves to kiss her cheeks multiple times.

It's in my story

This morning David came in our room holding his goldfish. When questioning him why he took the fish out of the bowl he said, "It's in my story. See...David gets the goldfish".

Ah...this is a common excuse in our house.

When Eden is grouchy I ask her to please be happy. She will say, "I can't, it's in my story. Eden is grouchy."

I tell them to be SuperWHY and change their stories.
They prefer to use "their story" to excuse crazy behavior.

Valentines Day

Yesterday I told the kids that they will get a special Valentines from me. Eden was thrilled and inquired all day about what the special surprise was.

Today I presented Eden with a homemade Valentine & princess gloves, David also received a homemade Valentine & a tiny blue jet. Eden's reaction was: "Mom, I don't want gloves. I thought you were going to get me a Barbie or a Valentine stuffed animal." David's reaction was: "cool."

It made me laugh. Eden obviously had expectations I did not meet. It's good to give this girl a reality check...she loves presents.

Paul was Mr. Cupid himself making me breakfast in bed and a homemade card. I am SO impressed with his homemade card. I usually give him a card I made to write on so he doesn't end up spending $5 and an hour of misery in the card isle.

Paul said I am hard to buy for, so he opted to serve me this year. He made dinner and did all the dishes. It was my favorite present yet. When will Eden start appreciating service as a gift?

Sick days

Last week David was sick: 1 throw up, continous running nose & cough This week David is still sick and now so are Eden & Ruthie: ear infection & croup

(notice Ruthie's sweet rat tail)

This is Ruth's first time being sick. Last night a nurse gave her an antibiotic shot in the leg. Ruth screamed. Eden turned away, covered her ears and cried...I teared up but kept it together. Then Eden got a shot in her bum and cried some more. When we left Eden coughed. She stopped and exclaimed, "mom, that shot didn't work."

Looking forward to happy and healthier days.

4 months

Ruth is the third child. She is an angel sent straight down from heaven. She brightens our day.

I study her eyes, especially in the morning. She is vibrant and happy to be alive. She is not as independent as Eden or cuddly as David. She is dependable. She searches for me, she loves to make eye contact with me and stare. I can see she has a deep soul filled with stories and love. When I look in her eyes I feel like I am the child. She has wisdom. I know I can count on her. She is content just being herself. She doesn't have to impress us because she knows we love her.

She likes to hold my fingers when she feeds. She loves to suck her binkie and fingers. She squeals and shrieks when she is happy. She still likes to be wrapped tight when she sleeps. She sleeps from 8:30pm-6:00am. She hardly ever cries when I bathe her. She laughs when Paul throws her up in the air.