We blessed Natalie on the first Sunday in May. I like this picture, but I think it's kind of funny that everyone is sitting so straight with their hands in their laps. Definitely not the way we usually fly around here.
In looking at these pictures, I have realized that we didn't really get a good picture of Natalie in her dress. Well, she was cute anyway.
Here's the cake I made for her.
And here is Nikki with the cake I made for her birthday. I was so happy when she agreed to share her birthday party with Natalie. It was great to have my brothers and sister and families come to celebrate with us.
And these last two pictures pictures I just think are funny. Lexi and Eliza look SO excited for Nikki! :) HaHa
This was one of her presents. I think it's a little too tight, Nikki!
Mother's day was so wonderful this year. Well, I will admit that it felt like a lot of work in the morning trying to get everything and everyone ready for church and then jumping back in bed to enjoy a great breakfast in bed and opening presents. But we weren't too late for church. The kids worked on my present for about two weeks. They made a poster with cards, coupon books, Ryan drew me some cars, a homemade set of Angry Birds Old Maid and Crazy 8's, and the funniest test I've ever been given. I may have to scan the pages of it because I definitely want a record of that. I laughed so hard reading through it. Hannah had just finished her end-of-year test, so I guess she was giving me a little payback. :)
While I was taking a nap in the afternoon the kids made me some peanut butter cookies and wrapped them up in a box with some other candy. They were trying to decorate the outside of the box with pictures, and they said they had a hard time finding a picture of me. So, I'm going to do a better job of getting in the picture this year. No better day than Mother's Day to get a picture of me with all of my little ones.
I love my children and so often feel inadequate to be their mother. I find it amazing that my children are so quick to forgive me. I watched the recording of Sister Monson's funeral yesterday. I've always been impressed with the remarkable woman she was in supporting President Monson in all of his responsibilities. But I think what struck me most yesterday was that her children said their home was a happy place because she made it so. President Monson has said that of all the places he has traveled the place he loves the best is home. That's the kind of influence I want to be in our home. I want to create a loving, happy place where my family wants to be. I'm certainly no Sister Monson, but I feel very inspired to try a little harder and do a little better.
I'm a little slow in posting these days, but that's okay. I'm just going to do what I can do. This little cutie turned two months old last week. What a happy girl! Today she smiled at me all through Sunday School, and then when we were home from church eating lunch Nikki and I could hardly concentrate on our food because she was just laughing and smiling at us so much. Oh, we love this baby.
Ah, I thought I could rotate it after I uploaded it. Well, she's cute upside down, too. I love when they sleep with their arms over their heads.
She wouldn't wake up, so we sat her up on the couch and tried to have a conversation with her. She slept through it.
I have a funny video to upload sometime of her trying to wake up. Very rarely does she make it on her own without me picking her up to change her diaper. On the couple of mornings where she has opened her eyes by herself, the only way I know she is awake is because I hear her breathing pattern change. She is such a happy, calm baby. I have never had a baby sleep in our room for more than two weeks, but I don't think I would ever hear her if she was in her own room.
when your husband comes home to find you have started a demolition project and just jumps in to help finish it with no questions asked. You're the best, Nate!
Hannah had a migraine one day last week. The next day, Ryan asked me if Hannah still had a "microbrain." A what? I thought he was insulting her, but the girls were laughing so hard. They finally explained to me that he was trying to say "migraine."
On Easter Sunday, after church we were going to watch a video about Christ's resurrection on the church website. Ryan started crying, and said, "I don't want to be resurrected!" He had actual tears coming down his face. After talking to him for a little bit, I think he thought being crucified was part of what resurrection is. How terrible! When his teachers at church said we would all be resurrected one day the poor kid thought we are all going to be crucified! Hopefully, our discussion helped him out a little bit.
My baby is so beautiful. Even with her Alfalfa patch of hair on the crown of her head, and even though her perfect skin has started to get that baby acne (of course, since I'm ready to show her off now). Clearly, I'm her mother because she just looks perfect to me. And she is SO good. She doesn't really cry. She grunts and she'll let out a little quack here and there if she's really hungry or if I take too long changing her diaper. I'm sure that will change soon enough, but I'm enjoying her sweet disposition for as long as it will last. Well, she did cry in her carseat on the way home from Goldsboro this weekend. We were all shocked to hear her. It almost had Nikki in tears. Thankfully, she fell asleep pretty quickly. So, apparently she doesn't really like her carseat -- I guess we won't be driving her around late at night to get her to fall asleep.
Look at that sweet face! I just love this baby!
For April fool's day, Nate asked the kids if they wanted some brownies. Nikki and Ryan came running to the table and Nate pulled out some "brown E's" from the oven. Ha! But we got him back. I had Hannah stick a piece of a post-it note on the bottom of the mouse so it wouldn't work. The best part was that the night before I had told him about a joke I saw online where someone took a screen shot of something on the computer and then left that up, so whoever tried to use the computer would think it was frozen. So he thought that's what I had done and couldn't figure it out!
Nikki went to the state gymnastics meet in Wilmington on Saturday. We left Hannah and Ryan with JW & Alli and took Nikki and Natalie. This is Nikki before the meet.
And here she is afterwards. She did great and placed 2nd all-around. And the quality of this picture is exactly why I want a new camera for Mother's day. Please send any suggestions you have for a good one to Nate. I'm pulling for a smartphone or ipad. :)
We loved General Conference this weekend. Nikki's meet was on Saturday, so it was really strange to miss conference that day. Technology is amazing, though, and I love that the video recordings were available so quickly.
Then, for family night last night, we watched the replays of the final four games from Saturday and then watched the championship game between Louisville and Michigan. Nate had us all fill out brackets for the tournament this year. After I picked Louisville to go all the way, both Nikki and Nate decided perhaps they should change their picks, too. So, I'm claiming I won. HaHa! It was so good to have our family together for so much of the weekend. Good times!
