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Happiest 2nd Birthday to my Sweet Baby Girl!

I really really DO NOT know how she grew up so fast.

1 week

1 year

2 years - making her "camera" face (she is a poser!)

We started the day with Ella's favorite - Chocolate Milk in a "big girl" cup.... except these pics were taken a few days earlier; on her actual birthday she had chocolate milk in a sippy cup and a bag of cereal in the car - it was one of THOSE days...

The day fell apart on me when after 2 hours of packing at the house (no we're not moving, but I had to get some things packed away for new carpet to be installed) and a quick doctors appointment for Isaac I had to run to Boise in the three hours I had left before picking up the boys from school. I also had to be at Young Women's in Excellence that night so it was kind of a "loaves and fishes" miracle that I had enough time that afternoon to put together this PURSE and coin purse cake. Ella LOVES purses so I had to try my hand at making it.

While we were in Boise - at Home Depot - Isaac made sure EVERYONE we came in any contact with knew it was his "baby sisters birthday party day". And every time Isaac told someone that they would ask how old she was. I kept trying to get her to say two but she just started singing Happy Birthday, every time. It was pretty cute. Although it was a day of one thing after another with no rest in between, I think she had a good day - the boys, especially, made a big deal of her birthday all day long.

After putting the cake together I made a quick dinner. I would say Ella's favorite foods are mashed potatoes, broccoli and KETCHUP! So I made meatloaf (extra ketchup for my girl) and potatoes and green beans (she likes those almost as much as broccoli, and nuking a can was easier than cutting and steaming the broccoli - it was do or die time, I tell ya!)

After a Face Time chat with Grandma and Grandpa Perigo and cousin Kyla, we brought out the cake. (Face Time - best invention! I think it was cool that G&G got to watch Ella open the present they gave her even though we are a state away...) Ella smiled at us as we sang to her and then blew out her candles after a teensy bit of coaching from Cameron.

She was not shy about opening her gifts! I loved how excited she was for them. I especially love how she's inspecting her presents with a tiny grin of satisfaction on her face. She sang Happy Birthday to herself while she was opening! Austin, the most loving of my boys, wanted desperately to get Ella something from Walmart. We didn't have time to take him shopping but I just happened to pick up this little Minnie. Austin wrapped it and put a note on it that he was so proud of, "From Austin, with LOVE". Ella loves her Minnie; she carries it in her stroller and sleeps with it.

A fun, happy day, for my fun, bright, cheerful, sweet, sassy, excited, smart, little girl

Ella @ 2

23 pounds

still LOVES her blankets - will not sleep without them

favorite person - her daddy or Austin (sometimes mom)

favorite place to be - outside or going somewhere in the car

favorite tv show Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

favorite toys - puzzles, babies, baby stroller, purses, books, anything one of her brothers is playing with

Best COPY cat in the family - she goes around all day copying one of us

favorite indoor activity - coloring or playing with one of the boys

catch phrases: "press PLAY!" (as soon as she gets in the car - I've spoiled her this last month with the DVD player), "blankie" "dank you" (she says it after you give her something or do something for her, like hold the door open, and she always says it in a breathless voice as if she's been waiting her whole life for whatever you've given her) "cook" (for cookie - anything sweet and dessert-like is a cook and she LOVES them.) "car?" she asks that as soon as I get her out of bed every morning

wants to do everything everyone else does

her first chore - she likes to put the silverware around the table at each place

Recent Happenings...

We celebrated Cameron's birthday in between various Christmas activities and friend's parties for both Landon and Austin. We kind of celebrated in stages: Friday night: presents, Saturday afternoon: Key Lime Pie and the Happy Birthday Song, and Saturday night: a trip to Boise with just Cam and I to celebrate.

This poster{s} was from the kids. The kid's are convinced that this is a "year supply" of candy! (maybe it should be a year supply :) )

After a marathon allergy appointment with Austin and {unfortunately} a severe allergic reaction at the office, we barely made it home in time to get to Landon's Christmas concert. Landon was "Country Bob". He did an AWESOME job! After the show, his teacher introduced all the speaking and solo parts. When Landon's name was called his class went crazy, cheering for him!

I love the smile he has on his face. He and his friend are laughing at each other. Landon, really did his best and we were proud of him. I even got a text from his friend's mom during one of the songs.... it looked like Landon was doing a "turtle" dance. She texted me that she was crying because she was laughing so hard at how cute Landon was!

Isaac also had a Christmas concert. He came home from preschool one day and practiced for it. He was excited to sing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer while wearing a red nose! He made the nose himself (along with a blue one for when he wants to be a blue Power Ranger)

This was the best picture I could get of him at his party/concert. There were SO many parents there I couldn't even see him singing. It was crazy! He was sad that he only got to sing two songs and he couldn't see me while he was singing. But the PLATE-FULL of treats afterward cured him.

...and now we wait...sometimes not so patiently for Christmas Day...

Last night I took the kids to do a service project. We try to do one every year (actually, one of our family's goals is to do one once a month). We usually donate food to the homeless shelter or put allowance money together to by "toys for tots". This year, I planned an activity for the Young Women in our ward to sing at a nursing home. Since none of the Mia Maids could make it, I decided to take the kids. Unfortunately, Cameron was working during the time they wanted us there.

I couldn't take a picture because I was singing with the kids. Rest assured, though, that they were well received. Isaac wore his antlers from his preschool party the day before and sang with gusto. Austin played Jingle Bells on the piano and sang Away in a Manger, beautifully. Landon didn't want to go, but I made him. He was nervous he'd have to talk to the residents and try to think of things to say. Once he saw how happy the residents were with our songs, though, his heart melted and he was very happy. Ella did her part by clapping after every song. We had the chance to go into some of the residents' rooms and sing to them, as well. One woman was 99 and another was 103. They were SO happy to see us and hear our songs. I was proud of my kids. Their spirits were shining and their sweet voices were beautiful. They were SO SO happy after. They could tell that they made a tiny difference in the resident's lives. This definitely is a good time of year to give service. (I took this picture when we got home - after we ate dinner... :) )

Am I STILL 4?!

Isaac turned 4 a week ago. He was the HAPPIEST birthday boy I've ever seen. Really. EVER. He is SO happy to be 4. He asks me every morning if he's still 4. Today he said, "am I? Oh yeah. I am. I'm 4!"

Isaac at 4:

LOVES: to dress up as a super hero, ride his bike, play games, be the center of attention, fruit salad, changing his clothes 2+ times a day, motorcycles (toys and real ones), legos, riding on the tube when we go boating, to be a BIG brother, when someone is proud of him, SINGING, making people laugh, watching movies, sleeping on his pillow pet, wearing pj's all day, reading books and being read to, listening to CD's to fall asleep for naps, dessert - he asks for it almost every night, one on one attention from Mom or Dad, going on walks, playing outside

DOESN'T LIKE: waiting his turn, not being in kindergarten, anyone to tell him what to do, being a LITTLE brother, taking naps

5 WORDS THAT DESCRIBE HIM NOW: passionate, energetic, excited, funny, singing

We threw a little family-style birthday party for Isaac. Pizza and cupcakes. (side.note. just found this recipe for GlutenFree cupcakes and they were AWESOME! It made me happy that I could give Austin something good and the rest of us loved them too. Isaac was thrilled by them and Austin was over-the-moon happy he could eat a "real" cupcake!)

Isaac directed the whole party, "First we'll eat dinner then sing 'Happy Birthday'. No wait. First dinner then PRESENTS!! Then Cupcakes, and THEN sing me 'Happy Birthday'." So that is what we did.

I need to take a picture of the Spider Man movie he got. It's hilarious. I sent his picture in and they put his head on Spider Man's body. It cracks me up every time I see it. The kids love it and Isaac watches every day (OK fine, yesterday he watched it 5 times - I was canning peaches and TV time rules went out the window. But seriously 5 times? Yeah, it's THAT good! :) )

I loved how excited he was for his "Talkie Walkie Talkies"

Isaac also got a Spider Man themed birthday party with some of his little pals. His first "friend party" ever. It was time. He LOVED it. He wore his Spider Man costume. We made super hero masks.

There was Silly String - the kids sprayed webs that I drew on our windows. Some of the kids had a hard time working the cans. Landon and Austin were happy two kids didn't come so they could have the extra cans. Landon's can lasted about 30 seconds.

There were Spider Man cupcakes (SO not Gluten Free :) luckily we had some left from the day before...)

There was a pinata. I filled it with leftover goody bags from his preschool class. He was into goody bags for some reason. He wanted them in the worst way. I was glad we had extra so I didn't have to buy more candy to throw away. (don't tell my kids I throw their candy away when they're not around!)

Of course there were presents. Here's the thank-you card we're giving out. Isaac spent the afternoon making his own cards (a piece of paper he colored, then waded up and stapled into a crazy ball, shoved into an envelope taped together with green painters tape) so I thought I'd make these to go along with his cards.

For days he's been saying, "my friends are so awesome! I got the best presents!"

With all the anticipation leading up to his birthday, I was worried Isaac would somehow be let down. But I think I can safely say that this year he was NOT disappointed. Hopefully all his little dreams came true!

7 Years

It is truly hard to believe that 7 years have come and gone since this sweet, angelic, happy, energetic, exciting, awesome, smart, wonderful, peaceful, content, spirit came into our world.

The days just before and after his birth were not easy. His little newborn body had a lot of adjustments to make, but with the help of doctors, surgery, intuition, Heavenly intervention, and time our baby boy became an example of strength and endurance.

How did he grow from baby to boy so fast?! Every year, most days, actually, I catch myself wishing my kids would stop growing. At the same time I relish it: watching them grow, anticipating their future, enjoying their success and crying through their hardships with them. When a birthday comes along, I just have to wonder, "How is the time going so fast?! Am I doing everything I can do to give my kids the life they deserve? Am I teaching them enough - the important things?" I hope the answers are yes.

When I look in THESE eyes, though, I am comforted that at least right now at this moment I'm doing my job.

Austin-Boy, you are one amazing kid. Thank you for being the helper and the peace-maker and the hard worker and the busy-body and just for being you!

Happy Birthday, Buddy. We love you!

gluten-free birthday treats for his school class. He wanted cupcakes, but he was happy with the way these turned out.

We celebrated transformer style. Austin decorated his own cake. I was feeling like a sell-out mom letting him do it instead of making something more "fancy!" But he LOVED being able to do it himself and he was awesome to let Isaac help him. They had a good time doing it together.

Cameron was on TDY in Texas so we waited until we knew he'd be in his hotel room and put the phone on speaker. We all sang Happy Birthday and then Austin made sure to lick the frosting off every candle.

Ella looked like it was her birthday too! She was covered in chocolate frosting and wanted "more, more, more"! Isaac was pretty much covered in frosting too! Landon-boy was wiped out from football practice so I wasn't too surprised he didn't ask for more cake. But Austin really surprised me, since I was talking on the phone to Cameron I didn't notice how much Austin ate until he was helping himself to his 4th piece! Guess he liked it!

After dinner (Garlic Shrimp and {gluten-free} noodles) we opened presents. Cameron had bought Austin a camelback for me to give him and Isaac and I picked out a few other things earlier in the day. Austin was a little bummed that Isaac kept telling him what he was getting (I kept telling Isaac not to spoil the surprise and he kept insisting that it wasn't a secret!) but Austin was still excited when he opened each thing. Just looking at his face opening the presents and blowing out the candles makes me happy.

okay, so now that you're 7 do you think you could finally stop growing up? I'll give ya more cake! :)

Flashback Friday

We're not flashing back too far, just to Ella's birthday. I know it's been a while. Her birthday was January 25. We celebrated Januray 24 because we had basketball and Pack meeting on her actual birthday. We had a sweet butterfly birthday party for her. I LOVED the cupcakes, even though they were no where as perfect as the pictures from the book I found them in, Hello Cupcake.

Anyway, in the life of a one year old 2 1/2 months makes a big difference. She's grown up a lot...I can't believe it. Here's some of my favorite POTD's (picture of the day) of her since her birthday.

These next pictures are from the little "photo shoot" I finally got around to doing so I could get some pictures of her at 1. I'm not a pro, by any means, so be forgiving. I'm having a hard time getting her to look at the camera, these days. Also, unless she is trapped on a high place she can't crawl off, I can't get a good pic of her - the girl is all over the place; and LOVES to chase me when I'm on the ground trying to get a picture of her. Oh, and, by the way, I do realize she's wearing pink in EVERY one of these pictures. It drives Cameron crazy, how much pink she wears. I can't help myself, I love it! I tell him - at least she doesn't have a bow the size of her head on all the time. She does wear other colors, but, I guess these pictures are the proof, she's mostly a pink girl. (she was playing peek-a-boo in this picture; I love it!)

"really, Mom? don't you think you got enough already?"

Ella at {ONE}

*she still drools a good amount of the time

*she has a cowlic that makes her hair stand straight up, unless it's confined by a little mini-pony tail....or if I comb it smooth and straight right after her bath it stays down, but then she kinda looks like a boy :)

*she LOVES to dance

*she weighs 21 pounds

*she has 8 teeth

*her favorite food is meat - especially chicken, steak, and roast

*she waves bye-bye and good night, but not hello

*she says "uh-ooo", "all done", "mo" (more), "waz sat?" (what's that? always while pointing to something), "socks", "mama"

*she plays peek-a-boo, unsolicited. She covers her eyes and then peeks out until she sees someone watching her, then she uncovers her eyes and yells, "boo!"

*she started walking at 14 months

*she really likes music - any music - even my annoying voice! she will almost always calm down when I sing to her

*she really, REALLY hates diaper changes

*she loves baths

*she loves putting things in - shape sorters, piling her grocery cart with toys, putting bath toys in the bucket, throwing clothes in the dryer, even a ziploc bag and a handful of cheerios will keep her entertained for long stretches

*she is a blanket SNOB - she HAS to have one of these blankets (we have eight!) to sleep with, no other blanket will satisfy. She wads it up in her hands, finds a corner and sucks on it, when it gets wet she finds another section and does the same thing. If she is tired, she wants her blanky, even in the car. Those things are worth every penny they cost. Trust me. I know they are the reason she has slept so well.

*she still has one bottle a day - at night before bed. Sometimes she goes to bed without one, but then she wakes up in the wee hours of the morning wanting one, otherwise she sleeps well from 7:30pm to 9:00am every day - angel baby

*she follows her brothers around, but always comes back to find me

*I feel like she is a puppy sometimes - crawling around, hanging onto my pants, whining for snacks, it's pretty funny

*she wont leave the stairs alone - loves going up, screams for someone to come get her and bring her back down

*her favorite room of the house is Isaac and Austin's room, if you can't see her, she's there, getting into their lego guys, and other chokables...some days are exhausting, keeping her out of there.

*she's always STARVING when she wakes up from her nap

*she's the only one in our family that EVERYone gets along with ALL of the time... We LOVE her