Happy Birthday Sophia...

(Picture taken by Sophia)

Today my sweet Sophia turned 9! I can hardly believe it. I feel a little older today. That's Ok though, I love it. I love being able to watch these adorable children grow up! Sophia is a super fun one too! She loves to sing and dance. She loves to help me in the kitchen. She loves to push her sisters buttons and then try to get away with it. Sometimes she does, cause she is just so cute! Lately Sophia has been working so hard to memorize her multiplication facts. She had a test the other day, 100 problems in 6 minutes. She missed 2! That's it! I am so proud of her! I love to see when hard work really pays off and I'm glad Sophia got to experience that first hand. She is a little piece of heaven here in our home. She asks questions like it no ones business! She wants to know more, all-the-time. I love it though! I love this little girl so much and feel super lucky to get to be her mom! Happy Birthday Sophia!

Dear Sophia,

What a fun year you have had! Last year you turned 8 and you were baptized by your daddy. This was a very special day and we are so proud of you! You finished up 2nd grade and started 3rd. You have had a few bumps along the way but you always try your best and strive to learn. I love that about you, you have a struggle and you just push right through it! We moved again this past year and I worried about you a lot. I hoped that you would find some good friends. I think that you are still working on that, but I'm sure with time that will come. You have made us laugh more then anyone in our family. Your smile is beautiful and I can't help but smile when I see you smile, even if I don't actually want to smile right then. You are creative and smart. You are genuine and sincere, I don't think you could be any different, even if you tried. Sophia, you are one sweet, special girl and I am blessed to know you and to be your mom. I hope you had the BEST day ever and that this year will bring you only happiness! Keep being you and you will be just fine! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET SOPHIA!!

Love Forever, Mom

Not sure why I haven't blogged in over 2 months, it's sad really. I just wasn't feeling it and maybe I just needed a break. I am sad that I missed those 2 months on my blog and I am going to try to be better and get blogging again! It's not that I didn't take any pictures, I just didn't blog about them! So here I am trying to make up for lost time!

A few weeks ago while the big sisters were at school, Molly and I decided it would be fun to play with her play-doh. She had so much fun and I had fun just watching her! It's amazing how the simple things can make you so happy and so glad to be a mom!

Molly's Snowman..

And yes, she wears her "pretty dress" just about everyday! What's sad is that it actually tore at the seams a few days ago. I guess I need to break out my sewing machine! She does have more pretty dresses, it's just that this one is her favorite right now! It's amazing to me how big she is getting. My baby really is not a baby anymore! It's so much fun though just watching her, and all of my kids, grow and learn and become little people! They are all amazing and I am lucky to be their mom!

My Sweet Sophia

Today as we were just relaxing around the house I noticed and found these little notes that Sophia has put up around the house. She is such a sweet soul. I swear there is something so special about her. I thought I should share...This is hanging on our fridge.
This picture is hanging on our craft table.

This evening Sophia ran up to Rodger and I and said that she had made us some books. These are just too sweet. Rodger was even pretty touched that she made it so personal.

She just did such a great job!

Here is the book she made for me...

(Mom loves perfume)

(apparently she knows that Rodger really loves football!)

Abby loves softball and Sophia loves dancing

I love Molly's animal!

I am so lucky to be Sophia's mom. She makes me smile and laugh everyday!

Christmas 2010...

We had a great Christmas this year. Again, lots of changes this year but the year has ended on a good note! The girls really had a good day and really enjoyed their gifts. We ate, played, and just enjoyed the day together. I couldn't have asked for a better day! This picture is on Christmas Eve right before they got to open their PJ's. Even though they know that on Christmas Eve they get PJ's , they still get excited! The next 4 pictures are the girls in their PJ's!

These pictures are from Christmas morning...

Santa brought Molly a huge gumball machine. I think Santa brought it so when she learns how to go potty in the toilet, she will get a gumball. Well, the gumball machine is still unused. It sits on our kitchen counter just waiting for Molly to decide that she wants a gumball. She knows what she needs to do. We will see...

Santa brought Abby a cell phone...

Sophia said,"Is the cell phone real"? I told her to call Abby's phone and this is what happened. I think they were both pretty surprised that it actually worked!

Abby got some new boots...she has wanted them for a very long time...

Macey asked Santa for a Tangled Barbie. Well, Santa brought her some art supplies(which she loved. 2 days before Christmas I found the Tangled Barbie at target. I got it and she loved it! Whoosh..that was a close one!

Molly got some dress up dresses. She was very nice to share with Macey...

We had a hard time this year on trying to figure out what would be best to buy for Sophia. She is such a funny girl and she really isn't into anything in particular. Santa brought her a camera, and she totally loves it. She had asked Santa for a big horse that she could ride on, and when she came downstairs Christmas morning she couldn't find her present. I was a little sad for her, but she has gotten used to the idea of how cool her camera is. She did ask us to ask Santa next year for her horse(because he can do anything, right?). We will see....

This present is a voice recorder. I know it is a little bit of a random present, but it fits Sophia perfectly. She has had more fun recording herself and then listening to it then any other gift she received! She is hilarious!

Again, we had such a great day together and I feel very blessed to be a part of such a wonderful family. As we close 2010 I just want to say that I feel blessed and lucky. We have had another crazy year full of change and adventure, but I wouldn't change it! Although I would be lying if I said that I am not ready for 2010 to be done. I am ready for it to be done! Let's see if I can go all the way through 2011 without moving...We will see! I am ready and excited for a new year! 2011 here I come!

Pictures from Molly's Day

We always start every birthday with breakfast in bed. Molly was awake but waited patiently for me to bring her breakfast up. Macey was very sweet and stayed with Molly upstairs until I got up there! Here are a few pictures of Molly opening up her presents..

The next pictures are after church and while we did her cake. She really wanted to help me with her cake, so she frosted and put sprinkles on it! Look at that smile! She was having some fun!

I love this picture because Molly looks so cute blowing her candles out but also Rodger watching so closely! What a good Daddy!

Just looking at these pictures shows me how big Molly is getting. I feel like she is still my baby, but she is getting so big!

Here is the group, minus me, because I am taking the picture!

Happy Birthday Molly! I hope you had the best day ever!

Happy Birthday Molly!!

Happy Birthday Sweet Molly Girl!!!

3 Fun Facts about my 3 year old...

1. She loves and adores all of her sisters, but Macey especially! She follows her around and they have so much fun playing together!
2. She is not potty trained yet! I keep trying and she has had moments where she wants to do it, but it never lasts! All of my kids have been potty trained by 3, except Molly. She didn't crawl until around 9 or 10 months old and she didn't walk till she was 14 months old, I guess she does things in her own time! Good thing she is so cute!

3. Molly and I are going to be best buddies because Macey will be in 4th grade when Molly goes to kindergarten ! Macey is in 1st grade now! So we have a few years before she gets to go to school. I think I will have to find her a preschool for sure. Because Macey's birthday is in July and Molly's is in December, they will be so far apart in school. They will never be in the same school, except elementary. It's crazy..

Dear Molly,

I am so thankful for you. You have always been such a sweet girl. You have always been pretty laid back and calm. You always make me smile, except when you had that weird stage when you would poop in the bathtub, that didn't make me smile. but I'm glad you don't do that anymore! I can't believe that you are already 3 years old. Time is going by too fast and if I could just freeze time I would. I love being your mom. Your sisters love you so much! You have one big family that just adore you! Thanks for being part of our family, we love you! And I hope you have the best birthday ever! Love love love you, Miss Molly! Happy Birthday!

Love Forever, Mom

Welcome to Christmas in Cali...

A few weeks ago we went to go get our tree. While we were searching for our perfect tree, we came upon these beauties! We couldn't believe what they were going for! We have spent a few Christmas' here but I must have forgotten how much trees were here! This is just too funny not to share...

Example 1

It gets better....

Example 2

We ended up getting one of their reject trees for $49.95! Except I don't think it is a reject tree! It is beautiful and full and for a slight bend in the trunk it is perfect! I will post pictures of our tree when I post about Christmas....Hope you are all ready for Christmas, cause I am not! Soooo close!:)