tidbits

greta today during lunch while dick was putting up curtain rods:

" Daddy, you're the goodest at fixing things in the whole world...

and Mommy, you're the goodest at cleaning.

Ozzie, you're the goodest at sleeping...

and Greta...hmmm....you're the goodest at drinking. Good Job Everyone!"


Ha. love her.

am i really almost 30?

just had my B-day this week. it sort of snuck up on me, like it usually does. but it was weird this year cause i honesly said and heard the words 29 and couldn't believe my ears. WHEN did that happen? like for real?
i remember specific birthdays throughout the years. turning 6 and going to Mcdonalds with my friends(come on, it was a big deal back then). turning 8 and getting baptized the same day as at least 6 other kids. turning 13 and my mom and dad taking me and my friends horseback riding in waterton, turning 20 and spending all day and night working a split shift at Joey Tomatoes. throwing my self a birthday party at 22 and renting an astro jump that all of my roomates slept in. turning 27 and being mass-o preg-o before ozzie was born. and here we are present day. 29.

this birthday was fabulous. it started with a day trip to Waterton with my family. the nice thing about being from a family with only 2 kids is that every time we get together it is a family reunion of sorts. the kids had so much fun just exploring and throwing rocks for hours, and we had an awarding winning picnic with my moms fried chicken and potato salad. seriously, even the deer were jealous.





then on my actual birthday we decided to head to Great Falls and shop and stay the night so we could bring more things back. really, a prefect Birthday for me:) target was heaven and dick took the kids mini golfing so we could get in some mall time and ROSS too. we slept over at the Hilton which was super nice, but we thought breakfast was free and it wasn't so next time, maybe we'll try somewhere else. the kids we super good, and swam and slept like logs. I on the other hand can NEVER sleep in a hotel. especially with my kids in a room with me. one little cough, wiggle, sleep talk, shuffle and i'm awake. i am the worst. next time, ear plugs.

sorry, these are a little blury, flash was off

is this smile getting old yet?

anyways, this year i must say how grateful i am for my life. my family, my faith, my blessings. so very grateful.

Next year, we're gonna PARTY!!!!!!

who knew?

who knew it could be so awesome to live so close to family, and have family come visit at YOUR house for a change? not that i'm surprised i guess, but seriously since we've been in Lethbridge its been a non-stop visiting, playing, family extravaganza. It' is SO nice to have my mom and dad here. I rip over to their house with the kids whenever for a visit, or jump on the air bounce, lots of delish sunday dinners-a- la Jesse, and my mom calls on random nights and says, go out, i'll babysit! Such a Treat!

then we get to be a few blocks from my Brother and his family too! Greta and Ozzie are in cousin heaven, playing with them whenver they get a chance, going to movies, swim dates at dougs, and lots of dressing up in ballet clothes and dancing of course. Kaiya and Jager are so much fun for Greta to play with, and cooper and ozzie will be good friends in no time i'm sure.

ozzie spends most days in this 50 cent teeny, tiny, pool

the kids loved the double slip n'slide

Then, we got a last minute phone call from our Sister n'law Jessica saying that her and all the kids we're here for a family reunion in Cardston, and they wanted to come play and sleepover! So exciting! Too bad Len couldn't make it, but we had as much fun as we possibly could in less than 24 hours, staying up late watching movies and eating popcorn, playing in the fort, playing barbies and petshops and everything girl, while ozzie and Landon sent cars down the spiral ramp for hours on end. Then they were able to come to our ward, and even jump on the tramp for a bit. Cant wait till they can come and stay longer!

the kids (minus Ozzie who was napping)

Greta could not believe the "big girls" knew how to do a pyramid:)

the unison "jump"

Anyways, summer has been great so far, and we love living close to family and having visitors whenever, so come over!

hair cut

BEFORE

finally broke down and took greta to the salon for a major chop last week. both of us were extremely sick of the stringy, tangly, mop she had grown. she was in big girl heaven, and sat as still as a statue, i couldn't believe it! except for when she saw all of her hair in a big pile on the floor, she started laughing hysterically. then Kristy asked if she wanted it curled and her eyes got so big and excited! it was such a fun little mommy daughter date, i cant seem to get enough of her these days!

during

AFTER

So cute, love this little muffin! oh and as a prize for sitting so still and good she got to pick out her own OPI nail polish. when i asked her what color she wanted she said, " Umm, pink sparkles of course."

PARTAY!!!

It's been awhile since i posted on here, and i really wanted to write about my little Greta turning 4 this past month. I remember when dick got into school thinking wow, Greta will be 4 when he is done, and so big and grown up. I CANT believe that day has already come and gone. Gretas B-day is May 12th, and since we were leaving to AZ on the 13th we had a few friends and family over for a little b-day celebration at the new pad. It was a little cold, but we were still able to hang out on out super fabulous new deck( one of my fave parts of the house)
Greta was excited all day, and since we were giving her(and oz technically) a trampoline for her b-day we had to keep the blinds shut all morning while dick slaved over putting together the new tramp. Just before everyone came over i said, " Greta do you want to open a birthday surprise?" of course she did, and i said, what do you think it is? she replied, "A Puppy? i really hope its a puppy." well....not quite but she was super excited none the less.


The killer part about the whole day, was Greta kept asking "when are my friends getting here?, Like Halle, Clara, Elias, Jost" ....it was a killer. Explaining our missing besties was super sad for me, especially over and over again. But she was so excited to finally get to have her cousins and Auntie and Uncle there for once, and some of her good friends too.



WE had yummy food, and a puppy cake and "pupcakes" as Greta calls them because since we moved Greta has been pretending to be a dog pretty much EVERY day. she only answers me in barks, and even though it gets super annoying, i thought it was an appropriate b-day theme.( i guess we should have got her a puppy, would have been perfect:)





Greta got 3 new barbies/doll that she LOVES, a new movie, and adorable jewlery chest, and a super fun Dr. Seuss game. Oh and also a tinkerbell lantern/ doll from G-ma and G-pa. She was in HEAVEN. I'm slowly letting her open presents to spread out the excitement over time, but i love hearing her play pretend with her barbies, prally the funniest thing ever.

she strategically held all the presents in front of her face

All in all it was a great day, and it was so nice to have a little normalcy around the house amidst all the travelling and moving etc.

Greta you are the best 4 year old in in the World! You constantly amaze me with your intelligence and sensitivity to the spirit and things that are meaningful. You can be a stinker too, you love to drag out bedtime as long as possible, and get pretty sensitive when boys start being rough around you, or teasing you. You've also recently started walking with a little hip action and posing with your hand on your hip which is pretty stinkin cute.
You have the best laugh ever, and i could listen to it all day. You love reading stories on the ipod with daddy, and you say the sweetest prayers, and you always bless everyone in our family to be "safe and fine and lovely."
You are a very good big sister, you generally share all the time with Ozzie and always try to make him laugh when he's sad, and it always works. You also always remember and remind me that everything we have and around us Heavenly father made, and you give the best morning, mid-day and bed time hugs! We Love you so much sweetie, Happy Birthday!!!!!!!

Joy School

What can I say about 3 year old Joy School? It. was. Fabulous. I knew at the beginning of the year i wanted Greta to be involved with something but not actual school because I didnt want her away from the house to much. the solution....Joy School. We had such a fun year, and the kids were all so good, and the moms even better, and Greta loved every second of it. Greta learned hw to zip her coat better than me, and write her name with a capitol E in the middle...(grrrrrr) she learned how to be so so silly, and how to make believe like a pro, how to give service to others and all in all be a wonderful 3 year old.

We had Joy School "grad" a little early because we had to leave saskie so soon and the kids each did a talent for the talent show, sang some joy school songs and looked darling in their grad caps! I wish i could transport all the moms and kids here to Lethbridge so we could do round 2!

After we were finished Greta kept saying to everyone, i passed all my classes at school, i'm a big girl like daddy! So cute. Thanks to eveyone for the great year, here's a few highlights!

Excuse my hideousness in this pic, but i love how ozzie had to be close by too.

Greta and Halle became really good friends this year, i`m tearing up just thinking about not seeing them together anymore

the grads

my sweet, proud, growing up little girl, love this pic so much

drama queen

Just before bed tonite...

Me: "Greta, should we decorate some Easter eggs tomorrow and maybe go visit the Easter bunny at the mall?"

Greta: (With her eyes popping out of her head, thoughtfully gets down on one knee, grabs my hand with both of hers and says)
" Oh, Mommy, I thought you'd NEVER ask!"

Maybe you had to be there, but I just about died laughing.