FOUR PRINCESSES

Madison wanted to have a carnival style birthday party out on the farm and invite a dozen kids but with Daddy and Chris working on the house it just wasn't going to work out. I encouraged her to have a princess tea party at home and only invite a few close friends. Saturday was a crazy day, we worked the party in between Truck'n Treat and the Church Halloween Party that night. It was a busy day but we had a lot of fun and the girls were so precious. I think I could have watched these four play princess tea party all day. They decorated their cupcakes and had snacks and passed around our tea pot. We found the crystal cups at the thrift store. The table cloth and the plates and napkins all came in a basket at the thrift store. It was a set and so cute. When I brought it home I realized I had cupcake liners that matched perfectly. Look at how cute the girls are, don't you want to eat them up. Lucy was the Little Mermaid. Braylee was Jasmine. Kaylee was Rapunzel. Madison was Belle. I wish I had a pictures of them all together. I could have eaten them up. I was going to give James a nap during the party but his sister invited him to play too and he loved it. Four princess and a bum, classic.

TRUCK'N TREAT

We went to Truck'n Treat on Saturday. We didn't expect to, but we pulled up and parked just behind our friends. We were so excited to have someone to share our fun afternoon with. Truck'n Treat is an annual Fruita Halloween event. They have crazy trucks and fun everyday trucks parked on our main road, the only main road in Fruita, and the kids trick-or-treat from truck to truck. They have Big Rigs and Tractors, Police Cars and Ambulances, Buses and Fire Engines. The event lasts exactly two hours. At noon, on the dot, all the trucks honk their horns and pull out. With the crowds of people everywhere, it is amazing they clear out as fast as they do. I am always floored. In minutes it's like the event never existed. James was the happiest I have seen him in days. I think he is teething again. He is so grumpy but the whole event he was all smiles. People just put candy on his tray as we walked by. He ate candy and looked at trucks. Funniest day ever!

HALLOWEEN 2014

I found this old yellow prom dress at the thrift store a month ago for five dollars. I cut it down to fit Madison today. Don't look too close. It isn't perfect. It is kind of slopped together but that is what I love about Halloween costumes.

I found this old wedding dress at the thrift store a few weeks earlier. It was priced too high. Twelve was a bit much for me but when they dropped it to three dollars I knew it was meant to be ours. Isn't it perfect. No down sizing necessary. It fit her perfectly. Let the holiday begin!

SIX

I can't believe she is six. She was born only a short while after I started this blog. It has been so fun to watch her grow a picture at a time. She is such a beautiful girl. I wish she would give me one normal face but that is part of her charm. She has an infectious laugh. She loves school. She always comes home excited to tell me what she has learned. Her teacher says she is amazing at everything except speaking up. She is  a little bit shy at times. Her teacher asked her to work on that today. (It was parent teacher conferences today.)

For her birthday she got her Frozen dress and princess Polly pockets. Nate came home later on in the evening and brought her a large mouth bass and a night light that shows the phases of the moon. His gift choices make me giggle but I have to say I think she was more excited about his gifts than she was about mine, so maybe he knows her better than I give him credit for. Yeah, for daddies.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATE

I guess if someone was to ask me what is the most beautiful pictures you have ever seen, this would be it. I love this picture. I love this moment. I love everything about who we were in this moment. We were both so pure and had spent years sacrificing to become the person we needed each other to be. Nate at this point had only kissed a handful of girls and I had only kissed a handful of boys but both of us were a hundred percent committed to enter marriage covenants pure and virtuous, so we could always know that we shared that most sacred part of ourselves, only with each other and only after we had covenanted to love each other for all eternity. It truly was the best gift he has ever given me and after giving me four of the most beautiful children I have ever set eyes on and almost eleven years of hard work and devotion to provide for all (almost) six of us, I can still say his virtue was and is the greatest gift he has ever given me. It has been an anchor in the most difficult times of our marriage. The fact that we were so devoted to each other even before we met and made sacrifices for each other even before we exchanged our first words has laid the foundation for everything we have done after marriage.

I love you Nate for everything you were and are and will be. I hope you have an amazing 37th year. I pray life gets easier for you. You work amazingly long hours and then go out to work on our home. I admire your stamina and dedication. You are willing to sacrifice for me, you proved that then and you prove that every day now, and because of that I know we will succeed. We will make it, together we will make it through everything this world throws at us, because we have each other. I love you Nate.

TOOTH

Lost her first tooth eating a breakfast burrito for dinner. She was really excited about it. She has been waiting and waiting ever since it became loose. Dad said to let it come out on its own. She almost ate it. "There is something weird in my burrito. My tooth!"

"Mom, at first when I took the tooth out I thought it was a spice because of the red." There were red flecks in the sausage we cooked. Then she giggled and said, "That is silly, huh mom!"

FRIENDS

Madison made a friend at school. Her name is Kaylee. They are two of a couple of girls in their entire class. I can't believe how many boys are in her class. I am glad they have each other. The first day of school Kaylee was crying and Madison helped her. She has a sweet mother. It was fun spending time with them at the park.

James give me a cheese! This is the face he gives the camera every time. It cracks me up.

My sister made Madison's dress. She chose the fabric. She would live in it if I would let her.

CHILDREN's MUSEUM

Jennifer took us to the children's museum at the point of the mountain We had a great time. The kids didn't want to leave. Charlotte and James left soaking wet after playing in the water area. I think James's favorite part was the drum room. Charlotte's favorite part was the bubble piano. The girls liked finding their way through the outdoor mazes. I even went down the slide with James. I felt like Augustus Gloop. I thought I would get caught in the pipe. I didn't. Disaster averted. James wanted to do it again but once was enough for me.

 

I love this picture and truth be told it was kind of a freak rainbow found in the picture after I uploaded it. Isn't he precious?