Easter Weekend

The first time we've all been together in over 7 months!
The chaos continued this week as we finally had the whole family in one place. We had an Easter egg hunt on Friday, Family pictures on Saturday and the usual Sunday dinner with everyone on Sunday. Although it is stressful at times, it is SO much fun having the gang all together. I have been dubbed the family "photographer" if you will because I have the nicest camera, so here are some of my pics from the exciting holiday weekend.... notice I am the only one of the sisters without a family shot in our Easter clothes....how did that happen?
****************Warning************Photo Overload to Follow***********

Family Pictures

While here in Denver, we decided to take my camera out and try and get some decent family pictures. It still seems crazy to me that we are a family of four! I am just so happy with my life right now. I couldn't love being a mother of 2 beautiful girls any more! Every day is a new adventure, and some days prove to be huge challenges, but I wouldn't trade it for the WORLD! I can not see myself without Collin, Marlee or Makenna...we truly just belong together. And since it is Easter, I can't help but feel so thankful for the sacrifices that were made for me and my family so that we can experience the pains and joys of life together. We have been having SOOOO much fun here with all the family, and Marlee couldn't be happier seeing her Nana,Papa, Aunties, Uncles and cousins every day! She is in heaven! I like these ones because Collin and I don't get pictures of the two of us very often. He's such a punk when it comes to taking pictures. They kinda reminded me of our engagements... minus a little hair and plus a few pounds, ha!
5 years after taking our engagements!

He always looks so serious in pictures!!
And you always have to snap a kissing picture...

Blessing

Well, I know I am late posting this, but it was one crazy weekend! We packed the girls up and made the 10 hour drive to Denver on Thursday evening. Mom and Dad Earl got there on Friday afternoon, Tiff and Ryan flew in on Saturday morning, and we blessed both babies (Makenna and Owen) at church on Sunday with about 50 visitors between the two families. What an amazing experience to bless both of our little ones together, I will never forget it! It was crazy and chaotic (as usual) and completely awesome. We went out to eat and shop, and just hung out and visited. It went exactly as I would have wanted it to. It meant SO much to us to have friends and family there and travel to be with us on Kenna's big day. Thank you all for sharing in it with us, and we missed those of you who wanted to come but couldn't!!

Owen and Makenna

The whole gang!

Marlee and Makenna

Sisters and Cousins

With Auntie Tiff

Dish Washer

As those of you who read my previous post, you know that Marlee can be a real pistol. Well, she can also be very sweet, kind, loving, funny, etc. She just cracks me up sometimes. Tonight, I was doing the dishes (by hand of course, we have no dishwasher)and she really wanted to help...and play with the bubbles. While we were doing the dishes I told her after we were done we were gonna get her in the bath...I guess I needed to clarify WHERE we would be doing this, because I ran to help the baby and when I came back, this is what I found. When I asked her what she was doing she looked at me like I was dense and said "I'm takin' a bath!". The dishes were done, so she was taking her bath. Made perfect sense to her. All I could do was laugh. Pay attention to the cabinets as you can see the water rushing down the sides from her dancing in her "bath".These are just a few pictures of her before she left for church on Sunday. It was one of those days when I just looked at her and thought "where have the last 2 1/2 years gone?" She is getting to be such a big girl, it just kills me that my sweet little baby isn't a baby anymore....or "sweet" sometimes either! LOL I love her so much.....sass and all. I guess I have to since I am pretty sure she gets it from me!

Houdini

I forgot to get on and post this last night, and I wanted to make sure I wrote it down because I am sure SOMEDAY it will make me laugh. It just sure as heck wasn't yesterday. I took the girls to playgroup at the church yesterday. Mar did fine, she played well, was sharing, and everything. Well...until it was time to leave. She didn't want to wear her coat, and trust me, in SD right now, you still want your coat! Anyway, I decided to try and teach her a lesson. I said "Fine, you don't have to wear your coat, but I think you should listen to mommy"... of course no she didn't. So, we get outside in the FREEZING wind and she starts screaming how cold it is. I offer her her coat, but seeing as how she is as stubborn as I am she refused. She was so hysterical by the time we got to the car she didn't want to get in her seat. She decided she wanted to sit shotgun. Nice. So, after 15 minutes of fighting with her alone in the church parking lot, I finally wrestled her into her seat, strapped her in nice and tight and left to pick daddy up from school. Well, as we were pulling up to USD I see her head in my rear view mirror...not in her seat. What the...?!?!?! So we pull into the parking lot, I get out and walk around the car to get her and the 5-point harness on her car seat is still completely buckled...figure that one out. So, I believe I will start calling her Houdini. She is one crazy little monkey. Anyway, there's my terrible-two story of the day.

These are a Few of my Favorite Things...

So, I decided to make a post of some of my favorite things with the baby.

#1 Daddy Cuddle Time:

Collin LOVES this newborn stage because he can sneak in a nap while "watching" the baby. I LOVE watching them snuggle up and go to sleep.

#2. TOO Big Baby Bows:

I don't know what it is about little babies and big bows/accessories.

Even though the bows are often times the same size as the baby's head, for

some reason it still looks so dang cute!

#3. "Help"

I love that Marlee is always trying to help me with the baby.She always says, "Mom, I'na hold her", or "sissy needs her baba"...usually when she says that the baby is actually asleep...oh well.Thanks for the help Mar!

First Haircut

Well, some of you may think I am talking about Makenna...but you are wrong. Tonight was Marlee's first haircut. At 2 1/2 she totally had a mullet. So, much to my dismay it was time. With her curly hair it has been hidden well for quite a while, but it was time to let it go. Don't worry, I picked those sweet curls back up and saved them in an envelope. Crazy. Here are the before and afters:

Before:

After:

This picture is just one I took last night while I was playing with the manual settings on my camera. Thought it was too cute to pass up. She is 9 weeks old today!!!

Motherhood

Sometimes in the every day hustle and bustle of things I think I forget to sit back and truly enjoy the "small things" that make being a mom SO wonderful. Tonight, I gave the girls a bath, got Marlee to bed, and went back into my room to get Kenna. Well, she was obviously in a good mood, smiling and cooing. I just LOVE her sweet little smile. So, I layed next to her on the bed and started to sing to her and play with her hair (she is her mothers daughter..I LOVE that!). As soon as I started to sing her little face just lit up and she started cooing right along with me! I wish Collin would have been here to get the video camera, it was SO SWEET! I just kept singing, and she did too right along with me. It made my day. I just love those little things in life that make my heart melt. I am SO thankful for my 2 sweet girls and my wonderful hubby!