Sunday, March 22, 2020

Millie’s baptism

Millie was baptized at the end of January. It was such a special day with lots of family and friends. Millie is one loved and supported little girl! Garrett, McKenna, and Morgan came from Dallas and we having them there.




I had a very special moment with Millie, helping her get dried off and in dry clothes after being baptized. It hit me in that moment - while I did not directly participate in the ordinance, it has been my privilege to care for Millie in 2 of her purest moments on earth. The first when she was born and placed in my arms, fresh from heaven. The second, when she was fresh from the waters of baptism. Being a mother is such an honor.



Tyler did a great job with the baptism and confirmation. He loves Millie very much!


Thanks to the Webbs for coming from San Antonio and for being on Hazel duty for the whole baptism. 


Millie loves Brother and Sister Adame, her Primary teachers from last year. Sister Adame gave the opening prayer and they were so sweet to be there for Millie.



We had our families over for an early dinner after the baptism. We just felt so blessed to have so much love and support from family and friends. I did a terrible job making sure I talked to all the sweet friends that were there, but we were so grateful to everyone who came! 

Millie’s baptism pictures

We wanted to remember Millie at this sweet age and special time, so I took Millie to the temple and snapped some pictures of her in her beautiful baptism dress. 






And yes, the other kids were there. Max was on Hazel duty and Harvey wanted to be in a couple pictures too.










Sure love this sweet, beautiful girl. We are so proud of her.


This was the invitation we found on Etsy for the baptism.


Taking this pic reminded me of another one. 2020:


And 2015:


Time flies! 

Saturday, March 7, 2020

Hazel lately

Hazel is at such a fun stage! She loves food and can often be found with her left leg up on the high chair tray, just like Millie used to do.


She’s starting to explore the house more.


And she pulls up on furniture all the time!


8 months old!




We’re starting to lose some board books that made it through *almost* 4 kids. So sad. 


I’m trying to get more variety in our breakfasts, and while the others may not be thrilled, this girl is happy with anything I put in front of her. And there’s the foot again!


More standing up, and an outfit chosen by Harvey.


So proud of herself.




Wanted to remember the way Hazel always sits in my arm, twisted out so she can see everything. She will not sit on my hip either! Such a funny girl.



Little things January

Hazel is a remarkably patient baby! So many eager, learning helpers.


Millie chose some fabric and did her first sewing project - a scrunchie. She had fun and has been wearing her scrunchie a lot!




Harvey fell asleep on our way home from Gigi and Poppy’s one night and Tyler brought him in, changed his clothes, and took him to bed all while Harvey remained asleep! So funny. He looked so long stretched out on the floor like that.


And that big boy is officially in Primary! His first day in the Sunbeams class involved a few tears but he eventually got really excited about pretending to find the gold plates during the lesson. Can’t believe he is so grown up.




Not a great picture, but we had a fun lunch before Wes (and his parents haha) went back to Indiana. We are SO excited that they’re going to move back in a few months and live only 5-ish minutes away! 


First Primary activity of the year, which was also Millie’s first one ever! I’m so excited to have her there with me each time. 


Learning how to write a thank you note.


I keep finding what I thought was dog poop in our backyard (a few of our neighbors have dogs and I thought maybe one was getting through or under a fence somehow?) but then saw this cat lounging on the trampoline one day and it all clicked. Now I’m just hoping my neighbors haven’t noticed that I occasionally dropped the poop back on their sides of the fence with a shovel before I knew it was from this cat!


Max stayed home for a couple of days with pinkeye and a double ear infection. The second day he was feeling fine thanks to antibiotics, so we ventured out to the park. I asked the boys to smile for a picture and Harvey promptly turns around like this. He’s such a funny stinker.



It sure was nice to have Max around to entertain Harvey!


Millie found a recipe in The Friend magazine that she wanted to try to make. She made these pizza roll ups pretty much by herself and did a great job! It was pretty yummy too.


Sweet Max reading to Hazel.


When in doubt, just add an E to whatever word you’re writing.


The kids heard about the wildfires in Australia and asked Tyler to show them a video update. They’ve been praying for Australia ever since.



Millie loves to play her ukulele when she gets a chance! And I have stolen it from her to learn a few songs too. It’s such a fun instrument. Millie decided she wanted to use a pick to strum but we didn’t have one that moment so she grabbed one of those plastic things they sometimes put on bread bags (in lieu of a twisty-tie) to old the bag shut. Don’t know what those are called, but they’re basically square picks! So now she has a little collection of those and it honestly works just like a real pick.


We got to celebrate Poppy’s birthday. Millie played “Happy Birthday” for him on the ukulele - she practiced for a while and it was so cute. We love Poppy and were sure glad to celebrate his birthday with him.



Gigi brought over some ginormous boxes. They kept everyone entertained when the big kids were home from school on MLK day!


Cutest Hazel burrito.



Our backyard looked so bad. It usually doesn’t get this way so early, but we’ve had a pretty warm winter and the weeds didn’t really ever stop growing. I remembered to take a before picture after I’d already pulled the really tall weeds but you still get the idea. Big thanks to the random pest control guy who saw me struggling to start the lawn mower and offered to help! 


Hazel spit up a little on my leg and Harvey said it looked like a guitar. He was not wrong.


Sometimes I get a little sad about the kids growing up, but there are other moments that I just think it is so wonderful. Millie in particular has been so helpful lately, with Hazel or whatever else. I’m so grateful for her. Also grateful for this cool electronic sweeper I got for my birthday! It makes sweeping so easy, especially for kids.


Harvey insisted on the full superhero ensemble for our errands one day. Hugging a dog he wanted to buy, I told him we’d take a pic so we wouldn’t forget for when his birthday rolls around. He is just so fun!