The Mother of All Posts

Oh...the uber-post you are in for...

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Ezra's 4th Birthday

Ezra turned a big 4 years on the 23rd. He was so excited and is officially "big" now. If you know Ez, you know that up until this last birthday, he refused to allow us to call him a big boy because, according to him, his hands were "still so little." Apparently they grew overnight because now he's constantly reminding us of how big he is. Oh, and yes, Olive Garden was as fabulous as Ezra claimed it was going to be. It had "lots of good food and spaghetti."

If you're wondering why there's a random picture of Georgia in all these, it's because her grandma sent her the quilt she made for her bed and so Georgia was lucky enough to have had a present to open too.

Thanks MiMi and Grandad!

In this picture, Ezra is in the midst of a scavenger hunt...lest you think I'm an uber-mom, I'm tellin' you now that I was just too lazy to attempt to wrap a big and funny-shaped present.

Thanks Grandma & Grandpa for the "funny mouse movie." Incidentally, in this picture, I actually look like a mouse.

Like the Lego cake? It took me waaay too long to make, but I thought it turned out cute.

13 Nights of Halloween Festivities

Dirt & Worms

yes, you are seeing a picture of my fridge. The worms were a surprise dessert, so I didn't want the kids to see them while I took pictures

The results of said dirt and worms:

The Pumpkin Patch

We went to a fabulous local (free) pumpkin patch called Schaakes Pumpkin Patch. This place is FABULOUS. They have free hay rides down to the pumpkins. A cute little hay bale maze (which, incidentally, is verrry easy for kids to intentionally lose their parents in), and lots of other fun things to see and do. If you're ever in the area, it's a fall must-see.

They're just so darn excited to be there

On the tower of hay bales:

Yes, I know Ezra's making an odd face in this picture. Basically he must have seen someone pose all cutesy for a photo sometime, because that's what he's attempting. He's putting his finger in his "dimple" and puckering his lips. How funny is that?

In the maze:

They had a fun little slide in the entrance and exit of the maze

I loved this little set-up here. This way, when you come back the next year, you can see how much they've grown (thanks for the idea, Heather!):

(this was my only semi-successful one with Scarlett. I was attempting to take the picture by myself while Spence was buying our pumpkins)

We got to ride down the the pumpkins in this. How lucky were we?

Scarlett, in particular, enjoyed it

Down in the pumpkins:

(there was actually a lot more Halloween festivities...but I'm realizing how huge this post is going to be, so I just posted a few of my favorites)

Scarlett's 1st Birthday

Our little Scarli is all grown up and now a big one year old! We've been so lucky to have her in our lives! Although, as Georgia and Ezra remind me often, she still is a baby.

Our dinner of Candy Corn pizza

Thanks Auntie Lib & Fam!

Scarlett adores clothes of all kind. It was so much fun to watch her open her clothing gifts (which are typically every child's least-favorite gift), her eyes would light up and she would immediately drape them all over her body.

Thanks Mimi and Grandad!

Another scavenger hunt picture

I made a pear pie instead of a cake because I was pretty much all frosted-out from all the Halloween goodies and Ezra's cake. If you look real close you can see a flower within a flower cut-out on top of the pie.


Halloween!!!

Daddy started the morning off right with Jack-O-Lantern pancakes

We started out with a bang at Trunk or Treat:

Superhero Ezra

Fairy Princess Scarlett (minus the wings) with her Soviet Russian father
(Spencer and I were a little worried we were going to get lynched for dressing up as communists and handing out bread, but luckily people thought it was as funny as we did.
ps-spencer's hip isn't that weird in real life, he had a raw potato in his pocket that he'd occasionally take bites from)

Firecracker Georgia
(oh, how true...)

That evening...

A bad picture of Scarlett WITH her wings

My attempt at a picture of all three kids on our porch. Yeah, it turned out sooo great :P

The Morning After:

Spencer kept on making fun of us for organizing the candy. I'm the girl who likes to organize her DVDs by genre...of course I'd have to get in on this.

If you look really close in this picture you can see the method to our madness. Ezra was organizing candy by skittles, sweet tarts/smarties, and "small candies with ties." I was logically organizing by fun-sized chocolate, bite-sized chocolate, gummy candy, suckers, etc.

Georgia was organizing candy by Everything I Want To Eat.

Wow, are you as exhausted as I am? I'm uber-impressed if you actually stuck with it long enough to be reading this. Hope your Halloween season was as much fun as ours was! Now on to Thanksgiving...it's almost time to bust out the Christmas music. yay! yay! (this is the one on my must-have list, this year :) Have a fabulous day!

To my Scarlett, on her 1st birthday

(I know, I know, this blog has turned to mush, but you didn't think I could do one and not the other, did you?!?)

Baby girl, words cannot express how much joy you've brought into my life and my home. It was one very short and long year ago that I pushed you from my body at 9:20pm. You gave me my perfect natural birth that I had longed for...let's just say I should've taken it as a sign that everything you touch turns to gold. The nurse handed you to me and I was in awe of your full head of dark hair and blue eyes so dark they looked almost brown. You were, and are, so beautiful.


It's no secret that I wasn't any too thrilled when I found out I was pregnant with you, Scarlett. We wanted to have you, just not quite as soon as you decided to come. Georgia was still so young when I got that positive test result, heck Ezra wasn't all that much older, either. I cried...a lot...but you know what, sweetie, even then I wouldn't have traded you for anything. Heavenly Father decided to send us to you when he did, and I always knew there was a reason.


Now, looking back on the last year, I can't help but wonder if it wasn't to bring joy to our family in such a stressful period of time. I've had a bit of a rough year, what with the thesis, our move, and both Georgia and Ezra being in high-maintenance phases. While you added the normal newborn stresses and strains, it was definitely the minimum. Mostly you've just brought smiles and laughter into our home. You have that huge smile on such a small, pixie-like face and body. When one sees it, they can't help but smile back. You've been one of the happiest, easiest babies I've ever known. I think the Lord knew I needed you now or I wouldn't have made it through the year. Who would've known that so much happiness could come in such a teeny-tiny package? You spread joy around you like glitter.


You are one of the wiggliest babies I've ever held and have been for most of your life. You are so squirmy that the mere act of holding you is difficult and as soon as I put you down you're off like a shot. You're so little, and always have been, that people often mistake you for 2-3 months younger than you really are. Then they see how active and alert you are and guess much more accurately. You love your brother and sister so much! You follow them around like an eager little puppy dog and "Ezra" was your 3rd word (I suspect there's a "Georgia" in there, but I don't hear it often enough to confirm). You love shoe shopping almost more than any girl I know (beaten only by Auntie Stephie, MiMi, and Cousin Ella) and get so excited and hold your feet up for me to try on new shoes. People can't help but love you, Scarlett.


Little Miss, you are truly my sunshine. You make me happy, when skies are gray. You'll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please, never ever take my sunshine away.

The birthday girl in her birthday outfit

Happy, happy birthday Scarlett Caroline. Thank you for choosing to come to our family. You have made our home a much happier place to be. I love you, my baby, with all my heart.

Love,
Mom

To my Ezra, on his 4th birthday

4 years ago today, at 8:08am, the doctor took you from my body and made me a mommy. That was the day my universe shifted. I had no idea how my life would change. Does any mother, really? One day, little man, they'll hand you a squalling newborn and you'll begin to grasp what I've talked about all these years.


Ezra, you screamed for the first 5 months of your life. I was kinda upset at the world that first little bit...but never at you. You were my ray of sunshine in that freezing cold, dark, little basement apartment. I slept, ate, and breathed you. You were the reason I got up each morning. I know you love to hear it, so I'll say it again-you spit up everywhere and on everything. You were soaked just barely after we'd get you dressed. Your grandma used to chide us that you were sopping wet and it was freezing cold outside. She was right, it was freezing and you were sopping. We'd change your outfit because it'd make her happy, but we knew you'd soak your clothes again within the hour. You were like our little toy, Daddy was always dressing you up in little outfits he'd think up, his wedding ring becoming your monocle and your burpie the Pope's hat. You were so pudgy and adorable. You had the biggest thighs I'd ever seen on a newborn and there was no mistaking that you belonged to anyone but your Daddy. After we hit about 5 months, you seemed to decide that the world was an alright place and you figured you might stick around for a bit. That's when you became happy. You were still my temperamental little man (what else is new?), but you were suddenly a happy baby and everyone in our new ward fell in love with you. You were so sick so often that first year, but you just smiled through it all. You were our little trooper and it wasn't long before all the nurses at the BYU Health Center knew you by name. By the end of the first year, you brought me so much joy, I couldn't help but want another one. You made me *that* happy.

"[cough, cough] I think I'm getting the black lung, Pop. It's not very well ventilated down there."

Takin' a hike at Bridal Veil Falls

Reading books
(which, other than destroying things, was your very favorite pastime)

Ezra, honey, I can't believe you've been in my arms now for 4 long and short years. You're such a smart, independent, stubborn little boy. You're always shocking and amusing me with the things you say and the ideas you come up with. You're such a wonderful big brother. You love your sisters so much, and they're so lucky to have you. The girls just adore their Ezzie. You have helped me grow and learn so much. Thank you for choosing me as your mother and us as your family.

The birthday boy

We love you sooo much, sweetheart! Happy birthday, my big 4 year old!

Love, Mom