Kids

I had postpartum depression with my first two in varying degrees, so it's been SO nice to just laugh and enjoy Ellie. I didn't realize how bad I must have been until I had Ellie and found out how funny kids are and how much I just love watching them.

This is Ellie being high centered on her zebra. She wasn't even complaining, just hanging out waiting for me to take the picture.

This is Zoë. She loves to practice drawing pictures. This week she is all about Rapunzel.
Hanging out with Daddy.
Their new favorite activity is the Wii. Never thought I'd let my kids be gamers, but this actually gets them moving and active.
Making St. Patty's decorations. She painted this herself and cut everything out!

Nervous Energy

Nervous energy is what I have right now. I hyper focus on these little projects and it's my little happy place for a few minutes a day. I love it. And it's all selfish with no other purpose then "I want to"!! I made a rug for Ellie's room, made a wreath for outside my door, and am thinking on what I can do next...which unfortunately is cleaning and doing laundry.

I made this today

Chocolate cookies on the bottom, oreos in the middle and fudge brownie on top cooked together. I made it for Alex and the guys at his shop today. They should love me. AND I make my family home made bread all week and have made a home made dinner since the day we moved to Minot. They are SPOILED. And I am tired.

Ellie's Birthday and One Room down

We celebrated Ellie's birthday! A year has flown by for us with Ellie. She started out a bit high maintenance :) but thankfully is now in the "grubbing-into-everything" stage. I can't watch her close enough. She's putting things in her mouth, figuring out how to take things apart, and she is VERY vocal. She makes me laugh all the time and is trying so hard to learn how to walk.

Emmett and the big Z are sharing a room again. It's a little smaller but it was fun for them to pic out their favorite picture to put on the wall and decorate their own shelf.

Ellie bellie's bday party. We made pumpkin cake and vanilla pudding. She LOVED it. Although at the beginning she was just yelling that she wanted my camera.
What a squishy baby!

Adjustment

‎"No Misfortune is so bad that whining about it won't make it worse." Jeffrey R Holland

I've learned a few things over the past week of travelling and moving my family to N.Dakota.

- Kids don't mind moving as long as adults make it sound fun and exciting.

- Ellie hates the water even in a swimming pool. But the adage "just pull off the bandaid" is so true. We took off Z's life jacket at the pool. After months of unsuccessful swimming lessons and after 5 minutes she was swimming around!
- Kids can make you laugh even when you feel like crap and are having a nervous meltdown!

- Siblings are better than anything money can buy. Especially on long car rides.

- Kids don't need practically any toys. Emmett played with his little cars with paper roads that I made for him for two days straight.

- We have WAY too much crap.

- AND: After whining a little to a lady I met about being stuffed in our apartment, she kindly told me that she has been in a FEMA trailer with three small children since June. That's only about 600-700 sq ft...in the winter. Oh - and they are living there because their home is destroyed. Zing. Life is all in how you look at it. Let me tell you it humbled me up pretty dang fast!! Even the cable guy who came to the apartment said he was surprised at how much "space" I had in this apartment compared to others.

Christmas Time

I posted a million pics of our Christmas adventure. They are hilarious!!

Zoë's reaction to finding Aladdin and Jasmine from Santa. What she wanted!

Emmett's much more subtle reaction to finding his Spiderman scooter.
It all changed when he found an AMAZING CANDY CANE! (why do I buy presents?)

Zoë being so adorable and playing with Ellie

I have no idea why Alison is laughing.

Zoë can't wait her turn to open presents so she slowly unwraps a present while we are going around the circle.

Literally can't hold in the anticipation
Alison and John got him a football helmet and jersey. He was practising his football pose.
He wore it all day!
Ellie getting excited about finding a present to rip open.
Dad and Mom looking at a calendar Alison and Whoop made.
Laughing super hard about something.
Alex helping Emmett with his first Lego set. So cute.
After a few days of shining off my Dad, Ellie finally let him play by her.
She LOVES her Grandma.
A typical facial expression for her.

Zoë saying goodbye to John and Spankie.

A series of photos that did NOT go as planned. I just wanted a group shot with them but Emmett wouldn't get off his scooter.
Which made Zoë mad.Barely holding back in a tantrum. John isn't helping. Emmett is gloating.
Trying to get both to look at me and smile.
I gave up.
Getting the special kisses from Grandma. Ellie is SO squishy :)

Birthday Girl

Zoë decided to have her birthday a month earlier since we are moving and she wanted to have a party with friends. She had a pinata and painted with spin art. So fun!