THE HUFF FAMILY

2012-01-16T12:58:00.000-08:00

I know I need to blog. I don't think I have had such a long break between posts since I began blogging. Especially during such a busy time of year. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, school, etc. I've just lost a little bit of creative thinking. But.....here is a cute face for everyone to enjoy. I know I sure do!

30 Things I Have Learned in 30 Years (written by Matt)

2011-11-16T17:41:00.001-08:00

30. While at the time it may seem painful, having someone put a bike lock around your neck and a poll makes for a great story.

29. You will never know how much the little things you do can make a difference to somebody. Helping a little brother learn to put contacts in may not mean much to the older brother.

28. If you can’t enjoy Monday through Friday you need to find a new job/career.

27. There is nothing weirder than a group of teenagers who have an affinity for things that are orange, except possibly a group that despises green.

26. There is no way to truly understand unconditional love until you have children.

25. While at the time it may seem painful, having someone perform a blitzkrieg on you with a BB gun makes for a great story.

24. If you are fortunate enough to have the means to pursue an education, you should obtain as much as you can. You will never regret it.

23. Doing handstands over the stairwell at Taylorsville high is unbelievably stupid.

22. You can’t get promoted until there is somebody qualified to take your job. Be willing to share your knowledge with those around you.

21. Finding/making quiet time to talk with your spouse is the best investment you can make into your marriage.

20. While at the time it may seem painful, taking a rock bottom through a sheet rock table makes for a great story.

19. Everybody is struggling with something and nobody has a free ride. Because of this you should always be nicer than is necessary.

18. Be thankful for your bishop and try to cut him a break when he makes mistakes, he carries a tremendous burden.

17. New car smell is awesome

16. Rolling a soap box car with your first date on the back sure sucks at the time, but sure makes for a great story.

15. Be willing to take chances and become okay with rejection. You will be surprised at the opportunities you will be given.

14. Every new stage with children is hard and seems like the end of the world, but they do grow out of it.

13. Try to be a good home teacher. It is good for the soul to care for others.

12. I’ve never found a testimony to be built on grand experiences. Look for the subtle whisperings of the spirit.

11. It is okay to have lots of kids. It is nice to have brothers and a sister that you truly enjoy being with.

10. Don’t ask why you have to take generals when your degree is not related. College is there to teach you to think. If you only want to learn a skill, go to a trade school.

9. If you feel overwhelmed, stop, take a breath, and make a list.

8. Having a mix up with Diamond Brady may be unbelievably embarrassing, but it sure makes for a good story.

7. Spend time with your spouse and go on dates. A happy marriage is the only thing that matters in life.

6. Smile a lot. It will make you more pleasant to be around.

5. Kids adapt very well. If you stay positive, they will stay positive.

4. Look for chances to put your spouse first.

3. If you are always looking for the next opportunity it is hard to be happy where you are at.

2. Count each little hug and kiss from young children. They are limited and a precious commodity.

1. If you are lucky enough to be married to your best friend, you can handle anything (I love you Erica).

Dear Keith,

2011-11-16T06:38:00.000-08:00

Dear Keith,

You are so wonderful and smiley. We wish you could be a little less whiny. Just a little bit would be great! You are learning to sit up by yourself and it seems to be the only thing that makes you happy sometimes. Laying on the floor doesn't quite cut it anymore. Your sisters love to sneak around on the floor to scare you. You laugh at them and they play this game with you for a long time and none of you tire from it. With the time change, you are no longer up until 11:00 each night which is great. Keep up the good work! You are almost 6 months which is so incredible. What a wonderful 6 months it has been. Love you - mom

Play Make-Up

2011-11-15T23:29:00.002-08:00

Last year for Christmas, Megan bought Rebecca some "real" play makeup. I have had it in the cupboard this entire year not wanting to deal with the mess. While reading a friends blog last week, she had a picture of her 2 young daughters playing with makeup and it didn't look too horrible. We got it out right before bath time last week and we all had a great time. If only you could have seen the beauty that they created on me. We're still working on the concept of less is more.

Dear Allison,

2011-11-15T23:29:00.001-08:00

Dear Allison,
Thanks for being such a sweet girl. You like to negotiate which can be really cute but can also drive us crazy. You never take no as the final answer without trying a couple of additional times. We both think it will get you far in life - always pushing for what you really want. You are star of the week this week and you are loving the extra attention at school. I loved making your poster with you this weekend. You are always so good to give thanks for the things you receive. It is wonderful for us to hear sometimes. Thank you for that!
Love you tons - mom

Dear Rebecca,

2011-11-15T23:27:00.000-08:00

Dear Rebecca,

You make me laugh each day but you also make me cry. Can you try to be a little less defiant and stubborn? Only one of us can win these battles and I would prefer that it be me. You are starting to eat better and even asked me for spinach but a little less fight would be wonderful. You have SO much personality which I am very grateful for, and also SCARED about! Love you tons Becca-Roo

Dear Megan,

2011-11-15T23:26:00.000-08:00

Dear Megan,

Please try not to get so distracted when asked to complete a task. It drives me crazy!! You love to organize but sometimes I just want it picked up and thrown in a box.
I love you!

Love, Mom

Halloween

2011-11-15T23:25:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful halloween. The girls were able to dress up for school, we attended our ward's trunk or treat and took the girls trick or treating around the neighborhood which we had never done before. We had a great time! And yes, I did feel bad for putting Keith in that costume. He was pretty cute though - I wish I had a better picture.

Singing in the Rain

2011-11-15T23:24:00.000-08:00

While organizing this weekend, I found an umbrella that I had purchased but had never given to the girls. I must have 3 of everything in order to keep the tears away. We had a wonderful rain storm yesterday afternoon so Becca go the umbrella and was able to wear her sisters big rain boots. It was so fun to watch her sing and play in the rain.

Butterfly Rescue

2011-11-15T23:20:00.000-08:00

During our Sunday afternoon walk, we found a poor butterfly with a broken wing. The girls picked it up and held it for a few minutes. We enjoyed talking about butterflies and seeing them up close a little bit. It was a sweet moment. And seriously - isn't that the sweetest picture of Allison. She was so worried about this poor butterfly!

Just Because

2011-11-11T12:45:00.001-08:00

Hat or No Hat???

2011-10-10T09:05:00.000-07:00

Dear Keith,

2011-09-27T13:02:00.000-07:00

Dear Keith,

What a joy you are! We absolutely love having you in our family. You turn 4 months tomorrow. It has been a long 4 months with many adjustments and changes with summer starting and ending. You have been our easiest baby and you are always happy!

You spit up all the time but give us no warning because you never seem grumpy about it. I even had to come home from church on Sunday to change because my newly drycleaned black skirt was turned white during sacrament meeting. I am quickly learning to only wear machine washable clothing. :)

You have giggled for me and your dad but yesterday was the first time your sisters made you laugh. It didn't surprise me that it was Allie that got the first giggle from you. You were happily laying on the floor while I quickly made dinner for the girls. Allie was breezing you with a blanket and you smiled and smiled and then laughed. It was a sweet moment - another reminder of the special relationship I think you two will share.

You sleep great, eat even better and are happiest when in the bath. Just the sound of the bath gets your little legs kicking and your arms swinging. You could stay in for an hour if we let you. The other night, I pulled the ironing board into the bathroom and ironed while you sat in the bath and relaxed. Megan read her chapter book to us and we enjoyed a calm moment. I hope I never forget that night. It was a moment filled with peace (and multi-tasking). :)

You like to be swaddled like your sisters but if needed, you will fall asleep in our arms. In fact, you did that on Sunday in your dads arms during church. It was sweet to see.

If you burp while Becca is in the room, she will always say "oh...good buddy!" Another thing I hope I don't forget. Soon she will be yelling at you for stealing her toys but for now, she loves you a lot. She runs upstairs when she hears that you are awake and is very helpful to get me diapers and such. I think she will enjoy trying to feed you in the next couple of months. Maybe we can get her to taste some new things while we teach you.

I wasn't so sure about the name your dad insisted we use for you. But everyday, I know more and more that it was the right pick. You have big shoes to fill to hold up the man who had it before but I think you can do it! You are just our little man and we love you.

By the way, we bought this outfit for you while in Canada for our first wedding anniversary. That is where your dad served his mission and we went back to visit. We had just started talking about starting a family and saw this and immediately bought it. We were starting to think we would never use it. It just didn't work for your sisters. It was fun to find this last weekend and finally put to use. Your dad loves canada and moose for that matter. It was in a box for 7 years but we are grateful for the wait.

Love, mom

Dear Allie,

2011-09-16T11:00:00.001-07:00

Dear Allie,

You go by Allison at school now. It still catches me off guard when I hear other students or teachers call you Allison. I obviously love the name because that is what I named you but you have been Allie for so long. You finally told me that it was okay if we called you Allie. I'll continue trying. You love school! I miss you terribly while you are gone. I didn't expect you to enjoy it as much as you do. I thought you would be exhausted and come home ornery. I thought you would miss being here more than you do. I think every mother wants their child to be happy when they are gone but have a little longing to be home. I am thrilled that you are happy. You told me the other day that you are going to play with a different friend from your class each day for recess. Your teacher has told me that you are the reason she gets up in the morning. If she could have a class full of you, her job would be perfect. We take such pride in you and are so grateful that you are a wonderful example in class. You obey the rules and are so sweet to the other children. You haven't had a chance to read to your teacher yet but we know you will surprise her when she hears how great you are! I love reading with you each night and I can't wait to see how much you learn during this kindergarten year.

You are still so wonderful with Keith. You make an effort to spend time with him when you get home from school and he brightens up as soon as he sees you. I think you two will have a special relationship for a long time. I love putting you on the counter and listening to your stories from the day while I make dinner. You are great to open up and give such wonderful details about your activities and friends.

You are learning to play the piano and you are doing so well. It is so fun to hear you play and you are anxiously working through the music until you get to Twinkle Twinkle. You saw that piece and you are so excited to play it by yourself. It is hard for you to come home from school and practice but you are doing great. You hate when I keep the beat for you so I never do. Or you will listen to me count out the beat and then repeat it by yourself with no problems.

You are a wonderful child. I miss your smiling face and happy demeanor and am thrilled when 4:00 roles around. I hope you can keep working hard.

I love you Bug!

Dear Megan,

2011-09-16T10:39:00.000-07:00

Dear Megan,

School has started and you are in the 1st grade. You are doing so great! You are a wonderful child who loves to learn. Your teacher has already told us what an asset you are to the class and that you are a model of good behavior. We are so proud of you and your example. You make friends so easily and seem so happy to be at school. While visiting you for lunch yesterday, multiple children waved at you and you quickly told me who they all were. Each child had a story attached to them whether you play with them on the playground, they were in your class last year or they were just a friend of a friend. You are still not eating your lunches well but you come home happy so I don't mind as much as I did last year. Allison looks up to you so much and you have been wonderful to pull her into your little world at school. Rebecca is always anxious for you to get home from school. She misses you the most as you are always the best at playing with her. She is always thrilled when Allison has to practice first because that means you get to play with first.

You are learning to play the piano and you are doing a wonderful job! Each day you amaze me and I am so proud of your hardwork. It took a couple of days of tears and frustration but you sit down now with such confidence and it is coming so naturally. You enjoy gymnastics but not as much as Allison. We're still not sure what activities you will enjoy doing as you get older. For now you are just happy with anything.

Being the oldest, you have a lot of added responsibility but you handle it all so well. You are a wonderful helper and we love having you work by our side. Thank you for not throwing fits over dinner. Please, please learn to hurry just a little bit. You can not do anything quickly. Well, that is not true. You can do math worksheets quickly but everything else you move at a snails pace. I am trying to love that characteristic of you but somedays it is harder than others.

Daddy's sister once called the older kids the "pancake batch." You always mess up with the first batch but then figure things out. I pray each day that you will be just as great as the younger kids even though we are learning so much with you.

Love you Megs!

Keith Laughing

2011-09-15T09:17:00.000-07:00

2011-09-09T11:00:00.000-07:00

The picture I have hanging up of Becca in our home was taken when she was 8 months old. A little out dated. I decided to try my best to see what I could come up with and was able to take these beauties. If I do say so myself, they turned out pretty great. Now to decide which to choose and how to make room on the wall for our newest addition! What a blessing these children are. Hard, busy, but absolutely wonderful!

Too Many Choices

2011-09-09T10:45:00.000-07:00

Becca and Keith

2011-08-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

Becca kept closing her eye with the flash. These were cute because she was trying so hard to keep her eyes open - hence the large blue beauties!

First Day of School

2011-08-22T12:18:00.000-07:00

I can't believe both girls are in school full time. No tears (from anyone, including mom) this morning. Just lots of anxious nerves. We are so proud of both girls are we are so excited to see how much they grow and learn this next year. Good luck girls!

2011-08-12T09:51:00.000-07:00

I just can't get enough of this face!

Keith's Baby Blessing

2011-08-07T12:39:00.000-07:00

We had the privilege of blessing Keith this morning during our church meetings. Although we were sad that our family was unable to participate, our Texas family was and helped us enjoy the experience. Keith did great and cooperated and did not cry and the blessing was wonderful. I snapped a few pictures when we got home that turned out pretty cute. Such a wonderful day!

First, I was a little ornery!

Then, I decided to eat my hands!

I finally decided it wasn't too bad!

I then got a picture taken with Allison. Most people think that I look like her. My mother agrees. I have her big blue eyes and we both look like our dad!

You know you think I am cute! Just admit it!

2011-07-28T18:58:00.001-07:00

I am going to cry when this girl starts school in 3 weeks! She is just my best little friend and I love having her around me. She is excited and nervous and I feel the same emotions for her.

I WISH I LOOKED THIS GOOD CHUBBY!

2011-07-28T18:57:00.001-07:00

2011-07-28T18:29:00.001-07:00

Wow! They are beautiful girls!

She even sleeps like a lady!

2011-07-28T18:25:00.000-07:00

Future Business"woman"

2011-07-28T18:18:00.000-07:00

I used to love going to my dads work when I was a little girl. We drove down last week to show the baby off and Allison enjoyed "working" at daddy's desk.

Rebecca is 3!

2011-07-28T18:02:00.000-07:00

I can not believe that our little Becca Lynn is 3! She has brought so much spirit and light into our home. A ton of laughter mixed with a healthy dose of tears. She can bring me so much joy one minute and have me on my knees praying for strength the next. She is by far our most "spirited" child and has pushed me to my ends more than once. We have said since Becca was a baby that she is just happy to be alive. She continues to act this way and is a very pleasant child (most of the time). In order to play with her older sisters, she has grown up quicker than we would have liked her to. She talks like a champ, or better yet like an adult. Just yesterday, she said to Matt, "daddy! Why aren't you giving me attention?" Her ability to communicate astounds us and we are grateful she is able to express her wants and needs to us. She is very social and enjoys being around other kids but is also very content to sit and play puzzles by herself. (She is up to the 48 piece puzzles and can do them herself! It's my blog - I can brag!) She has recently learned how to ride a bike, fights me on eating anything healthy other than oatmeal and loves being a big sister! She still loves Dora and Tad but will watch anything. We are so blessed to have Rebecca in our lives. She can turn any stressful situation into a happy one and makes jokes that are actually funny! We love you Becca!

I wish I could express my thoughts about Becca better but you just can't "explain" Becca. She is so unique and has a personality that you just can't describe. She is all girl but definitely has the most "tomboy" in her of all of our girls. She loves book about snakes and alligators and in fact, wanted an alligator cake for her birthday. Matt created this beauty! I think he did an amazing job for his first cake with fondant and the girls (all of them) thought it was great! Seriously! Do you know any other 3 year old girls who wanted an alligator cake!?!

Little Man (8 weeks)

2011-07-25T13:24:00.000-07:00

I can not believe how fast the time is flying with this little guy. He is already 8 weeks old and continues to bring such joy to our home. He LOVES to smile and still enjoys waking up a couple of times a night to spend time with his mama. She doesn't mind until Saturday/Sunday rolls around and she starts to get a little grumpy. :) It is a good thing he is so cute!

Voice Class

2011-07-25T13:20:00.001-07:00

We are blessed to live in a ward with a woman who has a Ph.D in voice performance. She held a voice class every morning for two weeks that Megan and Allison were able to attend. They learned lots of fun songs and were able to perform for a crowd. Allison's song was Edelweiss and Megan's was Somewhere Over the Rainbow. They both did so well and we love seeing their personalities shine through with these experiences. This was Allie's first time performing in front of people and she soaked it all up. I'll try to post the performances later. Love these girls!

Beautiful Girl

2011-07-25T13:19:00.000-07:00

Tea Party

2011-07-25T13:14:00.000-07:00

What a fun way to spend an afternoon. Tea set, mini marshmellows and princess dresses. Some fancy music and silly talking completes the experience!

Grumpy Gus

2011-07-12T18:57:00.000-07:00

I really wish I saw this face a little bit more than

this face. Unfortunately, this has not been the case since naps disappeared. Let's just say that starting today, she is back to naps. She just went to bed and it is 8:30 but a sane mother is more important than an early bedtime and I was literally going crazy! Literally!

We got Rain!

2011-07-12T18:51:00.000-07:00

While the girls were playing outside the other night, it started to rain. It had been "one of those days" in which I needed them outside. I mainly needed their noise outside. It started to rain and instead of calling them inside, I let them run around in the rain. Megan had to question me and she made sure that I knew it was raining. The look on her face when I told her she could continue playing was priceless. She didn't quite believe me! They had a great time and the noise stayed outside for an extra 30 minutes!

Keith at 6 weeks!

2011-07-12T18:36:00.000-07:00

I am pretty sure this is the greatest little guy in the world! I have become quickly attached and I am confident that he will be spoiled for the rest of his life! I haven't had the chance to get professional pictures taken but these turned out great for me. Granted he is adorable!!
Just a few things I want to remember about this time:
Keith hates being cold. He will scream if he is cold and will instantly fall asleep as long as he is swaddled up tight.
He loves baths and will sit happily for as long as have the patience for.
He has yet to go 4 hours between feedings and his mother is becoming sleep deprived. I have had no longer than 3 straight hours in 6 weeks. For now we are doing okay - I just hope it doesn't last too much longer.
He is a very content little guy. He grunts and whines but rarely cries. His sisters adore him (no, the novelty has not worn off) and I could just hold him all day if I didn't have other things that needed my attention. Such a cutie!

Becca and Keith

2011-07-03T22:46:00.000-07:00

Things We've Been Doing This Summer

2011-06-14T18:20:00.000-07:00

Loving on this handsome little man

Enjoying ice cream cones after dinner - right before bed!

Painting Treasure Boxes

Singing and Snuggling to "little brother"

Reading books together

Not such a bad way to start this hot season!

Keith David Huff

2011-06-04T18:49:00.000-07:00

Our little man is finally here! Last Friday, I started to feel some funny pains. Nothing strong but noticable enough that we tried to make arrangements for the girls in case something happened. We drove to the hospital at about 10:00 pm and our 4th little angel arrived at 7:06 am on May 28th, 2011. The delivery was the hardest of them all, (I chose to do it without any drugs)but my most favorite. Although we didn't watch Brian Regan youtube clips or sweet sixteen basketball games, it was fun to play such an active role and have Matt right beside me participating as well. I could not have done it without his love and support. And yelling in my face to breath at the end when all I wanted to do was push!
Keith David Huff was born healthy and strong at only 7 lbs 4 ounces. I was sure he would be a 9 lb baby! 19 3/4 inches long with the sweetest little face!
I wasn't sure what I would think about having a boy but I must say that I am smitten!! He is adorable and we are all enjoying his presence in our lives. Of the three girls, Allie is enjoying him the most. She will sit and stare at him for 20+ minutes just holding his little hand and smiling at him. She enjoys singing to him and is our biggest help with fetching diapers and missing binkies. Megan always refers to him as her little brother. "How's my little brother doing?" Rebecca is learning how to play the big sister role but has been jealous of his attention. Lucky for us, she knows how to communicate her needs and has told me a couple of times to please let daddy hold Keith so that I can hold her.
I had forgotten how much work a newborn is! Trying to care for him, the three other girls, keep the house somewhat picked up and everyone feed does not leave much time for anything else. I no longer answer my phone and it took all I had just to get a shower in on Friday. With Matt back to work and all four wanting something, it took a lot of maneurvering to keep everyone happy and safe for 10 minutes but I figured it out sometime around noon!
We are trying hard to find some sort of routine in all of this crazy. I'm hoping it will only take another couple of weeks to find it. I like routine. For now, we are soaking up every minute with our little man, knowing all too well how fast time flies.

2011-05-16T14:04:00.001-07:00

I've heard the saying, "got up on the wrong side of the bed." Is it possible to "get off the wrong side of the bus?" My daughter got off the bus and quickly ruined everyones afternoon. Okay, probably just mine.

Yes, she is tired and hungry and after some quiet time and a snack, things will be better but wow, she was her own 6 year old tornado today!

Things We've Been Doing

2011-05-04T13:59:00.000-07:00

Feeding the ducks with our friends -

Looking for Easter Eggs -

Painting -

Playing Soccer -

Spring has arrived and we are loving the weather that we have had! Both Megan and Allie play soccer and are loving it. We are learning that Saturdays in spring spent at the park playing soccer is a wonderful way to spend a morning together as a family. Matt is busy with work, Erica is large with baby and the girls are happy!

She is 6!

2011-03-24T15:17:00.001-07:00

Our sweet Megan just turned 6! We had a fun birthday celebrating and playing together. Her birthday was on a Sunday so on Saturday we went bowling and out to lunch. Her wonderful, adoring father made her a barbie cake which she enjoyed helping with and they all love the new barbie. Truthfully, I was amazed that he was able to do it and was quite impressed with the end product. We all enjoyed it for a few days! She got a big bike for her birthday - has yet to learn how to ride it but is working quite hard at the task. Her dear friend from church who lives on the next street over also had a birthday the same week. I took the two of them to a cute little cupcake shop. I think they both enjoyed the attention and the size of their cupcakes!
Things about Megan:
She is a great big sister - most of the time! She is very sweet to Rebecca and loves helping around the house - when it is convenient for her!
She is really smart! At least we think so anyway! She is reading really well and we are amazed all the time at what she is able to do.
She has a sweet testimony and is anxious to learn new things relating to the Gospel.
She is a perfectionist and loves her routine - don't mess with it!
She is soooo friendly! Which can be so great and so challenging at times. All the kids on the bus know her name.
She is taking a voice class that she loves and is beginning soccer in a couple of weeks. She tried dance and enjoyed it but it wasn't her "thing."

We feel truly blessed that she was given to us to care for. Her spirit is missed in our home when she is not here. We love you Megan! Happy Birthday!

Little Chefs

2011-03-24T15:13:00.000-07:00

During Spring Break, we were invited by a dear friend to accompany her and other friends to a local restaurant that gives free tours of their kitchen and facilities and then allows the children to make their own pizzas. They are able to watch them cook and the gobble them up. They also receive free kids meals to return at a later time. What a great idea! Truthfully, Matt and I do not care for the food at all - other than the bread but it was a fun experience. Thank you Michelle for thinking of us - we had a great time!

Megan's Arm

2011-03-11T06:06:00.001-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, while playing outside in the backyard, Megan fell the wrong way and fractured a bone near her elbow. She has the most beautiful cast and has been a champ trying to maneuver life around such a large cast. She had the opportunity to dress up as her favorite character from a book today for school and of course choose a princess dress. Here are a couple of cute pictures that I took of her in her dress and cast.

Childrens Museum

2011-02-17T09:15:00.000-08:00

A friend and I decided to go to the childrens museum a couple of weeks ago. It was a wonderful break for routine and now I try to go every two weeks. The girls love it - although we do miss Megan since she is at school.

Dear Rebecca,

2011-02-17T09:04:00.001-08:00

Dear Rebecca,

What are we going to do with you crazy child! You are such a spirited child who brings so much joy to us. You can always make us laugh and can turn any quiet moment into crazy. You arise each morning with asking where you daddy is. Every morning when I tell you he's at work you sigh. He is your favorite person and he enjoys you just as much. Like Allie, you are easy to please. You can play by yourself and be content. You love to do puzzles and we are amazed at the time you spend each day working on them. You love to paint and to color - especially your sisters coloring books! You are a horrible eater and it is driving me crazy. Truthfully, you could be much worse but I sure wish you were easier. You will eat cereal and your favorite food is yogurt. Your sisters have taught you that the only yogurt worth eating is green or white. You are all missing out! Dinner is a battle and I see it being one for a while but we are slowly winning the war. You love to sing and just last night, at 4:00 am you awoke me as you were singing "santa clause is coming to town." You yell at me in the car if it isn't loud enough - which drives me crazy and makes me laugh at the same time.
Instead of sitting reverently during family home evening, you danced around the house like a bunny. As much as we wanted to scold you, it was hilarious and we all laughed at you which only encouraged you more. If you want something that your sisters have, you will fight them until they give in. You don't take no for an answer easily but you are slowly learning. You are a smart child - so much so that we worry that you will work out schemes soon. You know your alphabet, colors, numbers, shapes, etc. You are extremely social and everyone is your friend! We love you!

Dear Allie,

2011-02-17T08:52:00.001-08:00

Dear Allie,

You go by Allison at school. Your teachers and your friends all call you Allison. It is fun to hear because we always call you Allie. I asked you which one you preferred and you didn't care. That is your personality - simple. It is sweet to walk through your school and hear the children call out to you. For some reason, you don't call back. We don't think you are shy - just.....we aren't sure. After we talked to you about how hurtful it is when you don't answer you now respond with a wave and a smile. That is something. I miss you when you go to school but you seem to enjoy your time there. I am nervous for you to start kindergarten in the fall. The time is coming so quickly when you will be gone all day, held to standards that scare me for you. You are a smart girl. While writing out your valentines last week, your handwriting was clear and you enjoyed doing the work. You can read when you want to and you love activities. I am already praying that you get the best teacher for your personality and that you can thrive like Megan has in school. I try so hard to not compare the two of you because you are such different children. You are intelligent and bright when you put your mind to something. It is just convincing you that you want to do something that is the work. You hula-hoop better than any other 4 year old! You can do it for such a long time because you wanted it and you practiced until you became great! I hope that same passion and energy can come out in many other aspects of your life.
You are currently taking ballet but you complain each week when class time comes. You told me yesterday that the only thing you like is the princess twirls. I told you dad last night that if I could put you in a princess class, you would be happy. For now, you are asking for gymnastics which we will try in the fall. I hope you like it.
You fight with Rebecca all the time right now. You are stuck between being big and still being little. When all three of you girls are together we can see you being a little lost. You are a silly child who cracks jokes all day long. You love to laugh and run and play. Watching the world through your eyes is a blessing to me. You have so much love to share and you give the best hugs. Thank you for bringing so much laughter into our home. We love you!

Dear Megan,

2011-02-17T08:39:00.001-08:00

Dear Megan,

What a little young woman you are becoming! Each day I am amazed and scared and how you are growing. I walk you to the corner each morning and I watch you walk away towards the bus stop. Each morning you ask me to wait for the bus to drive by so we can wave to each other. Every morning this week, you are so wrapped into conversation with little friends that you don't turn to wave anymore. The first day, it kind of broke my heart. Now I just smile with gratitude that you are so happy and confident with friends to visit with. You love school and you are doing so well! I love to sit down and do your homework with you. It is so fun to see what you have learned and watch your little mind work. You are a wonderful big sister to both Allison and Rebecca. They both look to you with so much love and admiration. Thank you for enjoying them and teaching them.
Your spirit touches our family each day. Your prayer on Monday was particularly sweet to me as you thanked our Heavenly Father for Monday nights that are special because of FHE. You asked him to bless cousin Trevor after remembering what we had told you the week before. You are an obedient child who follow directions/rules well. When I tried to give you treats to take to school on Valentines Day, you reminded me that treats were not allowed at school. After a long discussion, you understood that this one rule could be changed just for this special day.
I worry about you constantly. Maybe it is because you are the oldest and I have never done this before. Maybe it is because we are so much alike and I want you to have success where I had failure. I want to push you and challenge you and give you opportunities to learn and grow. I also want you to play and be the sweet child that you are. Finding that balance is such a challenge for me.
I pray each day that I am doing the right thing with you. Thank you for being who you are and such a wonderful addition to our family. We love you!

Drama!

2011-01-15T17:04:00.000-08:00

I love my girls! Each of them dearly! I've heard it said often how dramatic girls can be. Oh, how true that is. The emotional fits that can be thrown over the tiniest thing still amazes me and I am sure will continue to do so as the years go on. As nervous as the change is, it will sure be nice to have a little boy this summer to tame the hormones that are high in our home!

Christmas Dresses

2010-12-19T17:30:00.001-08:00

We put on the girls Christmas dresses for church today. Yes, I am their mother but I thought they all looked especially beautiful. We have had such a wonderful holiday season thus far enjoying yummy treats, delightful movies and family time each evening. We spent the evening playing a new game - "Don't Eat Pete." If you have never heard of it, contact me and I will tell you all about it. It was given to the girls as a gift and we had such a fun time. It was one that we could all participate in - even Becca which made it exciting. As for today, I am looking forward to Megans break from school and all the fun things we will get to do all together. I'm sure by next week I will be singing a different tune but for now, we are thrilled to all be together. Merry Christmas!
I had to post them all - they are just all too cute!

Allie's Christmas Program

2010-12-12T17:12:00.000-08:00

Allie had a little christmas program at preschool this week. She did wonderful! Truthfully, I didn't think she would actually sing, let alone do the actions but she did so great! It is amazing how much pride you have for your children. I'm sure you can pick her out - black and white plaid dress. Great job Allie!

Christmas

2010-12-12T17:04:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted much lately. We are doing fine. Enjoying the holidays. Had a wonderful Thanksgiving and looking forward to Christmas. Megan is thriving in kindergarten, Allie is coming out of her shell more everyday and Becca is 3/4 potty trained. Matt has ONE more day of school and we are home free! Nothing at all to complain about. For someone who always has way too much say, I don't have much more to add. We made a gingerbread house tonight and had a wonderful time together. These family moments are so precious!

Why spend $20 on a costume if you can't play dress-up??

2010-11-11T12:47:00.000-08:00

Gratitude Tree

2010-11-08T16:56:00.000-08:00

I stole this wonderful idea off of a friends blog. It is private or I would send you directly to her site to see all her wonderful mommy goodness. Thank you Lisa for such a wonderful activity.

We did this for family home evening tonight and the girls loved it. Such an easy activity with a lot of meaning. The girls enjoyed coming up with things they are grateful for and I look forward to hearing all of their thoughts between now and Thanksgiving.

When Megan's at school - Sisters will play

2010-11-06T14:17:00.001-07:00

When I started elementary school, I noticed that my little brother Dave got all of these exciting things while I was at school. He got Happy Meals, special toys, exciting activities, etc. I hated it! However, now that Megan is at school I am realizing that it just happens. I'll be out shopping because it is easier to do with 2 rather than 3 and we'll stop for an ice cream cone on a hot day. Megan doesn't get to join in on the fun. Luckily for me, Allie doesn't rub it in Megans face. I feel like Dave did - maybe that's just the memory!
Okay, now that I got the guilt out - here are some cute pictures of Allie, Becca and I enjoying an ice cream cone.

2010-11-06T14:13:00.000-07:00

Megan has grown so much over the past couple of months of school. She loves reading and writing. So much so that she always seems to have a notebook and a pencil with her. After school a few weeks ago, we drove to the grocery store and she wanted to bring her notebook inside. I had to encourage her along a lot! Writing and walking is a little tricky! I love how much she enjoys school at this point and I hope it continues.

Halloween

2010-11-06T14:09:00.000-07:00

The girls were able to pick out their own costumes this year. I will admit that I like control of things like that but they are old enough to know what they like and don't like. Allie chose Minnie Mouse and Megan wanted to be SuperGirl. They both loved dressing up. Rebecca was a clown and I didn't get a single picture. I know, I know. We enjoyed the trunk or treat together as a family and the girls loved their school parties. Happy Halloween!

Dewberry Farms

2010-11-06T14:00:00.000-07:00

We took the girls to Dewberry Farms a few weeks ago. We had a wonderful family day enjoying the HOT weather and seeing all things fall. I was excited to find a BOGO coupon which made it all the more enjoyable. We went last year without Matt who was stuck at school. How much better it was with him this time around!

Dear Allie,

2010-10-01T08:44:00.001-07:00

Dear Allie,

When you were a toddler, you had a terrible time leaving me. If I was forced to leave you for some reason, you would cry and cling to your older sister and I would drive away in tears. I would call Daddy or Grandma and cry to them, wondering how I could make this easier for you. When you were three, I tried to put you in preschool but you had such a difficult time. You wanted to go, but once you got there you would cry and cry. After a couple of days, I pulled you out and we enjoyed a full year of being together.

And then you turned 4! And everything changed. You started preschool this year and I expected tears. I was prepared for the, I had warned your teachers about them but, there weren't any. You are happy and you love school. I dropped you off at dance on Friday and you ran right out of the car and straight up to the door. And I cried. Not because I was sad. I cried because you are so brave. Things like that were so difficult for you and now they are not! I no longer worry about you being sad when I leave you. My heart no longer breaks for you, it beams with pride while I watch you grow and develop.

You go to preschool just two days a week, Monday and Tuesday. You are such a joy to be around and I am cherishing each day that I get to have you home before you leave with Megan next year. You make me smile and you have the most contagious laugh! You are a wonderful big sister to Rebecca and watching you two develop a special relationship has been such a joy to be a part of.

You are still shy and quiet when you are away from your family. I worry about you and wonder if you have found a friend to play with. I pray each day that you will make a good friend in school, at dance or at church. I pray that you will continue to gain confidence and security in who you are.

I love you Allie!

Love, Mom

Sensory Day

2010-10-01T08:34:00.001-07:00

Allie had sensory day at her school this past week. Rebecca of course joined in on the fun and they both had a great time. Water, ice, shaving cream, jello, etc. To my dismay, Rebecca loved swimming in the pool of jello! It was disgusting but fun to watch her explore new things. An opportunity that I have never given her here at home and truthfully, probably never will!

By the way - look at this smart idea! Paint brushes, a bucket of water and a wall! The children loved it!! What a simple, QUIET activity! That one is going to be used a lot next summer.

I AM AN ADDICT!

2010-09-16T06:45:00.001-07:00

I have an addiction. One that at the beginning, I didn't see as a problem. My sister in law warned me and told me to stop. But...I enjoyed it too much.

I am addicted to ice! Yes, I said ice. If you are going to have an addiction, ice doesn't seem like a bad one. However, I literally go through at least 2 bags of ice a week. I eat it all day long! After killing my teeth with my freezer ice I discovered Sonic Ice. (Yes - I am capitilizing it because it means that much to me!) For about a year, I have eaten ice religiously day in and day out. Before breakfast, right before bed and all of the times in-between.

Until....3 days ago. I began to feel more sensitivity in my teeth. Yes, my sister/hygienist warned me about this but I didn't stop. It was just soooo good. And I must tell you, I am in withdrawal. I think about it all the time and would do anything to have some ice. Cravings that I can't stand! So much so that I even considered waking up my sleeping toddler because I had to have some right then! I didn't do it - I considered it. :)

So, if you cross my path and I am ornery - please know that it isn't you. I am in withdrawal and am suffering. I am sure the cravings will subside eventually but I will continue to dream about my ice.

CHANGES

2010-09-07T13:10:00.000-07:00

Wow! The last couple weeks have been full of changes for our little family. On August 23rd, Megan started kindergarten. She loves it! She rides the bus and is as independent as ever. She hasn't had a hard time adjusting to the schedule and enjoys the whole experience. On August 30th, Matt started a new job. Blessing continue to poor down upon us and we are so grateful for this new opportunity. Much longer hours, much longer drive time for just a little more pay but a much better opportunity! Matt says, "It's more of what I like to do and less of what I don't." It really can't get better than that. We are adjusting to new schedules and less time with him home. Then today, Allie started preschool. She also did great and loved it! No tears!!! It is strange going from 3 kids to 1 kid just like that. I've never been alone with Rebecca for such a long amount of time and I did feel a little lost but we did okay. I just can't believe how quickly they grow and how different my life is. I remember sitting at home with my "three babies". Now, they are in school, taking dance, learning to play the piano and yelling at me and each other often! We're all excited to see what this year brings.

Matt's Graduation

2010-08-08T15:40:00.001-07:00

Matt and I had the privilage of going to New Orleans for his MBA Graduation this weekend. I didn't think I would be able to attend - Allie came down with an illness and was very sick. I had canceled my babysitter and was planning on staying until a wonderful friend stepped up to the plate to help. She brought her two little boys to my house and stayed here for the 22 hours that we were gone and took great care of Allie! We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends!

We left Houston at 10:00 pm Friday night and were back to Houston by 2:00 pm Saturday. We are so grateful that we were able to go. New Orleans is an awful, dirty city that I hope I never have to return to but we enjoyed a night away and I am so pleased that I was able to watch his graduate. I wasn't able to get many pictures but here are the few I was able to catch.

I am so proud of Matt and all of his hard work to get to this point. They talked a lot about how at most graduations the speeches are about going out and making a difference. However, all of these students are already employed and making a difference so the focus was more on this was a goal that they had set and they have accomplished it! How that rang true! Matt has wanted this for so long and worked and worked to achieve it. Congratulations Matt! I love you!

2010-08-01T09:26:00.000-07:00

Which one do you think has daddy wrapped around their little finger????
Well, they all do! But Becca gets anything her little heart desires. The other day I left for a church meeting and when I came home, I asked Matt what he had given Becca for lunch. His response, "Milk." Milk?? You gave her milk? "Well, and some cookies. That's what she wanted." Perfect lunch!

She was awake the other night so I went to get her up. She's really fun to play with when it is just the three of us. Matt quickly got her some ice cream and as you can see by her face, she was thrilled.

Birthday Girl

2010-08-01T09:06:00.000-07:00

Rebecca is 2! We had a wonderful day celebrating and she is such an adorable girl. We had some friends come over for cupcakes and they were sweet to bring some presents. She was very happy and enjoyed her special day.

Things about Becca:

Becca insists on praying at every meal. Many times we as other members of her family get the opportunity to pray and she will always follow with her own version.

Becca must change her clothes multiple times a day. Most of the time they are different swimsuits or ballerina dresses - every now and then we get actual clothes on her.

Becca has a mop head! Her poor hair has so many calicks that it won't do anything.

Becca has learned how to make pretend voices when she plays. She learned this from her sisters and she'll bring toys up to play with us and begin with "hello, how are you?"

Although she has a spit-fire personality at moments, she is still the same baby who is just content to be alive and around people who love her. She gives amazing hugs and has the funniest personality. She can get us all laughing at the dinner table and giggling in the car.

She could watch Leap Frog movies all day long! She loves oatmeal, appleasauce, yogurt and frosted mini-wheats. These are daily staples in her diet.

She is friendly and loves nursery and playing at friends houses. She'll wave and say hi to anyone.

She has filled a void in our family that we didn't know existed. We all love Rebecca Lynn and we are so grateful for her in our family.

Daddy's Day Off

2010-08-01T09:01:00.000-07:00

Matt had last Friday off so we took the girls to the Children's Musuem. We had a wonderful time, until the end. As Rebecca gets older, taking all three girls to activities like this is proven to get easier and easier. We all had a pleasant time until.......Allie got her fingers stuck in the elevator. It was terrifying! Lucky for us, a nice man helped Matt pull the door of the elevator open so we could free her fingers. We feel very blessed that there was no damage - except very sore swollen fingers for a few hours. They had some fun mirrors that the girls enjoyed and the pictures turned our pretty neat.

Becca Time

2010-08-01T08:57:00.000-07:00

During the summer, Megan and Allie have gone to a weekly play group every Tuesday. During that time, Becca and I run errands and fill our time with activities. We had some extra time last week so I drove to the pet store to show Becca the fish. She was adorable and loved the whole bit. She wasn't a big fan of the mice/gerbals/hamsters, etc but who is!?! My sister had a hamster when I was small and I sat there looking at them thinking, "Why did she want one? They are disgusting!" I sure hope my children never want one!

I Love This Face!

2010-07-18T16:53:00.000-07:00

And This Face!

And This Face!

Playing in the Rain

2010-07-18T16:45:00.001-07:00

After we put Megan and Allie to bed the other night, I took Becca outside to watch Matt mow the lawn. He was just finishing up when a rain storm came through. We let Becca play in the rain for a few minutes and enjoyed a little one on one time with her. (I think she enjoyed it as well!)

2010-07-18T16:43:00.000-07:00

Trying for a girl picture - need more practice!

4th of July

2010-07-18T16:33:00.000-07:00

Every party has a popper - that's why we invited you! That is how you could sum up our 4th of July this year. With the girls still going to bed quite early, it wasn't worth it to me to keep them up for the fireworks. We put them to bed at their normal time with the expectation that we would buy a few the next day to do together as a family. Well, in Houston (or at least certain parts and/or communities) you are allowed to set off fireworks for a very, very long time. They began about 9:00 pm and didn't end until after 2:30 am. That is a lot of noise! Although we had a fan in the girls room to block out the noise, Allie still woke up and struggled getting back to sleep. So.......Matt woke both Megan and Allie up and allowed them to watch the fireworks from our driveway. Surprisingly, we were able to see a ton! Although in the moment was sweet and wonderful, fighting them for 2 hours to go back to sleep wasn't so wonderful. Lucky for me, Matt took that one on and I attempted sleep myself. These late night holidays are hard for our go to bed at 6:00 little family.

Auburn University

2010-07-01T08:48:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to spread to the word that Matt was accepted yesterday to Auburn University. One master's degree isn't enough - the man needs two! He just finished his MBA and now he is going for his Master's in Accounting. He really wants to teach undergraduate accounting courses part time and this will allow him to do it. Plus, in order to sit for the CPA exam, he still needs an additional 9 credits. Why not just take 24 and get another whole degree!

I am so proud of Matt and his dedication at learning. He is such a great student and his ability to juggle so many things at one time is such an inspiration to me.

Congratulations Matt! I love you!

(by the way - we are not moving to Alabama. They have an online program in which they tape the actual courses done at the university and they put them online that very day. He will be doing the exact same things as the students on campus - just a few hours later at home. Hooray for technology!)

To my girls:

2010-06-28T12:38:00.000-07:00

Megan and Allie,

I am watching you two play outside on the swings. Megan, you are 5 and Allie, you are 4. Rebecca is napping and you are laughing at something and smiling at one another. You are best of friends and would do anything for each other. Your father and I often say that having you so close was one of the best decisions we have ever made. How wonderful to have your best friend as your sister!

I didn't get along with my sisters growing up. I'm watching you and crying with hope in my heart that you will always be best friends. That no matter what comes along in your lives, you will always have each other to lean on and laugh with. There is nothing better than a sister! Be nice to each other and protect each other. Don't let anything get in the way of your special relationship.

You will fight over clothes, talents, boys, bathroom time, etc. Try not to make each other cry. I hope your eyes always sparkle when you get together after a separation; always excited to share your news from being apart. Be loyal and honest and cherish this gift that our Heavenly Father has given you to always have each other. And please, continue to let Rebecca in on the fun every now and then. :)

With love and admiration,

Your mother.

My Crazy Mop Head

2010-06-25T18:53:00.000-07:00

Rebecca is wonderful! Wonderfully difficult! She has much more attitude at this age than either Megan or Allison. She likes to do things herself and you don't convince her otherwise. She loves oatmeal for breakfast but has to feed herself and she can't stand messes. Therefore, I spend each morning cleaning oatmeal for the full 20 minutes it takes her to eat. She loves the new house but has become a little unsure. She needs to know where I am at all times and will stand at the bottom of the stairs and yell, "mama! Where are you!" This morning, I gave Matt oatmeal duty. After he cleaned a small spill and ate the oatmeal, she pointed her finger at him and yelled, "Don't eat my oatmeal daddy!" How do you not laugh at that? It encourages them yes, but it is really hard not to chuckle.

She insists on changing her clothes at least 10 times a day. Absolutely annoying and I can't stand it but it makes her who she is. Again, she doesn't take no for an answer. Over the last 6 weeks, her vocabulary has grown and it is so fun to have little conversations with her. She loves her bed and goes down easily for both naps and bedtime. Nothing can be in her crib expect for her blanket. She turns on her fan and her music and then points to her bed. She sleeps through the night which our other girls still do not do and is a very happy, although opinionated child.

As you can see from these pictures, she loves her swimsuits, head accessories of anykind and her shoes. She loves to put things over her head, (don't worry - I had the plastic sacks) and pretend that she is a robot. While playing with the girls on Friday, she walked in after taking her clothes off and putting the headband over her eyes saying, "I am a robot!" After family home evening, we were enjoying some chocolate cake. Before we noticed, she had climbed on top of the table and was enjoying a large bite of cake.

Graduation!

2010-06-25T18:48:00.001-07:00

Matt finally graduated from school. Well, not technically - but he is done with classes. He will officially walk in August but for now, we are enjoying it all the same. (BTW - if any family or friends would like to venture to New Orleans on August 7th - we would love to have you there!) We are both a little unsure of things - getting used to having him around more. I went to mow the lawn the other day and I had to stop myself and remember that he would be home all weekend. He could do it!! Normally on Wednesday night, before Thursday, Friday and Saturday class I would take an inventory of groceries so I didn't have to haul all three kids just for a gallon of milk. On Wednesday, while going through the routine I remembered yet again - he will be home all weekend! I can get milk whenever I need to!

I am so proud of Matt and all of his hard work to accomplish all of his responsibilites with such ease. He graduated with a 3.8 which I think is amazing with a full time job, a church calling, a needy wife and three girls that crave his attention like they do sugar!

He has applied to start school again in the fall to get a Masters of Accounting. I am thrilled for him and even more thrilled that his classes or online and not every weekend! Congratulations Matt! You are amazing!

Home Sweet Home

2010-06-25T18:41:00.000-07:00

Things have been very busy the last month at our home. We moved - again! I know, we seem to do it often but this is the last for a while. We finally made the leap and we bought a home here in Houston. We have been renting while Matt finished school - unsure where the next step was. Well, we have a job here and that's more then we have anywhere else so we plunged ahead. We looked, and looked, and looked at homes within our ward boundaries. We were comfortable, had wonderful friends and callings and didn't want to leave. Our realtor showed us many a home, we made offers on a couple, but we just were not finding the one. Before I was to go out the realtor one afternoon, he emailed me a listing that had just gone up that was outside of our ward boundaries. The price was great so I decided to take a look. Well, I saw it three times that day - once with Matt and immediately following we signed the papers. There wasn't a moments hesitation with either Matt or myself that this was the right home. My family will attest that I do not make decisions lightly. And even after I make them, I will go back and forth debating the same issue over and over again. I do this with everything! Big and small. However, not once did I second guess that this was right for us at this time. It's always a little daunting to start over - new friends, new neighborhood, etc. I remodeled the home before we moved in with new tile, paint and carpet. (Carpet I love by the way! I love it so much I had a nightmare last night that I came home and someone had stolen all of my carpet and I didn't know what I was going to do because I couldn't afford it again!) One of these days, I might put before and after pictures up. We have a wonderful play set in the back yard that all three girls love. We all feel very at peace here. Here's to another great adventure!

Bad Combination

2010-05-24T05:48:00.000-07:00

A toddler who insists on feeding herself and a toddler that is OCD about messes. Any little thing that spills must be cleaned up immediately. Makes meal time oh so pleasant!

2010-05-23T16:29:00.000-07:00

Matt is here - on a school trip.

I am at home with a whole lot of this.....

and this.....

just to keep 3 little ones happy for a few minutes.

I am jealous yes, but I couldn't be more excited for Matt and this amazing opportunity that he has. I hope he has a wonderful time!

Anniversary!

2010-05-23T16:07:00.001-07:00

At the beginning of the month, Matt and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary. We had wonderful day! We started off the morning with a local 5k put on by our stake. Last year when I ran it, Matt had school so it was really fun doing it with him. We then had a wonderful night out. Fancy restaurant, play, quiet! It was so relaxing and I am so grateful for the last 7 years and the wonderful life that I have with him by my side. I love you Matt!

Lounging Around

2010-05-23T16:04:00.000-07:00

I couldn't find Becca so I wandered around looking for her. Normally she is right by my side or responds quickly when I call for her. This time however, she was a little too busy to answer. She had found a nice "comfortable" space for some quiet reading. I couldn't stop grinning.

All Three!

2010-05-23T16:01:00.001-07:00

I snagged this the beauty the other day. It is rare to get a picture with all three happy. Yes, Allie's hair is in her face and it drives me crazy. However, the only way she will wear it is down like this or up in a braid. I didn't have time for a braid but she is still a cutie. (And yes, I had time for a picture but not a braid. Priorities!!)

That Face!

2010-05-23T15:12:00.000-07:00

Wow.....that is just the cutest face! Megan is growing up and is at a fun stage right now. Well, a difficult stage but we are working through it. She is showing her independence and growing quite defiant but we are trying to teach her more respect and obedience. We are discovering what works with her and what doesn't. She enjoys a lot of attention and we have cherished the extra time with her. She is a wonderful big sister and has the sweetest spirit. She received a bible from her preschool for graduation and loves to "read" it. I'm not sure what she does when she reads it but she tells me that she feels happy when she does it. She is such a sweet girl!

2010-05-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

Megan graduated from pre-school this week. They turned it into a huge deal and it really is. Full day school starts next year and that is a big accomplishmnet. We are so proud of Megan and all that she has learned this past year. She was so excited to walk down the aisle in her cap. Congratulations Megan!

Motherhood

2010-05-10T04:05:00.001-07:00

Most who know me well, know that I love being a mom! I feel blessed each day to have the opportunity to care for these precious little spirits in my home. I have been surprised and their individual personalities and attitudes. The joy they bring to me is unexplainable.

I love being Megan's mom because she teaches me that I can learn something from everything that surrounds me. She allows me to see that my stubborn streak is actually pretty annoying since I see it in her daily.

I love being Allie's mom because everything is fun. She makes me laugh all day long and is quick to get excited about the small things. Allie has taught me that personal space does not exist when you have kids and I have gotten to the point that I love that about her!

I love being Becca's mom because no matter what mood I am in, she can always make me smile. She helps me remember that it is a blessing just to be alive and surrounded by loved ones. She has had that happy spirit since the day she was born.

Any who read this know from past posts that I have days where I don't think I can handle another tantrum or fight over eating your breakfast. But 99% of the time, I love being a mom and I wouldn't change it for anything.

Lately....

2010-04-25T16:07:00.000-07:00

Things have been quite busy at the Huff home this past month. Here are a few random pictures.

Megan had an allergic reaction to something. No, I have no idea what it could have been. Nothing out of the ordinary - other than puffy eyes that is.

Rebecca got into the pantry and removed a box of her favorite cereal. I thought it was cute so I grabbed the camera to take a picture. I didn't think far enough in advance to think what would happen if I didn't take it away from her. While putting the camera away, she dumped the entire package of rice krispies all over the family room! :)

All three girls playing with daddy.

New swimsuits!!!

2010-04-09T19:39:00.000-07:00

We took a trip to Utah last weekend and had a wonderful time! I failed to take pictures when we were with the Huffs but have many of my side of the family. Our main reason of going was to see Matt's parents. They received their mission call while we were in town and we wanted to see them before they leave. They were called to be the Directors of the Humanitarian Center in Russia. They will be absolutely amazing and being there while they opened their letter will be a moment neither Matt nor I will ever forget. Absolutely amazing! The girls were very sad to come home and enjoyed all of the time with all of their many cousins! Normally, we are exhausted and ready to come home but this time around, we could have stayed a couple more days. Watching Matt say good-bye to his parents was so difficult for me knowing that it will be a while before we see them again. When it was my turn to say goodbye, I had to pretend that it wasn't happening or I would have fallen apart. I said a quick goodbye and walked away. Oh, how we will miss them when they are gone! It's hard enough only seeing them every 6 months. 2 years will be difficult but what an example they are to us. Here are a slew of pictures for my scrapbook!

Help Needed

2010-03-29T20:14:00.001-07:00

We need help from all of those that might read this.

Matt is completing his last class for school and needs a survey filled out for his entrepreneurship class. It is a short survey and will only take a minute. The link needs to be emailed directly to you - I am unable to post it here. We need about 50 people who are willing to take it.

If you, or someone you know would be willing to assist him, please email him at
mhuff1 at tulane.edu

Thank you in advance!

Eye Opening

2010-03-28T13:11:00.000-07:00

Things I have learned or relearned this week:

Running in the rain with your husband does wonders for the soul.
Quinoa tastes wonderful!
Pretty shoes are very painful.
Motherhood is hard and sometimes makes me cry.
Cutting baby hair is hard to do but it always looks great once you do it.
Sometimes chocolate is worth the extra calories.
It is really sweet watching your children search for easter eggs.
You'll do anything to replace a bad memory with a good one in order to help your children grow.

She's 5!

2010-03-21T16:44:00.000-07:00

My little girl is 5! I can not believe that she is so big, so quickly. We had a wonderful day celebrating and we were blessed to have many of her friends over for a birthday party. We had a polka dot theme that was cute, at a minimal cost. All of the kids came dressed in polka dots and we had polka dot cake and played MANY polka dot games. The kids were all wonderful and we had a really fun time!

Things we love about Megan -
Megan ponders everything. She is incredibly thoughtful and doesn't take teasing or sarcasm well. Everything is real.
She is an amazing big sister and takes great care of both Allie and Becca.
Megan is very outgoing and will talk and play with anyone!
Megan is a picky eater and refuses to eat anything that she isn't familiar with.
She could spend all day doing pages of school work. Letters, numbers, colors, etc. - she loves learning!
Still loves all things princess.
Loves to sing and dance for anyone who will watch her.
Loves chocolate anything!
Misses cousins and family in Utah. Asks often when we can visit.
Loves preschool!

All three of our girls are so different in so many ways. Megan has such a sweet spirit and is always willing to help in the caring of others. She is mindful of others feelings and is quick to comfort when needed. Megan loves learning about Jesus and is grasping the Book of Mormon stories well. She is an amazing little girl and we are so grateful that she is part of our family. She has been such a joy to Matt and I over the last 5 years. I have enjoyed telling her about our time when it was just her and I. Her eyes sparkle and it is such a joy to share life with her. We love you Megan!!

Oh, just for memory sake. I only put 3 candles on her birthday cake. One of the parents finally called me out and asked me why I only used 3. My mind wasn't on tight and I think subconsciously I wasn't willing to admit that I needed 5! :)

Being Tough

2010-03-21T16:37:00.000-07:00

Allie is our tough child. When she gets hurt, she bounces right back up. If it hurts horribly, she cries for a minute and then runs and plays. She had a large sore today that caused her quite a bit of pain. While putting the girls to bed tonight, Matt was praising her again regarding her toughness. He explained that Heavenly Father gives all of His children special gifts and one of Allie's special gifts is being tough.
He then encouraged her to become something that takes being tough when she grows up. He said, "You should be an astronaut. Astronauts are tough." Her reply - "Daddy, Astronauts aren't girls!" He explained that they can be and then asked her if she wanted to be a firefighter. She thought pensively for a moment and said, "I know! I can be a mommmy! Mommy's are tough!"
I hope I do show them traits such as tough. In addition to many more.

City Parade

2010-03-18T13:14:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, we had a city parade that I took the girls to. Matt was at school so I braved it by myself. It was much cooler than I had expected but we still had a fun time. The floats threw candy and the girls got pocketfuls of the good stuff. I didn't get any pictures of the floats or horses but here are some of the cute girls.

The Unknown

2010-03-07T18:16:00.000-08:00

Matt and I have always been in the "wait until" mode. There was always another thing on the list of life decisions that needed to be made. We were in school and that is all we have ever known. Undergrad brought us two beautiful girls. We were poor, he was busy, I was home alone with two babies but we were happy. Looking back, those days were wonderful. I remember vividly swaddling Allison and rocking her while Megan would read books and fall asleep for nap time. I would look out the window and day dream. Life seemed ..... I'm not sure ..... but looking back now it was simple and wonderful. The only scheduled thing I had all week was music group. After undergrad, we ventured out to Houston. We knew Grad school would be in the future and it felt right. Scary, but right. We were excited for the advenuture and we dove in and never looked back.
Over the past 2 1/2 years, we have not known what we would do once grad school was over. We made plans to return to Utah or possibly venture someone else in the U.S. depending on a job. For a short time, we looked for a job here in Houston and a job in Utah relying on the Lord to make something work out for us - wherever we needed to be. I will admit that I dreamed of returning to Utah. I was sad to leave the wonderful friends that we have made here. However, Utah had cousins. A lot of cousins. Utah had uncles and aunts and grandparents. Utah had mountains and snow and uncle Mike's boat. Utah had my grandparents who I would love my girls to know. Utah has half day kindergarten which my heart aches for. When I think of putting Megan in all day kindergarten in September, I cry. Literally. We wanted to Utah to work for so many reasons. But......it wasn't working. We tried to make it work. I was forcing everything within my power to force but it wasn't working.
So, a decision was made. We would not go to Utah, we would stay in Houston and purchase a home. Due to our lack of committment to any one place, we have been renting homes while here and it is time to stop throwing our money away. We found a home that is nice. Not my dream home but it will be beautiful and I can see our lives in that home. As soon as the decision was made, peace filled our hearts that this is where we need to be. Things fell in to place and we just knew. Today, I want to pretend that that peace never came and force my way back to Utah. I know I can't, and I won't, but I really want to today. We remember what we want to remember and I remember the good from Utah. When life gets difficult, challenging or lonely, Utah is the cure all. Is it Utah? Or is it the family in Utah? Is it the comfort that comes from 24 years in the same place?
Life in Houston has been hard. Wonderful, many lessons learned, experiences gained, hard! I dream of not hard. I dream of fall days in Utah when school rolls around and I pack Megans backpack and I walk her to kindergarten, knowing I will see her in just a couple of hours. I dream of trick-or-treating at grandma and grandpa's house and thanksgiving with my grandparents and aunts and uncles. Aunt Jeanette's delicious pies. (Megan would love her own individual chocolate pie.) Aunt Jo would teach Rebecca how to spit out her food and Shelli and I would do all the dishes. I dream of going to temple square at christmas with Matt and the girls and enjoying hot chocolate on the way home. I dream of running the trails in Mt. Olympus.
Today, I am not excited to stay in Houston. I'm not excited to move again - the 4th move in 2 1/2 years. :( I'm not excited to have birthday parties without cousins or paying a babysitter $40 every time I want to go to the temple with my husband. I'm not excited for much because the future still seems hard. Matt has decided to return to school again in the fall for a Masters of Accounting. When he first told me, again I was filled with the comfort that this was the right decision. I know it and I will not deny it but it is still hard. More nights with him at his lap top and busy with homework.
I'm tired. Big decisions exhaust me and we have made a lot in the last couple of weeks. A vacation sounds nice but a vacation with kids is hard as well!
We will be happy here in Houston and after a few more years, we might find more than just friends that we will miss if we were to leave. I will continue to cry when I think of Megan going to kindergarten and I will be sad when holidays and birthdays come around and we can not celebrate with family. But I know that I will continue to grow and learn and I take comfort knowing that I am doing what the Lord wants me to do. Somedays, that will be enough. Other days it won't. But for now, Houston is where I live, Utah is where I dream.

The Best Way to Watch Dora

2010-02-25T17:12:00.000-08:00

2010-02-25T17:06:00.000-08:00

The love of sisters!

Trip to the Zoo

2010-02-25T16:32:00.000-08:00

We finally made it to the zoo as a family this past weekend. It has been a while since we have gone due to cold weather and Matt gone on the weekends. It was so fun to introduce Becca to a lot of the animals that she is learning. We let the girls ride the carosel and all three of them throughly enjoyed it. I love the "I am really happy" look on their faces.
**a lot of pictures to follow - I hope to one day turn this into a book and this is the only scrapbooking I do!**

Adorable!

2010-02-25T16:28:00.000-08:00

I came downstairs from putting Megan and Allie in bed to find this! Becca has learned how to push the table chair to the island and enjoys digging through the door. On this special occasion, she found my glasses, a receipt and a pen. A great combination with an adorable girl!

Megan's valentines party!

2010-02-09T18:47:00.001-08:00

Megan had her preschool valentines party this afternoon. Uncrafty me actually made her valentines. Be impressed for it is impressive! They looked like Megan made them which is even better! She loved them and was excited to write her name on them and hand them out today. I dropped Allie and Becca off at a friends and I went to the party by myself. Megan was so excited to have me there and I was thrilled to be able to focus all of my attention on her for that short hour. I love watching her and all my girls while they are in their element. Watching her obey her teachers, follow instructions, interact with her friends is so wonderful. This cute girl next to her is her most favorite friend from class, Adriana. She talks of her often and loves being with her.

Just.....

2010-02-09T18:40:00.000-08:00

We had a few minutes before I took Megan to school yesterday so I snapped a couple of pictures. Megan and Becca were coloring at the table and Allie was laying on the ground watching cartoons. She didn't like being interuptted for a silly thing like a picture. It's still cute though. She is usually either laying on her tummy like this or sitting on her knees while watching cartoons. Megan is growing too quickly. I am panicking when I think about her starting kindergarten next year. She is a wonderful big sister and is trying hard to gain her independence. Not something I am ready to give up but I am learning that maybe I was never in control anyway. She is smart and thoughtful and always puts her sisters and Matt and I first. I was sharing a treat with her last week while Allie was upstairs playing with Becca. She immediately split it in half and ran upstairs to share. It filled our hearts!

Oh....they are cute!

Rebecca's Personality

2010-02-09T18:34:00.000-08:00

Rebecca is learning to be a spit-fire. Who does that sound like? No....not me! Her sisters of course! She is a happy girl who has a very pleasant demeanor. However, she is learning to put up a fight when she wants something and we saw the first toddler fit today, complete with tears. She loves to wear her sunglasses inside the house and I snapped these cute pictures of her playing the other day. This just sums up what we see most of the time here at home. And yes, she does have a mullet. Hence why most of the "done" pictures of her, she has pigtails. The bottom is growing, just not much on top. She is really learning how to "play" along. She loves hide and seek, chasing with her sisters to the door and back, playing with dolls, and is still obsessed with music and Dora.

Childrens Museum

2010-02-09T18:27:00.000-08:00

A friend in the ward bought a pass to the childrens museum. We took the girls a couple of weeks ago and it was fun to have another adult to go with. It is very difficult to take all three girls by myself so having another set of eyes is wonderful.

Rebecca is also getting big enough to participate and enjoy a lot of the activities.

2010-02-04T16:39:00.000-08:00

Do you ever have those days as a parent that you could re-live over and over again? You could frame the day and you'll remember it always as a day of peace and love? The children were happy, your house was clean, sweet lullabies played in the background?

TODAY WAS NOT THAT DAY!