Fun in the Sun

Our cousin, Christian, turned seven years old this weekend and we were all invited to his swimming birthday party. Here are the kids in their swimming gear. Check out Avery's model pose! Isn't she a beauty! And how about those farmers' tans? I guess it's at least more color than their mom has.

These are Aidan's "BIG MUSCLES". They match his swimsuit perfectly. Yes, I did that on purpose. He didn't really use them much, because the water was still pretty cold and he only got in for a few seconds and stayed on the steps, but I think they'll help him gain a little confidence in the pool.

Here's Jolie with her cousin, Claudia. Claudia's six weeks older than Jolie. Aren't they cute in their matching swimsuits? We didn't even plan it. It looks like Jolie had a few too many cupcakes. She really is a Roly-Poly-Jolie!

I know there's a big elbow in this picture and I need to crop it, but if you can, zoom in on Jolie's face. That's the face of an angel! I am a terrible photographer! I can't ever get everyone looking good at once or get the people centered and in focus, but thanks to editing and cropping, I can get a good picture every once in a while. This one's going on the wall!

Latex allergy?

With Jolie's birthday last week came some major discomfort for Ethan. Her birthday was on Tuesday, but it wasn't until he woke up on Thursday morning that I noticed Ethan's face was red and swollen. This has happened a few other times in the past and the doctor said that it was an allergic reaction to something, and that I should just give him some Benadryll and rub on some cream for the itching, but we've never been able to pin point what brings it on until now. I always take pictures of him when it happens, so I did a little detective work, and compared all of the pictures etc., and I came to the conclusion that it always happens right around the kids' birthdays. Birthdays = Balloons! LATEX!!! When I looked it up on line it confirmed my diagnosis. Don't get me wrong, I'm by no means a doctor, but it just all makes sense. I need to go have him allergy tested. He already has eczema and his skin is so dry and sensitive, but with this allergic reaction, he has just been so miserable. His face is so tight and itchy. He stayed home from school on Thursday and Friday. I lathered him up with a thick layer of vaseline last night, and when he woke up this morning, he scrubbed his face with a washcloth. It looks so much better! He was so embarrassed about it. He didn't want to go up during sacrament meeting yesterday when the Primary kids sang to their moms for Mother's Day, but he went up and sang to me. He's such a tough kid. At least now we know what might be the cause of it.

Mommy Dearest

I hope all you moms out there had a wonderful Mother's Day. Mine was fabulous! I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be the mother of my four, amazing children! I woke up to breakfast in bed - french toast and orange juice - made by Avery and delivered by Ethan. Aidan was in the wings, so excited to tell me about the present they got for me -- the softest, cuddliest snuggle blanket EVER! Three year olds aren't exactly known for their ability to keep secrets. I was also showered with homemade cards and pictures. Those are my very favorite gifts. So much time and thought was put into each one. Ethan drew me a picture of a crown with the caption "Queen for the Day". They sure made me feel like a queen. I wish every day was Mother's Day. After church we went to visit David's parents at his sister Kelly's house. The kids had fun playing Rock Band. We've got some talented little musicians there. Aidan just loves to dance, and boy does he have some sweet moves. When we came home, we made some grilled cheese sandwiches in the new waffle iron/sandwich maker that David gave me, to go with the stew that had been cooking in the crock pot all day. We topped the night off by watching the movie, P.S. I love You, after we put the kids to bed. All in all it was a pretty laid back, relaxing day.

Big One Year Old Girl!

Our baby girl, Jolie, turned one on Tuesday! I can't believe how quickly this year has flown by. Jolie is such a big girl. She learns something new every day. I have just loved watching her grow and develop. The world looks a lot different through the eyes of a one year old. Seeing the excitement in her big, beautiful, blue eyes as she experiences something new for the first time, a new food, a new friend, the sound of a strange animal etc., I can't help but wonder what is going through her little head. She is such a sponge right now, soaking everything in. I feel so blessed to be a part of it. She has such a sweet spirit, and the funniest personality. We couldn't have asked for a brighter, happier, more beautiful baby. We love our sweet Jolie, and we are so happy she is a part of our family.