Change in venue...

For those of you who don't already know, our plans have changed. Instead of going to Hawaii, we will be moving to Maryland. This makes Eric sad because it means less time in the ocean spearfishing but it is good news for me since it makes coming home just that much easier. We don't know where we will live yet. Somewhere close to Columbia so that Eric doesn't spend eons traveling each day. Any suggestions for a cute suburbian neighborhood? I know that some of you will be disappointed as well since you won't be able to visit us in the tropics but you are still welcome to visit, just come to see the capitol of our nation instead!

feel the love

Have you all taken the Love Language test? If you haven't, you need to. Go HERE to take the 30 second, readers digest version. Anyhow. I am an even split between "Acts of Service" and "Gifts". In other words, I am bi-lingual. I am most likely to show my love an appreciation to you by giving you a gift or doing something for you. These are also the ways I need to be shown appreciation.

My favorite part of the Christmas Season is getting cards in the mail. I LOVE IT!! There is something about mail that gives me the hugest warm and fuzzy feeling. Not only is it a "gift" but it is an "act of service" since it takes time to write it out and send it in the post. Here are all of the cards we got this holiday season. Can you find yours?

I have to say that Mandy's made me laugh the hardest with Sara's coming in a close second. Who doesn't laugh at a doggie wearing a Santa hat? Warren's was probley the most heartfelt and I loved getting a card from my Dad.

Thank you everyone who thought of us. It made my month of December THAT MUCH BETTER!!

Things we give up to be a mom...

This post is a little on the confessional side. Maybe I should keep this stuff to myself but as I have afore mentioned, I don't really filter myself.

Being a mom of three I do my best. That is all I can do. My house is usually in decent shape, only rarely do my kids skip a daily bath, they always have clean underwear (diapers) and clothes. I on the other hand, suffer a little more. I try really really hard to shower everyday. Honestly, I never go longer than 2 days but even after 5 months of having 3 kids, I still am not used to not being able to shower everyday and take my time in a nice steamy, relaxing shower. So, that being said, it is an even bigger deal when I wash my hair. If I wash it, it takes at least 30 min for me to do (blow dry, put in rollers, flat iron). It isn't so much that I don't have the 30 min to spare each day, but more about what Neelah can get into in that same 30 min. The child is out of control. For real. Not a day goes by without her falling off something that she isn't supposed to be climbing on. I love her dearly but she is a mess and that is exactly what she makes when I take my 5 min shower and try to do my hair.

This is what she walked around in for the entire 30 min yesterday morning. Seriously. It's the bag that I keep my velcro rollers in. She decided that a ziplock would go nicely with her pj's and dumped the rollers on the floor to add this to her ensamble.

Savvy Laughing

Finn is the only one who can get Savvy to laugh on a regular basis. And she always laughs hardest when Finn is around. I am so blessed to have happy babies. SO BLESSED!! If Savvy was a hard, colicky baby I just wouldn't make it. She is so much FUN!

Maryland

Like I said in my last post, I loved being with Eric in Maryland. It was so much fun to just do whatever I/we wanted to do!!

This was as close as I got to The Pentagon. Here we are driving to the airport to drop me off to head back to SLC.
And here is as close as I got to the Washington Memorial. It was a pretty cool sight from the freeway, I can't imagine what it must be like to actually be there. Maybe next time....

Can anyone say "VAY-KAY!!"

I am currently in Maryland visiting Eric. I left all 3 kids at home. Some of you may be thinking, "how could she leave her 4 month old???" It's okay if you are thinking that, I think the same thing about myself at least once an hour. But after the last year, I NEED A RESET. It has been way hard being away from my kids. This is the first time in 4 years that I have been without at least one child in tow.

Eric and I are having the TIME OF OUR LIVES!!

I had this whole agenda planned for my 3 days here. That immediately went out the window. I soon realized that what I REALLY wanted to do was WHATEVER I WANTED!! If I wanted to get back in bed after breakfast, that is exactly what I would do (and what I DID do).

Eric and I have gone out to see some sights. We went to Annapolis today and walked around and shopped. We ate at this cute little pub and shivered as the sea winds blew. I love the old 1800's architecture and seeing all the sailboats. It is all so very QUAINT.

We have roamed the mall and plan on dinner and a movie tonight. What more can I ask for? This quality time with my husband is GOLD!! So even though I am judging myself for leaving my babies, I will be a better mom when I get home tomorrow.

I must be stupid

Today I took Savvy for her 4 month check up. The day started out relatively okay, all the kids were dressed and in the car...even the girls had their hair done! I knew that Savvy was going to have to get some shots today and since Neelah never got her 12month shots I thought to myself that I might as well get them done so that I don't have to make another trip.

We get to the Dr.'s office and just as they call us back Finn announces that he needs to go to the bathroom. The catch is that he doesn't want to go by himself. After working it out with the nurse, she stays to watch Savvy and Finn, Neelah and I go into the bathroom. Finn remembers his 4 year checkup and decides that it was GREAT FUN to pee in a cup! He insists on peeing in a cup. I am trying to get him to quickly pee in the toilet while holding Neelah so that she doesn't put her hand in his stream. Seriously.

Then comes the fun part of keeping all 3 kids locked in the room while not allowing Finn or Neelah to break anything or make a mess. So Savvy gets all checked out and she weighs a whopping 16lbs 4oz and is 25 1/4 inches long. Then come the shots. She gets 4. OUCH! I work on getting her settled down and then it is Neelah's turn. She gets 4 too! Double ouch. I take my two crying girls out and all the while Finn is asking about when he gets a treat. To top it off, I just realized that Neelah has 3 incisors coming in!! 3!!!

Yay for me. Today is going to be a REAL picknic!

Holiday Beginnings

Today, being the last day that Eric was in town, we decided to try to get a shot for our family Christmas Card. Thanks so much to Amy who was my very own personal shopper for the shoot, coordinating all the different outfits. And thanks to Melissa who came over last minuet with her super new, super NICE camera. These are some of the cute shots that didn't make it to winner but that just were too cute to file away and never be seen. Most of them included Neelah since she was the one who was thrilled to have her picture taken.

Love those freckles on my little Finners!

I wish I could duplicate the gene that gave her these eyes and somehow mutate it to my own face.

Savvy was feeling a bit under the weather today. She has caught the cold that I had last week. Poor thing. But her chubby cheeks will always be DARLING!