The many faces of Reesie...

A few nights ago Reese and I were still awake (daddy was out of town and sissies were asleep) when she found my camera. She said "Here mom, take my picture" and proceeded to make THE funniest faces I have ever seen her make. I would say "Do a sad face" or "do a silly face" and she would follow orders to a tee! I think I may have myself a little diva on my hands! Here are some of my favorites:

"Sleepy Girl"
"Reeser the Grouch!"

"Silly"

"Really Silly"

"Really, Really Silly!!"

Taytum Mae is ONE!!

A little late, but on June 18th my baby girl turned one!

Pumpkin-faced nerf-herder...where has the year gone? I feel as if I can remember every minute of every day of your life! You are quite the mama's girl, but now that the milk wagon has run dry you are turning into a daddy's girl, just like your sissies! Your not walking, but close! You love to stand up on your own and just look around the room as proud as a peacock! You love making the "popeye face" that mommy used to make when she was your age. You love eating corn on the cob the best, but anything you can get your precious little hands on will work too. You weighed 20 pounds at your one year check-up, which means you are a peanut!! I think your sisters weighed 20 lbs at 7 months!! I love that you want to be held by me all the time. I love that everyone you pass in a store or on the street makes a comment about your beautiful blue eyes and long curly eyelashes. I love that you make everyone around you laugh when you flash them a big toothy grin. I love your birthmark on your knee. I love everything about you. You are such a perfect baby. I love you more than there are words! Love, Mom.

Let Freedom Ring...

I LOVE the Fourth of July! It is one of my favorite holidays...also happens to be the day that Kelly and I became a couple 12 years ago (cute!). Every 4th of July we do the exact same thing every year, which I love! The day started by attending the parade. All 3 girls really liked it...I think. Once the twins each got about 3 pieces of candy they were fine to go find a shady spot to eat it. I once told Ellie to "Come with me and lets get some more candy!" to which she held up a piece of taffy and yelled back "I already have one mom!" Fine by me sis! The girls didn't like the fire trucks ("Too loud mom!") and Taytum fell asleep amid all the chaos, but all in all I think we had a great time at the parade. After the parade we headed to that park...every year I tell myself we aren't going to go since it's kinda lame, but every year we still find our way down there directly after the parade. We didn't stay long, just long enough to say hi to friends and for the girls to ride a few rides, then we were off to Grandma Lindas for lunch, then Grandma and Papas for a BBQ. We had a rip roarin game of badmitton going on (Go Team Mondragon!!) when we realized it was almost firework time...my favorite part of the 4th festivites! My sweetheart got me hooked on fireworks. I think Kelly loves the fireworks more than anyone I have ever seen! I was a little nervous that the girls wouldn't like the noise...and I was right. Ellie watched the fireworks with her hands over her ears the entire time, but none the less still loved them, Taytum fell asleep about 10 minutes before the display and slept the entire way through them, and Reese hid under a blanket and slowly drifted off to sleep. I joked that nothing lulls my kids to sleep like loud, booming noises! I love that the traditions of 4th of July run so deep in this town...you know where every family in Grantsville sits during the parade, who you will see at the car show down at the park, whose kids will be dressed in the newest Gymboree 4th of July garb and I love that. I love that a small town can have such strong traditions and that the memories every year are renewed just as you left them the year before. I love so many things about the Fourth, but especially the opportunity we have to celebrate our freedom no matter how we choose. Not everyone can say that. Thanks to the men and women who fight for our freedom, rights and choices. Happy Independance Day! See you next year-same time, same place!!

Fathers Day...a few days late!

So I am a little late posting this, but I wanted to make sure that I told all the men in our lives how much we love and appreciate them! I really do feel sorry for everyone else, because my children clearly have the worlds best daddy...sorry to all you runner-ups out there!! What other daddy does his girls hair every week for church until it's long enough to put in piggies? What other daddy will make up songs about robots and spiders to help his girl fall asleep? What other daddy will wake up at midnight when a certain one year old doesnt want to sleep after her 3 hour cat nap and will play with her until 3 in the morning? Not many...

Daddy, thank you for all you do for us-I don't think 4 girls have ever been so in love with the same guy at once! I appreciate your patience and calming ability you have-We love you so much!

Papa: Thanks for all the swings on your playset and the handful of licorice you give us every time you see us. Thank you for giving us rides on your tractor and being one of our favorite babysitters ever! There is no question on how much you love your little "punkin-faced nerf-herders!" We love you so much!

Grandpa: You always have the biggest smile when you see us walk through the door! Thank you for being an amazing grandpa to us and for helping raise the perfect man. We love you!

To all our uncles: You all show so much love and affection to us-thank you for treating us the way all girls should be treated. We love you!!

Love-Ellie Bean, Reese's Pieces and Tayter Tot

This place is a zoo!!

We took the girls to the zoo over Memorial Day weekend, and as always it was packed, but the weather was perfect! The highlights of the day was the train ride (Kell would beg to differ...the twins threw an absolute fit when we got off the train and they found out we were on our way back to the car. He insists that if we didn't go on the train ride they wouldn have thrown such fits. I say they were just biding their time...) the carousel (Tay and I rode in the peacock and she LOVED it so much that she attempted to suck on the arm rest. Apparently I need to have the old Rotovirus talk with her...the same one that I had with the twin in the Wal-Mart cart.) the giraffes (we have pics of both Ellie and Reese stretching their necks out next to them) but the best part was just being out and about as a family. It amazes me how easy everything is when Kelly is involved. I guess its the fact that he can hold both twins at the same time and still somehow manage to push the wagon...a skill I desire to have and have a sneaking suspicion that I never will. We capped off the day with shopping and a trip to Chik-Fil-A. Jealous Jared and Ryann? Thought so...don't worry, your trip is only a few weeks away and we will go as many times as humanly possible. So all in all a great day. Can't wait to go next year!

Mama Ellie

Ellie went over to Grandma and Papa's house tonight to visit (she took a 3 hour nap, so basically she will be awake until 1:30 this morning...) and brought back 'babies." A stuffed shark, puppy, squirrel and rat (I know, ew.) She was playing with them when I peeked in my room to see that she had covered each animal with a "blankie," aka towel, and looked up at me and said "Shhh, my babies are asleep, and I'm asleep but I'm your baby." Yes Ellie, you will always be my baby.

It's Official...Summer is Here!!

Last night for dinner we had corn on the cob and watermelon...sure signs of summer. Some things that we are looking forward to this summer are Kell's garden-he has planted every vegetable imaginable so if you find a bag full of zuccini on your porch you will know who to thank! We are so excited to take the girls to Lagoon this year, as well as the annual 4th of July celebration, Aunt Heathie, Uncle Jedders, Aunt Ryann and Uncle Jared visiting, Taytum's 1st Birthday Bash, uh...camping...I threw that in for Kell's sake. He actually thinks we are taking the girls camping...adorable! I am also looking forward to keeping things simple with the girls. Who needs Raging Waters when a sprinkler in the backyard will do just fine? I am excited to find fun, FREE things to do with the girls this summer. If anyone has suggestions let me know!