Today marks...

...ten years since I entered the Provo Temple to be endowed, in preparation to leave on my mission.  How grateful I am for the blessings that have to come to me because of the temple and the covenants that I have made.

an extra special Mother's Day.

Not only did I feel so blessed to have my Parents come out to visit after Aimee's birth, but I felt particularly spoiled to have Mémé here for Mother's Day.

Dad sat in the van with you kids while I went in and hand selected flowers to be used for a floral arrangement to give to Mémé.  It turned out just beautiful and I was grateful to be able to do a little something nice for my Mom after all of the MANY things she has done and continues to do for me.

Saturday night my Mom helped me to "puff-erate" some tissue paper puff balls :0)...then I decorated the dining room with flowers, puff balls and garlands.  For breakfast Dad and Bompa made us omelettes (they had a whole assortment of add-ins to choose from) and a smoothie.  Yum!  Bompa stayed home with (a sick) Elijah and with Aimee while the rest of us went to sacrament meeting.  Brie & Alex went up with the rest of the primary kids to sing.  We couldn't really see your faces, but I could tell that Brie was trying to help a crowd-shy Alex to brave and that made me smile.  Then Dad, Mémé and I sang Aimee's song, "Mother Tell me a Story" for one of the musical numbers.  It was honestly very last minute and thrown together, but we got lots of compliments and it was special to be singing with two people that I love so much.  Especially since I have fond memories of Mémé singing to me and my siblings and because this song reminded me of Aimee's recent and special birth.

On Saturday Mémé and I selected and shopped for our dinner menu and then Sunday the men prepared it for us:
Honey-glazed salmon
Herbes of Provence Green Beans
Baked potatoes
Salad

It was delicious and nice to have the evening off from cooking!  Dad sweetly obliged my request to get a bunch of pictures of us four girls.  I think it's significant to have 3 generations of women together and wanted to document it.  (I would have requested a picture with all of you kids, but you boys are extra wound up on Sundays and we were trying to keep Lij away from Aimee so he wouldn't share germs.)

Our home teachers, the Cashes, brought me chocolate-covered strawberries (how nice is that!) and Dad gave me a new crêpe pan and toppings.

Throughout the week Brie showered me with a variety of cards and drawings.  What a sweet girl you are, Brie!  You had a few questionnaires that you filled out for me.  My favorite answers were that my job is to clean the house and that I am good at taking care of babies.  You also brought home a mini bottle of lotion from school and gave me a hand message.  What a fun treat.

It was a one-of-a-kind Mother's Day spent with some of my very favorite people in the world.  I am so grateful for you four who call me Mom.  I learn so much being your mother and you make my life full and meaningful.  I love you Brie, Alex, Lij and Aimee.

P.S. This is the postcard that we sent out.  I decided to send it out early, thinking that I'd be in labor or have a new baby on Mother's Day.  We ended up mailing them on Alex's birthday, little did I know that Aimee would be born the next day!

our family now.

My friend Lenay is a photographer here in town.  A few months back at a Relief Society activity we talked about the idea of swapping newborn photo shoots (she is due at the beginning of June).  So a week after Aimee was born she came over and spent an hour and a half with us.  She used to work for Bella Baby Photography and it was evident that she was accustomed to working with newborns.  When Aimee would get fussy she'd gently press a soft blanket to her arms and it magically helped her settle down.  In any case, she did a wonderful job and I'm grateful to have these pictures officially documenting our now family of six.

She had a few different props and I opted for this cradle with a heart since Aimee's name means loved.  The pink blanket is from Mémé and since has been transformed into an adorable blanket for Aimee to carry around and snuggle with.

I just love these few shots of Brie with her baby sister.

When trying to figure out outfits for the shoot I was considering doing neutral.  Then I decided that with a second girl in our family I wanted to go super girly...lots of pink, tulle and this ridiculously large flower headband ;0)  As over the top as it was, I love how it all turned out.

Aimee's tulle skirt is special because it was given to her by her Grauntie Elaine, one of the dear "beloved" women that she is named after.

  This one with Dad and you girls is another favorite.  He loves his girls!

 We had to get one with Alex and his adored Aimee :0)

This is the birth announcement I came up with to send out to {great} grandparents..."April showers brought our family a beautiful baby girl, then May flowers."

That gorgeous blossoming tree is our neighbors.  Those branches were reaching over our fence the week Aimee was born and I couldn't resist including them with the announcement.  What a beautiful time for a baby girl to be born.  The little closeup shot I took one afternoon.  I had just fed you, Aimee, in my craft room and propped you up on a pillow so I could work on thank you cards.  You often rest on me like that after nursing and I just had to snag a shot.  I grabbed the headband to complete the look and my camera and just happened to get one of you smiling.  I just love how it turned out.

my four littles.

Tonight the kiddos and I watched "Kung Fu Panda" snuggled up on the couch downstairs.  Alex was next to Brie, I was next to Alex, Lij was sitting by outstretched legs as I held Aimee.  After the movie finished (and I woke up ;0)...I often fall asleep during movies, especially these days) it was so sweet to look around at those four little people.  These four little children who call me mom.  Yes we have our hard moments every day, but God is helping me to see and savor so many sweet ones as well.

I got Elijah nestled in his peapod, stroked Alex's head as I said goodnight, prayed with Brie, then nursed Aimee and held her close...whispering how grateful we are for her, how much we love her.  Life is good.  God is good.

Parenting...

...{with a new baby and two little busy boys} is not for the faint of heart.  Overall things have been going well, especially with Aimee, but Alex and Lij have been giving us a run for our money.  For some reason the two of you together has meant mischief and messes lately, and it seems like if you are left unattended at all that you get in to trouble.  Yesterday you were sent to your room for throwing rocks at the house.  While in timeout you strew a pack of diaper wipes around the room and had to stay in your room longer.  Five minutes later I go back to find that you'd gotten the bottle of pet & accident odor remover spray from a tall shelf..it was all over Roo, the walls and floor and was completely empty.  After removing everything from your floor and leaving you to finish your timeout I come back to decorations being taken off of the walls.  Sometimes it seems like there is no stopping you!  I totally lost it.  It was one of my worst monster mom moments (thankfully it's been a long time since I've reacted that badly).  I was so frustrated for acting that way, but also for you putting me in that position.  Thankfully the rest of the afternoon went better (Alex & I had a nice heart to heart about him being a big boy and example for his younger siblings) , but today has been another day of many sad choices and consequences on your part.  I've handled it a lot more calmly (probably in part because dad's worked from home today and has been helping out), but I wish that you would stop constantly testing you boundaries. It is tiring.  Dad & I finally decided on and bought a video monitor.  He set up one camera last night in your room and the other at the bottom of the stairs so we can monitor you kids while you're in the basement.  It has a two way talk feature.  Today during one of your timeouts Dad brought the monitor down to where I was sitting and we watched you boys to make sure you wouldn't make a mess.  At one point Elijah looked like he might take his diaper off so Dad advised him over the monitor.  It was so funny to see you boys look around in confusion and then realize that the voice was coming from the camera mounted above the door.  We were getting quite the kick out of the new system.  At least it got us laughing; we can use some comic relief these days!

Last night while nursing I came upon a blog post where a mom describes a typical day when her kids were young, and how she felt such highs and lows.  I can definitely relate.  Like this morning when I went to get Lij out of his peapod and he announced that he'd taken off his {duct taped} diaper and peed on his jammies and bedding.  Lovely.  But then several hours later when he and I went to retrieve his now clean blankie from the dryer and how joyfully he was saying, "my blankie!...it's warm!"  I couldn't help but smile at your chubby two year old fingers grasping your beloved blankie with a big dimpled smile on your face as we walked up the stairs for nap time.  Ups and downs for sure.  This time is challenging in so many ways, but we're making it, and through it all I sure do love these kids of mine.

bless yous.

Every time Aimee sneezes Alex says, "I love her bless yous."  It's so cute.

According to Motorola, 6.

This phone update definitely features Aimee :0)

You can tell we're all pretty smitten!

Here we are almost 3 1/2 weeks in.  I feel like things have really gone so smoothly overall.  Bompa & Mémé have been visiting and what HUGE helps they've been.  It hasn't been the rest and relax type visit...but we've gotten SO much done and are forever grateful for their help.  A blog post on their visit to follow.  Dad has been helping out a lot as well.  Thankfully he's been able to do a little bit of work from home and has gone in to campus as needs be.  I've been nervous about the prospects of me + 4 kids at home all summer, but the last few days (thanks to ideas from Bompa & Mémé, pep talks from Dad, and promptings & inspiration from the spirit) I am feeling more hopeful.  We will make it through and can even have fun in the process!  In any case, Aimee, you are so SO loved.  You are one sweet little baby girl and we all feel blessed to have you in our home.

 We sang to her "Happy Birthday" with a zero candle :0)

 Brie, Dad and Mom's predictions about Aimee's birth and stats.

 Oh I am in Heaven with all of these snuggles.  Heaven!

 Sisters.

 I love seeing her little corner put to good use.

 When I told you Brie that I wouldn't be able to make it to centers (because it was 4 days after Aimee was born, Dad was teaching and I couldn't drive) you melted in to tears.  It was the last Wednesday of centers for your kindergarten class and you were so bummed that I couldn't come.  BUT it worked out for me to drop in...

 ...thanks to dear Bernadette coming to drive me & the kids to the school and feeding them a snack in the parking lot while I ran in to the school for a few minutes.  We blessed out in the ward family & neighbor department.

 I just can't get over how little she is.

 Oh how I love dressing little girls :0)

 Sweetness.

 Alex has been SO sweet and gentle with Aimee.

 On her way to her 5 day weight check.  Just loving her car seat ;0)

 I've been trying to get in all the snuggles and naps as I can get.

 We had so many people bring us dinners the first two weeks....BIG blessings!

 Dad has been awesome to help with late/middle of the night diaper changes and rocking back to sleep.  And I joke that he's my handsome male nurse...brings me ice water and snacks in the middle of the night.  Sometimes in the middle of the night when we're both awake we'll watch a youtube clip (Josh Groban, Lindsay Stirling + the Muppets, Studio C, Chris Medina, Piano Guys) or listen to a beautiful classical piece by Rachmaninoff.  It's made the night time feedings a lot more doable and fun :0)

 Magical may flower suckers that sprouted from the jelly beans that you kids planted on April 30th.

 My friend Lenay coming to do a newborn/family photo shoot.  Aimee was a week old.

 Brie waiting to be in the pictures.

 Dad & his girls.

 Our neighbors, the Krejcis, came by with gifts for Aimee AND you kiddos!  How thoughtful is that!

We were trying to think of the 10 days before Bompa & Mémé came as our family staycation...we threw in a few fun elements here and there.   Hence, lunch from Wendy's.  

 You boys love your baby sister!

 I just love the way babies stretch.

 Sweet daddy-daughter snuggles.

 Our other neighbors (who own Baxter's American Grille here in town) brought us dinner from their restaurant one night.  We have been SO well taken care of and blessed.

 The onesie that Brie helped to embellish.

 More snuggles.

 Roo giving Aimee a sweet little kiss.

 I got this onesie at my baby shower: "I'm not crying, I'm ordering dinner" :0)

 Alex apparently got ahold of my phone.

 During the first week and a half, there were several mornings that Brie offered to watch Aimee in her room so we could get some extra sleep.  That sweet Brie!

 Some favorite library books as of late.

 A little skirt I made for Miss Aimsey.

Loving all the mother's day and baby girl cards!  AND Brie's kindergarten class is doing an alphabet countdown to the end of school.  Summer break is just around the corner!!