11.29.14

Miss Maylie's 3rd birthday happened last Saturday. Truthfully, it was somewhat of a blur. We had so much going on with Thanksgiving this year and then Christmas decorating the day after...therefore, Maylie's birthday was here before I could even breathe.

We filled the day right up to the tip top with swimming at our favorite locale, then decorating the house for her special day, decorating her Elsa cake, wrapping presents, dinner from Wendy's, then eating cake and ice cream, and opening gifts. I was thoroughly exhausted by the end of the day, but felt so happy and fulfilled and grateful to be giving my daughter a simple birthday party with memories she will hopefully treasure. Motherhood is filled with these exhausting, yet tenderly sweet days.

Dear Maylie,

I can't believe how you've grown over the past year. You are like a little grown up lady and I just don't want you to grow so fast. I told you to stop growing the other day because I wanted you to be my baby forever, to which you replied, "But Mom, I have to grow up. I not a baby anymore. You can get another baby to be your baby." You melt me.

I love how you follow me around doing everything I do. When I get ready for the day, you are there at "your little vanity," with your squirt bottle, brush, and hairspray to do you hair as well. When I cook, you cook with me or make playdoh creations. When I have work to do on the computer, you open up your new birthday computer. When I watch a movie with you and bring my binder and book upstairs, you find a notebook and book to use during the movie as well. When I write, you write. When I play the piano, so do you. Everywhere I am you are my little shadow and I cherish each precious moment I have to create memories with my "mini me."

Thank you Maylie for your perfect obedience and natural ability to follow with exactness everything we ever ask you to do. Thank you for lighting up every person you meet with your sparkling blue eyes and captivating personality. You truly make a difference everywhere we go and I can't help but notice how everyone you encounter leaves with a glowing smile on their face. You have a gift, my sweet girl. You are the brightest shining star I know. And I treasure each day that I get to spend with you.

I love you forever and for always,
Love,
Mommy


Dear Maylie,

You are three! You have done so much for us in our family this past year! Thank you for your love and kindness that shines through you everyday. You are turning into a beautiful princess just like your Mommy!

I love the way you say hi to everybody you see in church, in the store, on the street and everywhere! You brighten their day and mine as I see you act so kindly towards all of Heavenly Father's children.

Thank you for always being so polite when mom and dad ask you for things or give you something. You make sure to always say "please" and "thank you." This will continue to be a blessing in your life as you act polite towards others, they will to you too.

Thank you for your spontaneous components that you give to me and mommy. We love to hear you tell us that we are pretty/handsome/beautiful/cool or that we smell good or that you love us so much! You always make our day when you reach out to us and others through not only your kind and Christlike actions, but also words.

I love you so much and I can't wait for another year with you as a part of our family!

Love,
Dad

Lovelies

A few lovelies from the past little while:

{YW's in Excellence}

{Whisper--who still thinks it's okay to camp out on our bed...}

 {Flashlight...who often retreats to our bathtub when she is sick of being hunted by Whisper}

{The Best Spider Flea you will ever see}

{Maylie's very first dentist appointment...she did great! She wasn't worried about a thing...except for laying back on the chair because "it will mess up my hair." She giggled the whole time they were polishing her teeth and sanding down her chipped tooth (because they told her the instruments were teeth ticklers and would make her giggle.) You know, this girl lights people up everywhere she goes. She had the hygienist in stitches laughing at every little thing she was saying and the dentist said he wished he could just sit down and talk with her for an hour. She really does have that much to say...}

Meet Maylie Johnson: Practically Perfect in Every Way.

The End of September.

September has been a most lovely month.

I've truly enjoyed getting back into the flow of things with school starting. It's quite different with just Maylie home in the mornings, but we're getting used to it. As bitter as change is, it's also terribly sweet. I love to flow and adapt to the changes and different seasons of my life. I find that with the end of each chapter, another one presents itself--just as sweet, if not sweet than the chapter before.

And I feel just the same as my mother did when we were growing up. When people ask me what stage of my children's lives has been my favorite? My answer is always "the one they're in right now!"

Each day is full of wonder. Each day is full of surprises. And I have thoroughly been enjoying my 2014: My Year of Celebration!!!

This Fall I've been volunteering in Tater's classroom every Thursday morning. My neighbor and I trade off our little ones so we can volunteer in our kindergartner's classes. So I have her little girl and boy on Tuesday mornings and Maylie goes to their house on Thursday. This has been such a joy to be in the classroom again. Not only do I love being my sweet little Tater Tot and see him interact in this brand new environment, but I LOVE just being in the classroom. The second best thing to teaching is getting to volunteer, and in some ways much better. As much as I loved being in charge of a classroom when I was student teaching and writing the lesson plans, I love letting another teacher be in charge so I can spend more time helping the students. Also, I have been noticing the blessings of service in my life. And they are very grand.

This Fall has brought us several lunches and dinners with Daddy at the hospital. Every week or so we meet him at the cafeteria to dine on the most delicious, healthy, inexpensive food I've ever tasted.

Yes, this season has been ever so sweet.

 {The fish are always a highlight of Daddy's work}

{Somewhere I have pictures of me at my Daddy's work when I was about the same age. It's tender for me to see generations repeat themselves.}

 {I froze a whole bushel of fresh Brigham City Peaches!! And we ate almost as many as we received fresh peaches every week}

{These were our very first golden tomatoes!}

 {One day I made Sumo de Pessego (Peach Juice). It tasted just exactly like the Compal Portuguese Peach Nectar I drank nearly every day in Portugal. PS--the recipe is super easy. Put a whole peach (minus the stone) in a blendtec and push the "whole juice" button.}

 {This picture represents a special half hour I enjoyed with my boys. We had a "build-your-own lego car contest" the other day. I am absolutely amazed at the creative geniuses I have as sons! They outdid me for sure without even trying!}

 {This is Tate's class singing a song. His teacher is so sweet and bubbly! She is the perfect fit for my Tater Bug!}

{Every day Maylie and I wait around the corner and down the road for our Tate to come home.}

 {And this little girl models for me}

 {And explores.}

 {I love her so much}

 {Lastly, this is my newest portrait--chalked by Tate...I love my curly cue hair. Isn't it the cutest?}

The End.

My Peasant Girl & April Fool's Day.

This little girl is like a little lollipop--what with her scrumptious cheeks and sweet little lips. And complete with this sweet little dress made by Grammy, she looks like she stepped right out of the "Hansel and Gretel" storybook.

We sure enjoyed their visit. We always do. The boys and my cousins Nate and Drew spent a few hours together laughing and playing the Wii while Gram and Pop and Maylie and I played "lion" and ate lots of skittles and mints (or at least Maylie did). A pleasant afternoon indeed!

After they left, we loaded up the car and headed down to the local diner for an April Fool's Day dinner. We thought we'd surprise the littles with ice cream first and dinner second, but Easton didn't think that was such a good idea and was complaining that he was "so hungry." So we just opted for the traditional dinner first and then ice cream.

Best. Night. Ever!