She's Here!!

Miss Chloe has arrived!  We are so thrilled to have her here healthy and beautiful!  Getting her here (the labor) was surprisingly long and hard for being our 5th, but she's so worth it!

A Big Day

Today was a big day for our E -- she turned TWELVE and entered the Young Women's Program at church.  It was happy and emotional.  I'm so proud of the young woman she is becoming!  Here are TWELVE things that I especially enjoy about her (in no particular order) --

1 - I love that in this modern age her biggest birthday wish was to get a crafting center for her room -- she is so creative!
2- I love that she has the same passion for reading as I do and that we can share books and get into series together!
3 - I love that she is SO very excited for Miss Chloe to arrive -- even though that means often poking my tummy to awaken the little babe.
4- I love that she is sporty -- I never was and always wished I could be more sporty.  I love watching her play volleyball and ski and run and just go out and try new things.
5 - I love that she doesn't feel the need to conform to others' ideas of what is right or cool.
6- I love that she is a hard worker.  She sets goals for herself and then works hard to meet them.
7 - I love that she enjoys shopping -- we could literally spend hours shopping together and never get tired -- if only we could do it more often:)
8 - It makes me smile that she grosses out at soggy bread just like her Aunt Jen :)
9 - I love that she is so helpful around the house!
10 - I love that she is old enough to babysit now!!  Ah, the freedom -- I don't have to clean the house now before picking up the babysitter every Friday night:)
11 - I love her laugh -- I can pick it out a mile away.  Well, maybe not a mile, but I was at the school last week and before I could see her I could hear her laughing!
12 - I love her beautiful eyes - the windows to her soul!

Finally, my turn!

My little S has waited for 4 weeks now as her siblings have gone off to school each day.  This week she finally got her turn!  She started at "Sister Jackson's Preschool" (as all the older kids call it -- they all went when they were younger).  She LOVED it!  She cried the next day when it wasn't her turn to go.  I'm so proud of her -- I wasn't sure how she'd do because she didn't know anyone else who would be attending.  But she went in happily and started making new friends right away.  She's growing up!!

Here she is outside her preschool just waiting to go in!

My B

At our family celebration at  Airworx yesterday ( an indoor trampoline gym)

 Happy 10th Birthday, B!  What can I say?  He's such a great guy!  Here are 10 things to love about this birthday boy:

1.  He is wise beyond his years.
2. He is determined to be his best.  When he recognizes that he's doing something he doesn't feel good about he works very hard to change that behavior/habit, and keeps at it until he's happy with where he's at.
3.  He is patient --  he is so patient and helpful with his younger siblings and even their friends. 
4.  He is so artistic!  I love to watch him draw -- he has such hand control!
5.  He is easy to please!  Yesterday his dad asked him what he wanted for his birthday, and B said, "Ah, a punching bag (to practice karate)  and two other things I can't remember anymore.  I'm sure I'll be happy with whatever I get."
6. He has a great laugh!  I love to hear him laugh when he thinks something is really funny -- it's contagious!
7.  He is very loving.  Even though he doesn't enjoy getting kisses from mom anymore -- he puts up with it -- and is always very vocal in letting me know how much he loves me.
8. He has a great sense of adventure --  he loves being in the great outdoors!
9.  He is sensitive -- to others' feelings and to the impressions of the Spirit.
10.  He is so much like his dad -- I'm so thankful he has his dad for a role model -- he's growing into an incredible young man!! 

Nesting

This post is for you Jen . . . the quilts are done (check) -- I actually had a lot of fun with them.  My friend Sarah Bisel wrote a wonderful quilting book called Fast, Flirty and Fun.  She inspired me to start the birthday and garden quilt a year ago, and it's taken me this long to get them finished.  I was scared of the machine quilting and binding process -- new to me.  There was a little something about being sick for several months that stopped my progress as well :)  Anyway, in May the girls and I went to see our friends the Jarmans and Wendie walked me through the machine quilting process - it really is forgiving -- thanks Wendie!!  I followed the instructions for binding in Sarah's book and I was surprised at how easy it actually was!!! Thanks Sarah!  The rag quilt is for the baby and I just found instructions on-line.  I'm in love with the nubby fabric on the back, but unfortunately it doesn't fray as well as flannel -- hopefully that will come more with time and washings. (Sorry for the crazy sideways pics once again!)

My kids are definitely learning the definition of "nesting" as I've now moved on to attacking the house -- big black trash bags dejunking every corner!  Today's goal -- my closet (agh)!

The end of Summer

Well, I suppose this means summer is officially over.  The 3 big crazies (kids) all headed back to school yesterday.  The end of summer is bittersweet for me.  I love having the kiddos around all day.  We had a lovely summer -- lots of swimming in the pool, Friday field trips, play dates, exploring, and most exciting -- welcoming Nana and D home from the mission field and our family reunion.  BUT, for the most part they came home happy and excited for the new school year -- and that makes me happy.  And now the nesting can begin as we countdown the next 10 or so weeks until our sweet babe arrives --  my goals for the next 2 (maybe 3) weeks include getting all the scrapbooks updated and finishing 3 (small) quilts that are in various stages of completion.  I better go get busy!! 

It's a . . .

GIRL!  

We had our ultrasound yesterday and our baby GIRL looks HEALTHY and a little ahead of schedule!  We are all excited and can't wait to have our little CHLOE join us!!