{Girls}

Its just me & our girl. The boys are in Arizona with my parents, the man works hard for his family. 

leaving just the two of us. 

We play dolls, and with my jewelry, we take morning walks, we cuddle, we read the same 3 books over & over. & sometimes like to go play outside in the evenings when the heat is not as fierce.

Tonight we picked flowers. because we are girls. 

------

I love her gappy teeth.

just like I loved Britt's bumpy head & Madd's huge ears.

There is something endearing about these features.

Someday she will outgrow it & Ill miss that silly smile. Just as I do Madds' big ears. which he has since grown into very well. sadly. 

{8:30}

We woke up at 8:30 this morning. That has not happened in almost 7 1/2 years. Miraculous really. The boys started their big adventure to Arizona with Omah & Opah before the sun even rose. We of course love them so got up & helped ready the 3 for the trip. Complete with comfy clothes, favorite teddies & every electronic device we own. Growing up my parents always had surprise busy bags on our seats for long drives. It was fun to see that awaiting them on their boosters was a busy bag filled with snacks & activities and books. My parents are always touching my heart. They love these boys deeply. The boys were excited to get on the road, but first Rod & I stole kisses & made them hug us. My Mom has sent me photo updates all day & that has made this a whole lot easier. after the boys drove out of site Rod & I crawled back into bed. I of course could not sleep, but eventually I convinced my body to let me. leading me to 8:30. When I woke up...and get this..on my own. insane. I went to the nursery to get my quiet daughter. She was happily lining up her baby dolls on her pillow. I squeezed her & we headed down stairs. She bounced in my arms & started to "woof woof" thinking that Lucca would be up with her Omah & brothers...but instead she was greeted with something she has never experienced before...silence.  

 She looked around and she took about 20 minutes before touching her toast & juice. She was waiting for the boys. Needless to say they never arrived. Rod & I kept her busy at church & after her nap we strolled her around the block. Shew is now in bed & I am certain still confused as to where Omah, Opah, Lucca, T, Britt & Madds are. Thats a lot of people to disappear all at once!  I made sure to snap a few pictures before they left..and then I realized I had a gazillion iPhone pictures to dump on here. some of the big boys on our outing to a BBQ. Rod was afraid to bring all 4 so my parents kept the two smallest & we took the two biggest. They were perfect gentlemen! On the way home they were being the best of pals. It just about killed us, so we took some pictures via mirror so not to let them catch us watching them be good. & for dinner we took a vote and we all agreed we would have strawberry shortcake. we had done this before too...just over a year ago. SEE HERE.  Its fun to shake it up now & again. I also have thrown in some last week of school pictures. I had zero intentions of typing this much...just placing pictures...looks like I got a bit wordy. 

     

{5}

Britton, 

Oh my heck boy! You are 5! It is no secret that YOU hold a special & dear place in my heart. Maybe its because you look just like your Dad with the around face & big smile...except Daddy has more teeth than you...for now anyways.  Maybe its because you will stop mid play just to say "Mommy I love you sooooo sooo sooo soooo much!" & throw those string bean arms around my neck. I think I worry about you too much. You spend much of your time upstairs in your playroom buried in lego creations. You are quiet & independent. T is older & needs help with activities & projects often. Maddox is younger & well..he can be pretty demanding of my time, & you are great at understanding that. & Presley is still a wee thing and needs help with most everything. Leaving you to kind-a float about. But I want you to know that not a second passes that I do not think of my Britty. Because you are just charming & tender & I feel so very blessed & honored to be your mother. Now Britton, YOU have done great things this year! YOu went to pre-school, made friends, started to read & you finally hold your pencil the correct way after many lessons & laughs from Mrs. H. & myself. I see your talents & your strengths & I get so excited for you! Big things await you darling. You love pizza & watermelon. You love all things Ninjago. You still sleep with moose, but do not seem as attached to your sleepy blankets these days. You love to draw and create. You love a good snuggle & you drink water like its going out of style. good golly I love you! 

Today was your Birthday & you are now sound asleep on top of your covers sorta sideways with one leg dangling off the bed. I will move you under your covers before I tuck myself in for the night. Today you woke up and instead of the french toast I wanted to make you, you decided eggo waffles was your desire. & So Eggo waffles it was for you, complete with watermelon & strawberries. No syrup. You opened a present at Breakfast & was thrilled to have a new lego set. You eagerly awaited lunch because you knew another lego set was coming your way at 11:00. 11:00 came and so did another present. We then strapped on our shoes and slipped on our suits and walked to the pool to play & get good & wet. We ate lunch poolside than headed home for some rest & naps for your little brother (who is about the same size as you by the way) & your baby sister (whom you lloovvveee to bits!)  after our rest and some play with Omah & Opah's Dog, Lucca outside we waited for Daddy to get home to eat dinner. I made BBQ meatloaf for you because I know you like it. We had some of your other favorites too. Omah helped me clear the table and Daddy helped light your birthday candles. we sang happy birthday to you & you blew out the candles and you  worried that the legos were ruined, but we washed them for you & they are no worse for wear! It is NOT mommy's finest cake, but it was tasty & it was exactly what you asked for so you were pleased. I am learning to listen to your wants instead of molding you by my silly preferences. Its your birthday after all! you want Ninjas..you got it! After cake all 4 of you kids got a royal wipe down leaving only a few crumbs on your shirts and cheeks. Presley went to bed & you & T got to work on unwrapping not 1, not 2 , but 3 big lego sets all for you! Your face was so sweet! You were thrilled. Then we brought out your new big boy bike & you did not care one lick. YOu wanted to build legos! So the bike was put in the garage & you & T picked out what set you would build first. It was a helicopter. So fun! Maddox was being a silly pest, but you kept your cool. You stayed up will 8:45 which is so super late for you & after family songs & prayers & 2 more songs while you laid in bed, you & Maddox were out cold! YOu said it was the best birthday ever. I hope you really felt charished by all of us. I know having Omah & Opah here made it a gazillion times more special. We love you Britty! & Just like I whisper in your ear each day... "You are my special boy!"

& here are some pictures of your 5th birthday dear... you will notice how cute you are with your two missing front teeth! 

I love you Britton soooo soooo soooo sooo much! 

have a great year! 

xoxox, Mommy