From one to the next

I can hardly believe how quickly Thanksgiving came and then was gone. This year we stayed home and attended my mother's family get-together, my Harris side that I haven't seen in a long long time. It was wonderful, relaxed and fun. There were around 60 people! However, I really didn't take any pictures- VERY unlike me! I did take this shot of sweet little Naomi that just makes me smile:So I can't show you, but understand that it was delightful. My mother and her three sisters- cut from the same cloth I tell you!!!

Now I have been busying myself with the Christmas decorations. I forget from year to year just how much work and just how time consuming it is! But putting on the Christmas music and watching the girls put the decorations on the trees is joyous and it really gets me into the spirit of the season.

Oh, did I mention that I went out the day after Thanksgiving (no, not at the crack of dawn, I am FAR to old for that craziness now) and shopped all the sales and I can say my gifts for the girls are done- now that is a jump for joy kind of feeling!

How far along are you on your Christmas to do list?

Make a Wish...

Today she is four. Today she makes me rethink my idea of two being the best age a kid can be. Three was a good one for her and I have no doubt that with her fourth year- Eva is going to rock it!

With this much attitude,
(MOM, that is SOOO not going to make me smile.)
this much silliness,

(Me: Would you like to hold your favorite hippo in a picture?
Eva: Sure mom. )

this much sweetness, and this much adorable, how could she not have the best fourth year imaginable.


Happy Birthday Eva!Four is going to be FABULOUS!

A taste of the finer things...

After much persuasion, patience and yearning from the middle child- I signed Liv up for her first dance class. She is thrilled! It is just an introductory class, I need to see if she will actually enjoy it and want to stick with it before we spend any more. This class is studying the arts of Tap and Ballet. I have to admit that I never really did the whole dance scene as a child; therefore, I just haven't been very driven to indulge this side of the girls. Abby has been sporty since the day she was born and Liv wanted to give that a try as well. It was discovered that while she enjoyed herself she most definitely does not posses the same competitive drive and lost interest in soccer mid season. Now, we will give dance a try. Together we went and picked out her taps and slippers- really the cutest part of the whole situation! Once a week she dances, she twirls, she leaps, toe points and taps her way across the floor. She doesn't want to leave and literally counts down the days on her calendar until the next class- I think we just might have a dancer in the mix- and she is undeniably adorable!!

At 4:08 am

on November 2, 1977, I entered this world.I was the fourth child- soon to be middle child of eight. I had an older sister and two older brothers and my mother made the notation in my baby album that she was overjoyed to finally have another girl after those crazy boys. Can you blame her, you know I was a delight and PERFECTLY behaved baby!!!
How smokin is my mother in this photo? I mean really, what a dashing couple those two make, not to mention the children they produce- darling- if I can be biased!!!! :)

As would be, I grew and blossomed over the years, nurtured in a loving home full of craziness and joy.

Here I am at age 4- the same age that my Eva is very soon to be. Happy as could be without a care in the world.
This is Kindergarten (Olivia's age)- the beginning of years and years of perms given at the start of each school year. I became instant friends with a girl named Amy Jorgensen and freighted over my first ever test- writing the alphabet perfectly with NO erasers- the horror!
Ahh, 2nd grade (Abby's age)- Mrs. Olsen was my teacher, I adored her. One of her ears was double pierced and I thought it was SO cool! Later that year I broke my front tooth while playing blinds man bluff with my brothers- and can you even believe my mother sent me to school with a butterfly clip poking off the top of my head? But I do wish I still had that sweet argyle sweater.
6th grade- I thought I was so mature as I turned 12, shaved my legs, started wearing makeup and strutted around in my first pair of nylons and real heals! I had the world in my hand and nobody could stop me!
After much growing, maturing and finding my path in life. After many great friendships formed, love had and love lost, I reach my senior year, 18. It will forever feel like it was yesterday. I can smell the smells, stand in the landscapes, taste the foods, hear the sounds of the time ringing in my ears- this was a fun year in my life and it is permanently etched on the walls of my memory.

(Never mind my lazy eye in this shot!)

Now I KNEW that I understood life and all that it could throw at me! I graduated, packed my bags and moved myself up to Logan, Utah to attend Utah State University and study to become a Dental Hygienist- I learned ever so much more about myself and what I truly wanted out of life.

It is hard to believe all that has taken place over the last 33 years- some memories are good, some are sad, some I would like to forget and some make life worth living. I have a blessed life- so much to make me happy, feel loved and I want to create the same experiences for my own children. My birthday wish for this year is to have my 33rd year be filled with more of the happy things and to look back at 33 and say "Now THAT was a great year!"