Manhattan's Baptism

 

Manhattan was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Saturday, December 4th, 2010.  It was a perfect day!  We had wonderful family in time, she wore a beautiful dress her Grandma Laura made, we had a lot of ward friends that came.  The baptismal font water was warm and she was baptized in one dunk as she likes to say.  She was also confirmed and given the Gift of the Holy Ghost that same day.

When is the right time to decide you are done having kids?

Disclaimer: I love my kids, we have not decided if we are done having kids, I am a tad tired these days but I have to laugh at the end of every day because of these things - I just thought of these recent occurrences and had to share! They are in no order.

So, when is the right time to decide that you are done having kids?

• Immediately after you find out you are pregnant
• When #1 turned 7 - that is enough to make me feel old!
• Right after labor when you are holding your miracle
• When #2 is screaming through the car wash - so upset that even though you are holding her hand and she is still weeping, she now sees the car wash and says over and over "I no like car wash - I no like car wash". Very sad!
• The first time the baby smiles
• When #2 accidentally pees on you while she is going potty and you are down in front of her encouraging her - she didn't have her legs closed enough, obviously.
• Wrestling a screaming and fisty 2 year old with only one shoe on and carrying the baby carrier out of the playland - yeah that was fun!
• In the temple - had to throw the right answer in :)
• During your two hour break to get your haircut and color!
• When #3 wakes up every 1.5 hours to nurse at night (he won't take a binkie or a bottle) - yes, I am ready to make him cry it out!!
• When you have changed another big messy diaper!!
• or . . . let me know - add to my list of some of your favorite kid times!

P.S. I would not and could not do this without my husband - he has been working nights all week but still has gotten up and rescued me numerous times when the kids have been screaming and I need a nap because of #3 not sleeping at night.

He is so cute!!

We took Maxwell yesterday to get his 3 month photos! It was totally fast and painless! The hardest part was choosing one that we would buy! Here are a few of the choices!
I ended up buying the closer up laying down one with the white! He was so easy to photograph!

A Cool Museum - The Henry Ford Museum

Another reason that Ohio and Michigan are the best - so many opportunities here!! While my Mom & Dad were here we went to The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.

It is the coolest place - it has things like the chair that Lincoln was sitting in when he was shot, Kennedy's car where he was shot, gigantic trains (real ones - they are huge), cars, cars, and more cars, campers from all ages (I love those), cool bikes, airplanes that Amelia Earhart flew, recreations of kitchens from different eras, a wiener mobile, a huge Lego city (New York), an exhibit on Women's rights, and a yummy restaurant where they sell foot-long hot dogs. They had lots of friendly helpers and great picture opportunities - a sleigh, an original Overland Jeep, and a couple more!

I love going there! If you live here it is open free on President's Day, July 16th, and Labor Day this year - we may go again!

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

The Tornado Gingerbread House - Augh!

So much fun! In the end both houses had sun roofs and Manhattan referred to hers as the tornado house!

The Joy of Christmas! Part 2

Cuddled Up For Christmas Eve

Lights Before Christmas At The Toledo Zoo

The best laid plans! Not for the faint hearted!

So we had lots of fun things planned for when G & G were here! Swimming at the YMCA, going to the movies, baking cookies, etc and then . . . the stomach flu hit!

Manhattan was struck with it first on Tuesday morning. She missed sleeping over with her best friend - they had been planning it for a week! She ended up losing it while Grandpa was tending - he is our hero, he had it all cleaned up before Mom & Grandma got home. She ended up losing it once in the night and then feeling better yesterday.

Then it was Marin's turn. Early - early this morning and she was up and sick all night! She has thrown up twice this morning and is now napping! Grandma & I are doing laundry round the clock now!! We just can't stay on top of it before we have more to wash!

Let's hope that Maxwell and all the adults miss it but we will see what tomorrow brings. So instead of swimming or something else all together we take turns going out and turns staying in! Grandma & Grandpa took Manhattan out for some fun while I stayed home with Maxwell & Marin.

I will be laying down as soon as I finish this post!! We have plans for Christmas Eve - burritos for dinner, nativity making, and reading the Christmas story! We get to have Morgan home until 9 pm so we are excited about that! After the kids go to bed we still need to get finished up - adding ribbons to the wrapped packages, stuffing the stockings, and laying out for Santa! I am so glad to have my parents to help - what a blessing!

Merry Christmas to Everyone - I hope you are all healthier than my beautiful kids!

Doing Laundry

Recently I have found that Maxwell loves hanging out in the laundry basket!
I think it is the warm clothes on him that he loves!

It makes doing laundry easier - at least the hauling of the laundry easier! So funny!

Christmas Lights and Donuts

Monday, December 21, 2009

Grandma and Grandpa Smith arrived safely last night! We laid low this afternoon, baked cookies, had a yummy dinner, and then headed out to deliver some cookies and look at Christmas Lights! After some driving, Maxwell crying, looking at lights, more driving, and Maxwell & Marin crying we ended up at Tim Horton's for yummy donuts and hot hot chocolate! We had to add ice to make the cocoa drinkable! It was a yummy treat but a little bit crazy!

Irish Dancing

Manhattan has started taking Irish Dance lessons this fall at our local YWCA. She really loves it! This was a casual performance they did on Friday night.

Manhattan is wearing the frilly white dress - there was only one of those and she was the only one that fit it - she loved the frills and sparkles to it! You can tell she is new to the whole Irish Dance thing but she loves it!

There is a whole group segment and then they do an individual portion and she is last so you have to wait a bit!

Weight Loss In The Holidays

I am sure none of you who have had a baby has ever had a few pounds to lose - I am sure you slip back into those pre-pregnancy jeans the day after and never crave junk foods for weeks after you have the baby or are so tired that you eat anything available until the baby is a few weeks old and you can see through the haze!

Well - I did and do always have some weight to lose after I have my beautiful babies. So I started my pregnancy with Maxwell about ten pounds heavier (I know you are shocked that I would admit that!). I have been working on the "Best I Can Be Diet" that is code for Weight Watchers at my house for a bit now and I am happy to report that I have fallen below my pre-Maxwell weight!!! I love wearing my pre-baby jeans and needing a belt everyday!

Just in time for Christmas!! Yeah - I promised my mom that I would not be too strict to my WW points when she was visiting that I could not squeeze in some cookie making, PB M&Ms and a trip to the ice cream shop!!

Had to share with my blogger family since you will keep me honest for the last seven pounds in the new year. Of course after my Christmas break it may be ten pounds!

Our Little Gretel

This year Manhattan was asked to play Gretel in the 2nd grade play, Our Gingerbread House". It is the story after the witch is dead and Hansel and Gretel are living in the house.
Manhattan had about 8 lines and a singing solo. We taped it in segments but I think it is too long to download - I will see if Morgan can figure something out! Our friend lent us the dress - she looked so cute! She did an amazing job - we were so proud of her - she truly wowed us!

Morgan downloaded this video - a little grainy but here it is!

A Chat With Santa

We went up to see Santa yesterday (Saturday)! We love to go to Matthew Evergreen Farm in Lulu, Michigan. I think this is our 3rd year going here - it is so much better than any mall Santa visit!

Everyone happily sat on Santa and placed their wishes - Marin wants dress up clothes & M & Ms, Maxwell is hoping for some baby toys, Manhattan is hoping for a trunk with drawers for her American Girl doll, Mom & Dad are hoping Santa will bring them the Planet Earth videos! We didn't get to tell Santa what we wanted but we are sure he knows and will come through for us!! :}

Maxwell did wake up just as the photographer took the picture so I will have to scan that one and post it too!P.S. One week from tonight (late tonight) my parents will be here - yeah!

If This Doesn't Put You In The Christmas Mood . . . .

Then you are a Scrooge!!

(Maxwell in his slightly silly Christmas outfit!)

Today we are going to see Santa and to two Christmas parties - I will post some pictures tomorrow!

Maxwell - Tipping not rolling over!

Some cute pictures of Maxwell - he is about 2.5 months old now! I love his smiles!

When you put Maxwell on his belly he rolls over but it is more like tipping! It happens almost every time! It is funny! You can hear Manhattan laughing in the background!

Happy 7th Birthday Manhattan! Part 2

Just some pictures from the festivities! We had a great time - it was fun and somewhat exhausting to be honest!

Decorating our Christmas Tree!

We like to set up our tree early every year so we can enjoy it for a whole month! Manhattan now is old enough to help set up tree - she was a big help this year! We actually got it up on Thanksgiving night and decorated it the next afternoon. It is always one of my favorite parts of Christmas - getting it all ready and setting the tone for the holiday! The girls were so happy to have our nativities are out - they love the Fisher Price set - so happy we have that! I loved getting all of our Christmas books out - we never seem to read them all!

Now comes the Nativity Festival, Christmas planning and shopping, cookie baking and delivering, wrapping presents, make gingerbread houses, and having the Spirit in our home all month!! Yeah!

This year Grandpa & Grandma Smith are coming to celebrate with us - we are on countdown until the arrive on the 20th and then it is really all about celebrating!