The Big EZ turns 3.

Well, hello there EZ boy! Happy Happy Birthday to you.

We can't believe you are 3. 

One morning he turned in a circle and said, "this is how I turn 3" Then he followed that with pulling his arm up in his shirt so you couldn't see it, and saying, "look I only have 1 arm"

We live in Peoria Illinois, which is the Caterpillar Truck headquarters. They have a new museum so we went and checked it out. It was totally worth it. Fun for the whole family.

 This expression tells it all.

 And this expression shows the gift excitement. We gave him a fast moving firetruck and a helicopter. Chloe and Lola gave him a piggy bank and Grandma Ruthie and Grandma Robert gave him a little learning laptop computer (which is actually a win/win gift for he and Chloe!)

 I love making cakes. Part of the fun is picturing the perfect cake for the birthday person at their stage in life. This cake was 100% Ezra. Even though he requested a Caillou cake (we made Caillou pancakes that morning)  I used my mom card and intervened. He loved his cake.

 His best buddy Madeleine.

EZ you are one spunky kid. You light up with excitement all the time. You are cuddly and affectionate and daring and love your momma. You are small but mighty and have such a happy EZ going personality. You idealize your older sister and adore your little sister. You love to hold my hand and make sure you know exactly where I am at all times. You always wish "you had a phone or a camera" to be holding. You love banks and money and snacks. Happy Birthday big guy.

For the record.

I was going through our scrapbook and decided to take a few photos of photos. 

Halloween 2004.  Man I love that guy I'm with!

Halloween 2010 

 Halloween 2012. A couple of times during the night we said to each other, "stop scowling". Oh wait. That's just wrinkle makeup. Too funny. And by the way...that sweater B-rad is wearing was his grandpa's who died in his 90's. I was at old navy yesterday and they are selling a very similar sweater but in maroon and mustard yellow. B-rad is so fashion forward.

 Ahh...the little old couple.

 We had a wonderful weekend in Nauvoo. We did Rendezvous At Old Nauvoo (a cute little play put on by the senior couples which Chloe LOVED), we did the sites, the temple, and had a fun mini vacation.

Some October...

October has been beautiful. Brad has been on a clinic month which means he's had a little more reasonable schedule and so that means more time with us. Bless him, I stretch ever second her has off, but he couldn't be happier and wouldn't want to be doing anything else. He's such an amazing guy!

So, here Chloe is receiving the responsible student of the month award. She was so excited. They called me ahead of time and told me it was a secret and to come to the assembly. Later that day, Chloe told me she was going to be honored. I asked her how she knew and she told me she saw her name on her teachers desk. The little sneak. Kindof like her dad who, I'm told, would search the house for the sweet items on the receipt after his mom went grocery shopping!! I told her her sneakiness also reminded me of her grandma Ruthie:)

 This new face. Without going into great detail. I took Chloe to the eye doctor because here in Illinois, an eye appointment is mandatory. I was so against going and finally went. I thougth we'd be in an out. Well, I went to an optomitrist (I won't do that again) and she was a recent grad and over-zealous and well, 3 hours later I left with glasses. She told me she should "wear them when she's reading!" Does she understand that isn't really a set "time" for a kindergartner? She told me she'd most likely grow out of this condition in 6 months. And...she said that the glasses would probably bother her more than help her for about 3 months. What the??? I know. In anycase. She looks cute. She's embraced them. She wears them at the beginning of school and at the end and for a few minutes during the day. They are really more of an accessory. Heaven help us. This girl loves her accessories. She also said several kids at school were asking their moms for glasses now. Oh brother, I can tell you where to go!

A glimpse at our halloween. Chloe is so great to let me do what I want for her. I suggested she be the sun and she was all for it. I am a flower. Those little headbands were so easy to make, cheap, and fun.

 Doctor Chambers.

 More of the sun. I ordered yellow tights on Ebay from Korea about a month ago and they never came. Oh well, we made it work. Other than the tights we had everything else.

 Who is this crazy clown.

 And the warm suit for the 3 years old. He loved his lion and would make terrifying noises throughout the night.

 I'm going to make this cake a tradition. Everyone loved it. We ate it the night we carved pumpkins.

 The battle of the "scariest" pumpkin.

 A little pumpkin fun.

 Our front porch.

 A little Lola love.

 8 months of love right there.

31,000

 Soccer in the fall. This fall we did a little soccer league right by our house. We signed up with Chloe's "buds" so games were fun for all of us. Chloe totally improved this round. I can't believe it's only been 6 months since Spring soccer. She was really into it and even scored a few goals. Her buds, Crew and Noah, were the stars of the team scoring every single game.

Our Thursday, Saturday group: EZ, Luke, Chloe, Noah, and Crew. Too bad I don't have a picture of the moms and their dad. Brad's schedule only allowed him to make it to 1 game. 

                                      
 And...every beginning of October, I "celebrate" the diagnosis that changed my life. I have given over 31,000 shots in 21 years! I'm noticing that it is a challenge to parent kids that aren't diabetic. For example: whenever I give them a snack I think of the carbs in it, or if they drink 2 helpings of juice, I immediately think of the carbs. It's strange and probably sounds lame but I'm soooo glad they don't have diabetes yet. I know that we could tackle it, but I also know how hard of a road it is and how much better life is with out it. I have recently tested Chloe's blood ( it was totally normal:) and I just "know" she'll get it someday, but at least that someday isn't today! Just had my eyes checked and the doctor said you couldn't tell I was even diabetic. I am so glad that I am healthy, that I understand how food works in my body, that I understand the medicine that saves my life each day, that i've had 3 healthy pregnancies, that i'm in shape, and that (thank goodness) I like to exercise because that makes things easier.

Beautiful Belle

Oh Lola, I could squeeze your sweet face and kiss your little neck all day long. You are the happiest baby and are a dream come true for our family. Here you are at 7 months.

 The other day I as cleaning the garage and the backyard, simultaneously, and washing things off with the hose in between. There has been ocassion where Ez just sprays the hose around and stays entertained. So, that is what I ran in the house expecting...spraying and minding his business! He comes in and casually says, "Lolee is crying." I run out and on the way am saying, "what happened". I saw her at the same time his little voice says, "I sprayed her!" She didn't seem too bothered.

 Then I look down a minute later and see this...

 then this.

Whatever works, buddy, whatever works. Even with a big poo in his diaper. Lovely!

dreaming

When I back packed through Europe we were open to any and all suggestions and really didn't have a "plan" once we got there. Train ride after train ride and one hostel stay after another, led us to this gorgeous Italian experience. Cinque Terre, Italy. 5 little villages connected by train or an old walking path. My heart wants to travel.  

 This is one of my all time favorite paintings. I had a large framed print of this until after about the 4th move it broke. I saw the real version in Paris at the Musee D'Orsay. It was right after I ran into these ladies that knew my grandma in St. George, utah. They took a picture of me standing by this painting and promised to show my grandma. They did. But all they showed her was a photo of this painting and my right shoulder.

 The Boxer. I've always been drawn to this statue. Probably because it speaks to the will of the human spirit. This boxer is totally defeated (if you look close you can see he's really had it) but he still looks up and is not "defeated".

 And today when I was at the gym, the worker who I've smiled at for a year now stopped and asked me if i'd like some suggestions on weight training. yes, please! He told me that if I was athletic (which I seemed to be) that I should be able to do some pull ups. So that's my goal folks. Pull up by November. And not the pull-ups for Ez, though that would be nice. I'm talking about the good ole' GI Jane pull ups that make others in the gym go "seriously wish I could do one of those."

back to the past

On Saturday and Sunday we drove out and visited some people, and a place, close to our hearts.

We ate a little Mexican and told stories during dinner. And said Happy Birthday to a great uncle.

 Smiled a 7 month old smile.

 Played with grandma who was in town for the weekend.

 Wandered the Red Barn art festival. (more like small town craft festival but fun)

 Learned to "shoot" a pop gun.

 Made our own slushies. too much juice.

We walked down the street Brad would walk to school every single day even in the freezing snow...And walked past the white house on the corner of Washington street. I started to learn how to be a mom in that house and learned to be a very supportive medical student wife. I learned so much while living there and loved the quaintness and simplicity of life there. It will always be a fond memory and sweet experience.