Mother's Day letter's for my kids

For Mother's Day I have the goal to write to each of my children a letter telling them why I am so happy to be their Momma. In case one day they misplace their letter or rip it up out of anger toward me, I want it here for the record. This is the boys' first and Alexis 3rd I think.

Dear Alexis, Mother’s Day 2010

I just wanted to tell you on this Mothers Day of 2010 just how much I love being your mommy! Alexis you are the best daughter a mom could ask for. You are the sweetest girl who will ALWAYS give me a kiss when I need one and even if I didn’t know I needed one. You are really good at staying in your bed at night (FINALLY) and the other night you went to the bathroom quietly and on your way back to your bed you softly kissed my arm. You knew I wouldn’t wake up and you still felt the need to give me a kiss. I hope that need never ends. I will take your kisses and hugs as long as you will possibly give them to me.
You are just the best helper a 4 and a ½ year old could be. You do so many things I ask you to do. Whether it be running downstairs in the mornings to get yogurts and spoons for you kids or running upstairs in search of diapers and wipes. You will gather the bottles in the boys’ rooms and help me look for missing shoes for the boys. You will tell me I look beautiful all the time and say such sweet things to me. You are really good at cleaning your room and making your bed. You are very sensitive to other kids and your brothers. You don’t like seeing people be sad. I love that about you. If that is the one quality that means most to me it is that you will forever stay sensitive to other people. You are such a great example to your cousins. You share even when it is your favorite toy, you compliment your cousins and always give them hugs. Daddy and I are soooo blessed to have you as our daughter. I am so glad you were born first in our family because I KNOW that you will always be an example of kindness and choosing the right. You really are my best friend. I hope you always want to be my best friend because I know for sure that I always want to be yours! I love Lex.

Love,
Mommy

Dear Matthew, Mother’s Day 2010

I wanted to write you a letter telling you how much I love you! Today is Mother’s Day and I want you to know how honored I am to be your momma. You are only 18 months and I feel like I know exactly who you are. Won’t I be surprised though at how much you will continually change as you grow. You are such a sweet little boy who is filled with energy, excitement and happiness. You are such a sweetly content boy. Not much ruffles your feathers, except when Mitchie takes away your toys. You are very easy going, but are very intent on getting what you want. You insist on holding your own spoon of rice just as it goes flying across the kitchen. You love your babas sooo much. A bottle of milk can make you happy at your most upset times!! You are such a cuddle bug. You will sit on my lap or daddy’s or Grandpa Miller’s for a long period of time. You will lay your head on our shoulder or against our chest. So often I will walk upstairs to see you lying on your floor on top of your blankie cuddling it and sucking your tongue! (Something that I love to see!) You are the most handsome little man I have ever seen! I feel like I am looking at a real big kid even though you are still my little baby! I love that you and Mitchie are twins and best buds. I hope you will feel like he is your best friend for ever and ever. You two will be such great examples to each other. I sure do love you Matthew and I am so happy that you are mine for forever and ever. I hope you will always have the need to cuddle me and hang out on my lap in stillness. I love you so much.
Love,
Mommy






Dear Mitchell, Mother’s Day 2010
My sweet little angel boy. You are a mischievous little guy, but at the same time you are such a sweet, little, gappy smiley, boy who LOVES his momma. Mitchie, you are such a doll. You walk around with such confidence that sometimes I think I am looking at a 7 year old. You love to explore new things and try and figure things out. You are very independent but you also really like me to baby you. You like me to hold you and kiss you a lot and I LOVE THAT! You offer me kisses throughout the whole day and understand when I say that after a kiss I will get you the thing you are wanting. You throw great fits, so much so that you sometimes pass out! It really scares me, but actually you have only kept doing that for daddy. Your curly blonde hair is just the cutest thing and I think it is only going to contribute to your loveable personality! I hope you and Matthew realize how great it is that you have each other as a twin and really turn to each other throughout your childhood for strength. You two are already best buddies and often hug each other and pat each other’s head and back. It is priceless. I hope you always listen to your big sister Alexis. She loves you and always wants to protect you. I love you so much Mitchell and I hope you will always want to give me kisses even when you think that that isn’t really cool. I will ALWAYS want your sweet angel kisses, because you are so special to me. I love you forever and ever.
Love,
Mommy

Here are some group shots

I am not expeciting a single person to read ALL OF THIS!

I just copied this from my online journal. Therefore it so very grammatically incorrect, but if i focused on that then I woudn't have time to write all that i did. So, as a disclaimer this has many mistakes and I don't care!! I am so glad it is DONE!! I can't get my pics uploaded and it is driving me crazy!!!!!!

Well, it has been almost a month, but i better jump on this right away or I will regret it!

What have I been up too? Let me start with this last weekend. Jason, the kids and I went to the Kentlands Farmers Market. It was fine, but nothing to do again! After that we went to the nursery to find plants for our front planter in the yard. We weren't able to find what we wanted so we headed home to put the already asleep mitchie and matti to bed. After that i rode to Lowe's and picked up some hydrangaes and little flowers. I can't remember what they are called at the moment. We came home and worked really hard and put mulch down and just had a good time. I borrowed the Thurston's blower and blew the walk clean. That night jason and I had a date and snuck Potbellies and a Diet Coke in my purse and went at watched RObinhood. It was pretty good. I was entertained, but we were reminded how we HATE movie theatres. People (kids) are so obnoxious and annoying that it could just ruin the show for you. When we left that night the power had gone out, so i told the babysitter, Kara Crowder, that pioneers were babysitters too, and to read by candlelight! Luckily the lights came on shortly after we left. When we pulled in at 11pm i noticed the boys light was on! Woops! I guess it was on earlier before the power went out. They were fast asleep in the bright has heck room! It was nice to get away. I am starting to think that date night weekly is a MUST for jason and me! The next morning the Young Women had a brunch for Kristi Cutler, our YW president at the Crowders. It was great and really nice. So, remember those plants we planted on Sarutday? Well today I pulled them ALL up, plus the 3 existing roses and replanted them all, plus 5 more and put a different color mulch down. I like it more now, and the plants will look better when they grow bigger and fuller. They weren't in a great order before. Last Friday after horseback riding jayne, john, kelley, me and all our kids went and picked strawberries at Homestead Farms. I LOVE THAT PLACE!!!! The boys sat and picked strawberry after strawberry and were so darn cute. They loved it. ALexis just ran ahead with the boys and did a great job picking our families strawberries. The best part about doing things like that is that usually the weather is perfect (despite my allergies) and the backdrop is always BEAUTIFUL!!! I NEVER GET SICK of driving around here. I love it. I can't make myslef bring the kids home before dinner if i can help it. I can tell they also just want to be out in it as well. AFter the picking, the boys and Alexis sat at the chicken coup for 20 minutes just playing and watching the chickens. They loved it and were mesmerized. After them, it was the goats. we went into the store to pay for our strawberries and buy some honey sticks and candy sticks and their fresh honey from their own farm. I just love going there!!

I AM 32 years old now! The night before my birthday we went to the Hanson's new home to celebrate mine, Natalie and Matt Markoff's birthday. It was fun. The kids loved it. Jason stayed home with the boys. It was fun and there was great food. Friday night jay, jon and Jayne and I went to Papa Razzi in Georgetown for dinner to celebrate my birthday. It was fun hanging with them. We people watched after while eating Haagen daz. IT was a fun night. Mom and dad left the morning of my birthday. They were here for a week to watch The Savior of the World play that we were ALL in and that Jenn directed. That was a very big production that was put on for the ward. Jenn worked her bootie off on it, and it turned out marvelously!!!! It really was an amazing experiecnce and it was a beautiful play! I was an angel, but jill, john and Jayne and Jon layne had really big roles. Jon Layne portryaed Christ, Jill was Mary Magdalene and johnny was doubting Thomas. My parents LOVED it and so did everyone else!

Enough of catching up, let me get caught up with the kids.

Just tonight jason said that Alexis is just totally getting older. it is so bittersweet. She is even looking a little pudgier on her arms. She is more mature, more helpful, actually that girl has ALWAYS been very helpful to me, thank goodness. She usually does anything i say, i really appreciate it too. She loves playing with her cousins. I am so glad she gets to be with them almost everyday. She enjoys playschool and she really loves horseback riding. She trots and even stands up on the horses. She can do 2-point and around the world very well. She is such a doll. I love how excited she gets to go places, any place. Friday is her last day of horseback riding until fall. She has a horse show on Saturday where she will get a ribbon. She is into combing her hair or mine, she loves how she looks when we do her hair in bows and roses. SHe likes to dress herself and she is very independant. She is able to do her carseat on her own about 30% of the time. It is pretty hard to latch both bottom straps, but she sure likes to try! I usually let her get out of her buckle when we are at the property. SHE LOVES IT!! i think most kids do, i loved when we got to do the fun things in the car. She is still VERY lovey, huggy and kissy! She is especially to MATCH Hanson. SHe has a REAL crush on that boy!! It is really cute, becuase she means it wholeheartedly! Sometimes she is WAY to clingy and kissy with him, so I have tried to teach that a little goes a long way and SLOW IT DOWN! I think she will definetely take after her mother in the boy crazy department!! I don't encourage it though at all, but i think it is funny how she is just naturally like that!!

The boys. where do i start? They are the cutest little things i think i have ever known, (with ALexis of course!), but i think that because there are two it's just a cuter little package!

Mitchie 22lbs

Mitchie is the sweetest litte thing ever!!! His gappy grin is to die for cute. He has most of his top teeth besides the molars and is has 4 bottom teeth

He finds me to give me huge open mouth kisses that I LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!

Walks around like he is a 14 year old boy, ( so cool!)

Loves hats

LOVES the outdoors

loves to take toys from Matthew

hugs my legs and rests his head on my leg when we are standing.

lays his head in my lap a lot.

So sweet and just darling

LOVES Sunny and lays ALL over her and has no fear of her at all (he hates her loud shocking bark though)

Understands EVERYTHING i say and does what i say even with a couple of commands.

Tries to climb out of his highchair often.

OFten opens the oven door and climbs sits on the door. SCARY!!

He will let me cuddle him and hug often.

He is starting to try and take off his diaper. He h

Matthew 24lbs.

He is my big man boyfriend I call him. I feel like he is 20. I love this kid. He is so sweet and charming and loving and cuddly.

He gets so frustrated when Mitchie comes after him to take his toys. Usually he just hands it over to him, but he is getting tougher. He is so much bigger than mitchie too, so it is so funny to see him get bullied.

He has such broad shoulders and big wide feet. I love it.

He loves shoes

He loves being outside

He loves when Alexis plays with him

He loves baths and standing up in the water and putting his face down in the water and drinking it up! YUCK! He loves hitting mitchie on the head with his hands or toys. That happens a lot!

He lays on me and lets me cuddle OFTEN! he will snuggle and watch a show with you.

He loves daddy and Grandpa Miller. He will sit on the laps for a long time!

He loves flying down the stairs.

He LOVES his bottles in the morning and at night and screams for it!

He will dive onto his bed when he sees you in the morning out of excitement.

I could go on and on about each of these kids. All i know is that even though life is busy and at times WAY stressful I am in awe at how much I love each of them SOOOO much. They make me so happy and I am so blessed to be their mom. They bring me so much joy and happiness that i never thought imaginable!! I am entertained by them on a daily basis and they brighten my mood whenever I am down, or stressed or just mad! I can't imagine my life without anyone of these cuties and I just want to continue to enjoy them for years to come!!

I just copied this from my online journal. Therefore it so very grammatically incorrect, but if i focused on that then I

woudn't have time to write all that i did. So, as a disclaimer this has many mistakes and I don't care!! Enjoy! I am not expeciting a single person to read ALL OF THIS! But I am so glad it is DONE!!

Well, it has been almost a month, but i better jump on this right away or I will regret it!

What have I been up too? Let me start with this last weekend. Jason, the kids and I went to the KentlandsFarmers Market. It was fine, but nothing to do again! After that we went to the nursery to find plants for our front planter in the yard. We weren't able to find what we wanted so we headed home to put the already asleep mitchie and matti to bed. After that i rode to Lowe's and picked up some hydrangeas and little flowers. I can't remember what they are called at the moment. We came home and worked really hard and put mulch down and just had a good time. I borrowed the Thurston's blower and blew the walk clean. That night jason and I had a date and snuck Potbellies and a Diet Coke in my purse and went at watchedRObinhood. It was pretty good. I was entertained, but we were reminded how we HATE movie theaters. People (kids) are so obnoxious and annoying that it could just ruin the show for you. When we left that night the power had gone out, so i told the babysitter, Kara Crowder, that pioneers were babysitters too, and to read by candlelight! Luckily the lights came on shortly after we left. When we pulled in at 11pm i noticed the boys light was on! Woops! I guess it was on earlier before the power went out. They were fast asleep in the bright has heck room! It was nice to get away. I am starting to think that date night weekly is a MUST for jason and me! The next morning the Young Women had a brunch for Kristi Cutler, our YW president at the Crowders. It was great and really nice. So, remember those plants we planted on Saturday? Well today I pulled them ALL up, plus the 3 existing roses and replanted them all, plus 5 more and put a different color mulch down. I like it more now, and the plants will look better when they grow bigger and fuller. They weren't in a great order before. Last Friday after horseback riding jayne, john, kelley, me and all our kids went and picked strawberries at Homestead Farms. I LOVE THAT PLACE!!!! The boys sat and picked strawberry after strawberry and were so darn cute. They loved it. ALexis just ran ahead with the boys and did a great job picking our families strawberries. The best part about doing things like that is that usually the weather is perfect (despite my allergies) and the backdrop is always BEAUTIFUL!!! I NEVER GET SICK of driving around here. I love it. I can't make myself bring the kids home before dinner if i can help it. I can tell they also just want to be out in it as well. AFter the picking, the boys and Alexis sat at the chicken coup for 20 minutes just playing and watching the chickens. They loved it and were mesmerized. After them, it was the goats. we went into the store to pay for our strawberries and buy some honey sticks and candy sticks and their fresh honey from their own farm. I just love going there!!

I AM 32 years old now! The night before my birthday we went to the Hanson's new home to celebrate mine,Natalie and Matt Markoff's birthday. It was fun. The kids loved it. Jason stayed home with the boys. It was fun and there was great food. Friday night jay, jon and Jayne and I went to Papa Razzi in Georgetown for dinner to celebrate my birthday. It was fun hanging with them. We people watched after while eatingHaagen daz. IT was a fun night. Mom and dad left the morning of my birthday. They were here for a week to watch The Savior of the World play that we were ALL in and that Jenn directed. That was a very big production that was put on for the ward. Jenn worked her bootie off on it, and it turned out marvelously!!!! It really was an amazing experience and it was a beautiful play! I was an angel, but jill, john and Jayne andJon layne had really big roles. Jon Layne portrayed Christ, Jill was Mary Magdalene and johnny was doubting Thomas. My parents LOVED it and so did everyone else!

Enough of catching up, let me get caught up with the kids.

Just tonight jason said that Alexis is just totally getting older. it is so bittersweet. She is even looking a little pudgier on her arms. She is more mature, more helpful, actually that girl has ALWAYS been very helpful to me, thank goodness. She usually does anything i say, i really appreciate it too. She loves playing with her cousins. I am so glad she gets to be with them almost everyday. She enjoys playschool and she really loves horseback riding. She trots and even stands up on the horses. She can do 2-point and around the world very well. She is such a doll. I love how excited she gets to go places, any place. Friday is her last day of horseback riding until fall. She has a horse show on Saturday where she will get a ribbon. She is into combing her hair or mine, she loves how she looks when we do her hair in bows and roses. SHe likes to dress herself and she is very independent. She is able to do her carseat on her own about 30% of the time. It is pretty hard to latch both bottom straps, but she sure likes to try! I usually let her get out of her buckle when we are at the property. SHE LOVES IT!! i think most kids do, i loved when we got to do the fun things in the car. She is still VERY lovey, huggy and kissy! She is especially to MATCH Hanson. SHe has a REAL crush on that boy!! It is really cute, because she means it wholeheartedly! Sometimes she is WAY to clingy and kissy with him, so I have tried to teach that a little goes a long way and SLOW IT DOWN! I think she willdefinetely take after her mother in the boy crazy department!! I don't encourage it though at all, but i think it is funny how she is just naturally like that!!

The boys. where do i start? They are the cutest little things i think i have ever known, (with ALexis of course!), but i think that because there are two it's just a cuter little package!

Mitchie 22lbs

Mitchie is the sweetest litte thing ever!!! His gappy grin is to die for cute. He has most of his top teeth besides the molars and is has 4 bottom teeth

He finds me to give me huge open mouth kisses that I LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!

Walks around like he is a 14 year old boy, ( so cool!)

Loves hats

LOVES the outdoors

loves to take toys from Matthew

hugs my legs and rests his head on my leg when we are standing.

lays his head in my lap a lot.

So sweet and just darling

LOVES Sunny and lays ALL over her and has no fear of her at all (he hates her loud shocking bark though)

Understands EVERYTHING i say and does what i say even with a couple of commands.

Tries to climb out of his highchair often.

OFten opens the oven door and climbs sits on the door. SCARY!!

He will let me cuddle him and hug often.

He is starting to try and take off his diaper. He h

Matthew 24lbs.

He is my big man boyfriend I call him. I feel like he is 20. I love this kid. He is so sweet and charming and loving and cuddly.

He gets so frustrated when Mitchie comes after him to take his toys. Usually he just hands it over to him, but he is getting tougher. He is so much bigger than mitchie too, so it is so funny to see him get bullied.

He has such broad shoulders and big wide feet. I love it.

He loves shoes

He loves being outside

He loves when Alexis plays with him

He loves baths and standing up in the water and putting his face down in the water and drinking it up! YUCK! He loves hitting mitchie on the head with his hands or toys. That happens a lot!

He lays on me and lets me cuddle OFTEN! he will snuggle and watch a show with you.

He loves daddy and Grandpa Miller. He will sit on the laps for a long time!

He loves flying down the stairs.

He LOVES his bottles in the morning and at night and screams for it!

He will dive onto his bed when he sees you in the morning out of excitement.

I could go on and on about each of these kids. All i know is that even though life is busy and at times WAY stressful I am in awe at how much I love each of them SOOOO much. They make me so happy and I am so blessed to be their mom. They bring me so much joy and happiness that i never thought imaginable!! I am entertained by them on a daily basis and they brighten my mood whenever I am down, or stressed or just mad! I can't imagine my life without anyone of these cuties and I just want to continue to enjoy them for years to come!!

So, I am sitting typing in my kitchen with the kitchen windows open. A perfect breeze is blowing in and the smell of rain is permeating the room. We are expecting a thunderstorm tonight. It feels perfect. I love Maryland. It feels so nice that I live in a place where i feel fulfilled. I need this type of life. I need beauty all around me and I TRULY appreciate it. I thank God often while I drive for creating this view for me. It is so inspiring to me.
Today I did Jen's Brazillian Blowout and after it I was starving so we got in the car and I ran into WHole foods to get dinner for her dinner group and I. After that, being so hungry i ran into Chipotle and got three tacos for us to share. She stayed in the car. As I was coming out she had Mitchie's face up against the window screaming for me! yep that is Mitchie. Total momma's boy. I don't mind. I am obsessed! Obsessed is not the word for these boys. I really can't believe how much i am in LOVE LOVE LOVE with them. They are so beyond cute to me I can't stand it! I love this age because no matter what they do, they are so darling you can't stay too frustrated. And believe me Mitchell can frustrate me! he cries pretty much off and on from 3 every day until bed time. Matty too, but not like Mitchie! I hardly care though, because when i see that gappy grin i melt! When i see Matty's expressions on his face i am smitten! I know this sounds a bit much and wierd and corny, but this is exactly how I feel about them! Alexis is just a doll to me too! Sadly, I am wiped out and a busy whirlwind half of my day so the poor girl gets the brunt of my frustrations! I am really trying to remember she is 4 and not my peer! I really do adore her. We have been reading Junie B. Jones and really liking it! We just finished the 2nd book tonight and I know she LOVES when I read to her. I am trying to take more time just for her, because i know she is needing it! She wakes up in the night A LOT and jay and I are wondering if my lack of real uninterupted attention may be the culprit! Besides i love her and enjoy her so much that I am glad that I am trying to connect with her better. I always want to have a great relationship with her. Sometimes i place to much responsibility on her and I need to relax a bit.
SO, i later ran Jen's dinner to Anjie's for her because I like any excuse to be out and driving when it is such a beautiful day. Instead of going straight home I rolled down all the windows, blasted Vivaldi and we started driving on some back roads. I LOVE DOING THAT! I didn't know where we were going but both the boys were swaying to the music and ALexis was pretend sleeping allowing the fast wind to whip hair all around her face. Needless to say we all were liking the drive. The grass is so green right now and the leaves are on most the trees. Right now you can see BEAUTIFUL pink, hot pink and bright purple trees everywhere! I LOVE IT! I didn't even know there were purple trees like this! When i really noticed one it caught me off guard! I know there are lilac trees and crepe myrtles, but these are HUGE big honkin trees that are covered in bright lavendar blossoms! RIGHT UP MY ALLEY!!! I saw a small sign on one road that read "Old MILL FARM" So as we approached I saw a red barn and a white picket fence and about 20 goats or sheep. Sadly I am still confused as to which animal i was looking at. They were total goat faces, but were covered in wool. SO that was throwing me off. I , the desert rat, haven't seen a goat covered in WOOL? Someone give me the basics please. Finally the goats maaaaa'd instead of baaaaa'd so i figured we were talking to goats. I got the boys and alexis out and stood them against the fence and they stared for several minutes! It smelled so good outside and they were loving it! Alexis kept begging me to lift her over the fence or call the goats over , but to no avail. It was great! When we got home I couldn't bear taking them inside it was so nice out, so we played outside our house and I took them to our park, until Mitchie, yes MItchie lost all park priveleiges due to unnessesary crying and we left. I got home threw them all in the bath, hurried them out and tossed em' in bed. PURE EXHAUSTION! I DON'T GET TO STOP! I am in constant motion. I wouldn't have it any other way, honestly, but I am pooped! Then Jason and I talked and talked over grilled Shishkabobs as ALexis painted a birdhouse and listened. After we looked at the clock we realized I still needed to read Junie B. JOnes to her so we headed off. Then jason's haircut, then this journal entry now the kitchen! thank goodness Jason did most of it already, but still more to do. I am TIRED! Goodnight!

SPRING DAY!

So, I am sitting typing in my kitchen with the kitchen windows open. A perfect breeze is blowing in and the smell of rain is permeating the room. We are expecting a thunderstorm tonight. It feels perfect. I love Maryland. It feels so nice that I live in a place where i feel fulfilled. I need this type of life. I need beauty all around me and I TRULY appreciate it. I thank God often while I drive for creating this view for me. It is so inspiring to me.

Today I did Jen's Brazillian Blowout and after it I was starving so we got in the car and I ran into WHole foods to get dinner for her dinner group and I. After that, being so hungry i ran into Chipotle and got three tacos for us to share. She stayed in the car. As I was coming out she had Mitchie's face up against the window screaming for me! yep that is Mitchie. Total momma's boy. I don't mind. I am obsessed! Obsessed is not the word for these boys. I really can't believe how much i am in LOVE LOVE LOVE with them. They are so beyond cute to me I can't stand it! I love this age because no matter what they do, they are so darling you can't stay too frustrated. And believe me Mitchell can frustrate me! he cries pretty much off and on from 3 every day until bed time. Matty too, but not like Mitchie! I hardly care though, because when i see that gappy grin i melt! When i see Matty's expressions on his face i am smitten! I know this sounds a bit much and wierd and corny, but this is exactly how I feel about them! Alexis is just a doll to me too! Sadly, I am wiped out and a busy whirlwind half of my day so the poor girl gets the brunt of my frustrations! I am really trying to remember she is 4 and not my peer! I really do adore her. We have been reading Junie B. Jones and really liking it! We just finished the 2nd book tonight and I know she LOVES when I read to her. I am trying to take more time just for her, because i know she is needing it! She wakes up in the night A LOT and jay and I are wondering if my lack of real uninterupted attention may be the culprit! Besides i love her and enjoy her so much that I am glad that I am trying to connect with her better. I always want to have a great relationship with her. Sometimes i place to much responsibility on her and I need to relax a bit.

SO, i later ran Jen's dinner to Anjie's for her because I like any excuse to be out and driving when it is such a beautiful day. Instead of going straight home I rolled down all the windows, blasted Vivaldi and we started driving on some back roads. I LOVE DOING THAT! I didn't know where we were going but both the boys were swaying to the music and ALexis was pretend sleeping allowing the fast wind to whip hair all around her face. Needless to say we all were liking the drive. The grass is so green right now and the leaves are on most the trees. Right now you can see BEAUTIFUL pink, hot pink and bright purple trees everywhere! I LOVE IT! I didn't even know there were purple trees like this! When i really noticed one it caught me off guard! I know there are lilac trees and crepe myrtles, but these are HUGE big honkin trees that are covered in bright lavendar blossoms! RIGHT UP MY ALLEY!!! I saw a small sign on one road that read "Old MILL FARM" So as we approached I saw a red barn and a white picket fence and about 20 goats or sheep. Sadly I am still confused as to which animal i was looking at. They were total goat faces, but were covered in wool. SO that was throwing me off. I , the desert rat, haven't seen a goat covered in WOOL? Someone give me the basics please. Finally the goats maaaaa'd instead of baaaaa'd so i figured we were talking to goats. I got the boys and alexis out and stood them against the fence and they stared for several minutes! It smelled so good outside and they were loving it! Alexis kept begging me to lift her over the fence or call the goats over , but to no avail. It was great! When we got home I couldn't bear taking them inside it was so nice out, so we played outside our house and I took them to our park, until Mitchie, yes MItchie lost all park priveleiges due to unnessesary crying and we left. I got home threw them all in the bath, hurried them out and tossed em' in bed. PURE EXHAUSTION! I DON'T GET TO STOP! I am in constant motion. I wouldn't have it any other way, honestly, but I am pooped! Then Jason and I talked and talked over grilled Shishkabobs as ALexis painted a birdhouse and listened. After we looked at the clock we realized I still needed to read Junie B. JOnes to her so we headed off. Then jason's haircut, then this journal entry now the kitchen! thank goodness Jason did most of it already, but still more to do. I am TIRED! Goodnight!

Better late than never.

In September we went to the Waterford Festival. It is a small town, that is exactly as it was in the early 1800's. We learned how early furniture, tools, and housewares were made, we enjoyed music and entertainment

We ate great food - from fresh made apple cider to Loudoun sausage to delicious caramel apples

We visited historic homes and saw how America lived in the 1800's. It really is BEAUTIFUL. The Fall is just breathtaking back here and I LOVE IT!

SO often jason and I will be driving down these gorgeous back roads and we will high five each other that we live here amongst all the beauty.

ALexis standing at an old school. She has this nervous face on because she thought we were leaving her here for school.

I believe most of the cousins were here today. they are watching some man do something with a monkey. Don't remember.

This is how most homes look out here. How could one not love this??

This reminded me of England. Love it and want to live here.

Love this scene of men dressed as men from the period. Gave me chills watching them.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this. If I could i would live in a house that looks just like this. Honestly. the moss on the roof is enough to put me on a plane and move me to the Cotswolds.

THis blog post is premature, i have not read through this list to edit it or make it grammatically correct. I don't have pics on this laptop, so this is just a rough draft,but at least i have this written. Phew, what a relief. I will post pics soon! OH I am so behind on blogging and i hate it!!! I just want to keep this simple and write a few thinks about the one year olds in my life!! First off, my love for them is as equal as it could get. I love them to pieces and i can't get enough of them!

MItchie

Angelic

SMILES pretty much 24/7. If you are looking at him he will be smiling.

ROSY dry cheeks all the time

LOVES fruit. ALL fruit. All the time

Not a big appetite at all

If I say no he get's embarrassed and bury's his face in the floor and cry's

He pulls matthew and ALexis hair often and hard

LOVES to slow dance and will go limp in my arms

8 teeth and two others moving on down

he will lay on mitchie or alexis by backing up and laying his head on them

He will try and kiss other babies

takes matthews toys all the time

antagonizer

MOMMA's boy bigtime

lover

precious as precious could get

choker

Gorgeous!

Matthew

delicious and edible

tank

solid

most expressive baby ever (especially this eyes)

Fastest crawler

Awesome thrower

Loves to dance and SQUEALS loudly when thrown in the air

fly's up and down the stairs

LOVES his blankie and makes the cutest sucking face when he even sees his blankie or anything to resemble a blankie ie shirt, baby wipe etc

loves his baba's and lays down as you are showing him his baba

Calls for daaaaaaaad all though the day

daddy's boy for sure

LOVES men and strangers

Let's Alexis carry him all around. He is 23lbs she is 29lbs.

chunky cheeks that you could seriously eat.

SMILES SO BIG

Gorgeous!

Alexis is just a doll

Age 4 has been way easier than three. SHe keeps me moving and smiling all the time. I could be employed by her 24/7. She is as sweet as ever.

Darling ballet student

LOVES her cousins and is so cute when you tell her that they are coming over. SHe acts 10 years older and becomes giddy!

Loves changing clothes

loves tying things on other things. NONSTOP.

Loves undressing her babies and makes me dress them.

likes to lick when she kisses your face. DON'T love that.

Is darling with the boys and is VERY concerned for their safety

SHe always warns me when something may be dangerous. SHe guards the stairs and blocks them with her legs if i am not coming fast enough to save them from flying upstairs.

Gets me things most of the time i ask.

SNORES very loud!

Does not know words to songs at all, like her momma.

says am i uhls for animals. LOVE that.

You are so cute, i could just eat you alive

Fine, I don't love you anymore.

I Love Jesus, he is my best friend.

She follows us everywhere we go in the house.