Emma/Tiff/Treena Visit: Sunday

Nooo, tell me it isn't so. Has it really been a month since I last blogged? I hate that I'm so behind, but it is what it is! So, a month ago, on the Sunday when Emma and cousins Tiff and Treena were here, we got a spontaneous and way-to-short visit from another fabulous cousin of ours---Scarlet and her little girl! We were only able to see her for a few hours, but it was so great to catch up a little and meet her youngest little beauty.

Sunday was also Treena's birthday, so a chocolate cake and birthday dinner were in order. Will's parents were excited to see our fun visitors too, so they had us over for dinner that night. It ended up being one of our classic family birthday dinners, and I loved having an excuse to buy a few little gifts and eat chocolate cake!

Seeing these pictures makes me miss these beautiful people in my life!

Next up, our day trip to Seattle!

Welcome to the PNW, Emma, Treena and Tiffany!

My sister Emma's hubby went out of town clear to Ukraine to finish up a movie he was making, and at the last minute Emma and I were trying to figure a way to get her up here for a visit while he was away. The plane tickets were super expensive since we were shopping for them so last minute, and her husband Jake didn't want her to make the drive from Utah alone (rightfully so! neither did I!), so we tried to think of someone who might want to make the LONG drive up here with her and her sweet babies. I immediately thought of our cousins Tiffany and Treena who we adore, and who I've been dying to have come visit us anyway. When Emma contacted them about it, they said they would love to but couldn't get the work off with such short notice. Bummer! We asked what seemed like 20 different people after Tiff and Treena, but no one could swing it so last minute. We about gave up on that idea,  our visions of girl time vanishing into thin air.

But then! But then! A few days later, Tiff and Treena called Em and proposed that they come a few days later than we were originally planning because that was doable with their work schedules! It wouldn't overlap with Jake's Ukraine trip perfectly, but it was going to work!! I love spontaneous get togethers like this and enjoyed every minute with all of them. I obviously love Emma to the moon, and Tiff and Treena have always had a very special place in my heart. They are the best!

It was quite the adventure for them to road trip all the way up here, but they made it here and back (barely, haha)! Here is a little bit of what their first full day here looked like... playing and shopping. Ya know. Gotta kick of a girls weekend right!

More to come!
 

Her New Annie Dress!

My mom is so good at dreaming up the most unique, heartfelt and adorable gifts. It's definitely a talent she has! So, seeing how Juliette loves to sing and dress-up, this year for her birthday Grandma Lisa sewed her a new dress-up... an Annie dress! She also sent the movie Annie, and a little stuffed "Sandy" dog along in the package. Too, too cute! I can hardly take it... my very own blonde-haired Annie!

Easter

In a seven-day span, we celebrated Liam's birthday, I was in charge of the New Beginnings program for my Young Women at church, we celebrated Juliette's birthday and then Easter! I'm not gonna lie, by the end of that week, I was completely pooped! And 8:30am church doesn't help (even though I generally like early-morning church)! I think it's funny that Liam's yawning in one of his pictures with his Easter basket. haha

Easter was lovely as usual, though. I especially loved the talks at church that spoke of what a gift the resurrection is. I'm so thankful for my body! It is an amazing thing that we will all someday be resurrected like Jesus Christ was... that the sting of death is gone, thanks to our Savior. I'm so, so grateful for that. And while I do enjoy the special Easter outfits, watching my kids go crazy at the Easter egg hunts, and taking pictures of it all, most of all I love the spirit of this sacred holiday!

 Happy Easter, everyone!

JuJu the Gymnast!

I've written about this before, but for months, Juliette has been watching on the sidelines while Isabella and Liam have done their gymnastics classes. Now that she's three, she is now finally all signed up herself, and it has been so fun to watch her. I love how her outtie belly button is so visible though her leotard. And I love how much she loves going!

We've got her going to a different gym than the other two go to. We're interested in this gym because it's a bit closer to our house. If we continue to like this new gym as much as we have, we will probably eventually switch the other two over. I don't know if it's because Juliette's class is on a Saturday morning or what, but she gets SO much attention and I've been really impressed with the instruction. The optional girls also work out at this time, so it's fun to watch them do all their crazy tricks, too.

Oh, gymnastics, you do have a soft place in my heart.