Jump Jump Jump

And so it is...my last baby is now a jumping baby! Each milestone we pass is just a little more and more bittersweet...because I'm happy to be heading to the next stage of our life, but sad that I'll never experience a baby's first jump in her Jolly Jumper again. However, Nora is such a huge light in our lives and we honestly just can't get enough of her. She lights up when anyone looks at her, she smiles for any ounce of attention, and she always has this sweet little expression on her face like she's waiting for us to amaze her. Well she amazes us! She really is just such a fun and special girl!

Two Wheelin'

So one fine day last week I decided it was time to teach Cait to ride a two wheeler. We had lent our littlest bike to Chris and Lauren last year in exchange for their next size up bike. So we switched back and between general Conference sessions we ran out the front and tossed Caiter onto the bike. She pretty much rocked it!! She couldn't stop smiling and laughing and kept saying 'this is sooo fun'. So that's it - she's 3 1/2 and riding her two wheeler!! What a smart little girls!

I feel like I can claim that my method of learning to bike is the best. I start my kids out on a tricycle until they can pedal that properly. Once they're pedaling like pros I switch them over the a balance bike (around 2 1/2 years old). Then they ride that until I feel like they are getting some good cruising in...and then we break out the legit two wheeler. Since they have experience pedaling and balancing it's such an easy transition! Yay for never buying training wheels!!

It's my Birthday and I'll 'Mom' if I want to!

Everyone kept asking me what I had planned for my Birthday this year...and strangely enough there was nothing planned. It's been an incredible busy fall and ALL I wanted was to not clean up after dinner! That's it. On the actual day of my Birthday the girls had drama club and swimming all afternoon/evening. So I was busy running back and forth between the pool and the school. Then I came home for dinner and thank goodness Ben was taking us out to eat. JUST what I wanted and needed! So my answer to everyone when they asked what I did for my Birthday... Mom stuff. Just Mom stuff. And I'm so happy that I GET to do mom stuff. These 4 girls keep me busy, but I would never want it any differently. I was spoiled still...in fact I feel so grateful to have so many great friends who dropped off treats for me. SO thoughtful!! It makes me feel like I need to step up my Birthday game. And after dinner we came home for presents...and Ben bought me a fancy new blender. I guess he'd been doing his research and had looked seriously at the Vitamix and Blendtec and ultimately decided to buy the relatively unheard of (in North america at least) Omniblend. According to his research it performs equally as well as the other two (if not better) and is significantly cheaper! YAY! I have pretty much been making pina colada's all day every day since I opened the box!