look what Marlee got in the mail…

Marlee got a package from her Grandma Turley in the mail today. Inside it she found a motivation to start using the potty- big girl panties. She was happy to wear underwear and I was happy to not change diapers. She had success today, with no accidents. We will see how tomorrow goes…

I thought this note from Grandma was cute:

Sabino Canyon

Laun took the kids to Sabino Canyon for some hiking and to play in the water, so I could get some homework done. He ended up getting a National’s Park Pass, so now we can get into Sabino Canyon for free and lots of other great places. I am excited to start going on some trips! If these pictures look fuzzy it is because Marlee threw our camera on the ground (luckily, it wasn’t our nice camera).

 

Porter

Porter can often be found in his room. He loves to create designs with dominoes, play with Pokémon cards, cars, or legos. Here is one of his many domino creations…

 

Marlee’s buddy

Marlee is so happy to have the puppy keep her company while the boys are gone at school. Here they are watching cartoons together. When I tell her it's time to put the puppy outside she cries and tells me he is too cold out there.

puppy love

Laun took the kiddos to get a puppy. He is a Catahoula with bright blue eyes. Since we name all of our dogs after plants or trees (Huckleberry, Sage, Beech Nut-who are no longer with us…Huck passed away & the other two escaped from the yard) we decided to follow our tradition. This pup’s name is Elderberry since those trees grow blue berries on them, and this dog has blue eyes. Marlee calls the dog: Berry, Elder, Catahoula, or hula. The poor dog will be so confused. Hopefully, we have this puppy for a long time…4th one’s a charm, right?

He likes tummy rubs & he likes Marlee (he might change his mind after he gets sick of all the “loving” from her).

I love that it howls like a hound dog, has paws & a tail that look like they’ve been dipped in white paint, and loves to be held.

Welcome to the family Elderberry!

School Spelling Bee-round 2

Porter was in the school spelling bee and made it into round 2. He ended up getting somewhere around 14th or 15th place out of kids through 2nd to 8th grade! 

 

Way to go Porter!

 

Marlee took turns being held by Clayton & other girls in his class throughout the spelling bee-she loved all the attention & always loves seeing her brothers at school. When we got in the car she told me thanks for taking her to the spelling word and that she was going to do that someday. I love that her brothers are such great examples to her.

 

To celebrate Porter being in the spelling bee and Clayton helping him practice, I made this yummy treat.

 

Fluffy creamy lemon goodness with ladyfingers and berries-yum.

Isn’t this how you pack your baby around?

Marlee got this baby doll car seat from Jonathan & Darlene for her birthday & she loves it. She puts her baby in it, puts the car seat handle around her belly, and then rides her bike around.

 

Don’t worry, she even remembers her purse. This girl is so fun!

I love the week following a kids birthday because they are so happy and entertained by all their new toys, and it gives me more time to do homework;)

Wii party

Carrie & Davey invited us & the Allen’s over for dinner & a Wii party. The food was yummy & we had fun dancing & singing. The kids rocked and so did Carrie’s dance moves. Although, I’m not sure if Carrie’s dance moves were as good as Jamie’s! It was so fun. We will probably make this a monthly tradition. Laun missed out since he was doing school/work stuff. I wonder if I could convince him to participate in the dancing & singing:) I should have been doing school stuff too, but I needed a break!

 

 

Too bad I am not real familiar with Michael Jackson dance moves…that would have helped.

 

The couples competed & both times the wives won. I guess even pregnancy sickness doesn’t stop Rachel!

 

Marlee isn’t really competing, but we will let her think that. The boys did a great job dancing & singing tonight. They really want some wii singing & dancing games now.

 

3 going on 13-Happy Birthday Princess

Breakfast was blueberry waffles. Love Marlee’s fake pouty face.

Marlee is often found wearing this bathing suit around the house; it’s funny how girls love dress-up.

Marlee is “helping” Laun feed the chickens.

I like to take pictures of her on her birthday

She took pictures of me too:

Love this girl from head to toe.

three years old & counting

Our kiddos love the tradition of going to lunch with their Daddy.

Then I took her for ice cream…

She likes licking all the frosting off the beaters.

Birthday dinner menu:

Ideal 3 year old meal: no utensils & lots of sauces & dips.

Marlee was happy to have Jonathan & Darlene & the Frost Grandparents over.

This girl is so grateful when she opens presents. She says thank you & gets so happy.

She loved this little set of buildings & people. I got it from our friend Rachel Allen since her girls have out grown it.

She got books from Porter & her Turley Grandparents.

Clayton got her real pearl earrings. He picked them out himself & he was so excited to give them to her. I have a feeling he will have one spoiled wife someday.

The Frosts Grandparents got her a goody bag full of all sorts of fun things.

The licorice rope was a huge hit.

Whenever I asked Marlee what she wanted for her birthday she always said a pink cake. I would ask her what she wanted for her birthday dinner or what present she wanted and all she would ever say was pink cake. She finally got her pink cake & I don’t think she even had one bite because she was so excited to play with her birthday presents instead!

Clayton & Porter were happy to light the birthday candles & I was happy to use one of my new cake platters from my mom.

Marlee was happy to have everyone sing her Happy Birthday & apparently so was Porter.

She had no problem blowing out the birthday candles.

pink goodness-strawberry cake with strawberry cream cheese frosting

Enjoying her birthday presents…

Pop rocks candy & flarp (slippery pink glob) were among her favorites.