Words

Aside from the fact that Evie has a hearing loss, I think that most 3 year olds have a few words that they say ToTaLLy Wr0nG!
And sometimes you just don't want to correct them because it's toOOoo gosh dang cute!

In the above picture, Evie is holding her, as she calls it, sumbrella.
And one of Evie's favorite pass times, as she calls it, is to play on the sum-pull-a. (Computer!!!)

Most people don't think Evie talks, unless you're family or a close friend. She mostly keeps to herself unless we are at home or in a comfortable place.
The crazy-awesome thing is that Evie's speech is SO GOOD! Obviously she has some vocabulary words straight from the personalized Dictionary of Evie Grace, but how cool is that!? WAY. She speaks clearly and is understood probably 90% of the time. I've said it before, I'll say it again: TeChNoLoGy Rocks our world.
In preschool her speech and language teachers are AMAZED with our little gem. I'm so proud of Evie girl!

Remember when . . . .

Evie has been on a "Remember When" kick! Just today she has reminded me of these things . . .

1. Mom, remember when you were a baby and I was your mom? {No, I actually don't recall that one LOL}
2. Mom, remember when I have a tooth and it comes out and I am the tooth fairy? {Yeah . . . .}
3. Mom, remember Jaisha? {So funny, we picked up candles from Jaisha this morning, so this one I actually really do remember}
4. Mom, remember when I was just a little baby and I was in your belly and I said WAAA let me out. And I said WAAA I want my binky. {I surely do sister sue}
5. Remember this morning when Hadliegh use to stay here with us. And remember when she went to my dance class? Remember? {We use to babysit my niece Hadliegh while her mom went to nail school. She did come to dance class with us a few times}

Evie is about 3.5 years now. This age is hilarious, hard, crazy, fun, demanding, exhausting, and rewarding. All bundled into one package of adorable-darlingness! I just can't even get enough of Evie's funny personality!

Evie's 1st Dance Recital

Pre-Dance 5/21/2013

Evie's adorable Pre-Dance class danced to "All Dressed Up in Grown-Up Clothes". Seriously they were SO darling!
Before getting ready I said to Evie, "Make sure we don't forget the mascara." Evie said, "Mom, NO. Mascara? Mmm Mmm Miss Kkkk Kkkk Kara! Miss Kara mom!" Miss Kara is Evie's speech therapist! Isn't that too hilarious!? Mascara, Miss Kara. Same diff! HAHA
I was SO nervous for Evie's first performance. I was holding back tears before she came out! I just wanted her to be confident and do the dance I've seen her do at home a million times! SHE DID IT! Proud parents!
Just because this song was so darling . . . here are the lyrics. These girls knew every. single. word.

All dressed up in grown up clothes
High heeled shoes and powdered nose
Hat is hiding every curl
So don't call me a little girl
                      
When you see me passing by
Don't you laugh and wink your eye
L.A.D.Y. if you spell
'Cause I'm a Lady can't you tell!

Ella Zoe is 9, yes N.I.N.E months!

Get a load of those teeth! She's working on SIX teeth right now people! All at the same time too!

What!? What mom!? Am I doing something wrong? Look how cute I am though!

9 Things about my favorite 9 month old:

1. Ella bear crawls. No knees!
2. She is standing up to everything! We may have a walker on our hands by 10 months?
3. Ella is like that kid you were friends with who had a pet hamster that you didn't want to hold because you thought it would bite your finger off. This girl is ALWAYS ON THE HUNT FOR FOOD! Which brings us to #4.
4. She will be your best friend . . . if you feed her.
5. Ella always knows when it's time to go bye bye! She waves and says bye bye! She also says ba ba, ma ma, da da, ball.
6. She is on the move all the time! Ella is SOOOOO busy! Mischievousness should be her middle name! As I'm sure you can tell by the Nesquik incident(s). Yes, this has happened more than once.
7. Ella is wearing 18 month clothing COMFORTABLY. 
8. She L.O.V.E.S. her dad! When he gets home from work she refuses to have anything to do with me! Sometimes I have to hold her while she is crying alligator tears just so B can have a shower! HAHA!
9. This girl is SO happy. She is quite possibly the happiest baby on planet earth. No joke. We all love her dearly! When you pick her up you just want to squeeze and cuddle her chubby little bod!

Love you Miss Ella Bell!

A Morton Family Reunion

My dads brothers + their families + my FABULOUS grandma go on a little vacation/reunion every year. It's something new each year and a different sibling plans it each year. My LOVELY mother (and dad? Hehe) planned it this year. We all stayed in SLC, went to This is the Place Heritage Park, City Creek Center (AWWWWE-SOME), went to the Joseph Smith movie, and dinner at the Lion House.

So fun to see everyone! And, as always, wish I would have taken more pictures!

After all the shenanigans - Braden and I took the girls to the zoo! Can I just say, the zoo fascinates me!  HOLY COOL! I can't believe that is the first time we've taken Evie! I'm ready to go back already :)

 Evie fell in love with these cute tiny houses at the heritage park. Basically she would have been happy if she could have played in them all day.

 Papa and Ella Bell!

 After the Joseph Smith movie, where Evie and Chlo both fell asleep in Braden's arms. 

Ell getting ready to swim.

Just get a good look at the boo-tay! No swimming suit can contain all that goodness!

The Zoo!

{HAVE to make a note here. As we pulled into the parking lot of the Zoo we asked Evie what animal she was most excited to see. A DRAGON she said! Midway through our fun filled day at the zoo she said, "Dad, can we go see the dragons now? I want to see them fly!" . . . . Braden leaned over to me and said, "Is this one of those times where I crush her dreams, or just keep the dragon thing going?" HAHAHA

All About Mom

In honor of Mother's Day.
Evie and her preschool teacher filled out a paper titled: All About Mom. Have to share.

Let me tell you about my mom
My mom is 50 years old
She likes to PLAY KITCHEN
The best thing she cooks is EGGS, HOT DOGS AND HAMBURGERS
Her favorite food is SPAGHETTI
Her favorite thing to do to relax is SLEEP IN HER BED
We like to PAINT together
She is really good at GOING TO THE PARK
As you can see, my mom is special because OF GLASSES
Love,
Evie Grace
04-29-13

My favorite are the first and last answers. Love that little Evie girl :)

I'm incredibly thankful to be a mom. Having two darling babies and a husband who is UH-MAZE-ING make being a mother a beautiful thing. I also credit much of the joy I find in motherhood to my very own mom. She's a sweetheart. Straight from Heaven. Love her. She has taught me so much, and I continue to watch and learn from her in amazement.

Happy Mother's Day

For THOSE Days

It has been one of those weeks for us. The kind where you look through your schedule and think, 'I have NO CLUE how we will make it to the end of this week'. So much going on! We're almost there! Time has a funny way of passing regardless of what you have to say about it.
Anyways, I saw this on FB. I think sometimes we let the stress of life warp our perspective on what's really important. I know I do at least! So here you go:

For those days. You know the ones.

Repeat after me:

1. I shall not judge my house, my kid's summer activities, or my crafting skills by Pintrest's standards.

2. I shall not measure what I've accomplished today by the loads of unfolded laundry, but by the assurance of deep love I've tickled into my kids.

3. I shall say yes to blanket forts and see past the chaos to the memories we're building.

4. I shall surprise my kids with trips to get ice cream when they're already in their pajamas.

5. I shall not compare myself to other mothers, but find my identity in the God who trusted me with these kids in the first place.

6. I shall remember that a messy house at peace is better than an immaculate house tied up in knots.

7. I shall play music loudly and teach my kids the joy of wildly uncoordinated dance.

8. I shall remind myself that perfect is simply a street sign at the intersection of impossible and frustration in Never Never land.

9. I shall embrace the fact that in becoming a mom I traded perfect for a house full of real.

10. I shall promise to love this body that bore these children, especially in front of my daughters.

11. I shall give my other mother friends the gift of guilt-free friendship.

12. I shall do my best to admit to my people my un-fine moments.

13. I shall say sorry when sorry is necessary.

14. I pray God I shall never be too proud, angry or stubborn to ask for my children's forgiveness.

15. I shall make space in my grown-up world for goofball moments with my kids.

16. I shall love their father and make sure they know I love him.

17. I shall model kind words to kids and grown-ups alike.

18. I shall not be intimidated by the inside of my minivan -  this season of chip bags, goldfish crackers and discarded socks too shall pass.

19. I shall always make time to encourage new moms.

20. I shall not resent that last call for kisses and cups of water but remember instead that when I blink they'll all be in college.

... with love from one tired mother to another.

 Love capturing these sweet moments when they are so peaceful :) 

Little Ell finishing Evie's sandwich for her. This picture is one of those times when you get your house nice and clean for your hubby so he can watch the kids while you have an hour or so of "me" time and you come back to a disaster area. Was it worth it? Oh YEAH.