Someone got a haircut.

She looked so big sitting in that chair.

While the stylist was working on her new do she asked her questions.

You know, small talk.

During a little down time in the conversation Ella said:

"Umm, sooo, what is your favorite show to watch?"

She continued to ask her back some of the questions she was asked.

Proud Mom moment.

Watching my little girl drum up a conversation on all her own.

This weekend he lost his other front tooth.

If he keeps it up the tooth fairy just may have to call it quits.

He lost two teeth over the weekend.

I love that little grin more than ever.

Every time he smiles I'm reminded how quickly he is growing up.

"Mom, it's almost gone. Can I chug it?"

"The submission of one's will is placing on God's altar the only uniquely personal thing one has to place there. The many other things we 'give' are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us. However, when we finally submit ourselves by letting our individual wills be swallowed up in God's will, we will really be giving something to Him! It is the only possession which is truly ours to give."

-Elder Maxwell if thou endure it well

Today's High: "Jumping on the bed with Dad"
Today's Low: "When Mom wouldn't give me ice cream"

Over the weekend:

It snowed!

We ate homemade pizza.

We had a sleepover in the family room & watched a silly penguin movie.

I painted a wall in the kitchen. I find myself in there a lot now.

There will be more painting. I can feel it.

Watch out baby's room. I'ma gonna getcha.

We slept in the family room again.

Leading to a Sunday afternoon nap for me.

We watched football.

Leading to a sad little boy who's team didn't make it to the Super B*wl.

We celebrated birthdays.

We enjoyed our time together... before Monday could come take it away.

Funny little story about this little lady.

She is a Sunbeam now.

The first week in there I promised her I would sit in the back for awhile.

We would wave back and forth excitedly with big grins.

She was doing fine.

I snuck out.

I went to get her after.

I was told she got really sad during sharing time.

Holding back tears, sad.

She didn't talk about it.

She did however say that she never wanted to go back!

Then she started to say things like: "I never want to go to jail."

So. The Primary theme this year is Choose The Right.

Come to find out they played a little game where they either "choose the right" OR "go to jail."

We went a few days where it felt like all I heard was "I don't want to go to jail."

Over. and OVER.

I told her then choose the right!

One time she responded with "but I know I won't!"

Finally I said "you are too little to go to jail anyway!"

That quickly turned into: "I don't ever want to get big. I don't ever want to be a Mom."

Days went by. Very long days. ;)

The next Sunday I went into Primary with her.

I sat in the back. I didn't leave.

The President stood up to give her lesson.

She reminded the kids of their lesson to choose the right, or go to jail.

I was trying not to laugh.

Of course, luck would have it that her lesson that week would be on the story of Sha*rack, Mes*ack, and Abed*ego... being put into a fiery furnace for "choosing the right"

(Note that Ella is terrified of fires and being burned.)

She started to bawl.

Sitting there in her little primary chair on the front row.

Sobbing.

It was SO sad.

It was one of those moments when you feel bad, but you can't stop laughing.

This last week Dad dropped her off.

She reported that she had fun this time because they didn't even talk about jail!!

The man of the house recently had a big birthday.

30 to be exact.

We tried to go all out making sure he knows just how much he means to us.

The day started early with a heated towel to dry off with after showering and breakfast made before heading off to work.

He was given a couple of present marked with a time to open each one: 6:30 & 7:30

After that every hour on the "30" minute mark we delivered presents to him.

At 11:30 we took him to lunch.

When he got home we had tied down 30 balloons all over the front lawn.

At 3:30 we went mattress shopping/investigating.

At 5:30 he took the kids to his Mom's while I set up a picnic on the family room floor. When he got back I had him draw from a jar where we would be eating. We ate at J Dawgs and picked up Cold Stone to eat at home while we played a game of 20 questions I had set up.

The end of a great year.

The start of another.

If only I could freeze time.

I would love to stay right here. Forever.