Thursday, March 3, 2016

Desiree

When the doctor saw Desiree during the c-section, he said that she has a lot of dark hair.  I didn't believe him because none of the other girls had dark hair and very little of it.  Well I was shocked!  Oh but I sure love her hair!



I enjoyed these cute kiddos when they would visit Desiree, Daddy, and I at the hospital.  I am so grateful that Grandma Martinson could babysit our kids while Derek and I were able to bond with baby #4.  It really is a special time for Derek and I.  

After Claire was born, Derek was talking to a patient and saying that the hospital stay is like a vacation for us.  The patient's reply was hilarious, "well you guys need to go on more vacations then." Ha ha!


Brinley loves Desiree.  She is always asking to hold her, feed her, and whenever she passes her at home, she has to give her a kiss.  It just melts my heart!


Ashlyn also loves her sister.  She is also always wanting to hold her.  My favorite is when Desiree holds Ashlyn's finger and Ashlyn says that is how they hug.


Claire didn't really want anything to do with her in the hospital, but since we have been home, she is one special helper.  She loves to get the wipes, diapers, blankets, and especially the binkie (which sadly Claire doesn't understand she doesn't really enjoy the binkie anymore, but Claire doesn't mind testing it out to figure out why.)
 

I feel so blessed to have this bundle of joy in our family.  I want to enjoy every second with her to soak up this little spirit fresh from heaven. 



Derek's 5 cute girls!


Pictures that Derek took.  He really does a great job!



Check out these rolls.

Derek used his dental camera to take these little features.


First smile

Family of 6


Thank you so much Mom!  You have done so much to make it special for our family!  We love spending time with you and are sad whenever you leave.  
My daughters are so blessed to have two great grandmas that loves and spoils them so much!







Wednesday, March 2, 2016

LIfe with 4

Future Dentist and she is learning from the best!


We took our first adventure as a family in public! And where did we go?  The furniture store... ha ha.  I heard that there was bunk beds for a great deal, so we made it into a big family trip. 
At the store the girls found a mushroom table and chairs.


The girls played "neighbors" on the porch. 
Claire is just loving life with the new discoveries she can make because of walking around on her own.  She loves to play with her sisters too.


Derek and I just love our girls!  Even though we are on a roller coaster with all the emotions in our house (wish us luck in about 10-15 years), we enjoy this crazy ride!



I love how much my girls love books!


Nana was so kind and on her last night here she treated us with a meal from our favorite place Chick-fil-a.  Thank you Nana!


Brinley loved seeing the cow!



It is fun to see Desiree smile and laugh out loud while she is sleeping.  I just wonder what she is remembering from the pre-existence to cause these couple noises and smiles.  Derek was quick enough to capture this picture.


During Aubrey and Nana's stay we took a visit to the Trail Center.  
Look at this crazy pioneer bunch!


We are so glad that Aunt Aubrey to stay with us for a couple of days.  It was so fun to have her here and listen to all of her puns.  Thanks Aubrey for being a great Auntie to these little ones.  We all love you!


We went on a fun outing to the pedestrian bridge.  





Have to love every time I take a picture, she always makes a silly face.  One day I will get a regular smile out of this girl.


Grandma Martinson was so nice to get these cool curlers for the girls.  Derek tested them out on the girls and it was a lot of fun!  Thanks Grandma!


I have great helpers when it comes to bathtime for Desiree


Oh how much we love this sweet angel!





Childhood is so much fun!  These girls can be out for hours at a time playing together using their imagination.  This is a train and they are going to Utah!


Well I was on my own for the first time since Grandma left a couple of days ago and I was feeling so cooped up.  A friend of mine in Village Green asked me if I wanted to go to the zoo with her and her kids in a 20 minutes notice.  It was lunchtime and then naps, but I was so desperate to get out I packed everyone up and we went to the zoo!  Crazy, I know!  But it turned out to be so much fun!  They girls had a great time.  Brinley has been begging to go to the zoo for a couple of months now and it was great weather so why not?!  


Claire had a ball!  She loved to walk around EVERYWHERE explore everything and anything!



Our little Valentine



Grandma Martinson got the girls these cute matching skirts for Valentine's day!  When she left she gave each girl a Valentine surprise!



Stealing Grandma's curlers.



These two can be the best of friends or the worst...but I will soak up the moments that sister love is shown!

Life with having four kids has bit of an adjustment.  There are moments that I think I have it all together and then the next moment I feel like I am drowning with overwhelming emotions.  Through it all I truly feel so blessed to have this little girls in our family.  Derek and I are so blessed to have this crazy adventure together!








Ashlyn's Birthday Party

Happy Birthday to Ashlyn.  We can't believe our little baby Ashie is now a big 5 year old!  Time just goes by too fast.  We are so blessed to have this smart, creative, sweet, fun-loving girl in our family.  We sure love her!


Ashlyn asked me a couple of times to have a birthday party and I would always change the subject.  Thinking I off the hook, she went and asked Daddy and of course he said yes.  I told him that he is party planner then for saying yes!  Well it turned out to be so fun and I'm so glad that Ashlyn had it!  She was so so excited and planned it all with Dad!  

She invited 5 friends (because she was turning 5) including Hailey and Brayden Van De Graaff, Brynlee and Brody McCormick, and Ali Hammond and they played a variety of games where each child earned a prize that Ashlyn picked out at the dollar store with her Dad.  

Party Games

Marshmallow Contest
They had to suck the marshmallow with the straw and put it in the cup.


Archery
 Derek gave a lesson before beginning the contest.


 

Marble Contest
They would drop a marble from their nose to see how many they could get in the bowl.
Brinley is really focusing!


Handstand Contest

Who could stand the longest!?! 
They would hold it longer than one minute!
They did amazing!


 This is one of Ashlyn's favorites in gymnastics.
Look at her go!

Race
They would run with a marble on a spoon to place in a cup.  They each had 5 marbles. 



Musical Chairs


Brinley keeping tabs on the winning cup.



Of course we had cupcakes!
Happy Birthday Ashlyn



 Look at this adorable face



 This cute Claire Bear loved all the action!