Have Night Light...Will Read

Since May of last year Chase has become a "Born Again" reader. He started to enjoy reading the summer before 2nd grade. He read books from the Horrible Harry series, Magic Tree house series a few Captain Underpants books and a some Choose Your Own Adventure books. He has read a book here and there since that summer breakthrough, but nothing like now. In May his best friend Ryan Johnson convinced him to start reading the Harry Potter books. It was a slow start for Chase. They are after all such big books...talk about intimidation.

Chase finished book seven a little over a month ago. He loved the books. (Now he spends his time reading the Peter and the Start Catcher series) He cracks me up. He has looked up all of the Harry Potter spells on the Internet and loves to cast them on his sisters. We have had to outlaw some of the more serious spells. He was Harry Potter for Halloween even (along with every other boy at school!). A few weeks ago he carved his own wand out of a monstrous stick he collected on one of our walks. He is a total junky.

Best of all though the Harry Potter series opened Chase's mind up to the miraculous world of literature. He is a reading machine. When I go to tuck him in one last time before I go to bed at 11:00 or later he is still reading. We find him tangled in a mass of sheets with his nose still in the book. His teacher tells me he is tiered at school, I wonder why. We can't slow him down. This last Friday Chase came home with the student of the month award. In our school district they award students for exhibiting the Attribute of the month. This month was Perseverance. Mrs. Palacios, Chase's teacher, told Chase that he has definitely shown perseverance for getting through all those big books he likes to read.

Thank you J.K. Rowling for igniting a fuse that will hopefully never burn out in my little boy.

Read on Chase!!!!

Happy 34

Happy Birthay Dave! One year older and wiser too! Not to mention cuter:-)

Good News

WE HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE!

Washington Sunset

Really I just wanted to post this gorgeous picture of our sunset last night for those that didn't get to see it. Sorry the picture didn't capture the beauty of it even half as good as I had hoped. It was spectacular!

Totally addicted

I like to tease my kids about what they are grown on. Meaning, whatever I craved when I was pregnant with them. They love it. Out of the blue they will come up and ask me what they were grown on and they love to tell each other. Chase was grown on salsa. I had never had it before I became pregnant with him. Go figure, I was living in Tucson Arizona and hadn't had salsa. My parents and us kids just weren't big on Mexican food back then. I think we have all repented of our ignorant ways now. BRING IT ON!!!! Emily was smoothies. I couldn't get enough fruit in a blender. Dave used to take me to a smoothie shop right outside the University at least once a week. We had some really good concoctions at home too. Katie was Pineapple. I was never really big into it before her. I ate it until my mouth got raw. My friend had a little shower for me and served pina coladas, YUM. Everyone knew to pass me the pineapple! I think the kids think these things still run in their veins. And in Sara's case it might:-)

For the last trimester of my pregnancy with Sara I craved peanut M+Ms like a mad woman. A total change for me. I've always loved the plain ones. I bought a bag full, preferably king size, every time I went out on errands. Sometimes I bought a bag at each store. My trash can in my car is still full of empty peanut M+M bags. I cleared poor Chevron down the hill out of their supply every week. Just thinking about them now makes my mouth water!

The only trouble is, is that I'm still craving them. That's not supposed to happen, Right? I bought two large bags the other day and ate them both except for the very few Dave was able to procure before I had gobbled them all up. I even hide them from the kids because I don't want to share. It's totally criminal!

Anyway so Sara is still enjoying an M+M milkshake almost everyday. If she starts looking round and develops brightly covered skin...please call the authorities...I might try to eat her up! I feel like the boy who drowns in the chocolate river from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

HELP!!!!! No not really...just keep them coming!

While we're on the subject you can take the poll on the left hand side of the blog and resolve a dispute between Dave and I. I should know I think think since I'm the connoisseur, but we'll see.

Sara's love language

Acts of service : Feeding her at all hours of the day even sometimes late at night or early in the morning. And changing her diapers all day long. Don't you think that qualifies as acts of service?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Words of Kindness : Talking to her in a sweet mommy voice even though she can't talk back. Never yelling at her when I'm exhausted and really tired of burping her.

Physical Touch : I think holding her for most of the day should count!

Gifts : I went shopping days after having her for new dresses. I don't think she's really into gifts but at least I'm covering my bases.

Quality Time : Since I spend every waking moment with her and many of her sleeping moments with her I'm definitely good here.

So what ever her love language is...I think we are filling her tank :-)

Sara Smiles

Since Sara is only one month old I haven't really gotten to know her all that well. What I do know is that she is the second best surprise I have ever had. The first was when her Dad asked me to marry him. (I thought he was breaking up with me) It is so very nice to have a baby in our home again. They bring something special. I love seeing Chase hold her, Emily anxious to help in anyway and Kate talk to her constantly. I can't wait for each new baby stage as they come. Cooing, smiling, laughing, crawling, walking...the works!

So, what do I love about Sara? Three things especially. First I love her warm little body when she is all balled up on my belly. It's just like she never left. I have to admit though that it is much funner to hold her on the outside than it was on the inside. I love to rub her back and little bottom as she takes her little snoozes.

Second, I love her smiles. She gave her first smiles this last weekend to Katie and then a few here and there. Most of her encore performances have been for Kate's eyes only. On Sunday I saw my first Sara smile and then this morning she was giving them away in abundance. They are so sweet. Her smiles even make her eyes light up. It is her way of telling us how much she loves us.

Third and my most favorite is her soft skin and hair. I just love to nuzzle my chin against her furry little noggin and stroke her chubby soft cheeks. I do it so much that my chin has started to break out from the oils on her hair. It is my favorite way to give her loves and she doesn't complain!

Wilcox Babies

Baby Sara 2007




Baby Kate 2004




Baby Emily 2000

Baby Chase 1998

Many of you have been asking which of my children Sara looks like the most. I am always quick to answer that I think she looks a lot like Kate. I can still picture Katie as a baby (probably because I took a bazillion pictures of her) so it is easier to see comparisons. Chase and Emily were babies so long ago it is hard to remember. A huge and very depressing lack of pictures doesn't help either. I broke out the photo albums today to take a peek. I literally only have a handful of pictures. I thought it would be interesting to post pictures of all four so everyone could do there own comparing. So, who do you think Sara looks like the most? I am surprised myself at how similar to each other they all are :-)

Follow the Prophet

Katie had her first day of Sunbeams yesterday. She woke up so excited. She has been counting down the Sundays for a month now. On Saturday night we sang her "Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam" as we tucked her in bed. The smile on her face was so big! As we got ready for church she kept asking questions about what was going to happen:

-"Will my friends be there?"
-"Will there be toys?"
-"Will you be there?"
-"What about snack?"

After picking her up from her class she was so excited to tell us about her class and her new teacher Sister "Beaver" also called Sister "Fever" a few hours later. Eventually I hope she will learn to call her Sister Dever...Hopefully Sister Dever has a really good since of humor :-)

Sister Pace the Primary Chorister must have made quite an impact as well. Kate has been singing all day long. Especially a Primary favorite, "Follow The Prophet." Except Katie has rewritten it and it now goes:

Follow the Prophet
Follow the Prophet
Follow the Prophet
Don't take a LEFT!

Katie we are all so excited for you!!!!!!!

Words of Kindness

Have you ever heard of the concept of the Five Love Languages? A really good friend lent me her book a few years ago. It made so much since to me. I think discovering the ways members of my family like to be loved has really made a difference in our home. So since we are focusing on Emily today I thought you all might like to know Emma's "love language".

Emily is without a doubt a words of kindness / affirmation kind of gal. One of the ways you can know what way your children need to be loved is buy looking at how they themselves express love to others. A few times a week I find little love notes or pictures on my bed or nightstand. Once I woke up from a nap to find post-it notes on everyones doors and headboards with the person's name on them with several nice things about that person written on the note. When Sara came home from the hospital there was a welcome note in her bassinet. She is always free with her "I love you"s and compliments.

Emily has a note from her Grandma DeWitt that was written months and months ago along with other mementos all tucked away in her nightstand draw. I have seen her read and reread those notes. They really mean the world to her.

One of my goals this year is to be better at giving Emily praise. I need to speak more positively to her. She needs to her me say nice things, thanks, and just plain "I Love You" more often. For those of you that know me well this will be very difficult. It is the hardest way for me to show my own affection. I'm just not programmed to say nice things. So goal number one for this year is to let Emily know how wonderful she is more often.

A Forever Friend

I thought this week it would be fun to share what I loved the most about each member of my family. For some reason I feel like starting with Emily. I think that if you looked up "friend" on wikipedia it would include Emily in the definition. She is definitely made up of best friend material. Emily gets along with everyone she meets. I remember going to the beach once and before I even had all of our stuff set up I turned around and there was Emily playing in the sand with a little girl we had never met before. That wasn't unusual, it happens everywhere we go. She is uninhibited when it comes to meeting people. I never worry about her making friends in a new class at school or church. She is just so sweet and outgoing, a perfect combination.

Once a friend of Emily's always a friend of Emily's. She doesn't know how to hold a grudge. If you hurt her tender feelings you are automatically forgiven. If you live on the other side of the country you are still her best friend. She is a faithful letter writer. And always interested in visiting old friends if we are in the area. Everyone is a "best friend". I can imagine that by the time Emily finishes college she will have a "best friend" in every state. Someone she will always want to visit no matter where she is.

Emily is the kind of friend that would drop everything to help you. I have no doubt that as she grows older and her friendships even more meaningful and lasting that those that she befriends will always be thankful for their association with her. Emily will willingly share everything she has with you. She will be your pillar of strength, a beacon of light and with a heart full of love you will always have someone to turn to that will do nothing but love you unconditionally.

Emily, you are just the kind of girl I always wished I would have. Full of life and imagination. I love that you believe in faries, that you love to sing and dance and that you have such a beautiful laugh and smile. You are truly a joy.

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Mom, Why Is There a Crab In Our House?

Every Mom needs to hear these words to wake her up out of her evening sleepiness. The kids were getting ready for bed tonight and Chase calls out from the bathroom where he is brushing his teeth, "Mom, why is there a crab in our house?" My response was a cool and casual, "What?" Then comes Chase, "A live crab Mom." OK, Holy Cow, time to freak out. Either he is an amateur prankster with true talent or I have to deal with a live crab. Why do all the weird and wild things happen on nights Dave is at work? So I walk into the bathroom really hoping for the Chase is a prankster scenario. But low and behold there on our bathroom floor is a crab. Thanks Dave for taking the kids down to the sound and collecting seashells and then leaving me to deal with the CRAB!

Have Baby...Will Blog

So blogging has definitely gotten to be way more complicated since Sara arrived. I have found that several things have started to make it more difficult.

A: I am too tired to post anything by the end of the day after taking care of the baby and the three kids who are home on their break from school. (January 8th should be a national holiday! How about "Sanity for Mom Day" or "Mommy relief Day")

B: I am still folding and putting away laundry at the wee hours of the night when I would otherwise be enjoying time on the computer. (Sara, my spit-up princess goes through countless of clothes, burp rags and blankets a day)

C: I am busy repeatedly tucking Katie in bed because she suddenly has developed a need for extra attention. (I wonder why?)

D: It is too hard to type while holding a baby.

I am definitely getting better at either typing with one hand or finding a way to hold Sara so that I can type. So to all my blogging buddies out there...you are all absolutely worth the trouble! Enjoy the pic!

Three Girls!

Somedays I still can't believe that I have three girls. What will I do when they are all dating teenagers? I hope that they will all be great best buddies. Wouldn't it be wonderful if they all stood up for each other and looked after one another? One day they will all be grown and have families of their own. I hope that they are best friends and can look to each other to share their good days and their bad ones. I just can't believe that I have three beautiful, sweet daughters.

I was taking this picture and remembered a picture my Mom had taken of me and my sisters. Funny thing is that Emily and I are three months off from being the same age in these pictures.

Somebody Special

Katie and her Grandpa Wilcox have always had something special going on between them. Here they are in a Christmas morning smooch that I just missed. (I was trying to catch the moment and didn't have time to steady the camera...too bad it's blurry) while we were living with Grandma and Grandpa while Dave was in Egypt, Kate and Grandpa really developed a special bond. He had all sorts of nicknames for her. First it was Rosie, then Kitty, pumpkin and little bit. I've always wished that one of them would have stuck. We always knew Grandpa was home from the rush of little feet heard running towards the door to greet him. I think Kate had 6:00 programed into her little biological clock. I used to tease Grandpa that it was like having a dog. Often in the morning when I woke up I would come up front to see Katie snuggled into Grandpa's lap on the big chair as he read his scriptures. (if she wasn't there she was most likely making pancakes with Grandma) They just love each other and it makes me so happy. Their special relationship reminds me of my bond with my Gr. Grandpa, PaPa. Though I knew him for only a short while (he passed away when I was 5) I really loved him! I remember walking to the park with him to feed the ducks. That is my only memory that has lasted the test of time. What has lasted though is the feeling of how much I loved him. I remember finding out that he had pasted away and running to my bed devastated. It is silly, but for years after saying my bedtime prayers I would end it something like this..."Dear Heavenly Father can I talk to PaPa now?" And then I would share a one sided conversation with my Pop. I guess I thought prayer really was like a telephone call. Hopefully Heaven;y Fathered shared with My Papa how much I loved him and missed him. I am so glad that my children are getting to know their loved ones better than I knew mine. Precious friendships like Kate and Grandpa Wilcox's are truly priceless.