Jane's 8th Birthday

We went to the aquarium this year for Jane's Birthday. We all had a lot of fun.

Jane is looks more and more grown up to me every day.

This is Jane and Eli peeking out of some rocks.

I made Jane this ice cream shirt for her Birthday because she loves, and can eat more ice cream than any one I know.

Jane thought it was cool that it looks like she is in the fish tank.

Matt and I gave Jane her first set of scriptures. I felt a surge of emotion wrapping them up for her. I can't believe she is old enough not only to have her own set of scriptures, but to read, understand and love them. Jane has a strong testimony. I am so grateful for that. I love these photos. She was so excited when she opened her scriptures.

She was so cute the whole day. She was very happy and grateful for everything. She gave Eli and Hyrum big hugs after she opened their presents.

Jane has always loved colors. When we were building our house in Mountain Green, people would ask her "what color is your room going to be?" She would always tell them "Rainbow". Now she loves rainbows and purple. I made this purple sweater with rainbow hearts on it for her Birthday.

One year older and wiser too. Happy Birthday to you! You are such a light in our lives Jane, We love you!

Jane

A few fun facts about Jane: When she was three months old we took her to Nauvoo to see Grandma and Grandpa Baird on their mission and to go to the temple open house.
The summer that Jane was 2 1/2 Kali and I drove to McCall Idaho with Jane to meet up with the Barlow and Garner clan. We had so much fun with Jane. This photo is of Jane sopping wet at the beach. We went for a bike ride in the rain and decided to stop and play on the beach for a while. She was catching rain drops on her tung. I have always loved this photo. Jane was also really good at holding a conversation when she was at this age. She has always been so smart.
We made these cookies for her to share with her school class tomorrow. Jane loves chocolate and the color purple.
Jane is very tender hearted. She is so caring and helpful. She is quiet and wants her brothers to be happy, She will help them when I can't and she always tells them stories at bed time. She loves to read the Magic Tree House book series, and one of her favorite books is Arnie the Doughnut. She loves to play with her friends, play chase with Matt and the boys, go swimming and watch T.V. When she grows up she wants to be a nurse. Her favorite food is rice.

It is Jane's Birthday tomorrow. I love when my kids have birthdays. I just love thinking of all the wonderful things about them and remembering the day they came into this world. My labor with Jane was very long and hard. When she finally was born, my doctor put her in my arms and she stared strait into my eyes. I was actually kind of intimidated. I think Jane has a very strong spirit, probably stronger than mine. I loved her so much and I just wanted to hold her and live in that moment forever. I have wanted to be the best I can be from that day on. Not that I didn't want to be my best before that, but the feeling I had when I first looked into her eyes and held her in my arms, I new she was amazing spirit that my Heavenly Father had in-trusted to me. Why I was given such a blessing I don't know, But I am so thankful for all Jane has taught me in the past eight wonderful years. I am of now to finish sewing Jane's gift, wrap presents, straighten up the house and hang the Birthday banner.

Happy Love Day

I love Valentines Day. I just think it is fun to get to think about the people we are grateful for. We have had a fun week making valentines for class mates, making cookies with aunt Tay and Grandma and Grandpa Mcconkie, Helping with Jane's class party, date night with Matt and swimming with the kids. Matt and I gave all the kids Valentine cards with these gummy eyes. They all had a lot of fun with them. I hope when my kids are grown they remember the fun times they had together and how much they love each other.

We were driving in the car this week with all the kids and Eli's friend Harrison Farmer. Eli asked Jane if she could reach something for him. She said "sure" then Eli said to Harrison "Jane is so great, she always helps me reach things I need". It was a sweet moment.

Happy Love Day!!

Do as I'm Doing

It is really quite funny how Walt wants to do everything Hyrum dose. He follows him all around the house. And Hyrum wants to do everything Eli dose. ELi is such a hard worker. He is like the energizer bunny. So, it works out to my advantage sometimes that there is a domino effect that happens with the boys. Eli is great at Saturday morning chores. Hyrum wants to help as long as Eli is. Hyrum was cleaning the finger prints of of the refrigerator when Walt wanted to help to. It was so cute how he watched Hyrum and copied what he was doing. I have so much fun watching my grow each day.

The Hive Boutique

Well I did my first boutique. At my good friend and neighbor, Melissa Quigly's house. She decided to do an extension of her business, Hollyhocks and Honeybees. She invited me and a few other vendors and the hive was born. It was a lot of fun. I was very nervous and did not know what to except. All the other vendors have actual businesses. I definitely was the rookie. Despite the nervous feelings and wondering if my stuff would sell, I had a great time finding fun old jewelry, buttons, fabrics and dishes to create things with. I decided to name my business Leila Bird, after my Great Grandma Baird. Because, my Mom told me how much fun it was to go to her house. She had loads of fabric and would just let her go to town creating. I also think little birds are so cute, how fitting her last name was Bird. My stuff sold really well. It was such awesome feeling to see people buying my things. Not so much for the money, that is nice too, but to know I did a good job. My Mom gave me a lot of help and support through it all. She has always been so wonderful at that. The support thing and letting me know that I can do anything I put my mind to. I had a good amount of family come to support me. I am truly blessed to have such supportive, loving family. I am grateful for the door that Melissa has opened for me. I am considering opining an etsy shop and I am planning on doing another Hive boutique in April. I am all ready getting spring fever.

worth documenting

Some things have happened this past week I feel are worth documenting lets start with Jane. She has officially turned into a book worm. I thought she already was one but it turns out she can read even longer than I thought she could. She has plowed through two of her chapter books this week, she lost her 10th tooth, and on a combined note she and Eli completed there first 100 piece puzzle together. Now for Eli. I was eating lunch with Eli, just the two of us, out of no where he said, "Next baby season, could we have a girl. We have a lot of boys in our family and not so many girls." I told him I wasn't sure when the next baby season was going to be. Eli got new snow boots, not just because they were getting to small but also so stinky, you could smell them from a mile away. He has successfully worn socks every time the new boots have been on his feet. Last night when I went to check on Eli and Hyrum before I went to bed, I found Eli at the bottom of his bed and Hyrum at the top of Eli's bed. I had heard them playing for awhile after I put them to bed. Little did I know they were getting all the blankets from the linen closet to pile on Eli's bed. I thought for sure they would wake each other in the middle of the night, but they slept in and came bouncing up the stairs the next morning. Hyrum said to me, "I had a sleepover in Eli's bed."It makes me so happy that when they are not beating each other up they are really good friends. Walt has had a lot of firsts in the past week. He said his firs word. I was stirring a pot of soup with him in my arms and he said, "hot" It was so much fun. the next day he said, "uh-oh" and that same day he turned around and went down the stairs all by himself. The next day Daddy gave him his first hair cut. He also putts his hands on his head and get's this super cute grin on his face when anyone say's "where's Walt" then he jerks his hands down. I just have so much fun watching them all grow. What a gift it is.