Teya's 8th Birthday: March 1st 2014

So I'm over a year behind on my blog. And would've just given up on it long ago, but Taber and the girls absolutely love the blog books. Teya especially reads them over and over and always wants more. So for family history sake, I'm going to try to catch up on a YEAR's worth of blogging. Slow and steady, a post a day, and hopefully in a few months I'll get there. : ) To start off, Teya the great turns 8!!

She wanted to have a Frozen party, of course. And all the Elsa dresses were sold out EVERYWHERE because Frozen was ALL the rage at that time, so we ordered a snow princess dress that looked kind of Elsa-ish and she loved it. 

The night before her birthday we went shopping for a few last minute birthday items and Teya insisted on wearing her dress. The cashier at Trader Joe's was very impressed with her fancy attire and asked her why she was wearing it. When she told him it was her birthday he said, "Well hold on just a minute..." Then he grabbed some flowers, paid for them, and handed them to the birthday girl. She was beaming with giddiness. 

The next morning she woke up and requested ego Waffles with strawberries and cream for her birthday breakfast. Easy peasy!

Her birthday was on a Saturday so it was a lazy morning. She opened presents from Mom and Dad and Brinley and Grandma Karen. 

Then Teya and Cam helped mommy make Teya's Frozen birthday cake, which was blue, of course. 

I bought an edible personalized frosting topper and it was the easiest cake I ever made. 

 We spent the rest of the day decorating, cleaning, and preparing for the party. Everything was set to perfection. 

Then Teya's little friends started showing up, we told them to dress Frozen-y. They all looked great!

I also enlisted several of my Young Women to come and help run the party, since Nori was just barely a few weeks old I figured I'd need some backup. 

 The Young women were great. They painted everyone's nails all blue and sparkly. 

And helped them make little marshmallow Olaf snowmen. 

 Then they gave them french braids, just like Elsa. 

 We finished off with a piñata, because every good party needs a piñata! Then the girls sang "Let it Go" At the top of their lungs while we sprinkled snowy glitter on their heads. 

Then it was cake time!

 Cake and cuties!

Everyone had a great time. Including Cam and his pink jammies. (I'm actually kind of sad he grew out of his pink phase, those were good times. ;)

 And the birthday girl was very grateful for everything. Sure love our little Teya tot. 

A Baby Shower for Nori! Feb. 15th 2014

I get to serve with the Young Women in my ward and I LOVE my girls! After Nori was born they wanted to throw her a baby shower, just because they are awesome like that. All the young women and their mom's were invited and they spoiled Nori with lots of cutie cute clothes and baby gear. Also the food was amazing! Here are some pics from the shower.

Cutest decorations and cupcake tower with pink onsie toppers.

The lovely ladies of our YW presidency did the lion's share of the work. They are amazing!

Yummy spread!

Some of my sweet Miamaid girls. 

Teya and Brinley were invited too and they loved helping me open the presents. It was so fun that they got to be a part of the festivities.

The most popular person there was Ms. Nori. She slept through most of it but when she woke up there was a line of people wanting to hold her. Who can resist a sleepy snuggly newborn?

So grateful for these wonderful girls and women and for their kindness and generosity in spoiling our little Nori Bidori.

And one more just because Brinley cracks me up in this picture. 

Post Baby Helpers and First Day on My Own… Feb 9th-24th, 2014

After Taber's paternity leave was up, Mama Rigg came back out to help again.  

I was so grateful to have another pair of arms to hold this little nugget so I could sleep!

She was also so amazing with Cam and watching her play with him taught me so much! She just knew how to get into his world and connect with him on his level. After she came I started trying to play him the way she did and I noticed a huge difference in his progress! 

She also watched the kiddos so Taber and I could have a Valentines lunch date. I think it was my first time out post baby and it was a much needed break!

She kept the girls busy with dozens of crafts and even bought them knitting looms so they could make their first scarfs. It was definitely awesome having her here!

After Grandma Karen left my sister Naomi came to stay for a week. 

It was a huge sacrifice for her to leave her own little family to come take care of mine and it meant so much to me that she would do that! 

It meant a lot to Nori too. 

The kids loved having special auntie time.

And I loved having SISTER time!!

Before she went back home Taber made sure we got a night out without kids to thank her for all her service. 

We spent it eating dessert. of course. It was AWESOME!!

And just like that, a month went by, 2 weeks with Taber to help, a week with Grandma Karen and a week with Naomi. Now it was time to fly solo. 

The first day was challenging. 

Nori did not like being put down. 

 And she didn't like it when my clothes were clean, so she made sure to puke on them often. 

Cam didn't like all the attention she was getting, so suddenly I had TWO babies to take care of, one slightly larger than the other.  They both cried for milk, and cuddles, and diaper changes, and being held. I started to wonder how I would ever get anything done as a mom of 4. 

 But where there's a will there's a way! Once I started wearing Nori in the snugli things got a little easier. At least I was finally able to eat breakfast. 

It was an exhausting first day, but we all survived. 

New babies are a huge adjustment! But then you get baby snuggles, and it's all worth it. :)

Nori's Newborn Photoshoot: February 8, 2014

When Nori was 2 weeks old the talented Hailey Hobson came and took her newborn photos. She came right to our house and brought all her own props and backdrops so I didn't have to go out in the middle of the polar vortex with a newborn baby. She was amazing and I love how the pictures came out. Here are some of my favorites. Enjoy!

Paternity Leave #4: Feb 2nd, 2014

I think one of Taber's favorite things about having a new baby is paternity leave. He loves being a Dad, and when he gets to be on full time Daddy duty he's in his element!

Seriously, that's some legit Daddying right there.

Taber took his paternity leave right after I had Nori since my mom was still recovering from surgery and his mom (who came out for a few days right when Nori was born) had a ticket to come back on Nori's actual due date.

It wasn't easy because I was still recovering from the birth and not sleeping thanks to round the clock baby feedings, so I literally did nothing but feed the baby and sleep when I could, and he did everything else. The madness of getting everyone ready for school, packing snacks and lunches, homework, diaper changes for both Cam and Nori, fixing boo boos, reffing disagreements, bedtime duty, baths, all of it was 100% on him! He was amazing!! And it was also nice to have him experience my job for a few weeks and come out of it with a new respect for the craziness of the work that happens on the homefront.  This stuff ain't for the feint of heart!

In between the madness he made sure to get in lots of baby snuggles and newborn bonding time.

And of course, nightly wrestling matches.

He played with the kids in the snow

And gave up hours of sleep helping Cam, who was struggling to adjust to the new baby and thought he needed his own midnight bottle feedings and diaper changes. 

(p.s. I love this pic of my 3 boys. Monty is totally getting in on the snuggle action!)

One of the highlights was going to the girls school to be Guest Reader for Brinley's kindergarten class and to have lunch in the cafeteria with Teya. The girls were in heaven. 

We all loved having Daddy home!

Even Nori!

It was definitely a big adjustment growing to a family of 6!

But we were lucky to have super Dad there to make it all a little easier.