Family Pictures

Angela took our family pictures and along with the other ones around my blog these are some of my other favorites. Thank you Angela!

A Birthday Girl!

Well, the day I have been dreading came and went. I laughed, I cried and I cherished the day! We had a wonderful combined birthday party for Bentley and Avery on Saturday and over all the girls had a fun time. I also had a blast doing a very pink and purple cupcake party.

Just a glimpse of the fun decorations

Here she is: the sweet little birthday girl in her cute shirt

Just one of her favorite new toys

I bought this large cupcake with the hopes of taking her picture next to it every birthday and watch how small the cupcake gets. We'll see if I remember. I tried and tried to get her to smile but I think she thought I was acting very strange all day. I had a hard time looking at her without tearing up.

There's the happy girl!

Here is her giant cupcake that I made just for her with her name on it.

It took her a little while to dig in. She would take a little bite and then watch all of us. I think she was in shock that this large cupcake was right in front of her face and she was just allowed to eat it without anyone stopping her.

She got the hang of it and had help from her uncle shoving the B in her mouth

She soon got through the frosting and a girl after my own heart...chowed down the chocolate!

We got a pull string pinata and she had fun pulling the strings. She isn't wearing any clothes because this was after the cake and she had to be stripped down and washed head to toe!

This was on Sunday morning...her actual birthday. She loves crepes so I made a cute little one out of it. Don't mind the lovely hair she just woke up:)

A bitter-sweet picture. My last cupcake-day for my dear sweet baby girl. I literally couldn't stop crying that morning and all through church. My third cupcake-day era has come to an end but as Jarron keeps reminding me every time he sees me crying he says another is right around the corner. I just can't say enough how much this sweet little spirit has added to our home and I just love her to death and thank Heavenly Father for trusting me to raise this precious angel. Another year has already begun and I hope it brings greater joy than the last.

Happy Birthday Bentley! Mommy loves you!

Hormonally Unbalanced

I partly blame it on pregnancy but I mostly blame it on being a mother. This last week has been extremely emotional for me. I think that it has been because this is my little girl's last week before she turns one. Jarron laughs at the thoughts that run through my head but I can't help it. Cayton just turned five and what I mostly thought about was that I only have 14 more years until he goes on a mission, goes to college, gets married and is gone. Jarron tells me that 14 years is a long time but the past five were gone in an instant and next year he starts kindergarten and I heard once they are in school time flies. What do you mean?? Time has already been flying. I recently read an article that talked about first time parents and the first child. Parents can't wait for their kid to start walking and talking and push for all the first time things to happen. I admit that I was like that and I was so excited for the "first times" but I realize how fast those moments are gone and childhood is over in the blink of an eye. If only I could keep them tiny forever. Kids grow up too fast as it is and before you know it they are walking out the door without a good-bye and talking back to you and that happens when they are only 2! That means that I have less than one more precious year with Bentley before she starts walking and talking. j/k. They are all precious years and it has taken me 5 years to understand, slow down and REALLY relish and take in the moments. I always thought that I was "taking in the moments" but I really wasn't. Bentley has been such a blessing at a HUGE time of need. Her personality is that of take your time, slow down and just laugh at everything. She has never rushed into anything so far whether it be rolling over, sleeping through the night, or standing. It only took me till the third child but I have no desire to push her after all she will learn someday which will be sooner then I want. Come May I will have 4 children, not in school yet, at home with me all day long and I will be the luckiest person in the world. My new life theme song is You're Gonna Miss This" by Trace Adkins and I don't even like country. I LOVE MY LIFE! My Heavenly Father has indeed blessed me beyond what I deserve but I'll take it!