Beach Days!

So with in the last 3 weeks I have been to the beach 3 times. It has been so much fun. We first went to the beach when Christian's sisters were here. The water was perfect and the Whit and Joc were so good to play with my kids in the water. They showed Kayla and Mylee how to body surf. Whit and Joc did a great job. Kayla and Mylee literally stuck their head in the sand, with their bums in the air and let a wave go over them, that was their version of body surfing. Then last week I took the kids to the beach again with some other moms. The girls loved having friends their age to play with. I was lucky enough today to go again with Christian and the girls. He took the day off and we had a family day. We went boogie boarding (christian would start and then grab the girls on the way in), made mermaid tails, body surfed. And then Mylee asked if we could all go on a date together and talk about ourselves. So that is just what we did. Thanks Christian for taking us. I am going to miss you while I am gone.

Little Moments

So I feel so far behind on this blog so watch for lots of pictures and post in the next little while. Tonight I just wanted to write down a couple of cute things the girls said and add a picture. Poor Mylee has no bum so we have her in size 2T shorts (with the adjustable waistband) and they still don't stay up. Every where we go she has her little bum hanging out. So my kids keep saying things that crack me up and I want to remember them so badly that I have to write them down. So here come some more: we usually give the girls some kind of treat before bed every night (toast, fruit, and sometimes a special treat). Well Christian had been telling the girls all day that he was going to make them a special treat tonight and they were so excited, but then he had to leave for a meeting. So I made the treat (christian's favorite raspberry oreo shake). They didn't like it by the way and then started getting them ready for bed. Christian got home and we were just tucking them in when he told them he was going to go downstairs Mylee begged him not to go. When we asked her why she replied she has a witch in her eyes. That is her way of telling you she has bad dreams. Well, I have ideas of how to get monsters out of the closet and from under the bed, but how do you get a witch out of their eyes? Any help? So Christian cuddled with her for a few more minutes and then said he wanted to go make his special treat to which Kayla replied: Okay dad go get chubby! Doesn't it kind of make you want to watch what you are eating.

The Big K

So I have been trying to post for a couple of weeks, but I can't get my pictures to download. So here comes a long post with no pics sorry! "The Big K" as Christian calls her is now 6 years old. She is growing up so fast she is so proud to be a big sister. I don't think there is anyone in the world who loves their younger siblings like Kayla. She likes to teach them things, and she would hold Crue constantly. She loves to help and has such a love for life. I am so proud of the person that she is becoming. We have a tradition in our family that on your birthday you get to choose what we eat. Well, my little girl has wonderful but expensive taste and asked for: lobster, crab, fried chicken, and double chocolate cake. We did get her a lobster and they played with it first and then cooked it. She is so crazy and I love it.
So this week we have been so busy. We had Jocelyn and Whitney come out. They are so great with my kids. We were able to go to the beach, shopping, a waterpark, and we went to Yorktown for fireworks on the 4th. During one of our many adventures I was talking to Kayla about the 4th of July and we starting talking about slaves. Innocent little Kayla said, "Mom I am so glad I'm not one of the mean white people 'cause I'm peach". Later that night we were reading scriptures and we were telling the girls the story about Nephi and Laban. I was trying to explain to Mylee what the brass plates were. She looked up at me and asked me if Nephi was going to go back and get the spoon and fork also. Sorry one more cute quote: I was going for a walk with the kids last week and we walked by some ladies talking on the side of the road. The ladies were so sweet and started telling my kids how beautiful and cute they looked. We talked for a few minutes and then started walking again. Mylee looked up at me and said: Mom don't worry I think you are beautiful too. She was so worried because they hadn't said anything to me. I live for these moments with my kids. Thanks Joc and Whit for coming we loved having you.

I love Vacations!

Well we have been going, going, going lately. Christian has officially finished his 3rd year of dental school (Yeah Christian!!!). I am so proud of all his hard work. He had 2 weeks off of school which was so nice to have him around. We made a trip up to D.C. to see Jonathan, Linsi, and Easton (Murphy) for Mother's Day weekend. It was so fun to see their little family. Easton is getting so big and the girls adored him. Then we came home for a few days and packed up to head out to the beach. We went to Outer Banks North Carolina with 6 other families and had an amazing time. We rented a big, huge beach house for 8 days. It had 8 bedrooms, 10 baths, a pool, hottub, and media room (which Christian loved). We had so many adventures: we hunted for crabs, saw wild horses, played with friends, and got a tan. Christian boogie boarded and decided to make a tooth out of sand. Well, he and his friends didn't stop there. Once they got started they built the whole lower jaw. Yes they are all dental students. You would think once they were out of school they would want a break from teeth. The kids have decided that we should move there. Crue even had a great time. He loved to lay on the towel at the beach and just stare at the umbrella.

Happy Easter

I am finally posting some new pictures. We are all doing great. Crue has started sleeping about 5 hours a night and he is growing so fast. He is 6 weeks old today. I can't believe how fast it has gone. The girls adore him and I have had to give them some rules about playing with him. They aren't allowed to carry him, or bug him when he is sleeping. I definitely miss all of the help that I have had the last few weeks. We were so lucky and had both families come out to visit. We were all so spoiled with all of the help and treats that our Grandma and Grandpas brought for us. We were able to go to Kayla's school a few times for lunch, go have a campfire, shopping (of course), and many more adventures. Funny story: When Grandma Kate (Peck) and Grandpa Dave were here they showed the girls how to play a hidden picture game on the computer. Well, this morning as we were having our Easter Egg hunt the girls were having a hard time. Finally Christian asked them to stand next to the door and he took a picture of them. He then asked them to look at the picture and try to find the egg. Kayla just about ran into the door with her head earlier and still never saw the egg until she found it in the picture. Fun times! Mylee decided she only wanted to find boiled eggs. And neither of the girls cared about their dresses that much. Next year we are doing eggs only. Well, I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. PS. for those people that I am making gifts for please email me your mailing address: mandy1peck@gmail.com

Family Updates:

Well, I know it has been coming for a long time but here are pictures of the last 3 weeks. We are all healthy and happy and so sad to see all of our family gone. Crue came home on March 10th. The Peck's came a few days later and then we blessed Crue in our home. We ate lunch at Kayla's school and went on adventures. Next the Olsen family came (all of them!!!) and we went to Maymont, Shoosmith, and shopping almost everyday. We love and miss you guys

Who Wants a Gift?

I saw this on a friends blog and I thought it sounded so fun.
The first five people to comment on this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It'll be done this year (hopefully sooner than later.)
4. You will have no clue what it is going to be.
5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? Oh the catch is that you must re-post this on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me you did will win a marvelous homemade gift by me!Let the games begin!!(Oh, and I have to be able to contact you with mailing information!!!)(I promise it will be something good!)

He Graduated!

Last night Christian and I dropped off the girls at a friends house (thanks Paul and Shannon) and headed to the hospital. I walked in first while Christian went to park. When I picked up the phone at the NICU (you have to call before the will let you in) the nurse said "HE GRADUATED". Which means Crue is out of the NICU and in the PCN (progressive care nursery). We were so excited. We now are able to hold him and there aren't any restrictions about the time the girls can go see him. They are starting to give him 2 bottles a day and he is doing great. We were able to feed him last night and it was so exciting. They gave us special instructions on how to hold him while he eats. We have to hold him up right and lift him from under his chin to help him breath, but he did so well. She said it might take him 1/2 and hour to eat and he might not finish. Luckily, Crue has his dad's appetite and finished the whole thing in 15 minutes with us stopping to burp him inbetween. Each day they will give him one more bottle and then if all else goes well we can bring him home. Thanks for everyones love and support it has really helped.