Brielle is a three-year-old

My beautiful Brielle turned three on January 27. She knew all month that her birthday was coming up and she could not wait. Each time we went to the grocery store she would ask if we were going to get decorations for her birthday party. Ava's birthday really kicked it up a notch and I'm sure it was near torture waiting two more weeks for own celebration.

 

I took her on a lunch date to Idle Isle Café and then to get a new hair bow and some birthday jewelry and then to get balloons and flowers to decorate. She was such a funny little sweetheart during our date. I guess it is just a lot easier to be pleasant when you know the focus is solely on you. Sometimes a girl just needs her mom's undivided attention. I got so many smiles and little stories and sweet remarks. She really is the best.

 

 

 

Then we came home and made and frosted a cake to prepare for a small family party. She sat behind her cake tasting the frosting through most of the get-together. She got a scooter and several small gifts from family and she couldn't have been happier.

 

 

 

She is turning into the most wonderful little girl. She is stubborn and opinionated and funny and tender. She still loves to sit and cuddle her mom and she loves to dress up like a princess. She would watch Pingu (a weird Netflix pinguin show) and Trotro (a weird Netflix donkey show) all day if I would let her. She gives us this pleased little shy smile when we tell her how beautiful she is after she gets ready for the day and it just kills me every time. I love my Brielle.

 

Ava is 1 year old

The first few months of Ava's life were kind of a rollercoaster. Three kids is a huge transition that overwhelmed both Tim and me. She was a sad baby and when she wasn't sleeping she was crying. She was hard to nurse and I had a two and three year old and basically, it was rough.

 

And then one morning a new baby was born. It was like Ava suddenly decided that this body she had been given wasn't so bad after all. She has been almost permanently happy ever since. She has been just ahead of the curve in every new stage. She takes the abuse from her siblings in stride. She has been remarkably healthy. So, if you are going to have a third child, you are going to want an Ava.

 

(Side story... Last week the kids were all out playing in the lawn and Mason called to Brielle to get him a rock. Ava immediately ran over, picked up a giant rock (I swear she is an ant) and yelled, "May!" Guys - she is one! Maybe I don't remember what my other kids were like at this age but I'm pretty sure they weren't following instructions and talking like this.)

 

I can't even describe how happy she makes me. She lights up any room and it just brightens my whole world every time I see her. She is our darling joy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas!

I was one of those people who turned on the holiday music the day after Halloween this year. I just couldn't wait! Last year I was just big and hoping to go into labor and I didn't really get into the spirit of things. This year it was different. We all really enjoyed the whole season, Thanksgiving through Christmas.

We made gingerbread houses and ugly sweaters. We went to see the lights on Temple Square. We went to family parties and work parties and ward parties and parties with friends. We kept the Christmas tunes coming on Pandora all day.

Here are some of our holiday photographs.

To see the lights...

 

 

 

 

 

 

An custom ugly sweater (Tim's idea, my execution) and the party...

 

 

 

  

 

Arbon family Christmas party, English family Christmas Eve dinner...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas morning!

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally, New Years party with my family. First we tried to blow up our gingerbread houses with dry ice bombs but it didn't really work. Then, lanterns...

 

 

Mustaches

About two weeks into the month, Tim decided he would participate in No-Shave November. Thing is, though, he grows very little facial hair. No sideburns, no hair on his cheek. Some on his chin. However his mustache did not get the memo. It grew in so fast and so thick and he got asked more than once if he colored it in with mascara. It was a little like having a new husband and I actually didn't mind it. :) But, mustaches. Can anyone take them seriously?

Yesterday he turned 31. He had a kind of, once-you're-thirty-you're-in-your-thirties attititude about it. Like most of his birthdays it was just a low key event. Went to dinner, opened some presents. Didn't eat any cake. I hope it was good for him. He's amazing. The man can do anything. I really feel like I won when I married him.