Rachel's Birthday

Rachel turned four years old on January 22! This is the first year she really seemed to understand about birthdays and dates coming. She asked me every day in January if it was her birthday yet. She got a big package in the mail from Grandma and Grandpa a few days before her birthday, and she patiently waited until her birthday to see what was inside. Finally, the big day arrived. We went to church, and then when we came home, she finally got to open presents. We did Google Hangouts with Grandma &Grandpa so they could see her open her presents from them. She loves her new elephant shirt and Anna doll. You'll have to imagine her sweet little face being so in awe of them. 

Next, she got to open some from Mom and Dad:

 Tea party set!

She opened a box that just had a doll dress in it. That's when we showed her her cake:

 It was a little tough seeing Cinderella but not being able to play with her. So, she brought Anna and Cinderella's dress over to Cinderella and Anna showed Cinderella her dress and gloves. The conversations were precious.

 Brian and I showed Rachel and Michael how to have a proper tea party, and they got it all set up so that they could have one with Nana and Papa when they arrived.

 Finally, it was time for dinner...and then cake and ice cream:

 And more presents:

She got lots of hair stuff and a fun sticker book from Nana and Papa, and a few more princess dolls from Mom and Dad. She was in heaven!

The next day was her birthday party, so after kids went to bed on Sunday, Brian helped me make a few things:

So, about Rachel's party. I started planning it back in October or November with Chelsea. She picked a day that would work for her to come down with Amber to help me. I was really excited to do a really girly event. I found this really cute scrapbook paper that basically had 4 squares of fancy birthday sayings and graphics, so I figured out how to print this message on the back of each one:

But, we only had 2 pieces of paper like that (meaning I could make only 8 invites that way), so I used my new Cameo to cut out little tea cups and make a few more that looked like this:

Finally, the big day had arrived, and I had a bit of a panic--especially because there was a big snowstorm that hit the area, and I was worried that Chelsea wouldn't be able to make it. Thankfully she did make it, but she got here with Taryn just minutes before the party was supposed to start. Thankfully, we did most of the prep work years ago when we made our playroom, and the kids had fun playing down there until we were ready for "accessorizing" and the tea party. 

 Lea came and helped as well. Between me, Chelsea, Taryn, and Lea, we had everything set for the tea party.

 So, I called all the kids upstairs and helped them accessorize:

  And then we sat them down for their tea party--a fancy way of saying a light meal. 

 We served hot raspberry hot chocolate with whipped cream, fruit kabobs, cucumber sandwiches, cheese and crackers, and a cold veggie pizza.

 After tea, Rachel opened her presents, and I was once again amazed by how excited little kids get to give presents. I always worry they're going to wish they got to open presents too, but they were all sweet and Rachel was incredibly spoiled.

We had cupcakes, and then it was time for moms to come. I had a cake walk planned, a dance party planned, but that was all we had time for--which was just fine. Rachel loved seeing all of her friends come to her house for her party, and she still talks about it. "Remember yesterday when Brennan came and..." "Remember yesterday when Amber gave me this doll?" "Aaron gave me this Ariel yesterday." (Yesterday in her mind means anything that happened in the past).

So what can we say about Rachel for her birthday? She loves all things frilly, especially Disney princesses. She gives the best greetings when you wake up or come home. She is generous and always willing to share her treats and toys. She loves to go shopping, and she feels incredibly cheated if she gets left behind. She loves painted nails, and always notices pretty things. She may not always be keen on an idea or new thing at first, but once she decides she's going to do it, she's all in with both feet, but no amount of persuading will convince her to do something she doesn't want to to. She is the sweetest little thing. She has loved taking dance this year, and she is learning and growing so much by going to preschool. She loves all of her people very deeply, and we feel so blessed that we are among her people. Happy Birthday, our sweet Rachel!

8 Years

On January 10, 2017, we celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary, and nine years of hanging out together. This year was the bronze gift year, so I got Brian a bronze statue of three children climbing up a ladder, and he got me a necklace with our three children's birthstone colored crystals on it. We went to dinner and then did a sealing session in the Provo City Center Temple. We also dropped off a bag of baby clothes to our old quad in Wymount. It seems so strange that it's coming up on six years since we lived there!

 Each year, it is fun to look back and see just how far we've come. In eight years, we've had three babies, 2 miscarriages, 2 residences, 7 jobs, 3 degrees, at least a dozen computers, 7 fish, 6 cars, 1 hip replacement, and countless nights staying up too late talking. We've finished one basement and built one castle. We've been in 24 states and 9 countries. We have laughed together daily, and cried together occasionally.  This last year together has been really hard between a new baby and a new hip, and I couldn't have made it this far without this amazing guy by my side. I love you, Brian Saville, and if I had to do it all again, knowing what I know now, I would still say yes, probably even more emphatically than that cold January morning 8 years ago.  I often think about what our sealer said at our wedding, quoting Mark Twain, "Wheresoever Eve was, there was Eden." No matter where we go, or what we are doing, if I'm with Brian, it is my own Eden. 

Sledding

January was the month of SNOW! There wasn't a day in January that we didn't have snow somewhere in our yard, which hasn't really happened since we moved in. And this year, since I wasn't pregnant and there was lots of snow, I took the kids sledding to our neighborhood park--the first time since moving in five and a half years ago. We even made it there again a few weeks later. That's some real records going on here!

The first time was on the 3rd of January. Michael was out playing with a friend, and she had the idea to go up to the park. My one and only new year's resolution was to say yes more to my kids, so even though it was really close to dinner time, I decided, "Why not?" So I told them I was going to hurry and get snow clothes on and go with them. It took me FOREVER to get my boots on thanks to my surgery, but we were finally ready to head up to the park when Brian pulled in to the garage. So I said, "Come with us!" He hurried to put on clothes and Michael was grateful that Brian was faster than me. We got up to the hill and my neighbor and friend yelled to me, "Didn't you just have a hip replacement?" And I laughed and felt so awesome being up there doing something that I love so much...and then I slipped and tweaked my hip a little, so I stuck to the little slope with Gabe.

Here's our epic run:

Rachel was out with my dad, who had come for a quick visit to take my mom to the SLC airport. When they got back, they came up to the park and we convinced her to do a run with Michael and Gabe. We wrapped her up in my coat since she didn't have snow clothes.  They ended up crashing on the little slope, and there were tears from Gabe and Rachel. We went home after that. (It was way past the time that I had intended to go home, but I was loving being outside SO much!)

We went up again on the 21st. This time, Rachel had snow clothes and I left Gabe at home napping with Brian. I even did a few of the bigger runs. I watched with jealousy as some of the kids got rides back up to the top by their dad driving a four-wheeler. It brought back so many wishes from my youth of having a snowmobile or a four-wheeler. I suppose it was good for me to have the hefty workout!

 Rachel didn't want to do much sledding, and certainly not on the bigger hill, but I think she enjoyed being outside as well.

 I thought I'd see more people I knew up there, since it is our HOA park, but I think a lot of people came from other places because it was a few hours before we saw someone we knew...Michael's friend Ella!

They had fun racing and riding together. And, all too soon, it was time to head home. Sometimes I forget that I love the outdoors so much. I was so happy to have these two excursions. It made the snow worth it!

Backyard Snow Fun

On January 2, I found the kids out playing together in the snow and HAD to photograph it. I love it when they play together...It melts my heart every time. 

 They made a sled hill out of our little backyard incline:

 They made a cute little snowman, but I didn't have shoes on, so I didn't get a great shot of it. We had a very snowy January, and I loved seeing these little snowmen that popped up throughout our yard over the course of the month. Michael liked wrecking them probably more than he loved making them, so I didn't get a picture of all of them. 

Yay for good snow to play in! And an even bigger yay for these two playing in it together!

Happy New Year!

Taryn and David came to celebrate New Year's Eve with us. We kept it really low-key. We had dinner, played some games, did some stuff for Primary (really, I made Taryn go to the church with me to decorate a bulletin board), and of course, had a party. We did an early countdown with the kids before bedtime, as per tradition, and as part of that, we had a dance party. But first, I had to take pictures of everyone with their crowns:

 Notice Michael holding Elijah's on? Yeah, that kid doesn't care for headbands.

 Dance party!

 After the kids were in bed, Taryn and I decorated the above mentioned bulletin board while Brian and David made some snacks and played video games. Then, we played games with Taryn and David until close to midnight. Then, we turned on the real countdown, drank sparkling juice to toast in the new year, took some pictures,

 kissed,

cleaned up some messes and went to bed! Thanks 2016 for teaching us how much we're loved by our friends and family members. We're coming for you 2017!