Happy Birthday Lenora!

I love: 

- pointing at all the pictures on the walls while listening to who is who

- oranges 

- rolling Hot Wheels on the floor 

- climbing up and down the stairs 

- snuggles 

- eating! 

- following my big sissies around 

I can: 

- crawl like a mad woman 

- walk while holding on to something 

- say "mama" and "dada" 

 - sign a lot for my age! I sign: mom, dad, milk, more, all done, toothbrush, eat, cereal, bath 

I have 6 teeth, weigh 20 pounds on the dot, and am 28 1/2" tall. 

I don't like: 

- eggs

- when Hazel carries me around the house 

- when Mommy makes me sit still for too many pictures! 

 Lenora - you are such a joy in our home. We're so glad to have you! Here's some more pictures from your special day....

Eliza the Sunbeam

"I have two weeks left in nursery and then I get to go to Primary with Hazel!" 

"Mom, this Sunday I will be a Sunbeam!" 

(At church to everyone she saw) "I'm a Sunbeam today!" 

"Make a Sunbeam face"

I'm so proud of you cute little Sunbeam! 

Gram and Grandpa Visit

My parents came for a visit the week after Christmas! We were all thrilled to have them here. 

Lenora got right to work loving on Grandpa. These two have a special bond. In fact while I was trying to rock her to sleep in the mother's room at church she looked up at me and signed "grandpa'. 

My mom pulled out Hazel's first lose tooth! (Well the first tooth that was supposed to fall out anyways). Growing up I hated pulling out my teeth but they bothered me when they got too lose so I always asked my mom to pull them for me. She was honored to carry on the tradition!

We told the girls they couldn't wake up Gram until 8:00. Not wanting to miss even a second with her they literally sat like this watching the clock and when 8 hit they took off running to wake her up!

Every day my mom and the girls all laid down for a nap together. My mom was just "resting her eyes" of course.

Sadly both my mom and Lenora came down with fevers on the third day of their visit. Because neither of them felt well for a few days we didn't get out of the house and do as much as we'd planned. But that just meant we got to spend more time doing all the girls favorite things at home - reading books, making crafts, playing games, and just hanging out. We probably got an even better visit in this way.

Helping me sew 

We made Hazel and Eliza fleece nightgowns!

Reading with Gram!

Tea party on the stairs? Why not. 

One day my dad grabbed Eliza and took her on a train date to watch trains. They had fun! Another day he took Hazel skiing at the ski hill here in Boone. Hazel got off to a rough start and was ready to be done when we met them for lunch. But we convinced her to give it one more try and she ended up doing 2 more runs. My dad loves skiing with his family more than almost anything else. 

Ski Buddies!

 Near the end of the week my mom was feeling well enough again that we ventured out to the library and to explore ISU and Ames. Friday night my dad made my favorite meal - green chili - for me. I've missed it! We also celebrated Lenora's birthday 10 day early by letting her have cake. She still wasn't feeling great. Regardless she loved her cake!

Overall it was a wonderful, fun week! We love Gram and Grandpa! 

Christmas!

Christmas this year was magical. So many things fell in to place to make us feel incredibly loved. Christmas cards, packages from our parents and siblings, a touching surprise in the mail. We felt the love of so many people. We felt the love of Christ. We felt the true spirit of Christmas.

On Christmas day I was surprised to find that it was Lenora who woke me up and not until 7am! Hazel is up religiously between 5:30 and 6 every day. It was fun to spend a few minutes just the two of us in front of the tree.

After we opened presents and Skyped with Michael's family the missionaries joined us for brunch. They then spent the day and evening with us. It was a lot of fun to have them. We played lots of games, played with the girls, and they each in turn Skyped with their families. Oh and we eat - a lot!

Elder Kinikini and Elder Hooser playing Legos with the girls before Hazel starting feeling sick. 

Sister Romero and Sister Jensen entertaining Lenora with a box. 

Poor Hazel came down with a high fever about noon that made her feel yucky. She spent most of the day and the next few days just lying on the couch. She told me, "Mom, this was a good Christmas. But it wasn't my best Christmas because I got sick."

Overall it was just a great day! And it ended like this....