Elijah sweet Elijah!

Little Eli is now 18 months old.... and what a lover he is! He is the cuddliest and most mischievous little man! He finally has 6 little teeth, which took him months to cut. :) He is running around, always looking for the opportunity to climb something or to get in someone's space. He definitely wants to make sure he makes his mark and makes it well. He seeks adventure and loves living on the EDGE. He is so cute and so fun. His little personality is so adorable- he makes it so hard to be stern.... and so hard to discipline. He just flashes those brown eyes with mile long eyelashes... then puts on a cute little grin and runs to hug you. He has it all figured out- just can't understand why he isn't "big enough" to do everything the others do. We have discovered he has a love for water... at my parent's pool he is brave enough to be in the water without anyone holding him (with a lifejacket of course) and LOVES to go underwater. It is obvious he has fish in his genes. ;) But still such a lover. And so easy to squeeze.

Isabel lost her first tooth!

Isabel lost her first tooth after school- she graciously allowed her auntie Nicc to pull it for her. It was VERY loose and her new tooth has almost already grown in. She was so proud of her missing tooth and so cute with that little space open! She is continuing to love school and learning Chinese. She is every day wanting to memorize more scripture- and reads everything she can. She is always telling me how she is praying for certain people in her class or how she prayed about certain situations at school.... She is God's little witness... or should I say God's BIG witness?? :) She brings such joy to our home and our lives. What a blessing all of our kids are to us! And every day teaching us new things about life....

Elia is 5!

Yes, I realize she turned 5 in January and I have been meaning to post some pictures of that event, but have not found the time! So here I am today... posting her birthday celebration! She really wanted a butterfly shaped cake so I put my baking skills to the test and created her a butterfly cake without a pattern even! She loved it and loved everything about her "special day". She can hardly wait to have her 6th birthday and asks me almost daily if it is close or not. :) She is still attending Our Savior's Lutheran preschool and LOVING every day she gets to go. She has recently become quite the artist. She loves to paint, do projects, and dress as fancy as I'll let her on any given day. She is an amazing little girl and we are proud of who she is.

Gabe's new grown up haircut!

Just the other day we cut Gabe's long hair- and gave him a grown up haircut! He looks so much older and so much like a little BOY instead of toddler! He has lost all of his "babyness". It is sad but so fun at the same time! He is talking more and more each day and officially has given up his "nunie" (NUK :)). He always has a long complicated story to tell- and we still can only understand about half of the excitement but he is so animated when he talks- that makes up for all of it! He now loves Sunday School at church (for a while it was a challenge to get him to go anywhere without Mama), and loves to play kickball and tee ball. Spring and Summer will be a fun time of learning and playing- and I will sure enjoy the kids being outside-- they burn so much more energy that way!