Welcome 2015!

I have totally slacked on the picture taking and updating the blog. I got a few random shots, so to start out the new year, I will do a spotlight of each child.

Ellionna is at a fun age right now.  She melts everyone's hearts.  She is learning how to speak more and more each day.  She will mimic a lot of what is said in the house.  Some of the phrases we hear a lot are:

 "I love you"
"Boom (insert name)!"
"Shut your mouth (insert name)"
"It wasn't me!"
"I do it!"
"Not funny!"

She insists to say the prayer every time, although the only audible words are our names.  She holds a special relationship with each of her siblings.  They are always so good to her and show her love.  She just loves to be included in whatever anyone else is doing.  As mellow as she is though, the fire red hair does bring the fire red temper at times!  She will throw a really good fit every so often, or at least speak her mind (mostly with her brother Gavin!)  Ellionna can spend hours in her room.  She loves playing with her dolls, dishes, blocks, and stuffed animals.  She is constantly changing her clothes and dressing up in her own unique choices, which usually includes her swimsuit (most often backwards or inside out as well).   She loves loves loves books.  She also loves to color with crayons, markers, and paints.  She loves puzzles as well.  With all these things that bring her joy, her room is usually a mess!  Ellionna is a roller coaster eater.  Somedays she will eat well and try new things, while other days, she will turn her nose up at everything!  She loves drinks and will call all liquid drinks "juice."  Potty training is coming around for her slowly.  Our baby will be 3 in just a few short months!

 

Gavin continues to keep life full.  Full of noise, full of laughter, full of messes.  As much as he wishes he got to go to school, we are glad to have held him back this year.  The principal already knows him on a first name basis though!  Gavin is a motor mouth.  Sound is ALWAYS coming out of it.  Life for him is all about play... I usually have to convince him to do any work or activities that aren't so appealing-- like reading and art projects.   He is a good worker when he wants to be.   His latest thing is to let me know how much he loves me and how beautiful I am.  I hear it several times a day, usually when he wants something.  Gavin is our best eater and will often out-eat me.  His favorite things are turkey sandwiches.  One day I made a chicken salad sandwich.  He asked me if he could have a frosting sandwich, too.  I guess the mayo looks like frosting.  So in case he ever asks again... you will know what he means.  Gavin can be our trouble-maker, whiner, and the root of all sibling fights.  But, we wouldn't trade him for anything.  He gets constant comments, along with his sister, about his hair.  He is lovable and so unique!


Jordan is so passionate about life.  He just loves it.  He is constantly playing the piano and is progressing with his lessons.  He loves dancing, music, and instraments of all kinds.  He picked out an accordion for a toy over Christmas break.  Jordan loves to play with his Dad and is included in all teasings that are shelled out.  Jordan recently mentioned that the TV was blurry, so we took him in to get his eyes checked.  He is now the proud owner of some glasses.  AND it only took 2 days for them to get broken! (Thanks to wrestling with his sister!)  He loves the computer and Minecraft.  Although we do limit it to some regard, he can talk for HOURS about it.   Jordan is very social and loves meeting new people and making friends.  He is becoming aware of different religious beliefs, and its not uncommon for him to be telling kids all about being a "Mormon."

 



Makenzie is loving life where she is at.  I'm being pretty sentimental lately, as my "baby" will be 10 years old soon!  She is growing up into a beautiful person.  Life is all about reading books, animals, and playing with friends now.  I do make her brush her long hair at least once a day, and sometimes that is too much to ask for her.  She loves all the new earrings that she got for Christmas.  Most of her shirts have a horse on them.  Makenzie came home this past week asking about the "The Hunger Games."  Kids at school have been talking about it, so I decided we would read the books together and go from there.  Makenzie is excelling in school and is a natural born leader.  We are starting to leave her home with a sibling or two to babysit for a short amount of time.  Makenzie loves her baby sister so much.