Devynn!!

Devynn's new favorite words and sayings:

• "gross"
• "stupid" (Thanks big brother! :/ )
• "mine" (of course, she's 2!)
• "fun" (she says this one a lot since she seems to think that everything is fun.)
• "RyRy Belle" (usually when she's yelling to find her...too cute!)
• "Iwangobacknplay." (translates to "I want to go out back and play." She somehow manages to say it as one long word. Very cute.)

And my personal favorite.....

• "I happy." (I love it when she says this...it's just too sweet!)

Devynn's newest fear:

• The jeep and princess car Power Wheels (we FINALLY found the chargers to recharge their batteries and she is NOT liking having them be able to move and make noise.) It is kinda comical to watch, though. (Aren't I such an awful parent?!)

A Whole New Light :)

So, Andrew and Rylee spent the weekend at Papa Dave's house. What a difference taking 50% of our children out of the house makes! It was such a nice, relaxing, mellow, quiet time for us. We were completely amazed at how different Devynn was without the other kids to compete with. She was so happy and giggly and silly and a little bit strange in a funny way. Ryan and I have been saying for a long time now that if we had had Devynn first, then she would be an only child because she is such a crybaby and is very exhausting. But after this weekend, I don't know if we can say that anymore! Maybe her only problem is that she was born last instead of first. All I know is that I saw my sweet little Pookie in a whole new light this weekend, and I loved it! I'm just hoping that some of her happy silliness sticks around for awhile now that the other kids are home. :)

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Just wanted to let everyone know that Chris and Michelle finally got to bring little baby Audrey home today! YAY! Love and lots of hugs to Chris, Michelle, Ethan, Norah and Audrey, who finally get to be a complete family together at home! We are so happy and excited for you guys!!:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

That was "snow" much fun!

This past weekend, we took the kids up to Lake Arrowhead to play in the snow. Jessie, Andrew and Rylee had lots of fun sledding down the hills. Devynn wasn't too sure about the hills, but she enjoyed touching and eating the snow. It was a great day for all! :)

Happy Devynn

Jess and Bubba getting ready to launch!

Ryan and I

Andrew on his way back up the hill

Taking a break with my RyRy

Rylee making her way back up

My Guys with the snowman

Rylee and Andrew with the snowman

Aren't we cute?!

My Monkeys! :)

Here is a video of Jess sledding down one of the hills...

And now it's Andrew's turn...

It was a fabulous family-fun day in my world! :)

Andrew: Future Author?

Yesterday Andrew brought home some work that he did in school. On one of the papers, his assignment was to write about who he loves and why. This is what he wrote...complete with his spelling.

"I love my mom. I love her because she is nice to me. I also love her because she let's me by stuff at Target."



On other papers, his assignments were to write narrative stories. Here is his work...again, complete with his spelling.


1. "One day in China me, dad, Rylee, and Jessie were in China. First, we were walking. Next, we drove to our hotel. Finally, we got to our hotel and walked to the big black door and got ready to open the big black door. Me, Rylee, dad, and Jessie felt very happy and glad to be at our hotel that was in China."


2. "One day me, dad, Rylee, and Jessie were at Hawaii. We were staying there for twenty days. We did not know what Hawaii was like. First, we were walking to swim. Next, we were swiming in the warm water. Finally, we all got dryed off with striped tals. The stripes were white. We all felt very happy and so exited when we got dryed off and changed into normal dry clothes. The end."



(Apparently Devynn and I have to stay home while they all get to go on vacations!?)

My Poor Pookie!!!

My sweet little Devynn is not feeling well! :( She was throwing up yesterday-fun!- and was up all night fussing-more fun! She keeps saying "tummy hurts". So sad! :( (She does look incredibly adorable though when she says "hurts" because she sticks out her pouty little lips!) It's always so sad to see my monkeys when they're not feeling good, and knowing that there really isn't anything I can do to fix it except love them, rock them, cuddle them. (Which I spent all day yesterday doing-the proof is my messy house!) Knock on wood, she hasn't thrown up today. Hopefully this bug will be short lived and won't get passed on to any of my other monkeys...Lysol is my best friend right now! :) I can't wait for Devynn to be back to her usual jumping constantly, eating-all-the-time self!

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In other sad news, my RyRy Belle is growing up! She doesn't want to sleep with her favorite snuggly pillows or animals anymore, and she only says "Love you. Sweet dreams. See you in the morning" when I tuck her in. And she only says it once. :( I'm so sad. I'm going to miss her little "Rylee-isms"!

Tid Bits

I just wanted to post a quick update and let everyone know that little baby Norah got to go home a few days ago. YAY! Her sister Audrey is still in the NICU (hopefully not for too much longer) so please keep the prayers coming for her. She's doing well...just needs to work on her suck, swallow, breathe pattern while feeding. And Michelle didn't end up having her gall bladder out, and her liver problem is self-correcting, so no surgery! YAY! Thanks for all the prayers, keep them coming! :)

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In other news, Cupcake (aka Devynn) can ride her tricycle all by herself! She looks so cute pedaling like a big girl! :) Aww, my little pookie is growing up! Now, if we could just break her habit of crying! ;)

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Can you believe that, as of yesterday afternoon, Jessie already had 6,926 texts for the month!? I think that is unbelievable considering she is in school for 6 1/2 hours a day, with her phone shut off! And Papa Dave thought that 250 texts would be plenty! Silly man doesn't know pre-teens very well, does he!? :)

In other Jessie news, her and her boyfriend Jesse are no longer together. :(

:)

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My brother Brandon and his wife Cindy are expecting a GIRL!! :) I am so excited! Brandon really wanted a little boy, but I'm convinced that God gives you what you need!! Andrew was bummed when he found out that there will be yet another girl added to our family, since he was really hoping for a boy cousin that he is older than (I have no idea why it bugs him that his only 2 boy cousins are older than him!). He seemed to be ok with it though, once I told him that he can buy her a pink baseball glove when she's born! :)

UH-OH!!

We are in serious trouble now...Devynn learned how to unlock the front door! Yikes! Thankfully it is raining or else I'm sure that she would've taken off running down the street! (Yet another reason why I love the rain! :) ) Just one more way that Devynn keeps me on my toes!