:( - - 4 - - :)

My first baby girl is 4 tomorrow....and I don't know whether to cry or to shout for joy.  It's been so fun seeing her grow up into this lovely little thing but it is happening too fast.  One day I'm cradling her chubby baby body in my arms and the next day that body is long and lean and hanging from my neck like a monkey.  Lucky for me she still loves to snuggle.  There's nothing like her early morning hug.

Last Saturday we held her first friend birthday party.  It was a very "bug"y party.  The theme of her party was either going to be bugs or princesses.  I think every other party she's been to was a princess theme so bugs it was, plus we wanted to invite the boy friends she has.  The party was a hit!  There were plenty of activities, pin the spider on the web, bug musical chairs, grow a bug, decorating buggy bags for their take home goods, searching the yard for toy bugs (which they had to pick up with sticks), and eat a caterpillar (the cake).  It was super fun to plan and see in action.   

 

 

Numbered Days - 13 to go

 Our little Ellie Bell's "Boulter" days are numbered.  I can't believe this is actually happening because we've been discussing it for over a year.  Ellie will be adopted by a new family that we've selectively chosen.  She has had some anxiety issues that cannot be tolerated any more.  We've done all we can to resolve the issue - adding extra love, comfyness around the home, keeping her somewhat restricted, dog park field trips.  The last resort is medicating twice a day for the rest of her life.  Even though we HATE to see her go and will CRY to the bitter end, we know it will be in her best interest.

Boooo hooooo..waaaahhh!

Our New Year FUN

Yeah, we're really not too into this holiday so today after waking up around 10 (thanks Brandon) we took down Christmas.  It usually makes me a little sad to put my Christmas stuff away and see a naked house, but this year I was happy to see the stuff go.  Once we were nearing the end of the pile Brandon says to me in his humdrum voice, "ok...are we going to do anything fun today?" We decided to take the girls sledding on some new sleds we purchased while in SLC.  Since we don't have snow here we packed the car and headed north to Cedar.  We drove up SR14 and found a little side road that we made our own hill.  We saw several busy sledding hills but needed our own little spot since Halle and Taya aren't quite snow accustomed and the dogs need plenty of sniffing room.  It turned out to be quite a fun afternoon/evening. Halle was obsessed with riding fast and screamed all the way down.  It was hard to pull her away.  Maybe this can be our new New Year's tradition?

SOMETHING FUN!