Kellie girl

It's a pretty cool thing to have a daughter like Kellie. This girl knows her own mind.  For example, she knew that she didn't want to have a birthday party this year, but that she did want to have Cream of Wheat for her birthday breakfast, and to go out to lunch with me, and to have me cook her birthday dinner at home.  I like that decisiveness.  I made all these wishes come true.  She also wants to get her learner's permit; I have not fulfilled that wish yet.

Kellie was about the sweetest baby ever born.  She slept through the night from almost day one.  She ate quickly and played contentedly and smiled constantly.  She was happy and giggly and adorable.  She turned brown as a chocolate chip from only moments in the sun and was the tannest 6 month old ever -- people actually asked me if I took her tanning!

As she grew, it became clear that Kellie was sent to take care of others.  She would set all her stuffed animals carefully on blankets in front of the TV where everyone could see the show.  She would put the binkie back in the mouth of her little sister when she cried.  She brought food to her cousin when she was hungry and wrapped her arms around her when she was sad.  I have always thought of Kellie as a "little mother" - she instinctively knows how to nurture.

Here are some more things I love about Kellie:

• Her organized room.
• Her favorite colors are blue and yellow.
• Her pretty, long hair - the longest it's ever been!
• How carefully she nurtures and cares for her grades - A's, people.
• She reads her scriptures and writes in her journal every night before bed.
• Her little sister admires and wants to emulate her.
• Her (still) brown skin.
• She prefers to be home.
• She dresses so stylishly.
• She LOVES her dog, and teaches her the best tricks -- like "high five".
• She just keeps getting better and better with every day.

Love you, my Kellie....and I promise we'll get that learner's permit, someday.

Rex Lee Run 2012

The highlight of the week was the Rex Lee Run yesterday.  Grandpa came up from AZ and Heather's family was here and we ran - boy, did we run! 

David, Tony, Collin and I all ran the 10K; everyone else did the 5K.  

We got our race shirts and then used iron-ons to put my mom's picture on them.  They said, "For my mom/wife/grandma/Sandy."  So many people commented on our shirts - I think we will see a ton of people doing that next year. 

Everyone ran so well!  My dad even finished in 43 minutes - his first race ever, he was so proud, but wants to do better next year!   

We got tons of medals!  Jenna took 3rd out of all the women (22 minutes).  Kellie took first in her age group (23 minutes) and Alissa took third in her age group (27 minutes).  Collin took third in his age group (58 minutes) and I took third in my age group (59 minutes).   

We created such a stir with all of us going up to get medals that KBYU took notice and interviewed us.  We'll be on TV next Thursday at 6:30.  Super great, wonderful memory. 

No More Babies

Oh, what a change a single phone call has wrought in my youngest.  Katie was asked to babysit at the upcoming Relief Society activity.  I had no idea the thoughts and feelings this would stir in her.  She was shocked that they thought she was old enough to watch other children.  "I can't believe I'm going to babysit," she said to me, over and over and over.  After two days of saying this, I responded, "But Katie, you watch your babies (dolls) all the time."  She gave me a look of complete disdain and said, "Mom, those aren't real babies,...and I'm thinking it's time I put them away.  I am growing up, you know, if people are asking me to babysit."  Now, it was my turn to be shocked.  Katie and her babies have been a part of our lives since, well, since Katie came into our family.  She LOVES her babies, and I have loved searching out for the very cutest ones and giving them to her and watching how she cares for them and names them and treats them so well and sleeps with them at night.  What a great mother she's going to be, I've thought over and over.

I was not prepared for her to hand off childhood so quickly, nor was I prepared when, two days later, she came to me and said, "Mom, the babies aren't in my bed anymore.  They're in the closet."  Her sister had helped her organize her room and the babies didn't make the cut.

I hugged her and said, "Are you alright?"

"Oh, yeah," she said, "they were taking up too much room in my bed, anyway, and I am growing up.  I'm going to be babysitting next week, you know."

Yes, I know.

"But don't worry, Mom.  I gave them a pillow to lean against and a blanket to cover them and they're all together so they aren't lonely."

Phew, there's my little girl.

Lissy Lou Turns Teen

I am late writing this post in honor of my newest teenager, Alissa.  I felt terrible about this until I remembered that she was late coming into this world (the only one of my 5 to do so), which resulted in my standing in Kmart on my due date with the lady at the service counter pressing pressure points in my hands trying to send me into labor.  Alissa would find that hilarious.

Here are just a few of the many things I love about my girl:

• She gives me a detailed report of her day, every day.  No one knows the 4-1-1 like Alissa, and I'm grateful she'll share every tidbit with me.
• She thinks I'm funny.  This is a huge compliment because Alissa has very discriminating taste. 
• She is an amazing friend.  Seriously, the girl got 9 pink cookies on Valentine's Day-- talk about feeling the love.
• She plays the cello beautifully, and she's not even nervous about it.
• She thinks her new orange Converse tennis shoes are cool.
• She speaks to me in German, and doesn't even mind that I don't understand a word she's saying.
• She likes to wear scarves.
• She thinks her dad is the best - I agree.
• She runs sooooo fast....on the soccer field, and the basketball court, and in cross country.
• She does the extra work to get an honors grade in English.
• She always comes to kiss me good night.
• She thinks fruits and vegetables taste good.
• Her favorite colors are green and gold - how many people can say that?
• She picks funky colors for the bands on her braces.
• She tries really hard, every day, to be a better person that she was the day before.

Happy birthday my teenager!  I love you!