In the days/weeks before your birth...

Dear little one, I will be 40 weeks pregnant in two days. I am excited for you to come to our family and my arms. We have been doing lots of fun things this summer to keep busy but also taking it slowly, one day at a time and not over scheduling ourselves. The kids have been doing a summer camp, art and games in the park, and swimming lessons every night for a month. Now we’ve taken a break from it all.
We have been staying close to home, and staying cool as it hit 100 degrees outside this week!!! Friends have been rallying around us, helping me feel loved and supported. We have grown close as a family and we love to have a long breakfast time with stories and reading the Book of Mormon every day. Freddie and Hattie took Moroni’s challenge and prayed about the Book of Mormon to know if it is true. They both said they felt the Holy Ghost tell them it is true and that they felt so happy. Mom and dad love your siblings and are so proud of them. They love each other. We ALL love you.
I have been trying to prepare my mind for labor and birth and have been practicing Hypnobirthing, reading The First Forty Days and a nursing guide book to refresh. We will be together soon.

personal history

Question: 

How many differ t homes or apartments have you lived in throughout your life? 

Apartment in Provo, where I was born
Apartment in Stockton
Home in Stockton 1221 Royal Oaks Drive
Home in Las Vegas 89– South Decature Blvd 
Home in Phoenix 14821 s 31st Way
Dorm NAU- McConnell 
Apartment NAU- Riordan Ranch 
Apartment NAU- Woods
Flat in County Westmeath, Athlone, Ireland 
Apartment in Chandler, AZ w Adrienne and Britney
Home-w Morgan in a Chandler, AZ
Apartment in Provo w Nycole, Megan, Britney 
Flat in Prague, Czech Republic
Duplex in Provo w student getting her masters, waiting to marry Collin
Apartment in Provo, 1st place with Collin- 80 S 900 E, Monte Vista
Compound in Ouelessebougou, Mali, West Africa
Apartment in Rockville, MD, just outside of Washington DC
Apartment in Phoenix, AZ, Solaris, had Fred and Hattie.
Home in Chandler, AZ- Megan Avenue?
Duplex Salt Lake City, UT, Capitol Hill, Ella born in the bathtub
Home in Sandy UT, Raintree

No matter how tightly I hold her hand on our way to her last day of preschool, it won't change the fact that when Harriet Jillian comes back out of school today she will be a KINDERGARTENER. IM HAPPY that's she's happy and learning and growing but sobbing because it's so so hard to think of her growing up so fast.
I asked her if she wanted to do anything special for her teacher for the last day of school and she knew exactly what she wanted to do. She made Ms Heather a very thoughtful card and picture thanking her for being such a great teacher and loving her, picked some basil from our garden and tied a bow around it, and made her some oatmeal cookies (with my help of course.)  She has grown up and learned so much this year and I know she’s ready to start kindergarten this fall.

 You would think that it would get easier having gone through this with Fred already, but it’s almost gotten harder because I know what’s coming! I know it’s hard to have them gone every day and then in first grade all day every day. I know they grow up fast and they go through so much; there’s so much adjustment; there are good times and also hard times. I am grateful for the opportunity to go to the Waldorf school and school in general. I know that it’s the right thing for all of us. It’s just really hard seeing my babies grow up. They need me less in the familiar ways and more in other ways. But I know that it is God’s plan for them and that he is with them and will protect them. I’m doing everything I can to teach and love them and I will never stop being here for them.

I’m so proud and grateful for each of my beautiful children. I’m also grateful for the two people who were there when I took my first breath, my mother and father. Parenting is hard and wonderful and joyful and hard and scary and rewarding and challenging and strengthening and empowering and  confusing and fun. And hard. It’s hard seeing them go through things even when I know it’s important that they do I’m appreciative of all my parents have done for me.

And then i realized that this is the LAST DAY I have with just Ella and me. After todayHattie will be home, then Fred and when school starts again it'll be the baby and Ella and me!!! We've come on a date to honeysuckle coffee shop. I’m drinking a giant pot of hibiscus berry tea.

“It’s raining it’s pouring the old man is snoring. He bonked him head and went to bed and closed him eyes.” —Ella Claire

Ella Claire turned 3 years old today!!!

Our ELLA is now 3 years old. The older kids have been excited about it for days. Ella has never been one to enjoy the spotlight or very much attention-especially from people outside of our family. So leading up to today she’s denied it but today she has embraced it. She loved getting gifts this morning- my little ponies, drawings from her siblings, and eating a yummy breakfast while listening to fun music together as a family. She loves to sing and shake her booty.

After sending Fred and Collin off and then dropping Hattie at preschool we went to her pediatrician for her 3 year check up where Dr. Cox called her perfect. Because her bday was TODAY she got to pick out a treasure and chose a rubiks cub. Then we rushed over to the library for our Tuesday “snuggle up together” story time for just Ella and Mommy. It was so fun and wonderful. We have really grown to love our few hours a week together when it’s just us.

Ella is a strong, sweet, smart, firey, lovely girl. She’s so funny and loves to laugh and tell jokes and make others laugh. She loves to play with her brother and sister. She and Collin have such a strong bond. She talks to the baby in my tummy every day and I know they are going to have a special bond too. She is growing and learning so much. She surprises me daily with words she knows. She is getting really good at going potty. She loves to swing on our swings outside, ride bikes, and just be outside at all times. We are loving the beautiful warm spring weather after the long dark cold winter we’ve had. Freddie gives her piggy back rides all over and she and Hattie play princesses and sisters and mothers together. I’m grateful and humbled to be her mother and try my best to love and teach her everyday.

She has such a strong testimony of prayer. She loves to pray (at every meal!!) and everytime we lose something or have a trouble she immediately folds her arms, bows her head, closes her eyes and says a firm and faithful prayer. And EVERY TIME we are blessed to find the item almost immediately. She loves to says a prayer of gratitude afterwards too. It has been inspiring for Collin and me to witness this. We love ELLA.

Ella keeps singing "this girl is on fire” by Alicia keys today!!