Five.Two Years

 5.2 Years

• We couldn't take our spring break trip over spring break because of Dad's work schedule, but in April, we were able to visit San Diego with Grandma and Grandpa Price. We took off after dinner on Thursday and drove to a hotel in Spokane. Each of you kids asked separately if I had booked a hotel beforehand because you didn't want to get stuck sleeping in the car again. The next morning, we caught an early flight to CA. It was so hot when we got there.  We met up with the grandparents at the harbor, where we did a one hour boat cruise around the harbor, seeing all the different battle ships. We ate street tacos for lunch and then spent the rest of the day at the beach. Grandma borrowed her friend's boogey boards, so we were all able to go. On Saturday, we spent the day at Sea World. They had some big rides (you freaked out on the Atlantis ride so you didn't do too many big rides after that) and great shows (you were creaking up during the whole seal show). We ever stayed in the splash zone for the Orca show, which Grandpa and Dad didn't love, but all you kids were screaming out of delight when you got soaked. We stayed until the end, which made for a long, and cold day at the end. Sunday, we caught a local sacrament meeting, visited Dog Beach and tide pools, and ended the night with Mormon Battalion and Mexican food in Old Town for dinner. Monday, we go to go to the Zoo. It was so well done. The landscape was tropical. There was a bus tour at the beginning where we could see all the animals. The park itself was enormous, so even though there were tons of people, it hardly felt crowded. We even took the sky tramp over the whole park at the end (you were laughing at Grandma freaking out in the air). You loved seeing the sea turtles and climbing on all the structures along the way. Since we got home earlier, we went to the beach again, but it was a lot colder so we didn't last long.  Tuesday was at Legoland. The rides were smaller there, so you could go on everything. What I loved about Legoland was all the areas that you could just build with lego bricks and all the cool play structures they have. The awesome part was JoJo throwing a fit on the water boat ride. She wouldn't stand straight for the employee to measure her and was just crying that she couldn't go on the ride. The employee felt bad and gave us one fast pass that we could all use for the Emmett ride. Yay!!! That ride was 2 hour long and I did not want to wait that at all. We were not only able to walk up, but they struggled with loading the next group behind us so Maggie and Sam were able to go again. Grandma Matthews gave you some money to spend, and you chose a drumstick ice cream cone. There was a splash pad and you were the only one who spent more than three minutes in it. Grandpa stayed with you so you could run around longer while the other kids played somewhere else. Wednesday was our last day. We headed down for the beach one last time, which ended up being a beautiful day. We checked out of the Airbnb with no minutes to spare, and spent 5 hours at the USS Midway. It felt long to get home. Our flight didn't leave until 7pm, so by the time we flew in, got off the plane, got to our car, and drove home in the snow (that wasn't a fun welcome home), we finally got home at 2am. 
• We came home just in time for Easter. The weather has been really cold, which made you disappointed in not being able to do an outdoor hunt this year. We did a fun shaving cream dye kit which made the eggs look tied dyed. After they dried, I gave each of you ad sharpie. I love how you turned yours into the eggs from the book The Great Egg Escape. We did an indoor egg hunt with one egg having a coupon to stay up 30 minutes lates and another one with $5. Your book this year was I am Not a Chair. I loved reading it. It was funny. 
• We made a quick trip out to Oregon so Grandma and I could see Hamilton. We got there late Friday night, just in time to get a snack and glass of chocolate milk before bed. Saturday, we went down to Lainey's school for a pancake breakfast. The weather was great. We left you kids with Auntie Annie while Dad and I went to the temple with Grandma and Grandpa. That night, the dads had you all over al Grandpa's house, playing, putting on a play, eating Costa Rican food, and watching a movie. Sunday, we had an Easter part with all the cousins. Grandma does a big egg hunt full of coupon ad prizes. It was a blast. I know the trip was way too short, but we love making it down there every time we do.
• The snow is starting to melt and we have been able to get outside a bit more. On one of Dad's day off, we made a picnic lunch in the lunch box (your favorite) and had you and JoJo eat in on the hay stack while Dad and I installed barn doors. 

Five.One Years

 5.1 Years

• This was our birthday month. Sam turned 8 and Maggie turned 10. Sam had his party at the church with a bunch of boys. Maggie watched you and JoJo at home. You girls watched a lot of girl shows, which was probably the better choice than to be surrounded by 20 something boys. Maggie had a cupcake party here. Sam and you were able to sneak in at the end and make your own cupcakes. 
• It was parent watch week for dance. You were thrilled to have me stayed the whole time. I loved watching you dance and be a leader in your performance song. 
• The weather has gotten warmer so we set up the trampoline. You guys were excited to play on it. We had about a day or two of sunshine before a cold front swept through. The sandbox is still going strong. We even brought back sand the other day when we went to the beach. We are hoping to add a little more each time we go.
• Sam got baptized this month. Both sets of Grandparents were able to come for it. He asked you to give one of the prayers for it. Afterwards, we came home, grabbed a quick bit to eat, then headed down to the river to enjoy some sunshine. Over the weekend, the Grandmas played so many games with you. I think Grandma Matthews was gamed out by the end. It was just fun to hang out with them, be outside (first warmer days in a while), eat pizza and watch a movie. Grandpa Price was feeling good this trip (the last two times he has came to visit us, he was been sick) so it was fun to see him wrestle with you kids so much. You guys loved playing on the trampoline with him. The pond is filling up, so each day, we would walk out there with Grandma and Grandpa Matthews to check it out. It was really good to have grandparents!

Five Years Old

 5 Years Old

Dear Millie, 

Today you turn five. You were so excited to be a whole hand now, but even more excited that you are old enough to start Kindergarten after the summer. We celebrated by having a princess tea party with your kids. We invited some boys, so they came dressed up as knights and one was a Star Wars character. We played games like pin the nose on Olaf, Snow White's hot potato game with an apple (they had to fall asleep if they end up with the apple and I would "wake"them up with a kiss-hershey's kiss), blind man's buff, rescue the princess scavenger hunt, and ended with making fancy tea cups for our tea party. Each of your friends adore you because you are so good about being kind and including everyone. Today, Sunday, you requested store bought oatmeal for breakfast, mac-n-cheese with hot dogs for lunch, fancy ramen for dinner, and molten lava cakes for dessert. We watched Enchanted (your first time). It has been so good to have this special time to show you extra love. 

I love you so much Millie. I love how you are such a caring sister. There have been many times where you take JoJo downstairs and play barbies or babies with her so I can make dinner. You are always proud to be her sister. When she comes to your leader day, you take the time to have her come up with you to count the numbers and always find a sit next to you for her to sit. This all comes back to your caring and nurturing nature. You are going to grow up to be an amazing mother.

Millie, I also love how happy you are with life. Sometimes, life can get boring, running around on errands or visiting an older couple with me. You are so good about finding fun moments wherever you are. You are an awesome buddy to have, asking to play 20 questions when I curl your hair or riding the lift up at Snow Haven. You love coming up with creative ideas (also very messy ideas too). The other day, you were making a baby hotel. You even made me money to spend at it. At night, when you should be reading books in bed, there have been time where you sneak out and play. The other day, I found a whole bed set up in the storage room. When I asked you about it, you told me you did it the night before. 

Millie, I love how you do hard things. The reading lessons were a real push for you. I noticed that you have a slight dyslexia which made getting it down a lot harder and a slower process. You kept at it all year. When you finished, you were so proud of yourself. Even now, we have finished set 4 and set 5 of the bob book series and are reading actually picture books. I love hearing you call yourself a reader. Another time when you have done hard things with with your room. Oh boy, it can get messy. I try to help you here and there so it doesn't get too out of control. But on those times that it is, you are good about taking it one task at a time without complaining. 

Millie, I love every bit of you. I love cuddling on the couch in the mornings before breakfast because you need a few minutes to wake up. I love how you need to give me a hug and a kiss to calm down. I love how you will sit by the window waving goodbye to your friends until their car is over the hill. I like working on puzzles with you and having you tell me silly stories. You have brought not only me but all those you are with so much joy in our lives. I look forward to seeing you continue to grow up to be the person that God wants you to be.

Love, 

Mom

Four.Eleven Years

 4.11

• For the last two months, I had a puzzle going on in my room that was really challenging. You always kept asking to help me, but it was just too hard. This month, we found a puzzle that was just right for you and Sam to work on. I brought the card table into the kitchen and had you guys work on it here and there. You finished it in three days. I really liked how it was something that you and Sam enjoyed together. 
• We had a few warm days which melted the top layer of snow. Then it dropped over night, leading it all to froze over. It made for some awesome frozen "lakes" all along our road. We went on our Sunday walk and it was so fun seeing you kids pretending to ice skate all over the place. You loved stomping through the gutters and cracking the ice. 
• Grandma and Papa Matthews came up to watch you guys for a week while dad and I went to Mexico. You had so much fun with them. We left on a Saturday. That day, they took you bowling and then to the movies to see Sing 2. On Sunday, you played more board games than I can imagine. Monday there was no school. You guys were able to go to Jungle Gyms and play. I know that Grandma took you to the dollar store and bought craft supplies. I am so glad that you got this special time with them.
• Snow Haven has been a big hit with our family this year. We got a gift card for the tubing hill, so we went as a family. Since JoJo was too little to go down, we took turns watching her. We also have been skiing as a whole family again. You kept wanting to go down the left side, which is steeper and is more narrow. I wiped out each time going down, but you were awesome and loved the speed. Another favorite area of yours is the jump trail in the trees. You kept practicing it and at the year, you were so excited to go down it with Maggie so she could see how much you have improved. 
• According to Millie-favorite food: Mac-n-cheese, favorite treat: blondies with chocolate chips in them (Grandma made you some), favorite book: Doc McStuffin Books, favorite song: Kids bop Kids, favorite TV show: Elena, favorite movie: Sleeping Beauty, favorite indoor activity: crafts, favorite outdoor activity: playing pirates on the play structure, and favorite friend: Lainey.

Four.Ten Years

 4.10 Years

• We got to see your dance concert at the beginning of the month. You had on this bluff, fluffy blue tutu. You did great in your dance. Since you are the oldest girl in your class, you were really focused and did a great job staying on the beat and doing each of the moves. We celebrated by going to get hamburgers for lunch afterwards.
• We have had a lot of fun with all the different Christmas tradition. Dad and Sam came home from the store with a gingerbread house kit. We each got to decorate one of the walls. We have four different advent day calendars going, so we have you all rotate which ones you pick. We have a Harry Potter Lego one, the tree with a piece of chocolate in each slot, the hanging of the nativity piece and then the activity board. Some of the activities that we have done are write a letter to Ben on his mission, have a Christmas dance party, open a present with a new Christmas book, and of course leave your shoes out for the elves. Connor, our elf that comes each year, even left a letter for you all. For red ribbon dinner, instead of individually gifts, we opened just one for the whole family. It was exploding kittens, a game that you all feel in loved with over Thanksgiving at Dusty and Janecce's. 
• We went to Utah before Christmas this year. We made it just in time to watch the Nut Cracker ballet with the girl cousins. When we lived in Ogden Maggie and I would go each year with Jane and Laura. Well, you were old enough to come this year. We all met at Lucky Slice for lunch and then walked over to the Theater to watch it. I am amazed at how much you liked it. I think you spent most of the show on my lao, which I didn't mind. On Sunday, we got to meet up with all the family for the big party. This year, you had Tally for the gift exchange. You picked out some pink earrings and candy for her. Bonnie had you and gave you these scrubby animals. Grandma and Papa of course gave you and Bonnie the biggest in size gift. This year, it was a huge package of ponies. It was a great trip overall.
• We had almost a week before actually Christmas and we spent a lot of that time sledding with friends. We had the Strasser, Stones, and the neighbor kids over. It was fun just to play all week.
• Christmas came! Dad was on call, so we had to work around his schedule. For Christmas Eve, I let you kids pick out the dinner. We had a shrimp platter, homemade ciabatta bread, cheese plate, and artichokes. It was awesome. We acted out the Nativity (silly style) and found new slippers under the star for We Three Kings. Dad went back to work while we watched a movie. We set up ground rules so no one was going to wake up at 5am. I blocked the stairs and had you call me at 7am at the earliest. Joke on us because Dad couldn't get back from work until 9:00am. I snuck downstairs and played games, read books, watched some shows. I brought a box of cereal down to keep our tummies at bay (which lead to lots of cereal all over the floor). We finally got to go up. Santa brought you Encanto barbies, a little lego set, and funny trinkets in your stocking. Dad and I got you a light brite, two dresses (one matches JoJo's), and a set of Princess in Black books. Maggie gave you an unicorn pj set for your doll Allie, Sam gave you a bath bomb with hair bows and JoJo gave you an electric toothbrush. We also you you kids a subscription to Kiwi Crates and a laser tag set. It was a good day. 
• Since there was so much snow over the break, Snow Haven was opened up. Dad took you and me up. It was so fun to learn how to ski with you. And then on New Years Day, we got a sitter for JoJo and all five of us went skiing. Dad spent the morning with you and then I got to go down with you and watch you do your snakes. On our last run, the lift stopped. We were almost to the top, so we decided just to hop off and go down the blue hill. I was so nervous about going but you just did the widest pizza (snow plow) that I had even seen and just went straight down the hill. I was so impressed. 
• Other fun activities that we did during the break-swimming at the hotel, finishing up my puzzle that has been set up for a few weeks in my room, watch lots of movies, read lots of Princess in Black, tons of legos, and enjoyed the snow a lot. It was a good break.
• Super duper exciting news-you finished all 100 reading lessons in your book! You worked so hard on it. It took you 15 months and came out such a confident reader. I am really proud of you with sticking with it.
  
  
  
  

Four.Nine Years

 4.9 Years

• 
  It was parent watch week at ballet and JoJo and I were able to watch you do your dance. Well, I watched you and JoJo wanted to join you (she wants to do anything that you are doing). I love seeing you so happy. You are more attentive this year so you are doing your dance better. 
• Each week after dance, we swap playdates with Cecily. One week she will come here for two hours and then the next week you go over there. You two will rush down stairs and I often don't see you until lunch. I went down to check in and you both had dressed up (you in your old costume and Cecily in your church dress). You had the song Classic by Mkto blasting while jumping up and down the bed. I was laughing so hard because it just reminds me of early teenage years. 
• Preschool with Miss Stephanie is going really well. You had another leader day, where me and JoJo got to go and hang out with you for the morning. I love seeing you with your new friends, eager to learn, following the rules so well, but at the same time, with sneak a bit of trouble with the twins (Lane and Lucas). 
• We went to Oregon for 8 days over Thanksgiving. We were suppose to stay with Grandma for the first half, but they ended up with COVID, so we stayed with Aunt Janecce and Uncle Dusty for the whole time. You loved all the Sonora time. We got there Saturday night, just in time for dinner and the BYU game. Sunday, we went to church with them and watch the kids in their primary program. We went to Champoeg State park for a nice nature walk that ended up being five miles. Annie and Joe's family came over for a birthday celebration that night. On Monday, we left you with Sonora so you could do her preschool Thanksgiving celebration. We took you to Annie's that night with you got to play video games and watch a movie while we went out to eat as adults. Tuesday, Hailey came over to Janecce's and babysat you while Dad and I went to the temple and Janecce had her workout session. Tuesday night, Josh's family joined the group and the party began. Wednesday, we went to the high school and played dodgeball and soccer. You cousins had a movie night. Thursday, we went to the park and played while the boys played football. We went to the movies that afternoon and saw Encanto (which you liked!). We pushed Thanksgiving dinner back to Friday so Grandma and Papa could join us (just finished their 10 days). Beforehand, we went to the church and played floor hockey and chair soccer. You, Sonora, and the little girls tried playing at the beginning, but ended up playing family in the nursery room. Dinner was great and it was so good to have everyone. Saturday, we met Grandma, Papa, Josh's, and Annie's family to go to a Christmas tree farm and get a tree. It was fun to have Papa's old truck for you all to ride in the back of. Uncle Joe brought donuts and we were finished before the rain started. We did get to spend that night at Grandma's, which was good because you girls got to do crafts and help decorate her tree. We left the next morning. It was a great vacation.
• Funny story: we had you fall asleep on my bed at Janecce's and then carry you over to the other room because you had too hard of a time falling asleep with JoJo-you two would just play. Well, when dad and I went in to carry you over. I pulled down the blanket and you were butt naked. You had taken off your night gown and underwear before falling asleep. When I asked you about it the next morning, you smiled and told me you got hot. Silly Millie. 
  

Four.Eight Years

 4.8 Years

• We were able to make it to Utah for a week. It was a good mix of Grandma time and cousin time. We went hiking in the mountains to see the pretty colors, raked leaves and painted pumpkins, visited cousins, shopped, went through a haunted maze, go to the Tree House Museum, and tailed gate the BYU game (you got to go back with Grandma while Dad and I stayed). 
• We celebrated JoJo's birthday by taking little Sam and Nora to Creme Cafe and playing in their leaves, we made her a fish cake, and you game her a wooden puzzle, which she really likes.
• I wanted to make Halloween special this year, since we wouldn't be going trick-o-treating being on a Sunday. We hosted a party for all your friends. I counted 18 kids over at our house. Every came dressed up. We had chili and root beer. The house was all decorated for it. We played three games, the candy dice game, rally race with finding stuff in the "guts" bucket, and eating donut off the string. We ended the night by watching Addams family.
• Wrestling season is happening, which is taking up every Saturday for the month. Since other friends usually come, it hasn't been too bad for you. You hang out in the bleachers, eat lots of snacks, and you are great at going down and cheering on Sam when it is his turn. 
• Halloween Eve (the day we choose to celebrate it) was spent at the Grangeville Wrestling Tournament. We zipped you over to Terri's house afterwards because she had her grandkids over decorating cookies. We quickly got into our costumes (you were happy, cute ghost) and went over to the church for Trunk-o-treating. We ended the night with friends over for dinner and watching the BYU game. We let you stay up with everyone until 11pm to finish the game. I was so glad to not go out the next day and just rest at home.
• Grandma and Papa Price came for a long weekend. We went to the pool, walked around town for the story walk, had a movie night with popcorn, watch Sam wrestle, ate at the Mexican Restaurant, and did lots of crafts, games, and books.