Three.Four Years

3.4 Years

• We just celebrated Fourth of July. You were so excited because Dean's family was coming for the weekend. Ever though most people pair Dean with Sam, since Dean was so nice to you at last years family reunion, you have claimed him as your cousin. To be truthful, Dean is pretty young for his age (small and timid) so he really does like playing with you. At the river, when the big kids were jumping off the cliffs, you and Dean were both happily playing trucks, not getting water on your face. We lit fireworks in the backyard, which always make you nervous. You like sparklers but again, are really nervous around them. I totally don't mind the extra snuggles when the big ones go off. 
• We have been going to the pool a lot lately. The water isn't your favorite, but you don't necessarily hate it. You were finally able to vocalize that you don't like to get your face wet. So when we go, you stay close to me because you don't want the big kids to splash you. We have been working on going under water. The first day, you screamed through the whole thing. The next time, I promised you a granola bar if you went under without crying. Slowly, you have been getting better and better. Just this last time with Dad, you were going down the small slide all by yourself and the big one if Dad caught you. I do bring lots of snacks and some barbies for you to play with as you only last about 40 min before you want to dry off. You love laying your towel perfectly flat and drying off in the sun. It is cute to watch you walk around the towel, straightening out each corner. 
• You are getting the hang of pedaling your bike. We went to the bike park this evening and you were all over the place. You even pushed your bike up the small ramp, and rode down it fast. 
• We had a fun trip up to CDA over Father's Day. we go up there Sunday afternoon and hiked around Tubbs Hill. We stopped halfway to play in the water. At one point, you told me you had to go to the bathroom. I just whispered to you to pee in the water (I know horrible advice, whatever) but instead of discreetly playing in the water while you pee, you take off your whole swimsuit and squawk in the water for all to see. We stayed in a hotel that night, which you liked. The next day, we went to Silverwood. We played at Boulder Beach (the water park) and then went on all the rides. You really liked the ride. Bumper boats was one of your favorite because you could spray people.
• Favorites: polly pockets, barbies, doing your "math book", PBS kid games on the computer, all treats, Mira Royal Detective show, Frozen 2 soundtrack, being my helper.
• Not your favorites: wearing clothes (I find you take more often than I should), tortillas (frustrating because I love tacos), taking naps (you have official stopped taking naps), going to bed at night (I thought that you would be so tired from not napping, but instead you have started sleeping in, sometimes until 8:45, not going to complain to much about that).

Three.Three Years

3.3 Years

• Well, the stay at home order has been lifted and we are getting out and about. Our trip to Utah was cancelled so we decided to go to Oregon. We were planning on going as a whole family, but the weekend before when Dad was on call, he came home late Friday night and told me he was pretty sure he saw a COVID case. Before we could come home again and have you guys get his germs all over you with wrestling, we took off a week early to go to Oregon, in case we won't be able to go at all. It ended up not being positive, so Dad joined us a week later which gave you guys so much time there. Every night was a party at someones house. We had tacos and Mexican corn at Dusty's house where we played dodge ball, ate dinners at Annie's the next,  played in the sans box at Grandmas, and more switching around. You had your first sleepover at Sonora's and was a cit for the play. You loved the zip line and all the barbies. One day, you even got to play with the boy downstairs while the big kids worked on their school work. 
• Lately, you have been into taking photos on my phone. Most times you ask me. Other times, I find random pictures of JoJo's leg. I have a whole series of my new crocs. I really feel like I sound send them in for product photography.
• You and Sam went with Dad one night to pick up some tin for the chicken coop. You came back with a black kitten. You were so excited! I couldn't say no. Well, Grandma had been talking about wanting a cat, so Dad took you back over there and got another one to send back to Grandma. We had been sending daily pictures of this cat to her that Annie's girls got jealous and ended up taking Cinder home when they came out. So random. Funny actually. 
• Well, two weeks after going out to Oregon, Annie's family came out here for a weekend. We went fishing and spent the afternoon at the beach. You really had fun with the big girls, playing barbies and running around with the chicken every day. 
• Speaking of chickens, you love them so much. It has been fun to have them in the garden, so when I working out there, you let them out and chase them around. You love finding worms for them and protecting our garden from them. 
• Funny story-you were suppose to be taking a nap, or so I thought you were. I went outside real fast to put the new light out in the coop. I was outside for about 20 minutes. When I got back in, I could hear Jo awake. I went in to find that you had dumped a bunch of toys in her crib, pulled out a few blankets, the scarves from my room, and the sewing stuff from the closet. The moment I walked in, you knew you were up to no good. You were good about putting everything back.

Three.Two Years

3.2 Years

• According to Millie, "We were dying eggs, My favorite color was the pink one.This picture is me eating  a pink cookie. It was yummy. We went fishing. It was cold outside so I was in the van. I paused the music on her phone and I sneaked pictures.We have gone hiking lots. I like to be JoJo's hiking buddy. Daddy tells Mowgli the dog stories. One time daddy read about me when we were going hiking and someone stole all her flowers. We went to the beach with daddy. I liked running into the water. At Lainey and Gus's house, we went on the kayak. I was swishing the paddles like this. I like to take picture of Ramona and my tummy hurts when I do it. I was singing Princess songs to JoJo and it made her laugh. I sneak a lot of pictures on Mom's phone. The End."

Three.One Years

3.1 Years

• Well, it has been a crazy month. With COVID-19 getting worse, the closed everything down, including school. Now the big kids are home until the end of the year doing home school. You love having them home, but I am sad that our special time is not happening. With you being in the middle and being more independent by nature, you tend to get lost in the craziness of our family. I loved our routine that we had going with playing either babies or barbies each day with each other. I love seeing you so excited to seeing your friends. I know that I have two more years before you go off to school, but JoJo is getting older and will require more of my time also. It is what it is and we are trying to make the most of it.
• Since having to stay home, our time together has gone down the drain. It is my biggest disappointment about this whole thing. I don't have that many more years with you at home, especially since this year with Jo so little and napping a lot, I have loved our time together. Now, my mornings are taken up with helping the big kids get through their school work. It makes our nap time ritual of laying down with you until you fall asleep even more precious to me. We have ten to adding me telling you a story about a princess. 
• We have celebrated everyone's birthday, which you were able to tag along to their parties. Sam's was at The Jungle Gym and Maggie had a Unicorn Painting party. Lots of cake later, I am so happy that we were able to celebrate all your birthdays before the shutdown. 
• The weather has warmed up so the trampoline is now set up and we also were able to get an old play structure. It was been fun to have our own little park since we are at home more often. We also have been able to start the garden. You love riding on the four wheeler with dad as he tills the garden. That first day out there was so heart breaking for you because you found your play rake broken out there. All day long you cried over it. With the warmer weather, we were also able to make a trip to Hammer Creek! I absolutely love being able to drive 20 minutes to a place that is 10 degrees warmer and feel like we are playing at the beach.
• I wanted to be a fun mom and have an indoor camp out with you guys. We got out the half tent, set it in front of the fire place, roasted marshmellows, and go out the sleeping bags for you guys to sleep in. You are such a stinker though and won't settled down and all of you guys end up having to go to your bed after an hour and half of pestering each other.
• We started the hiking season. We brought the carrier for you, but you hiked about half of it on your own, way better than any other kid in our family at that age. The hike was full of flowers and snails, which make for a fun but slow hike.

Three Years Old

3 Years Old

I should be shocked that you are three years old, but really, I feel like you are so much older than you really are. You are a lot taller than your friends and you talk so well that I kept assuming you were older than you are. We had your first birthday party with your friends. You wanted Doc McStuffin theme, so each of your friends brought their favorite doll/stuffed animal. We raided your dad's medical bag and gave them all a check up. We played a few games, did a craft, read Doc McStuffins books and ate heart shape sandwiches for lunch.

I have loved having you as a daughter. You are so thoughtful of others, sharing your treats and toys with your siblings and including everyone in your games. You have so much love to give. You are always asking for hugs and giving me kisses. You are simply happy and bubbly. Life brings you so much joy. I love laying down with you each day to help you fall asleep. I love cuddling with you on the couch and reading all your favorite books. I love your funny and slightly inappropriate humor (mostly potty humor-fart, gas!). I love our Mommy-Millie time were we play babies, barbies, or poly pockets. I love how daddy is still your hero and makes the world all better when he is around. Millie, I want you to know that I will always love you more than chocolate (now I am going to eat you up. . .yum, yum, yum).

According to Millie-favorite food-mac-n-cheese, book-Babies Everywhere, show-Pj Mask, treat-gummy worms, song-Twinkle Twinkle, indoor activity-play babies, outside activity-put rocks in the trucks, princess-Ariel

Two.Eleven Years

2.11 Years

• This picture makes you look so much older. You wanted me to straighten your hair that morning. After the big kids go off to school, you become my little shadow, following me around as I get ready. I don't mind, and in fact, I am wish having this time with you when you start school. You like to listen to music on my phone and try on my shoes while I am showering. It takes twice as long to dry my hair because you will pull up your shirt for me to dry your belly. Makeup is your favorite, always asking for my lip stain and "the pink stuff" (blush). 
• This month has been pretty routine. On Mondays, Dad is home so we tend to spend the day home though occasionally we meet up with friends at Jungle Gyms. Tuesdays, we head to the church for dance workout where you get to run around with your friends. Afterwards, we have a babysitting swap going on between the twins house and little Sam's house. Wednesdays are Moms connection twice a month followed by story time. Thursdays are workouts at the church and then we will either go home or invite little Annie to come over. Fridays are at home days after three days of on the go. You still nap each day if I stay in the room with you until you fall asleep. When you wake up, I let you watch one of your shows. After the show, big kids come home and you like to play with them. 
• Daddy likes to touch you into bed and go through all the goodbye friend saying, "See you later Alligator, In a while Crocodile." Last night you ended by saying, "Back for more, dinosaur. Gas *psstttt*" You have got quite the humor sometimes. 
• When I ask you how old you are going to be on your birthday, you always say 11 first. Then I have to correct you and say 3. Since you are so tall for your age (wearing 4t and a few 5t) and can talk so well, some days I feel like you have grown up so fast and are turning 11 soon. I beg you to stop growing up, but you never listen.
• I don't know if I have mentioned this, but me and you have a special saying. I like to tell you that I love you more than chocolate. Then you reply, "I love you more than chocolate. I'm going to eat you all up! *mmmmm*I ate you up all gone." You really are so loving. You ask for hugs and kisses all throughout the day.
• According to Millie: food-pizza, treat-cookies, show-PJ Mask, movie-Dispicable Me, book-Doc McStuffin Books, song-Five little Monkies, indoor activity-play babies, outside activity-shovel the rocks, friend-Lainey and Gus. 

Two.Ten Years

2.10 Years

• The big news of this month has been potty training. I have been dragging my feet for a while, but I finally found a week with not much going on (helpful when you have a new baby because we don't go much these days). We started after you woke up from your nap on Wednesday. You had two accidents right off the back. Oh great, this is going to take some time. But then, you just got it. We had one accident the next day while playing outside, but really you have been good since then. That next Tuesday we made our Lewiston trip. It was slow going between stores between a nursing baby and taking you to the potty, but we did it just fine.
• This month has been the Christmas month. Last year, you liked the idea of "Ho Ho Ho" aka Santa, but this year, he freaked you out.It took a lot of bribing to get you to stand even in the same room as Santa. Dad thought it was so funny and teased you often about him. He would ask if you wanted Ho Ho Ho to come to our house, and you said no. Pictures of Santa were okay and movies were fine, it was just if you ever saw someone dressed up.
• We did some fun things this month but mostly kept it simple with having a new baby. We have driven around to see the lights, which you think are "so beautiful". We delivered over 30 jars of peppers, which you liked carry the jars up to the door. We went swimming with the activity day girls, and Cloey was so nice to be your buddy the whole time. We didn't make too many cookies but people brought them here, which you absolutely loved. 
• I had the worst parent moment of my life this month. I volunteered to help with Maggie's class Christmas party. You didn't fall asleep for a nap, so I sent you downstairs in your room for a quiet time. When I walked down there to get you ready to go, you had pooped your pants and tried to clean it up yourself. I didn't have time to give you a bath and the closest thing by were Clorox wipes, so I cleaned you up as fast as I could and threw your poopy clothes (which you put in the dirty clothes basket) into the sink to soak. By now, we are already late. You just figured out how to buckle yourself into the carseat and insisted on me not helping. After you clicked in, you started crying. I couldn't get you to tell me what happen but something about getting pinched. I thought it was just that you were tired so I told you that I would give you a kiss when we get there. Well, when we got to the school, you wouldn't stop crying and was holding your arm. Did you break your arm some how? Nothing had happened though, that's the crazy part. I carried you to the classroom, got there right as the kids were walking in. Stacey was late also so nothing was step up. I tried giving you my phone to watch a show, but you couldn't even hold the phone. I wanted to leave right then to take you to the clinic but I had to wait until Stacy got there. I was in charge of a craft and what I thought to be a simple easy craft was too complicated for them. So now of the kids could finish their craft, you were still crying your head off, and JoJo woke up so I had to feed her in the midst of this. Finally it was over, but I still had to rush to the other side of the building to get Sam. My arms were tired from carrying you and JoJo, but we finally made it to the clinic. Dad wasn't there (running 10 minutes late) which meant more time that you were crying. Finally we got into a room and dad popped your elbow back in place.
• Christmas was magical with you. You are at such a fun and sweet age. Since you won't be reading this until you are older, I have to tell you the truth. Christmas Eve night, Dad and I start to pull out all the "Santa" gifts. We filled the stockings and where just putting out the last gifts when we noticed that we can't find your gift from Santa. We ordered you an Little People Set of Frozen 2 and can't find it anyway. It is 11 pm and we look for 45 minutes. I have no idea what to do. We finally called it, pulled out one of the stocking stuffers to use as your Santa gift and throw a book and silly putty that I had lying around. You were so happy to see that Santa left you your own barbie. We will call it good, though next year, I promise we won't lose your gift. Dad and I got you a pop up tent that you could play in with when your friends come over. Maggie gave you a little baby since we left yours in Oregon and Sam gave you a Polly Pocket set.
• We went to Utah after Christmas to visit family and friends. Since you are sleeping in a big bed, you have been promoted to the big kids room when we stay with Grandma. Needless to say, you didn't get much sleep but loved staying up late. The night we were with Brook and Steve, it was 10pm when we went in the room to find you take on the top bunk telling Sadie to take off her clothes. Bonnie is the cousin that you get along with best. Grandpa spoiled both of you with a giant unicorn stuffed animal. This unicorn, named Rainbow, has taken over your bed at home. You call it your lovey, but this thing could eat you.
• According to Millie: favorite food-mac-n-cheese, tv show-Doc McStuffins, book-baby books, friend-Lainey and Gus, indoor activity-play toys with mommy, outside activity-eat snow, movie-Moana, princess-Ariel, song-baby shark