Kyleigh...

Next, arrived dear Kyleigh. Kyleigh was our favorite babysitter in Missoula, and Haven and Parker (as well as myself) have grown to love her. So, when Nate and I were thinking about celebrating our 10 year anniversary away somewhere, we knew we needed someone to watch the older two! I was so thankful to have Kyleigh around. I now understand why mom's employ nanny's. =0) We all enjoyed her company and help...

and Nate and I had a fabulous time at the Hotel Del Coronado. 10 years went by like a flash.

Real FOOD?

It may LOOK like Rowyn may be enjoying her sweet potatoes, but she still is getting used to the taste and texture of solids. The majority of the time she still gives me a funny face and spits it all out. She prefers mommy's milk. But I keep trying...

Grandma Gayle - known as GG

GG kicks off three weeks of company and FUN! My mom arrived to spend a few days with us... or should I say, her grand-girls. Trips like this always go by too quickly. But, we are thankful that we had a chance to spend a few days with her.

Happy Mama, Happy Day!

Happy Mother's Day!
Since I was queen of the day, I told my girls that mommy was going to pick out their outfits for church this morning. Thanks to Auntie Renee for the matching hot pink sweaters that came at Christmas (it was a chilly day), they looked down-right-darling for Mother's Day.

I was awoken this morning by Haven telling me she was taking me to a "fancy restaurant" and to follow her. She lead me to a beautiful breakfast spread at our very own kitchen table and I experienced five star service by my five year old! I felt so special.

I have been a mom for a little over five years and I feel like I am a totally different person in many ways... I am sure you moms out there can relate. Having kids has:
humbled me (HELLO, tantrums in public can reduce me to a blubbering mess).

opened my eyes to my Heavenly Father's love for me. So deep. So wide.

relaxed me (You mean I can't control everything?).

tapped into a whole new emotional side I never knew I had. I think I can cry on cue now.

slowed me down... so I don't miss the teas, the dance-a-thons and princess parties.

Thank you girls for teaching mommy a thing or two.

Easter

Easter is a celebrated day in our home. We celebrate Christ rising from the dead. Haven knows this since she told the Easter bunny (by speaking rather loudly thinking he was listening) that he is #2, not #1. Jesus is #1. But she still thinks the Easter Bunny brings baskets filled with goodies for sweet little girls. AND... for those who don't know, Parker fell and sliced her head open this last Monday and there are three stitches under the Bandaid on her forehead.

Without family close by, we gathered with the next best thing - friends! We enjoyed sharing a delicious ham lunch after church today with dear people that are in our small group from church. I brought my FAVORITE dessert that I try to make each year for Easter. I will post the recipe in case you may want to impress your next dinner guests. It feeds a crowd and never disappoints. It is the perfect Spring/Summer treat.

City Girl Fruit Trifle
1 qt Fresh Strawberries
2 T confectioner's sugar
1 C milk
1 large pkg vanilla instant pudding
1 C sour cream
1 pound cake (I like the Sara Lee family size pound cake found in the freezer section)
1 fresh orange
1 carton Cool Whip

Thinly slice strawberries and stir together with sugar; set aside. Put milk, sour cream, and pudding together and mix for 10 seconds at high speed. Slice pound cake (while frozen) and place layer in bottom of bowl - I use a clear glass pedestal bowl - it shows the layers and looks pretty! Cut orange into wedges and squeeze orange juice over pound cake. Then make a layer of pudding, then a layer of strawberries... then repeat layers till you reach the top of the bowl. Finally, top with whipped cream and garnish with whole strawberries if desired.

Hand stamped cuteness

My friend Terra made me this cute and customized necklace. Yes, she hand stamps each charm herself. This is now my new favorite necklace since each circle bears the name of each of my three girls! The best way to keep them close to my heart.

She does custom orders:
reesespiecesdesigns@yahoo.com

Stats

This info is mainly for my mom who wanted to know all of the girls stats at the age of four months... plus, it is fun to compare their growth.

Rowyn (check-up was this past Thursday)
Weight: 13lb 6 oz - 50%
Length: 25 1/2 in - 90%
Head: 16 3/8 in - 75%

Parker
Weight: 13lb 1.6 oz
Length: 24 3/4 in
Head: 16 1/2 in

Haven
Weight: 13 lb 3 oz
Length: 24 in
Head: 16 3/8 in

Looks very similar! I noticed Parker slowed drastically in her growth from 4-6 months and dropped under the 20% for weight at 6 months, where she currently still resides. Haven and Rowyn resember each other a lot! Here a few pics of the girls when they were babies... can you tell who is who??

Pic 1: Rowyn
Pic 2: Parker
Pic 3: Haven
Pic 4: Rowyn
Pic 5: Haven
Pic 6: Parker

Rover Speer

Meet Rover. Rover came from preschool to spend a week with us, more specifically, with Haven. With our camera we capture all the things Rover gets to do with the Speer family. Here is what Rover has done thus far:

Went to church...

To the frozen yogurt shop...

To the movies...

Became Princess Rover...

Was loved on by Rowyn...

Became the honorary 4th sister...

Coffee breath

This is Parker drinking my coffee... she is always asking for a drink! And we wonder why she is bouncing off the walls.

SeaWorld with our buds

Haven and I were counting down the days to see our friends Kendra and her son Evan! Haven and Evan have grown up together in Missoula, so it was so fun to host a little reunion while visiting Sea World over the weekend!

Wedding...

My dear friend, Amanda - college room mate, volleyball team mate, maid of honor - came to visit for a week with her boyfriend (and coincidentally, family friend) Daine Solomon. They started dating in January and made the decision three days into their visit to get married Tuesday evening on the beach in Carlsbad right before sunset. Don't worry, they received blessings all the way around from their families, and Nate and I did a crash course in pre-marital counseling the night before (we felt somewhat qualified since we'll be celebrating our 10 year anniversary this May)! But it turned out to be a beautiful evening for everyone who was able to come. Haven was thrilled to be the flower girl and Parker was thrilled to have an excuse to make sand castles at our feet during the ceremony.

Matchy-matchy

I did it. I succumbed and became "that mom" who puts her girls in matching clothing... only for one day. And, because I found these cute T's all in their sizes: 3 month, 2 T and 5T! Pretty rare.

But don't they look cute?

Have you Ever...

I saw this on my friend, Andrea's blog. Thought it was a fun idea!
Bold these if you’ve ever…

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disney World
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (does a triathlon count?)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone - my toe!
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - Nate killed it.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

What about you?
Melissa

Free Time

The house has been verrry quiet. The older two girls have been in Missoula since last Wednesday hanging out with both sets of grandparents along with other family. Lucky them!

As for me, I have been soaking in the quiet as well as enjoying the free time. Here is a peek at what I have been up to...

I forget how much free time I had before kids. I would not trade it for anything, but once and a while it is nice to remember my hobbies and sleep in!