I cannot believe that my baby turned 5 this month. We had a ton of snow that day so the other kids were out of school and we went sledding, built a snowman, drank tons of hot chocolate and cider and made rice krispie treats. Lyla wanted a backpack for her birthday so she would be ready for school. She has been waiting to turn five so she could start school. On her birthday she said she was excited for the snow to go away so she could start school. We had to sit down with the calendar to see that she wouldn't be starting school until next September and there is a lot of days before she will be going. We did get her some workbooks so she feels she is doing her homework with the older kids and she talks to Ms. Jones everyday when we get the kids from school to talk about kindergarten next year.
Lyla loves to get the mail everyday and had the best primary teacher last year that sent her a letter ever week in the mail so that made it ever more important to check the mail. She loves to wear her swim suit that she just got in the mail. She loves to sing and dance. She loves to answer the phone so she can talk to whomever is on the other end. She loves drawing and making cards for her friends. She is funny and makes us all laugh. She LOVES bags and putting anything in them. We are currently in "bag restriction" with all the bags in time out because she kept putting all of our stuff in her bag. She is currently busy turning things into bags so she can put stuff into them.
Robbi called to talk to me (days after her birthday) and Lyla answered so they talked about Lyla's birthday and somehow they got around to Robbi saying she wished she was here so she could sing her happy birthday and Lyla informed her that she could just sing to her over the phone. She makes a crazy good secretary and is always good about getting me my messages. We love her so much and can't believe how lucky we are to have her around.
Miya was so excited to have a party this year for her birthday and wanted to do a blindfold make-up game. The girls decorated Christmas tree ornaments, did make-up, ran around crazy and then ate ice cream cake. I had told all the kids to not bring presents, but of course everyone brought something. Miya had a great time and got to have Cora spend the night the night before and Maggie stayed the day of the party. She had a super special day and loved having all of her friends over.
Christmas on a Sunday is fantastic and we had a really low key Christmas this year. An hour at church followed by time spent opening presents. Once we had things cleaned up we headed over to Vashon for family dinner and hanging out with everyone. We decided we would let Miya get her ears pierced and she was super excited to do it with her cousin, Maggie. We thought it would be a great Christmas present, but when the time came around to getting her ears done she decided she didn't want to do it. Maggie went first and Miya thought she was going to throw-up. I have tried taking her back another time, but the same thing happened again so Christmas ended up being a bust for her with just a few pairs of earrings to remind her how much she wished she could be brave enough to get it done.
Phil was asked to help out in Primary on Sunday and come in as Noah. He is always so great at helping out and making things fun. Our ward is splitting later this month so it was fun to have Phil do this with the many kids we have in our large primary. Plus Phil had glued the beard on and wanted to sit in the back during Sacrament meeting, but when we walked in he was asked to be in the circle for a baby blessing. He looked really funny with a fake beard, dark hair and a nice suit. 
Cleaned off Phil's phone and the camera and came across these pictures from this summer. The kids at the Puyallup fair.
Cannon, my surfer dude boy. His long hair this summer that bleached in the sun. You would never guess I was a person that didn't find long hair attractive on boys.
Lyla and I went to the farm this fall to get apples and look at the animals. All the other kids at play group got stung by the bees outside the store.
This year has been going much too quickly and I am sad to see this last year of Lyla home with me disappear. She is so fun to have around and is super good at keeping herself busy if I need to get work done. I have been working hard out in the yard pruning trees and cleaning up branches from the winter ice storm and Lyla comes out and talks to me or entertains herself inside playing cars. She is really worried that I wont know what to do with myself next year while she is off at school and I am beginning to realize that it will be hard to have all my kids in school. 
I cannot believe that my baby turned 5 this month. We had a ton of snow that day so the other kids were out of school and we went sledding, built a snowman, drank tons of hot chocolate and cider and made rice krispie treats. Lyla wanted a backpack for her birthday so she would be ready for school. She has been waiting to turn five so she could start school. On her birthday she said she was excited for the snow to go away so she could start school. We had to sit down with the calendar to see that she wouldn't be starting school until next September and there is a lot of days before she will be going. We did get her some workbooks so she feels she is doing her homework with the older kids and she talks to Ms. Jones everyday when we get the kids from school to talk about kindergarten next year. 