How cute am I?

Amari is such a sweet baby. I love the way she looks at everything with such wide eyes. It's almost like she is constantly in shock...now that I think about where she lives, she probably is. I just love her.

MMR

Do you ever have those moments in life when you really realize that you ended up with the right person? I had one Sunday. I guess the kids finally figured out that they outnumber us and decided to take advantage of that at church. Fussy Amari, wild Zeke, Hungry Pantera, Jess, and I ended up in the mothers lounge for most of sacrament meeting. Pantera was in the corner singing "I'm mad at my Mom, bum bum, I'm mad at my Dad, bum bum..." It was then I looked at Jess and just started laughing. If I'm going to go through this with someone I'm glad it's him! The next hour was filled with Zeke screaming and Amari having the BIGGEST blow out ever, while we were supposed to be teaching Sunday school...good times!

In other news, Pantera has Polio, Measles, Mumps, and Rubella. Or so she would like you to believe. Tomorrow I register her for Kindergarten and she is so mad about it! She asked what they do at registration and I told her I would be taking in her information, including her shot records. She suddenly has a flash of inspiration cross her face "That's an idea! I'll hide my shot record and act like I have diseases!" Yes, that plan sounds foolproof!

Older siblings

As far is big brothers go, Zeke just might be the best. Amari is one lucky little girl to have him. Today we had "tummy time" for the first time (her cord stump took FOREVER to fall out!). Zeke was quick to join in on the fun. I just love every time he notices her, he has to either rub the top of her head or give her kisses. This morning he even gave her "bumps" so cute. He has been trying to pick her up lately, which really freaks me out! But when she cries he usually rushes to the scene to try and make her feel better. He is such a great kid!

Everyone knows Pantera is the best big sister ever! She is so proud of all that she and Amari have in common and loves it when Zeke goes down for a nap so we can have "girl time." Today she asked me what quality time means, after I explained it to her she says "I'm gonna do quality time with Zeke, when we are teenagers." We had a very traumatic incident last week. Our cat stole a baby bird from its nest and killed it, in front of Pantera! We did everything we could to save the poor little thing, but it ended in a funeral. Pantera insisted on singing a song she wrote for the occasion (imagine a 5 year olds pop voice) "Diesel killed this baby bird. He's such a stupid cat. We are so sorry we ever got him. Oooooooooo, yayayaya baby bird..." It went on and on. But she prayed that the mommy bird would get pregnant again and is convinced that her prayer worked because we have babies in a nest in one of the birdhouses.

Happy Mother's Day!

Jess made me to post this picture to tell his mom happy mother's day. Actually he asked for the "fro picture" but I didn't feel comfortable spreading that around the Internet.
Zeke's new camera face...

I've taken over 800 pictures in the last month! I haven't been able to paint...photography is becoming my "poor mans painting."

Pantera usually refuses to be photographed. But for mother's day she actually let me!!! This made my whole day considering the last 2 Easter's were a bust (my favorite holiday, I dress up the kids and play paparazzi). I got some pretty cute shots and can't wait to get them printed!

I am so grateful to be a mom. I have 3 of the most beautiful kids in the world. They make me laugh everyday and fill my life with joy. Thank you kiddos!

Pantera quote: "Alex would never tell the bad guys where we are. Never!" Alex is my brother serving in Afghanistan.

Mama

Zeke is always more than happy to say Dad everytime he sees Jess. He will not call me Mama! Until I taught him to say it like a dinosaur. Just in time for Mother's Day!

4 weeks old!

Kramer

Pantera is, by nature, incredibly over dramatic. Yesterday we were talking about school enrollment and she freaked out! She said that by sending her to school I make her feel like I want her to find a new family and that it makes her "feel like junk, junk covered in spiders and tossed out a window." Then she said that she will "just go to the principle's office everyday, for talking all the time!" I try to reassure her that she is going to love school, she doesn't believe me though.

Zeke is the polar opposite, as long as he gets his meals on time, he's usually drama free! He loves to color these days, in fact he has been trying to sneak his coloring books into the bath tub with him. He colors like a crazy little artist, throwing every crayon behind his back after each carefully placed scribble. He is really bothered by Amari's umbilical stump and will almost touch it, then gets grossed out and walks away.

Amari is cute as can be. Everyday it looks a little more like she is going to fulfill all my hopes and dreams. That's right, it looks like she is getting red hair! I know it can still change, so just give me this post to GLORY IN IT!!!

She also has the oddest hair growth patterns, a HUGE whorl on the back of her head and several cowlicks. Which makes her look a little like Kramer when she's not wearing a headband. Thank goodness she's a girl!!!