The Story of the Giggle Sisters

I got them to stand still for a picture...
One click and then the are off chatting.

So, I quick get in front of them to snap a shot of this hilarious conversation.

Which of course, ends with them falling down, rolling on the ground laughing. These two are so close, that one of the greatest horrors I can imagine is if something happened to the other. Today at church the primary kids got chocolate chip cookies. I happened to be in there because I was subing. Ella walks back to me and hands me half of her cookie and tells me I have to take it to Ruby in nursery...she settled for me saving it for her after church. After her ballet classes, Ella's teacher gave them each 3 Skittles. Ella would always walk out to Ruby and give her first pick of the colors. These pictures really just make it all worth it. It's ok if I have love handles and my house is a mess and I haven't scrapbooked in 2 years. Life is good.

Sweet Summertime

Enoch loves the water. He could be out playing all day.
The girls took swim lessons together and had a lot of fun.

We hit the Thanksgiving Pt. splash park about once a week. It is probably my favorite water venue because Enoch can just crawl around and go crazy. And I promise I am not totally white trash--I was in the process of getting his swim gear on. I just wanted you to be able to feel the love from the rolls. The boy is in heaven. He turns one this week.

The thing I love about summer is the heat. Not just because I love sunshine but also for the way it completely exhausts my children. I take them out to swim and I am guaranteed a 2 hour break while they nap. I didn't get that in the winter.

Ruby turned 3. She has been dreaming of that day for months. She had a Scooby Doo themed swim party--the girl is obsessed. You can't see it buy she is even wearing a Scooby shirt.

Springtime Bliss!

This is going to be short because I have 20 pages left in my book but I have been trying to take more pictures of the kids...so here are a few of my new favorites. We are having so much fun being outside again. We can't wait for Easter this weekend--we have already started into the candy!

Enoch, my little man, is 8 months old!

Can you see some of the pizzazz/drama I get to deal with with my girls? (Can I have 2 with's?) These 2 are 2 sides of the same coin--as different as night and day but inseparable. They wear all the same clothes...makes shopping easy, although it doesn't seem to make more room in their dresser...uhmmm.

I wouldn't trade them for anything.

Good Night

I love this picture. It's a problem because I look at it and I want to have 5 more kids. I just have to remind myself of grocery shopping, bathtime, getting dressed and ready by 8:30am, and all the other moments of insanity. But here are my three buddies all ready for bed, so cute and happy and it is hard not to want this to last forever...

(Ruby has some chocolate on her face. She is my little mouse, it doesn't matter where I hide the treats she can always find them.)

It's Almost Spring!

I love this time of year! The anticipation for the beautiful Utah spring. I cannot wait to play outside again. To get my garden started--my crocus and daffodils are already on their way. Here is my angel boy--he is 7 months. He continues to be the happiest, easiest kid. He loves sitting up and playing with anything he can get his hands on. His favorites are his cars, paper and plastic bags (well supervised of course).





Tom took Ella skiing for the 1st time a few weeks ago. She did quite well. I think Tom was excited to finally have a girl excited to go with him...I would rather spend my money on a massage. I just really don't like being cold...and paying for it?

Here's Froggy...Ruby didn't want her picture taken. This is her frog that she is obsessed with--he comes everywhere with us.

Finally...

I guess I am going to be doing quarterly updates on my blog...no really, I will try to be better. I have come to a very liberating realization lately: I don't have to do all the little things that don't really matter unless I want to. I have let go of quite a few things that I felt like I had to be doing to be the ultra woman. I have tried to slow down and just enjoy my kids and just do the things that I really want to. Why is it so hard to be truly content with things just as they are? I want to be happy without changing a thing outside of myself. Happy 2009! (That is really hard to type and mean considering I am going to be 33---deep breaths, Cardon.)

Christmas morning: Ella and Ruby being distracted from the presents by Grandpa Gardner (just getting home from an all nighter at the ER), while Grandma is busy getting breakfast made.
Enoch and Mommy lounging in the massage chair--that's the way to wake-up.

The girls had fun playing in the snow and exploring the woods around Grandpa and Grandma's house.

Here is Enoch--he is 5 months old now and rolling around. He is 97% in height, 95% in weight--big and oh-so-happy. I am obsessed with this child.

Fun Day at Lagoon!

Tom's company, Delta Valve, held their annual summer party at Lagoon. Ella has been so excited. The other day she asked, 'Mommy can we pleeease go to the swamp today?'. I had no idea what she was talking about. I don't make a habit of taking my kids to the swamp. So I asked her what the swamp was like--'what's at the swamp?' She said, 'You know...the place with the roller coasters'. Oh, Lagoon. How she knows that a Lagoon is kind of like a swamp, I have no idea. I've given up trying to understand how she is so stinkin' smart. Definately Tom's side of the family.
Needless to say, they were in heaven. There was no fear, and Ruby was tall enough to go on all the rides Ella did, so they were crazy happy together.
Here they are in one of there excited giggle hugs waiting for the ladybug ride.
My glamour girl in my new $3 sunglasses ( I know they're a little ridiculous but they were the perfect price for the way I (my girls) go through my sunglasses.)
I wish I would have taken this on video. I held up Enoch's monkey today for him to look at. He started cooing and smiling at him like they were old buddies. It was seriously the cutest thing. One of those mommy moments that I hope I don't forget (which is really asking a lot of my brain--thank goodness for journals).

Enoch's Blessing

Three Generations of Gardners! We were so excited to have Grandpa Gardner and Uncle Stew come out for Enoch's blessing. Grandma Gardner is still recovering from back surgery and was unable to come...we are excited to see her for the holidays in Kansas. The girls loved getting to know their Grandpa better. While he was here we worked and played. He helped us clean out our storage room and garage to get the house market-ready. Then we had a picnic at the park. Grandpa treated us to McDonald's--the girls were in heaven.
I love this picture.
It has become a tradition that Tom dresses the kids in their whites (I'm usually running like crazy trying to get to be on time for church). I love the way that E is looking up at his Daddy...ready for his big day.
Here is Enoch with his gorgeous Grandma Cardon. She was just call to be Relief Society President! So now instead of just busy, she is crazy busy. This week she leaves for a month in Italy with her dad. I can't think of many people who deserve it more--I am going to die without Grandma a phone call away...
Here is how Enoch enjoyed most of his special Sunday. It was so nice of him to sleep and let me eat all of Uncle Robert's delicious food! I LOVE THIS BOY!

Ella Lost Her Tooth

Ella fell today and knocked out her front tooth. I don't know who cried more--Ella or me. I am suffering from a serious case of post-baby-cry-at-anything. I'm a disaster really. You know it's bad whenyour 3 year old says, 'it's ok, Mom. My tooth is all better'. She was a real trooper.

Park Daze with My Girls

The girls live to go to the park, especially now as the weather is cooling off a little. We usually go in the morning--Enoch naps in the stroller and the girls run off some energy. Within a few minutes, Ella knows every child's name and is organizing games, while Ruby finds the biggest slide and tries to break the current speed record.
My little minnie...
My joy...Ruby has gotten pretty blonde this summer. I love it.
Here is Aunt Gen playing in the sprinklers with the girls (Mom isn't that fun and crazy).
Our park time always ends with a walk to the stream. The girls love to go on the bridge and throw leaves down to the water. It's perfect because the path wraps around and back to the parking lot (away from the slides...).

Enoch (little Tom) is 1 Month Old!

My angel boy.
Clean and bright.

Here is Enoch on Aunt Michelle's quilt with the monkey that Ella and Ruby made for him. I am going to take this picture every month for the first year to watch him grow.

Bath time

Enoch takes his bath very seriously--he always furrows his brow in the bright window light.

He is all clean and snuggled up...my favorite.

Sleepy.

Cutie.

Ella is in love with Enoch (Ruby is warming up to him...).