Natalee is 4!

Four years ago, this little girl came into the world with an overwhelming temperment. She cried for 3 months straight and we grew to love her inspite of it all...and that love has only grown since then.

{Here are my top ten favorite things about Natalee}

10. She has good intentions...like when she wants to help me cook and then 2 minutes later finds something more interesting to do

9. At bed time, she sings to me...usually made up songs

8. She has learned to ride a 2 wheeler, pump herself in the swing, and buckle her own seatbelt

7. She draws rainbows

6. She knows how to relax

5. She kisses the baby in my belly

4. She loves to be in charge and give orders

3. She worries about others, especially her sister, Kaitlyn

2. She plays with the turkish girl at Kindergarten who doesn't know much German

1. She pats my back when I carry her

Love love love her!

New life

{This post is over a month old...but just now working out some bugs in order to post it!}

Its always remarkable to me to see green grow out of a plant that was hideously dead-looking in the winter. I am always reminded of the way the Savior is able to pull us out of our lowest of lows and make us into something that radiates beauty.

New life is always a miracle. It is astounding to me that our bodies just know how to create life...that without me having to even think about it, our baby has fingers that move and eyes that blink.

I am moving into my 4th month of pregnancy and everything has gone better than I could have asked for. Aside from a little fatigue and extreme hunger, this baby has treated me nicely. This makes me a little nervous however...my 1st 2 pregnancies were quite similar and they resulted in infants that weren't exactly easy. 3rd times a charm, right? I am counting on that!

{at 13 weeks}

Ben

I know you are all not going to like hearing this, but truly, I have a corner on the market...my husband is the greatest. And here's why:

1} He creates traditions

2} He shows his faith by the way he lives

3}To him, each meal I cook is the best meal EVER

4} He lets me be emotional and irrational

5}He uses humor to cheer up grumpy girls (including me)

6} He is idealistic and knows what he wants to be and do

7} He is SO easy to talk to

8}He encourages me to be my best and to do things for myself

9}He gives excellent counsel

10} See below

I took Natalee to the store with me the other day. This is no ordinary feat. Most of the times I take my kids grocery shopping with me, I leave feeling like I just aged 10 years. And I tell myself , "I am never doing this AGAIN!" But this time with Natalee was different. Other than throwing 4 chocolate puddings into the cart {for the family night treat, mom!} while I wasn't looking, she was an angel. It was easy. For the first time, taking my little 3 and a half year old in public was easy. Life is good.

Nat is my cooking helper!



{HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS}

1. "My Mark", as Natalee calls him, came out to visit us right before Christmas. He arrived right before we got hit with the big snow storm. He brought such a warmth and light into our house {and not just because he came from Arizona}. He was positive, upbeat, and helpful in every way. He was only able to stay 5 days and we still miss him.

2. Skyping with my 4 siblings and my parents all at the same time, despite being scattered across 3 states and 2 countries.

Here are some pictures from our holidays!

{Christmas Market}



{Snowgirl we built together}



{First live Christmas tree since our first Christmas together--2001. This blasted thing dropped needles like nothing I've ever seen. This will be our last live Christmas tree. }



{I have never felt so cozy while shopping for a Christmas tree}



{Over a foot of snow}



{I just love this picture of us on Christmas Eve. I can't be any happier being married to Ben. He is right there with me, no matter what.}



{Kaitlyn graced us with some ballet on Christmas eve.}





{The guy wanted pie instead of cake! Happy 28th Mark!}



{Helping a very frustrated, yet determined Kaitlyn iceskate for the first time}



{Ben, Mark and the kids took a trip to some ruins by the Rhine river while I was in bed with a migraine. Squeezy girl!}



{One of Ben's favorite winter sports--sweeping the snow}

Wedding

We recently had the great pleasure of seeing my youngest brother, Andrew, get married in the Salt Lake Temple. He married a girl named Emily, who is from Orem, the town where Ben grew up. It was a peaceful day without stress or problems (I guess I can easily say that because we left our girls at home in Germany with a friend)
The night before the wedding, we gave Andrew a fun little groom's shower at the hotel, complete with 10 boxes of pizza and 2 large envelopes of advice and letters of endearment from each person. The morning of the wedding, Ben and I spent at the temple and then went straight to the ceremony afterwards. The usual picture taking took place after and then we had a luncheon at the Joseph Smith Memorial building, followed by speeches and entertainment--always enjoyable. For once, I didn't mind sitting at the kids table (well, we aren't kids anymore....are we)

The week before the wedding, I stayed with my parents in Arizona...just me...in my old room. I felt like a teenager again. We ate out practically every meal but I didn't mind that, seeing that decent take-out here in Germany leaves much to be desired (Chipotle, Baja Fresh....oh how I miss you!) While I was in Arizona experiencing monsoon storms, Ben and the girls were back here enjoying warm sunny weather. I was so lucky to spend all that time with my parents.

The highlight of my trip had to be seeing my 4 siblings, all arriving at the hotel in Salt Lake City at the same time. I stood at the end of the hall and had a happy-tears moment as I greeted each of them. There is nothing like a family reunion.

Letting Go

I tend to be a little bit on the controlling side sometimes. I know how I want things to be and look and act. As a mom with very independent and strong willed kids, however, I am learning that sometimes you just have to just let it go.
This was one of those days as our 3 year old assembled her very own outfit...and she felt it was all very normal. That's all that matters, right?

.


What a goofy little thing.

#29

The neighbor down the street couldn't believe that I would want to take my kids to the zoo on my birthday....but didn't argue long with me when I offered to take her daughter with us! So the zoo....yes.... I wanted my kids to know that my birthday is not only special to me, but it should be to them (gosh darnit!) I would be taking off later that evening for a movie-night with friends and wanted the girls to know that birthday doesnt equal mom abandoning the family. (especially when it comes to obsessions of mine like Twilight)
So, here are some pictures from my birthday










Kaitlyn loves lions. Infact, her favorite scene from Planet Earth by BBC is when the lionesses attack the elefant and eat it. Lovely.


6 hours of my day...I must admit....was spent in the grips of Twilight. While the girls were at kindergarten, I watched the first 2 movies on my couch....just me, a blanket and some snacks. Later that night, I went for ice cream and then to see Eclipse with 10 friends from the ward. Yes yes....I am almost 30 and I like teenage books about teenage boys who take their shirts off. And, whats worse, is that I am seeing the 3rd movie again this week. Pathetic!

I topped off the night with a phone call with my mom...which of course was the perfect ending to my day.


The following night, Ben and I went out for Mexican food and then to the Düsseldorf Harbor along the Rhine. We had hot chocolate and apple strudel and people watched. I had recently noticed the summer onslaught of capri pants worn by men so I was pointing out cool people who were wearing them to Ben to show him that its not THAT lame. I am far from being so convincing.