Cute kids!

I went to town taking pictures of the kids this evening.  I was trying to catch Eli's smile.  It is tricky since, unfortunately, it usually disappears once a camera comes out.   I will share a few pictures with you.  Eli is growing up too quickly!  He loves to stand.... so he is very content in his little toy.  He is a happy boy.  He likes to give kisses, talk, suck his thumb, and play with his feet.  I am lucky to have the two cutest kids ever :)

Talking to Aileah.  He LOVES his big sister!

I love his picture!!!!

Giving Kisses!

Proof I do exist ;)

Happy birthday, baby!

Where on earth have the last 3 years gone?  My sweet baby girl turned 3 today!  She is such a funny, sweet, sassy, stubborn, loving girl!  She makes me laugh and, yes, sometimes want to pull my hair out.  But I love this girl and am so grateful I get to be her Mom.  I know I mess up  A LOT... but she has somehow turned out pretty great so far!

She LOVES to sing.  Some of her favorites to sing right now are:  The Veggie Tales Theme Song, God is Bigger Than the Boogie Man, Do As I'm Doing, When I am Baptized, I am a Child of God. I have tried to capture her cute little singing voice on film, but she is not cooperative!

She LOVES Peter Pan and Disney Princesses.

She loves to pretend to be other people.  Today she was pretending to be Darth Vader, "Give yourself to the dark side."  (Complete with Vader breathing)

She is scared of owls, and birds and sneezing puppies and kitties, and grass and sticks.  I don't know why she is afraid of most of these things but we have to pray everyday to be kept safe from them.

She loves people!  She makes friends so quickly.

She is fighting potty training like none other.  GRRRR!  She will do a funny walk after she has peed in her diaper now. 

We found out today what an adrenaline junkie she is!  We went to Trafalga and she was ready to ride all the rides all by herself.  Her favorite was the Frog Hopper... it lifts you up high and then bounces you up and down.  She rode it at least 5 times.  Then as we were walking to the car she said, "Oh... we forgot to ride the big Frog!"

We like her a lot!

Our budding photographer

Lately Aileah has enjoyed using our camera to take pictures.  She is pretty adorable.  Please enjoy her photographs.... and some cute ones I recently took of our little cuties.

These first 4 pictures are of Aileah taking pictures of daddy.  She turned the camera the wrong way.

Aileah wanted to take a pic of the giraffes at the zoo.  Good shot except for her hand.

  My shots:

She fell asleep reading.  She is too funny.

Riding a horse.  She loves it.  She says "Giddyup!"

Eli enjoying the gardens at Thanksgiving Point.  He is so adorable!

Love this smiley guy!

A little comparison

Elijah

Aileah

 When Elijah was born I thought he had a look  that was totally his own.  As he's gotten a little older (since he is only 5 weeks)  I've seen some similarities between him and his big sister, Aileah.  I don't think they'd be confused for each other.... but i do see some resemblance.  I think they are both adorable.  So happy to be their mom!

2012... so far

Aileah had been waiting for it to snow for so long.  Finally.... we had enough to make a snowman and snow angels.  She was in heaven!  If only it had snowed more, we could have used the sled that Santa brought her for Christmas.  Maybe someday soon!

And our BIG news!!!!!   Elijah Thomas was born on Feb. 9th.  He weighed 8 lbs 6 oz and was 21 inches long.  His big sister weighed the exact same... but was an inch shorter.  He is a good sleeper during the day.  Such a sweet little thing.  And although I'd forgotten how exhausting having a newborn is.... I wouldn't trade it for the world!

By Sunday we were all really sick of spending time in the hospital!  Time to go home!

It can't be January!

I am a terrible blogger.  Such a long time goes between updates.  I am just feeling boring, huge and lazy lately.  Not really much to blog about.  But enjoy some pics of our cute little girl!

Just chilling on the couch and her mama hippo.  An actual real smile.... very hard to get these days.

Opening Christmas gifts. 

Aileah loves to bring us the camera and tell us to take a picture of her.  Then she does this cheesy smile as she says, "Cheese... Queso!"  Funny little thing!

In her Christmas dress.  She is looking way too grown up these days.

Cuddling only a few of her toys that fill her bed.  Isn't she cute when she's sleeping?!

Our adventures lately

I am a terrible blogger, I know.  Life has been keeping us busy.  Tom took some time off of work so we could go on a mini vacation.  I loved spending time with him.  I really miss him while he is gone all day.  I'm so looking forward to the day he is done with school.  That's only like 2 1/2 years away.  Sigh. 

We had a second ultrasound.  Elijah seems to be growing big and strong.  I can't believe I am 7 months already.  I am anxious to meet this little Mann.  I am also worried about how Aileah will do with him and sharing my attention, how I will handle 2 kids on my own, ..... the list goes on and on.  I know if I rely on the Lord, He will give me the strength to do all the the things I need to.

Here are some pictures from our most recent adventures.....

At Zoo Boise.  Aileah was more interested in all the play areas than in the animals.  Here is a cool slide... the real size of a giraffe.

She loved the penguins.

She loves the carousel!

Aileah and Mommy at the pumpkin patch.

Aileah and Daddy at the corn maze.

Visiting Grandma and Grandpa Mann