Too cool

Pierce found these styling shades at my parents house and put them on. Apparently he was feeling pretty sweet because he posed like this when I asked for a pic. Gotta love it.

Wild hair

So I thought I'm going through so many changes right now why not dive in head first? Literally. I went to go see my good friend Keelee to do the honors. She is one that you can literally just say do whatever and know you'll come out looking amazing. She did a fabulous job and I love my new do. Makes my life so much easier.

New shoes

What do you know? Both boys somehow grew out of their shoes mid flight to Utah! So of course I was nice and took them to the Nike outlet store. It didn't disappoint. The both came out with cool new shoes. Jaida too because my mom couldn't let her be left out. Pretty much she didn't want to deal with the tantrum. Brock's are the blue and Pierce the black. Two happy boys.

Water fight in March??!

So we started our journey west. Me and the kiddos took a non-stop flight from Dulles to Salt Lake ( thanks to my awesome friend Jennifer for taking us on that long drive). We barely made our flight. We were running through the airport, quite the sight I'm sure! I was sure that since it was a late night flight my kids would sleep, not even a wink! They were really good, but just really awake.
We made it safe and sound. The next morning the kids were up and at it. They could hardly contain there excitement to be at Grammy's and Papa's house. I was exhausted.
They played outside all day long. It was one of those rare warm weeks in March. Thank you Utah for being kind.
Brock started a water fight, long sleeves and all.

Another morning chat

I know... I know I am always writing about this sweet happy thing. But this is one of my favorite times with her. She just lays there so happily and laughs and coos.

Goodbye Lobsters

You know you go grocery shopping pretty often when your kids beg you to take them to the grocery store (Weis) to say goodbye to the lobsters. They think they are pets:).

One last time..

It was our last Saturday, the day before we would leave for sure, in Maryland. There were still what seemed a million things I needed to get done. I had so many emotions running through my brain. I decided that I would make this day all about the kids. I asked them to choose one thing they wanted to do, one last time before we left.
They chose to go to High Ridge Park (Lisa's Park) and have chicken on the bone. We have so many memories of that place. So many fun times. So many hours spent there. It couldn't have been a more simple request. We sure had a great time there. I will forever have a special place in my heart for that place.

Smiley

This girl is so happy and smiley. This picture was during one of our morning chats. I love her happy chubby face.

I hate goodbyes

I've never been very good with change. I'm learning to be better, but it is still very hard. It felt like with this move it was coming fast, but also that the saying of goodbyes was dragging on and on! It felt like every single day I was an emotional basket case and saying goodbye non stop. We made a lot of close relationships here so I knew it would be extremely hard.
One goodbye that was really hard was saying goodbyes to our pediatrician. Dr. Thomas-King was the absolute finest. I could always count on her. She was also there for me so many times with all of Jaida's health problems. I truly thought of her as a friend.
Trent's co-worker Tracey and her daughter Megan have felt like family as well and they were so sweet to meet us one night for our goodbyes and we exchanged gifts. Oh how we have loved the Lowcher Family. Halloween will never be the same without them:).
I was grateful in someways that my bestest of buddies was out of town so I didn't have to face her to say goodbye. I just bawled for a week straight instead!
Pierce was having a hard time the night before his last day if school. He decided that he needed to hand write each member of his class and his teacher a goodbye note. It was really sweet. I love this tender-hearted little boy.
While Pierce was doing that Brock decided to make Allie a very stylish headband. It was held together by a huge amount of staples, Allie didn't seem to impressed.

Four eyes

Got my new glasses and couldn't be more happy! My eyes aren't really that bad, but these pups help me see pretty darn clear. Plus when Pierce saw them for the first time he told me that they made me look like " the BOMB" oh yeah! I'll take it. Watch out the Bomb mom is coming through;)

Nerd Alert

Brock was so excited when I picked him up from school. He was chosen in technology as the "geek of the week!" This means he is able to do all that is asked of him on the computer and is a great listener. Way to go Mr. Lumps! We are so proud of you.

Allie's Blessing

Allie was blessed March 3,2013. It was a very special day. She looked absolutely adorable in her blessing dress. We were extremely lucky to have both sets of Grandparents for the entire weekend. Trent did an amazing job on the blessing. We love our little Allie.

Goodbye Hopkins

I had an eye appt at the Wilmer Eye Center at Johns Hopkins so me and the girls made a day of it and met Trent for lunch. We had a great time together. We walked around a little and took Jaida's picture with the Christ statue. This hospital has so many memories, some good, but a lot of sad. We feel so blessed that Jaida was able to receive the care she needed there. It will forever be special to us. Goodbye Hopkins!

Sleepy Head

I'm not complaining. On this day actually had to wake this cutie up at 9 AM to take the boys to school. This girl likes her bed and likes to sleep. And that makes for one happy mom!

Made me laugh

Today as I opened up the mail box I found this Arby's coupon mailer with half the coupons gone. I guess the mailman was 'Thinking Arby's' today. It must have been a pretty good coupon deal!

Playdoh

Jaida absolutely loves to play with play doh. In fact she can play for hours. I love listening to her sweet little voice talking about the things she is making. Packing to move has proved to be challenging, but after buying Jaida all new play doh and setting her up with it every morning... I was able to get so much packing done. Double Bonus!

Random selfies

I love taking pictures of my kids all spiffy for church. Jaida was not cooperating! Looking at these pictures just makes me think of how grown up they are getting. Where is the pause button. I don't want them to grow up... Yet!

He got the job!!!

We are so very proud of Trent!! He got the job as Director of Compliance at Children's Hospital of Central California. It's official we are moving to Sunny California!! We are very excited for this next chapter, but also very sad to leave so much behind in Maryland. Bittersweet. Way to go TBird! We love you.

Some ones getting chubby

Allie doesn't miss a meal. She loves her bottles! Her cheeks are really starting to fill in. She's almost always got a big cheesy grin on her cute face. Oh how she loves her brothers. They are such a big help.

Never a dull moment

Pretty much never get a moment to myself these days. Bathroom breaks are like a mini vacation. I almost always have one child on my lap and if I'm really lucky I only have two;). This is my most recent arrangement for dinner. Two girls fighting for real estate on my lap. If only this helped the weight loss.

Pierce is reading the Book of Mormon

Pierce has decided on his own to start reading the Book of Mormon. There have been a few mornings when I have found him on his own reading. It is so tender. Today he asked me if I would help him make two book marks, one for our family reading and one for his personal reading. This was our final product. We also had a really good discussion during our crafting. How'd I get so lucky to be his mom?

Daddy's Girls

That primary song rings true..."I'm so glad when Daddy comes home as glad as I can be..."
I honestly don't know who is more excited me or the kids. We sure love having him around and the girls are on him like magnets. I guess something's never change. Chick Magnet;)

Poor Jaida

Jaida had a nasty fever and was so sick. Trent was camping with the scouts. Luckily Allie and the boys were super good so I could tend to my little lovey. She spent the night cuddled in my bed. It was heavenly. She never has been a super cuddly baby, so I enjoyed every moment of it.

Love them like my own

I have had the unique opportunity to have had such a great relationship with my friend Stephanie and her kids, Teagan and Aaliyah, (well and Mo too) that I honestly can say I love those kids just like my own. We always have a good time. On this day as I was watching them Jaida and Aaliyah decided that they wanted to do my hair. We had some good laughs together. I'm so glad that we got to have this time together.

Allie 2months old

This sweet little petunia turned two months old on February 15th. She is such a smiley thing already. She almost always smiles at her daddy. Trent can also get her to mimick the sounds he makes. She pretty much has him wrapped around her finger. She is a great sleeper and at most wakes up once or twice a night, just to eat them right back to sleep. It truly has been a dream. She finally got over her Jaundice and started putting on some weight. Oh how I love this little girly. She is starting to finally like her baths and only screams when it's time to get out. Love you sweet thing.

Happy Valentines

This Cupid was not very on top of things this year. Usually I bring my A game for holidays, but adding a fourth has been a greater challenge than I had expected. Don't get me wrong Allie is a great baby, it's more of the juggling several things at once kind of thing. With time it'll get better.
Anyway, a quick trip to the store and everyone was happy. The boys got some new beyblades and Jaida a new toy princess cell phone.
Trent bought me some fresh springy flowers, they brought a smile to my face. I love my little family.

Never Ending

Laundry is a viscous cycle I tell you. Once you think you are near the end something dramatic happens like someone wets the bed or something! Adding another kid in the mix pretty much solidifies my never ending laundry chore! If only I had a laundry fairy, hmmm... One can dream right!

Author's Tea

Pierce had his first Author's Tea at school. He wrote a book called," Pierce and his Pet Dinosaur". He was pretty nervous about getting it done and having it just right. His teacher, Ms. Biondo was really pleased with his finished project. He did a great job presenting it in front of his class. After he was done reading we enjoyed animal crackers and apple juice. Pierce is such a great reader. I am amazed at how much this kid knows. He is one smart cookie that's for sure. I am so proud of him.

Chocoholic

Ever since I can remember Brock has always been a lover of chocolate. For his school Valentines I took him to the store to pick out candy to attach to his cards. I told him to pick out what he would like. He came back with Ghiradeli Carmel filled milk chocolate squares! I said,"oh buddy not that!" He replied with," you said to get what I would like and we can't give my friends the crap chocolate!" Haha he is a man of Fine chocolate taste. His Gramsie is to blame for this habit. She always had a stash of the "eagle" chocolates at the mission home just for Brock.

Extreme Couponing

I'm not quite to the extreme level of couponing but I definitely like to do it. There is just an adrenalin rush when you go to check out at the cashier and the total just keeps dropping! This by far was one of my best trips. 69%!! I was pretty proud. Gotta love a good deal.

California Dreaming

The first weekend in February a hospital in Clovis, California offered to fly both Trent and I out for a job interview. He would be interviewing for the job at Clovis Community Hospital. My mom flew out to watch the three older kids so that we could do this. We were so thankful. Since we haven't ever done anything like this we opted to kind if turn it into a mini vacation. We flew into LAX and Cory and Dee drove up to hang with us for the weekend. As you can tell by the pictures we had a great time and ate some yummy food. We walked along Santa Monica and Muscle Beach/ Venice Beach boardwalk and saw done interesting people. They also took us to an amazing place called Botega Louis. They had the best pizza and some yummy macaroons!
On Sunday we made our road trip to Clovis and even stopped off in Porterville to see one of Trent's best friends.
While Trent was interviewing Monday I went and kidnapped my niece and nephew Tyden and Hadlee. We went to breakfast at McDonalds and then to the pet store to look at the animals. Then I took them to Target to pick out a surprise. Tuesday Trent had more interviews and I toured the town with a relocation specialist. Trent got an interview with another Children's Hospital here in town. The lady at the community hospital Taft would be his boss turned out to be kind of an odd duck. The Children's Hospital seemed like a better fit, but they had local candidates that made more sense:(.
Later that night we went and picked up Tyden and Hadlee for ice cream and some Chuck e Cheese fun. We had a great time and it was so sad to say goodbye.
Allie got sick on this trip and still was such a trooper. She was an angel on all our flights and slept the whole time. We sure were excited to see our other kids when we got home. Man we missed them. Thanks for all those who made this happen. It was such a good time.