Grandma and Grandpa--We miss you already

Elder and Sister Fillmore

Okay, I totally admit it--I am currently in total denial. Anyone that knows my parents know they frequently disappear on extended trips to do dental work where I can't reach them for a couple of weeks at a time. Everyone keeps asking me how I am doing and if I am sad. Well, so far I am just "pretending" they are on a little dental trip. I still go by their house almost every day to check the mail, or take out a trash can, or get a birthday card so I am just doing business as usual. People keep asking if it will be hard when the baby comes. Anyone that knows me knows I don't really accept too much help and will be just fine--physically. But number 4 and 5 speed dial on my cell phone has really been neglected. I know I need to erase number five since they got rid of that number forever. But, who do I call 10 times a day now to say stupid things or who do I text my sarcastic remarks too? Did you know last year I made my dad come over and kill a scorpion for me? It is starting to settle in and it is a good thing they are off doing something good because my 2 year old complex (that is all my moms fault) is starting to hit.

The first time we went over, Eliza went through the house yelling Grandma, where are you? Now she knows they are in Guanamala.

Clara has always been a little obsessed with this lady. I think she has her wrapped around her little finger.

I am not a nice mom and didn't pull Justin out of junior high for a last goodbye and picture. The rest of the kids keep asking me if I have developed these yet. They want to put them on their nightstands.

Seeing the Positive

In January Arizona was hit with lots of wonderful rainstorms. We love storms of any kind and any chance to cool off and get caught up on rainfall. However, our poor roof did not get so excited and leaked into our home, and down the walls. There was some damage but luckily we have some good friend that could come over and get things fixed up. Our insurance company has declined to cover our damage which I am a little bugged about. Anyone have a good insurance company out there? Clint had to repaint our entire vaulted ceiling by himself. He rented scaffolding to get the job done and the kids were on cloud nine. Now that is a fabulous fort just waiting to happen. Sunday morning they got busy and spent most the day up there.

"Posers"

What is it about little girls and their poses? My little girls all have signature poses that they pull out every time a camera comes their way. Although I have to say my brother Parker was a pretty famous poser (especially in his underoos). So, as Eliza has now chosen her signature pose, she and Clara practiced their stuff.

We love Grandma and Grandpa "Heart Attack"

My parents left for the MTC a little after Valentines Day so we decided to "heart attack" them. Lisa, Jim, Benjamin, and my family all got together for a little FHE fun. We had hamburger and hot dogs, frosted valentine cookies, and decorated hearts with little love messages. Each of the grandkids wrote reasons why they love Grandma and Grandpa. It turned out really cute. We went over and put them all over their kitchen cupboards. They had a lot of fun reading them all and we had a good time getting together. Hopefully we can still get together now the master planners are gone. We missed the families that live far away. But, 20 cousins filled the house pretty good.

Eliza and Joshua--Eliza is defintely perfecting her posing.

Lisa is really the picture taker of the family. She took a lot more than I did. Every time Eliza gets her picture taken, she wants to see how cute she is.

Susanna and Annie had a lot of fun frosting and decorating.

Nathan and Dallin, are they eating or frosting?

So many fun girl cousins. Her are Betsy, Annie, Zoe, and Clara getting crazy with decorations.

Any time we get together these kids have so much fun, it makes all the work worth it.

I wish I had taken a picture of my parents kitchen after, it was darling. They were snowed in at Jenny's house in Maryland and were happy to come home to the fun messages and a large "LAST" box of Sees waiting for them.

Sisters

Eliza has gone missing a few times lately. Usually later at night (she is night owl and can stay up forever). Yesterday we found her on the top bunk which is Clara's bed. Sweet Clara was fast asleep and little Eliza was just happily sitting by her sister playing with her toys while Clara slept by her. She loves to be by her wherever she is. A few weeks ago the same things happened. It is a good thing Clara isn't claustrophobic. Clara falls asleep really early. I think she plays really hard and just konks out early. We find her on some couch fast asleep usually by about 7. It was about 10 and I went searching for Eliza thinking she was with her dad. She had just squeezed her little body right up next to Clara and put herself to sleep. These are the moments that melt my heart. So sweet to see. I wish I took better pictures.

My "Best" Friend

when little kids have older brothers and sisters, they say such grown up things that you would never think would come out of their mouths. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. I won't share some of the not so pleasant ones. But, we love it when Eliza talks about her BEST friend. She loves her little friend Halle and they talk on the phone and love to play together. They always want to go to eachother's houses and talk about how they are best friends. I love watching them play together at such a young age. Too cute.
It looks like they are sharing secrets but Halle is trying to give Eliza a kiss on the cheek but Eliza is trying to kiss on the lips. It was kind of funny to watch.

But, it is almost impossible for me to get them both smiling at the same time. You have to be one of those photographers that take 25 or more pics and hope for a good one. I take 3 or 4 and know they are usually not great.

The first lost tooth

How exciting is the first tooth you lose? My little Clara has been talking for months about all of her friends at school that have lost teeth, even more than one and she hadn't lost any. Well, finally it got a little loose. In my family a little loose means wiggle the heck out of it and rip the sucker out as soon as possible. There is no three or four days of loose teeth. She has always been my biggest ham and has the greatest smile that lights up her whole face so I told her I would be so sad when her perfect smile had holes in it. I had to take one before.