What's his name...Baby Boy Fillmore #4

This is the big brother Tyler. He was so excited for this new addition to come to his family. He is such a kind big brother and looks out for his little brothers so well. For some reason I didn't get any of his brother Jacob with new baby brother but he was so funny. He wanted the baby all unwrapped and wanted to check out every single body part to see what size it was...mighty small at 6 pounds 1 ounce. So tiny.

How darling is little Joshua. He was so excited with his little sweet voice asking questions and wanting that baby. What should we name him Joshua? Today it was House.

The Boys of the Family...

The darling family. Poor April was throwing up right before the picture and right after. She still managed to smile for the camera and look good. What a sweet family.

What a great dad.

This is what it looked like when the boys first came in. They were being lifted up to see their cute new little brother. It wasn't good enough for long and they had to get him out and unwrap him.

CONGRATULATIONS...please name the poor kid soon.

December Happenings

December is always such a busy month. Which is why i am so far behind in my updates. Here are a few snapshots of some of our happenings...

Eliza had her little Christmas show. Here she is with one of her best friends Bliss. She was not feeling well so looks a little loopy in her pictures and got super sick with double ear infections right after. She was a little off but so glad that her aunt April and favorite cousin Joshua came to watch her.

here is her little class. They danced to I want a hippo for Christmas. Cute class.

Susanna had her first Violin concert at school. Here she is next to one of her good friends Ashlyn. nathan was supposed to be in it too but he was home super sick sick sick. She did a great job.

Clara has been waiting and waiting and was finally star student. We got to go and talk about her and she shared her poster with the class. It was so fun to see her so proud of herself and a little shy as she told about her favorite things. Clara is such a star.

And Nathan finally got to miss a little school . Too bad her was really too sick to enjoy it much.
He missed his violin concert and even got a fever blister.

Christmas Throw-Up

This is what I have lovingly dubbed "Christmas Throw-up" It is our family tree. Last year I finally was able to get a tree to make pretty but this is the one that matters in our family. Every year it is a huge production to get this tree ready for the holidays. Here is kind of how it goes...


Everyone has to take their turn at the nativity puzzle that Lisa made me. Eliza is having a turn with help from dad. My kids are pros now but it still gives me trouble.

We have a big basket of Christmas books that come out and Susanna started reading some to Eliza while we unpacked the boxes.

Clara is standing around all the boxes as we figure out where we want to put everything. We clear a corner for our tree.

Dad puts the tree up and then the kids start unpacking all the ornaments. The boys were at a fireside tonight so the girls started on their own. Each child has tons of ornaments that are "theirs" and if they aren't really, they adopt them. They sort them into big piles and remember when they got their ornament and think about how special they are. Many of them have come from Grandma and Granpa Fillmore and they love each and every one of them.

Here is Nathan with his safely guarded pile.

Amelia has none yet so I thought I would throw a cute picture of her up. I try to start with one special one their first year. I still need to find hers.

This is one of her favorite activites right now. She is my next dancer in training.

AND she wants to be mobile so badly. I think she will be scooting around a little by Christmas. Watch out.

here are a few of Clara's favorites. She got the baby Jesus from Aunt Jenny (I don't think it is really hers because I think they came before she was born but it is one of those adopted ones.) And her ballerina bear from her Grandma. Oh the number of ballerinas on this tree.

Susanna couldn't decide a few favorites so she managed to get most of hers on her fingers at once.

Here they are decorating the tree. It is funny, they start out not wanting anyone to touch theirs. By the end, we are forcing them to get them all on. There are just too many but how do you stop the memories? Hence the word throw-up...too many ornaments, too many things, no rhyme or reason or theme. There is almost no room to put them and it is a little tree.

Had to put on in of Eliza working on the nesting Santa Claus. She loves that.

I think this is one of my favorite ones because it shows how tiny this tree is. Justin is as tall as the tree. It is full of fun and memories and I wouldn't have my Christmas Throw-up Tree any other way. Merry Christmas

Thanksgiving 2010

With our family pretty much scattered this Thanksgiving...Jim and Stephanie were so nice to invite us over to celebrate with them. They went all out and everyone had a great time. Thanks guys. They did a smoked turkey and a regular one.
Stephanie was busy busy busy and managed to have everything fancy and fun. (as usual)

Stephanie's sister and her kids were there too. Her daughter Abby helped me with holding Amelia and playing with Eliza.

Here are the two little miss Sassy pants cousins. Just ask their moms. Like two peas in a pod.

I've decided when I looked at the pictures, this was really Eliza's Thanksgiving. She had lots of great adventures. Here she is trying out some dessert. Eclairs...yum.

Blake (why might be her favorite) helping her on the indo board. (is that even what it is called)

The girl table...Allie, Susanna, Amelia, Zoe, and Clara.

The boy table. Didn't get all of them in the picture.

The grown up table. Great food, great company...good times.

Eliza visited Dallin in his room and took a few guitar lessons.

Then she visited Ethan's room and took a few drum lessons.

Ethan is a much better player but so loud. I don't know if I could stand it. He is getting pretty darn good.

Nathan and Blake and yes, my Nathan is actually 2 months older than cousin Blake.

Eliza at the end of her long day. I think her face says it all. She is thankful for such great cousins. She had a great time and so did we. Thanks Fillmores.

Wax Museum

Meet John Adams. Nathan had to study him for a report in school. We went to the thrift store to find this nifty outfit. Whenever someone pushed the button on his desk, he had to recite his life story. He did an awesome job and had a lot of fun learning about him.

Striking some poses.

We got a few pictures of the cat in the hat, neil armstrong, and a few other famous friends.

Way to go Nathan. I think any chance you get to perform, you will take it.

Static Sunday

Take a Sunday afternoon, a fourteen year old brother, fuzzy blanket, and two sisters with long hair and look at the fun you can create. They had somuch fun making their hair stand on all ends. Too darling to see their happy faces and crazy hair.

Amelia's milestones

At about 4 and a half months, Amelia started some new tricks. She started to roll over. She could roll from her tummy to her back earlier but now she can turn both ways. Now we have to be careful where we lay her and I fear there will be some rollovers in her future.

I never had one of these for my kids but we got one at a garage sale a couple of weeks ago and she loves it. I can put her on the counter while I am cooking or she can just sit up a little and see the world. It makes her happy. I think she may be able to crawl out of it soon though.

Eliza can't stand to not be included in the picture.

AND man does this little princess love her toes. She can suck on them and hold them and even play peek a boo with them. They are her favorite toy right now.