Karoline goes in for surgery

The week of Capri's recital was crazy with class pictures, her dress rehearsal, lots of curlers and gel, and then the main event. With a one month old in tow, and Tucker out of town, it was enough to make for complete chaos. However, that wasn't all that happened that week. We decided that Karoline was in dire need of getting her tonsils and adenoids out. She had been snoring like an old man and it was causing her to wake up constantly throughout the night. When she kept falling asleep in the most random places (like the hardwood floor) I knew I had to take her in.

The doctor took one look at her and said her tonsils were way too big and needed to come out. And of course it ended up being that week!

I took her in and I was already feeling bad for her. She wasn't able to eat anything and I am sure she was nervous. Karoline acts so brave and sometimes I would rather have her just cry instead of feeling like she had to be brave. Once we got there she got her gown and cozy socks on. They had toys to play with which really helped keep her mind off of the surgery.

We spent a lot of time waiting, talking to the nurses and doctor, and then it was finally time. I brought her in the operating room and laid her on the table. I hated it. I knew she was so scared but was trying so hard to not cry. I was ready to lose it but I knew I couldn't make it worse for her and start crying myself! As soon as they put her under, I ran out to compose myself. I was so glad my mom was there with Clara. I wouldn't have been able to get through all of that without her!

The actual surgery went quick. It turns out that her adenoids were also ridiculously large so it was really good we got it taken care of. They brought me in to see her just as she was about to wake up. The poor thing. Incredibly groggy and in pain. She started working on a popsicle and was doing surprisingly well. So well, in fact, that we went to Target to load up on more drinks, popsicles, pudding, and jello. My sweet Koko, such a tough little thing.

The next few weeks were rough. She would do great for a few days, and then really struggle with the pain, then get sick from the pain meds. Not fun. Thank goodness, however, Karoline was a champ through it all and it never kept her down for long. That's my Koko!

This slurpee was well deserved!

Fables, Fairytales, and Folklore

Capri started at Utah Dance Artists in January and had her first recital in June of 2013. She had been taking a ballet class and a jazz/tap combo class. She has really loved dancing. There is nothing more gratifying than seeing your daughter do something she loves. Even during class, she is smiling away. She is always happy to go and adores her teacher, Miss Heidi.

Capri worked hard in both classes and even spent time at home practicing her numbers. I was a bit nervous for her to perform on that big stage in Kingsbury Hall, but I didn't need to be. All that practicing paid off because she nailed both dances with ease. Seriously, the cutest one up there! She was born to perform! I wasn't the only one to think so. Her teacher nominated her as the Dancer of the Year!

DRESS REHEARSAL

We weren't able to take pictures of the actual performance so here are a few from the dress rehearsal...

All ready to go in the dressing room:

On stage for her ballet number, Sleeping Beauty:

Look at that stage presence!

Her tap number, The Jitterbug:

RECITAL

This girl is loved and supported by many! Besides our little family, Cheri, Drew and Isla, and both grandmas came. She was showered with flowers and gifts, a lucky girl!

Even the boys came!

Karoline wasn't in the mood to be taking pictures...

My friend Nicole's daughter Mikayla also takes at UDA so we had to take a picture of the four of us.

Me and my tiny little dancer. I love her so much and couldn't have been prouder!

The Green Ninjas

When some of our neighbor friends signed their kids up for soccer, we decided to go ahead and give it one more try with the twins. They both had a friend and seemed excited for another season of the sport. So glad we did. Though it took plenty of bribing, Roman and Capri finally started to make an effort. Their efforts turned into some great progress for their team and we were all thrilled. What was particularly awesome about being apart of the Green Ninjas was the fact that we got to hang out with our friends once or twice a week-it was great!

Here is the team:

And with their coaches:

Proof they made contact with the ball!

Look at that intensity!

They didn't love it, but the two finished the fall and spring seasons and did a great job. We promised that as long as they did their best and listened to their coach, we wouldn't make them play again. It worked!
Always happy at the end of the game, treats in hand...

Babymoon to St. George

Right after Clara was born, we went on a babymoon. We headed to our home away from home, St. George. It was the perfect way to recover, spend some quality family time, and just be up and out of the house. My parents joined us and Jon was already living there for the summer so it was great to have the extra company...and much needed help!
May in St. George is gorgeous and so we spent very little time inside. We swam and swam and got plenty of tennis in as usual.
Little Miss Clara was only 10 days old. We couldn't have her in the sun, but she absolutely loved being outside in her bassinet. Our stroller has literally saved us with that amazing bassinet doubling as instant shade and a portacrib for traveling!

This girl loves to be in on the action...even when it's a bit tricky such as hitting tennis balls with Daddy. After a few balls, she insisted that she was doing really good and made sure she told Grandma and Grandpa what a great tennis player she was. Self confidence won't be a problem for her.

Roman is really getting the hang of it these days. I love watching his focus and then excitement as he gets in a great hit.

 Taking a breather...

 Capri is loving the sport as well, maybe even more than her tennis outfit!

 She is one determined girl and it paid off in the number of balls she hit.

 Just look at this tennis crew!

We are usually the only ones at the pool, it's the best. And since Capri and Roman hadn't had swimming lessons recently, I put them to work at the pool. They were swimming laps and practicing their floats before I would let them play. Fortunately, Grandpa made it fun by swimming right along with them...

 I know I say this a lot, but my kids have the best Grandpa and Grandma in the world!

Roman taking a break in the hot tub...because the heated pool just wasn't warm enough for this guy!

Love these three...so happy to play all together. I couldn't ask for more!

This trip was just what I needed to wake up from the recovery process. I felt rejuvenated while I was there and I was ready to take on the world once I got back. And by world I mean life with four kids...it's a little bit crazy, but I wouldn't have it any other way!
I love this family of mine!

Clara's Newborn Photo Shoot-May 22nd, 2013

Some of my favorites...

Absolutely precious, nothing more I can say...

Richard and Elizabeth Curtis...together at last!

I cannot believe we did it! Yes, I meant WE, not THEY. I say we because it was Annelise, Cheri and I that decided not only do we want to be family, but that Richard and Elizabeth were going to make it happen for us. Annelise deserves the most credit here. She was the one to create a Memorial Day BBQ in her green court for everyone to come…but mostly to invite the Curtis family and Elizabeth so her and Richard could finally meet. It totally worked. Richard broke up with his girlfriend within the week, friended Elizabeth on Facebook, Elizabeth asked HIM on a date, and the rest was history! These two are meant for one another, no matter how it was set up. It makes me so happy to see them so happy and I love the fact that they live so close. Yep! They live right here in Daybreak!

First up, the Rehearsal Dinner at the Joseph Smith Building. My mom, sister and I got to plan the evening and I think it was perfectly elegant. The best part of the night, however, was definitely the video Annelise had made. The siblings of Elizabeth and Richard were interviewed, danced, sang, and lip synced for the production and it was beyond hilarious! I would post it here, but then you would make fun of my music video to the Titanic song.

Seriously, how cute are they?!

Love that my new best friends became my family!

The wedding was incredible to say the least. I had never seen a wedding that could compare! Held at La Caile, it was over-the-top gorgeous. Ribbons, flowers, pinks and silks…it was just beautiful! But let's start with the most beautiful and most important part of the day, the sealing at the Salt Lake Temple…

They really couldn't have asked for better weather that May morning. The kids loved being outside as we waited for the couple's exit:

Jon is the best, always willing to play with my kids!

And here's the happy couple!

Yes, my belly became a big part of the day...pun intended.

I couldn't believe that Elizabeth wanted me, the hugely pregnant sister-in-law, to be a bridesmaid. She insisted so I was happy to go along and end up having the cutest pregnant outfit ever…multiple alterations later. ;) It really was fun to have such a big wedding party and it made for some great pictures. My girls were flower girls, Roman was a mini groomsmen-it was a cuteness explosion!

 The Curtis Clan:

Check out these little studs:

 The Beautiful Bride and her darling flower girls:

The Wedding Party:

Even better than the amazing decor, delicious food, and all together fabulous venue, was the dancing. They had a live band and we all had a blast. I tried not to go too crazy in worrying I would go into labor on the dance floor! Gross. It was so much fun though and it was the perfect way to end the perfect day!
Here is Tucker dancing with his girls...nothing more precious than that!

Wow, that was a picture overload...but how could I not add so many fabulous pictures from such a fabulous day!