Andie 6 Years 1 Month

Andie Noelle just like that you are off into your seventh year of life and I don't know how that is even possible. Andie you bring such a joy into our life with your excitement, joy, laughter and outlook on life itself. You truly are such a special little girl. Andie at 6 years 1 month old...

1. Andie got a new Aunt. Andie has loved Mikayla since the moment she met her. So when we heard of Uncle Dallin's engagement we were over the moon. It also helps that Aunt Mikayla and Andie have the same birthday so that is a fun fact. Andie loved being able to see princess Mikayla in her white dress and is ecstatic she is officially now family!

2. Andie had her last month of swim lessons. Andie has been doing swim lessons since forever it seems, January I think. Andie has loved learning how to be comfortable in the water and of course the start of her strokes. Andie has done exceptionally well at what she has been able to learn but Mom needs a break and Andie wants to play with her new skills so we will place a pause on lessons for a bit.

3. Andie loves free lunches. Each summer I get so excited about the free lunch opportunities in the city parks. It is such a fun event you can go to daily, play at the parks, eat food and make lots of new friends. This summer was no different and we enjoy this so much. Andie's favorite food to get at free lunch is of course the fruit and the uncrustables or corn dogs.

4. Andie lost her first tooth. How? Andie is definitely growing up far to quickly on her parents. Andie has had a loose tooth for sometime now she finally one morning while sitting on the couch watching her iPad decided to see how high the tooth could lift up. Well apparently it lifted up too high, right out of her mouth haha. Andie was ecstatic and before she placed the tooth under her pillow of course said her goodbyes and stated it was her favorite tooth in her whole mouth, silly girl! The tooth fairy came and brought her a gold coin, fun times, plus she got her first library card woot woot!

5. Andie had her year checkup at the doctor. Andie is as healthy as a horse, is that still a saying? Andie is perfectly growing and the only problem was the darn bump on her finger. We will be getting that fixed in the next month or two. Andie you my girl are perfect and I knew that before the doctor gave a clean bill of health haha ;) Andie is growing tall and is 3'10".

6. Andie has been getting along well with Jake. Now if you know Andie she can't even stand next to her brother because she is in the stage of cooties and such. Of course I think school has associated a lot with Andie's attitudes against boys and poor Jake has done nothing. Now that it is summer Andie doesn't have her friend influences and actually has been having so much fun with Jake just like old times. I love watching my kiddos getting along and playing the best they can together. I hope this never ends, especially when school starts up again.

7. Andie is obsessed with Violet (from The Incredibles) and JoJo Siwa. When we went on our family day and watched Incredibles 2, Andie became obsessed with Violet. Of course if you ask a favorite super hero of Andie's she will say Violet. Also the times Andie is on her iPad she is of course watching a girl named JoJo Siwa. Any mom with a little girl in this day in time will know that JoJo Siwa is the thing with her big bows and all. Andie has asked for one thing when school starts up again and that is some giant bows for her hair haha. Until then she will have to settle for a new toothbrush that sings Boomerang from JoJo (or at least Daddy told her it was).

8. Andie likes making PB + J Sandwiches. These sandwiches Andie makes are no ordinary sandwich. In fact Mom can't even make them because the way I like them, just jam and peanut butter, is the wrong way to make them. Andie has to use two kinds of jelly (grape and strawberry) she will then have to add nutella mixed with peanut butter of course. So there is a simple PB + J sandwich with four ingredients and Andie LOVES them so much, she makes and eats them daily.

9. Andie wants to go into gymnastics SO BADLY! Andie asks me daily if she can do gymnastics and each and everyday I feel like a horrible mother because we can't afford to send Andie to gymnastics even though I totally want too. Andie has taken things into her own hands by learning to roll down the hill at free lunch, she loved it but of course got dizzy. Andie also has been trying to teach herself how to do handstands by putting her feet up on the wall. Practice makes perfect right. I am so proud of my girl for taking things into her own hands and I know that we will get her into gymnastics as soon as finances allow. I love you!

Andie you my girl are a complete joy. You have a love for all things girly and I would have it no other way. When we first chose your name I knew that if I named my little girl Andie you would be a girly girl and to see that play out is amazing. You are determined to accomplish all you can even if it means making things do with what you have. You my girl are the best thing to happen to your Mom and Dad. I wanted to be a Mom so badly and after almost a year of trying you brought healing to my heart. I love you my Andie Noelle, always and forever!

July 4th 2018

Can you believe how fast this year is going? Each year seems to go by quicker and quicker, my goodness. Of course we have like zero traditions still for the July holidays, I am such a slacker. We do have big plans for when we actually have a house and place of our own. Until then pajama day it was with some fun playing with toys and trying to do handstands (even Brooklyn was great at them).

We did spoil ourselves a bit this year though and tried the firecracker Oreos. They had pop rocks candy in them so it was strange but the kids seemed to like them. We also pulled out some of our stored poppers we had since Andie was a baby. Andie, Jake and Brooklyn loved throwing them at the cement so much we swung by the dollar store and had to buy more. I can handle the cheap fireworks when it comes to my wallet book so why not?

It was funny while we were outside playing Jake states, "I am hungry!" He then walks over to his tricycle with the little trunk and pulls out a whole vine of grapes. I don't know when he put them in there but it must of been that evening sometime. It was so funny and of course I had to snag a picture of his awesomeness with McQueen slippers and all.

The kids decided they would be brave enough for fireworks back in June for West Fest (not so good) but Andie decided she would play bravery next year and so it continued our same tradition of watching fireworks out my parents front room window and backyard. This is okay though because each year the fireworks get better and better as more neighbors set off the big ones.

Oh holidays you seem to sneak up on me but one of these years, in the far off future, I will be prepared for you haha! Plus maybe Daddy won't have to work some of them.

SAHM

I have wanted this day to come since I first held Andie in my arms many moons ago, I can't believe its finally here! Yes we aren't in a good financial spot or even living on our own but the blessings I know that will come from me being home with my adorable kids will be so worth it. 

My last day with Intermountain was (June 24th) right before my five year mark, has it really been that long? I have done receptionist work and learned so much about sleep, even how to perform sleep studies. I don't know when I will need to know this much information about sleep again but I don't regret any of my experiences I had here. Plus now whenever I wake up from a dream my first thought is wow I just had some REM sleep (nerd alert!).

I am excited to see where life takes us from here, plus hopefully my OCD will thank me for being able to get our home a little bit more organized! Of course how could I not mention how ecstatic Andie, Jake and even Brooklyn are excited to not have to say goodbye to Mom anymore. Woot woot, mom life :)

Seventy Cents

Am I the only one that forgets to use gift cards all the time and they just collect dust? Yes that is what I thought, I am a crazy women. It did come in handy for our family day when we were saving for our upcoming Disneyland trip. First off we went over to the aquarium because we have a family year pass. The kids loving seeing the animals, especially the sharks and penguins. Of course our family favorite is the playground they have at the aquarium and are constantly playing in it.

Jake saw this little mini car and his mind exploded how an engine could fit in such a small car haha, it was awesome. He requested a picture by it and of course I couldn't resist a picture opportunity with Jake as this is the rarest of rare opportunities.

After the Aquarium are stomachs were a growling. We didn't want to spend money so we had to go where we had gift cards or in this case point money we could use. I love that Cafe Rio has the app you can scan your receipts in. I have saved up my money when going on the triple or more bonus days. Hello free delicious burritos, yum yum!

The main reason we were going out on our family day was to go and watch "The Incredibles 2" and that movie didn't disappoint. We had movie passes we could use that I saved up from Intermountain that were about to expire, so thank you old work. We got into the movie for free!

We decided to spoil ourselves and use a gift card we had to the movie theater to get some popcorn and drinks. This is where we spent 70 cents. Wow is popcorn and drinks at the movie expensive. We had like a 20 dollar gift card but even that didn't cover two drinks and a bucket of popcorn, wow!

We had such a fun time as a family and I think Incredibles 2 is going to be a family favorite when it comes out digitally in the next couple of months. Jack Jack is Brooklyn's favorite and Andie is loving Violet. Lets just say Jake loves Dash but I think he loved it all to be honest. Yeah for Disney always making great family oriented films. Our kids also loved dancing through all the music with the credits at the end of the movie. I love that my shy kids sometimes are able to burst from their bubbles. The audience gave them an encore, whom was left that is haha, hilarious!