Sisters 2011

In the middle of July, all of my sisters, our sister-in-law, and our mom got together for a sisters' weekend.  We had so much fun!  Thanks to all the husbands who made it possible!

This time, we each had a baby with us, so we were 8 women and 7 babies.  Needless to say, we didn't get anything really productive done.  We did manage a lot of visiting and lots of eating.

Now, tons of pictures:

My brother Alex's wife, Lindy, had a baby 1 week before Sisters.  She joined us when she could.

Joanne, Me, Laura, Marian, Mom, Christine, Eliza, Lindy

In age order: Laura, Rebekah, Eliza, Joanne, Marian, Christine

The babies: Taking care of themselves during the photo shoot.

Moms and Babies:

Laura and Wells

Me and Sally

Eliza and Xander

Joanne and Cynthia

Marian and Victor

Christine and Ford

Lindy and Wayne

Out for a walk:

Haircuts: Our favorite hairstylist came and gave us all haircuts!  Thanks, Trish!

 Pedicures:

We surprised Dad and showed up in his BYU ward sacrament meeting.  I'm not sure those students will ever forget us; our babies were not very reverent.

The babies:

Alexander, Maxwell, Cynthia, Sarah, Victor, Wayne, Raeford

I love this one of Joanne keeping the little ones entertained:

Age order:

Xander, Ford, Sally, Wells, Cindy, Victor, Wayne

Not sure what Sal's doing here:

Cindy, Ford, Sally

Sally's putting on her "I'm too cool" face:

Ford, Sal, Xander, Cindy

My girlie-girl waiting for Grandma Shaunna to pick her up:

Bath time:

Wells, Sal, Cynthia, Ford

Helping me pack:

One day we went to my mom's sister's house to swim.  We had a blast!  I think we each lost several years in age that day.  So fun to be a kid again!  (I hope my mom and sisters don't mind my posting swimming pictures of them?)

Sal and I went down that slide several times.  (Despite the look on her face, she really did like it.  She kept asking to go again.)

Love this picture of Joanne.

Mom going down the slide:

Mom getting fancy:

Fancy me:

Fancy Sally:  She demanded her hat and goggles on her head.  She was very pleased about it until we all started laughing at her cuteness.  She was offended by our rudeness.

Joanne:

Christine:

Sally:

Joanne:

The food:  We ate a lot of good food.

The belated birthday cake my mother-in-law brought when she returned Sally:

Double Chocolate Torte:

Looking forward to next time!

Happy Birthday to Me . . . .

Two days before Elaine's birthday, I turned 34. I know 34 isn't terribly old, but I feel old sometimes. I remember my mom turning 34. I was 13. She had 7 kids. I thought she was old. (Now, at 55, she seems not a day older than 34.) I guess I'm still coping with the fact that life has not gone the way I imagined/planned. Not that I'd have it any other way . . . I'm so glad I was still around to marry Mike, and I wouldn't give up any of my girls for anything.  And, actually, if life had gone the way I planned, and I had had my same 3 children by the time I was 24 (instead of 34) . . . well, either they or I would be dead. At 24, I did not have the patience my 3 children require. Those 10 years of life not going my way taught me the patience I would need to be my girls' mom. So I've talked myself in a circle, and I guess I'm really glad I'm 34, and not 24. A friend of mine once said, "Think of it as God's 'Plan A,' instead of your 'Plan B.'" That helps.

Anyway. You caught me on a day when patience runs thin and havoc runs thick. I feel old today.

But, here's a picture from my birthday celebration.  I made myself a cheesecake.  And I shouldn't tell you this, but I used my birthday present from Mike (Photoshop Elements) to replace Sally's head in this photo. I liked me and the older girls in this one, but Sally wasn't looking. Can you tell? I think it's pretty good for my first go:

The night of my birthday also happened to be the night the LDS youth in our region put on a big cultural celebration night at the University of Oklahoma.  We decided to go, both for the experience and to support those who worked so hard putting it all together. It was a late night, but the girls did fairly well. I wasn't sure how they'd handle the noise/crowds/etc., but they did ok.  They loved the dancing, and they all really got into the clapping and whistling.  (In fact, almost daily, they dress up and tell me "It's time for the pre-formance!" They tell me to sit on the couch. They go "off stage" behind a chair and then run out, telling me to clap and whistle. (Pictures to come in a later post.))

Elaine is 3! (2 months ago)

So I'm a little behind . . . . but life has still been happening at the George house.  I had my sisters' weekend back in July. Then we all went to Utah for 3 weeks. Then I've been working my tail off to finish Elaine's digital baby book so I could use a groupon I bought months ago. Etc., etc., etc.

Life might settle down one of these days, but I'm going to try to catch up a bit at a time.

So, way back on July 10, my Laney turned 3.  She is a beautiful, sweet, smart little girl with a whole lot of fire and personality packed in.  She loves to dance, sing, play outside, read books, swing, "swim" in our teeny tiny blow-up pool, and do whatever Mariah is doing.  She asks every day, "Is today a water day?" (We can only use outside water on odd days.) She hates to have her hair done.  (I think she has the most sensitive head of anyone I've ever met.  She screams the second I get anywhere near her hair.  I hope she grows out of this . . . soon.)

I love Elaine's smile and laugh.  I really love the look she makes when she's very pleased about something but embarrassed to show it.  She sticks her tongue in her cheek to keep herself from smiling.

Laney says lots of funny words. My current favorite is "pipple" (purple). She says this a lot because purple is her current favorite color. Her favorite number is 13. I love the way she says that too.

Elaine tells everyone she meets, "I'm 'free!' I just had a birthday!"

Here are some of my favorites from her baby book:

And here's the big day:

She got Gorilla Munch cereal for breakfast.

I made pistachio cake with cream cheese frosting. (The frosting is trying to be "pipple," but it turned out kind of a lilacy pink.)

Mariah bought her a purse with jewelry at the dollar store. Pipple, of course.

We gave her this (hand-me-down) tinkerbell dress and a strider bike (no picture because we got it in Utah, and I haven't gone through those pictures yet). And tons of balloons. She's been asking for balloons for her birthday for months. Every time we go to the store, "Mom, can I have a balloon for my birthday?"

Grandma Orva and Grandpa Paul gave her Oh the Thinks You Can Think.

Grandma Shirlene and Gramps (Elaine's great grandparents) sent $5. I took Laney on a special outing, and she bought these doll accessories with her money.

Grandma Shaunna and Grandpa Jim sent a Dr. Seuss game that has been a huge hit with both Mariah and Elaine.