Little Sister Turns 2

Is it spring that got so busy and full that made Georgia's birthday sneak up on me?  At least she's only 2, right?  The princess had a great time with cake, balloons, and presents.

The fingers hardly came out of her mouth even for chocolate cake.

Christian bought her fake pearls on an elastic that she loves.

Feeding the tiny dog a bottle.  My boys wouldn't have done anything that careful and tiny.

So careful with her fairy stickers.  Fairy stickers?!  We really do have a girl in our house.  I'm still kind of amazed at that, but I'm still really enjoying it.

I had a donut cake!

On Charles' 4th birthday we had a very, very busy weekend.  However, we managed to get a few presents together, take the family to see an IMAX about animals - Charles' favorite thing in the whole wide world - and have a donut cake.  Christian was brilliant.  Since Dunkin' Donuts just opened up in town he took Charles alone to pick them out.  Long after the "party" he would tell people "I had a donut cake!" as proud as any kid could be.  I don't even think he remembers the gifts we gave him.

Easter in ATL

We had a lovely time in the lovely weather of Atlanta in the lovely care of my in-laws.  Janet put on a delicious dinner - always - and had an entire table of treats, toys, bunnies, and all things easter (plus a few guns) for the kids.  She made this precious smocked dress for Georgia so as usual I had the best dressed baby at church when she wears a Gammy dress.  By the end of the day she had gotten cheetos on the front of it, but handy Janet washed it out immediately.  Could I just move in please?  She cooks, she sews, she launders.  

Aunt Jessica helping Georgia find a few eggs before the boys get to them.  What's inside?  A dollar.

And what happened to be inside Winfield's plastic egg?  A picture of Mark from the 1970's.  I wonder who planned the egg hunt?  

Mark found a kindred spirit in Georgia at the drawing table.

After the Easter program at the ward in Atlanta (it was so impressive, I might add).

Do I have to wear this?

Daddy's girl.

Janet figured she'd wear her extremely high heels for Easter Sunday.  Little did she know she'd have to keep up with Georgia in the hallway during Sacrament Meeting.  These shoes are not made for babysitting (but can I add that to her list and can I please, please move in?).

It's Great to Be 8

 Jack thought he was the luckiest kid alive and I think he might have been.  Cousin Tate flew out from Colorado for Jack's baptism so we also had a bowling party on his birthday.  The kids loved it.  They made bowling shirts, ate candy, and acted like a bunch of boys.  It was great.

What a good pal.  

My mom and Paige flew out for the baptism, my viola recital, and just to be here.  I'm pretty sure I was the luckiest girl in the world.

Oh How We Love Chicago!

We bought a year pass to the Art Institute of Chicago.  Why?  Because Christian and I "are obsessed" (as Jack would say) with the art there and amazingly, the kids really enjoy it.  We go to the museum pretty much every time we go to Chicago.  This Seurat painting is one of their favorites (Charles likes the monkey) because they can see the pointillism up close, plus it's just an astounding painting.  They actually have a fantastic kids' room that is free to use - you don't need to pay admission, so for those who need a place for their kids to take shoes off and build with blocks or do giant puzzles or read books, this is the place!    

The Lions outside all decorated for Christmas.

So warm in November that Winfield took off his fleece!

Every year we head down a day or two before Thanksgiving to see the Macy's windows (love the trumpets, but the windows are totally lame, in my opinion.  They could learn a lot from ZCMI - remember those windows?!)  Mostly we go for the Christkindlemarket where the kids pick out our ornament for that year at one of the German booths.  It's a great tradition and each year is a little different, but it's always wonderful.  We feel so lucky to live so close to such a vibrant city.

The Pumpkin Tree

The Pumpkin tree is a Mitchell tradition.  When I say Mitchell I mean my in-laws.  This pumpkin tree is our very first in 10 years of marriage, but it's going to be the first of many because we had a ball.  It all started with Christian's sister around age 4 asking her dad if she could see the tree where all of the pumpkins grew.  Nothing stops Mark Mitchell once the creative juices start flowing and so the pumpkin tree was born.  They did it for about 5 years and were even on the news.  One year they had about 40 pumpkins on one tree and people would drive from all over the salt lake valley to see their tree.  It took about an hour to light them all, but they always made it into a neighborhood party with witches brew and games.  Our first party was so much fun!  Since this is our first Halloween in our new neighborhood it was also humorous to hear and see the reaction to the tree.  People stopped to take pictures and we found out later that some neighbors that we hadn't met only knew us as "the pumpkin tree family".  

The kids on Halloween: Winfield the power ranger, Jack Jedi, Georgia the cat, and Charles the bee (again).

The Cabin 2011

 Nature walk with Nana while the big kids went horseback riding.  Winfield, Jane, Charles, Audrey, and Kate all learned about plants, checked the river for water skeeters, threw rocks and got dirty.

With Emily and cousins Matthew and Kate.

In the hammock with my baby girl.  Who can resist the hammocks under those huge pine trees with the river a few yards away?  I've never seen it so green as it was over the 4th; all thanks to a full month of rain in June.

Just had to include this photo of Audrey because she looks so pretty.  Glad she got Laura's looks!

How many cousins can a Brazilian hammock hold?  

If I could look this darling when I'm pregnant...Isn't Marian adorable?

After the scavenger hunt we donned the crazy eyes and felt right at home.

July 4th Tradition...Plus a little Surprise!

 Aren't they cute?  40 years of marriage and they still love each other, which is no surprise to me, but by the world's standard it's pretty amazing.  What was surprising was the party we threw for them when we were all gathered for the 4th of July.  We had "reunion" shirts made that said "Marriott" on the front, baseball style and then patiently Laura stenciled a number on the back of each shirt - all 40 of them - with the order in which we were born.  Christian and I were #5 and our children were numbered by the grandchildren starting with Melaine as #1 and Joseph #23, I think.  It was pretty cute to see them all running around in their shirts.

 Caroline made a photo book about them and it was so much fun to see pictures of them in high school and college and on their honeymoon.  I hope I can look back at my own pictures in 30 years and laugh with my kids!

Paige and John at the Oakley parade.  Gotta love the Rodeo Queens in the background.

This was our first try at the parade and the kids got SO much candy, they loved it.

Mom in her cowboy shirt that Dad bought for her in Chicago, of all places.

One happy kid - candy in hand!  

The Tuxes And The Wedding

Our beautiful girl in her fabulous silk dress.  Of course, Gammy helped to get out the spots of fish crackers and water that your's truly was not careful enough to notice.

I can only guess what Charles is playing with - dirt? candy? mulch? bird droppings?  At least I got one picture with his shirt clean.  By the time the photographer realized it might be a good idea to take their pictures, it was hours later and many messes later.  He was filthy!  So, I enjoy looking at this crisp, clean Charles.  (You will rarely hear those three words in the same sentence.)

Father of the groom looking dapper.

Our little family.  The wind was unbelievable as you can see from our hair.  

Winfield quite liked his rose.

Tux?  What's a tux?  

Christian walked Genevieve down the aisle and they looked very nice together.

Love that crooked smile.  Funny I never noticed it until we had married a couple years.  It was just part of Christian to me.  

Having a little down time with Gammy before the wedding began.

Grandma Mitchell flew in from Utah with Mark's brother, Bob (below) for the wedding.  It was a sweet addition to the family and so wonderful to see her after nearly two years.  

This is sadly the only picture I have of the groom.  I couldn't really sneak in any more since the photographer followed him around like paparazzi, poor guy.

No no.  No more pictures of Aunt Genny.