#2 turns 6!

My first view of the little pink baby. (Eve)


Six years ago this week Eve was born! She was a beautiful little baby. She enjoyed using her loyal subjects as pillows. . . .





I can't believe that tiny little baby has grown into such a humongous little girl! Ok, she's not really huge- she's scrawny and little but her personality is huge! Eve loves to draw and play with her big brother and little sister. She loves to sing and dance and run around like a crazy person! She has a big imagination and a big heart. Eve is my best snuggler and she takes care of everyone around her. If someone is cold she'll get a blanket and "snug" them under it. Evie has a spunky side, too- and she's a little bossy. I have no idea where she inherited that trait from. . . anyhow, I am so happy to have such a precious little person in my family! I am grateful for my Eve!

Mary and her Little Lambchop

My small children have been looking forward to Halloween for the last few months. About two months ago I dragged them to JoAnne's Fabrics to get something and we ended up looking at Halloween patterns. At first, Esther wanted to be Snow White. Isaac wanted to be a vampire and Eve was going to be a fairy. But then Eve found a pattern with a beautiful girl in pink holding a shepherds' crook and everything changed. "Esther! I am going to Mary and YOU are going to be my little lamb!" I cringed in anticipation of Esther's displeasure at being forced into a role chosen for her- but she immediately was enthusiastic and so the deal was sealed! We quickly found a little lamb pattern and went in search of material.
(You may think I am neglecting Isaac- so let me say that he found a Robin Hood costume and was hooked. There are, however, no pictures of him in this post because he refused to stop playing on the computer and put his costume on when I was taking pictures of his sisters and when he finally put it on I couldn't find the camera anywhere! Esther had it and Patrick found it the next day behind the couch. SO you must wait for the story of Robin Hood for now.)
ANYHOW, the little girls were insanely, disgustingly cute and here are the pictures to prove it!
Unfortunately, while we were trick or treating, everyone accused Eve of being Bo Peep- and she was constantly frusterated and corrected everyone who was silly enough to not recognize a Mary with her Little Lamb when they saw one!

32 Years and Counting!

Today is Patrick's birthday! We won't mention exact numbers- but let's just say that a long, LOOOONG time ago, a little baby was born in the city of Salt Lake City, UT and his name was Patrick Thomas Darby. Some time has passed since then and now he is significantly taller, has a wife, three children, and a cat! Besides being in possession of those lofty achievements, Patrick has developed a lot of fantastic talents that are not generally known. Patrick has the amazing ability to look in the cupboard and the fridge and create wonderful meals for his family! It truly is a talent that amazes me every time because I am a recipe-dependent sort of person! Patrick also has a fantastic sense of humor and comic timing that make him an excellent story-teller! Oh and he has some great voices when he reads books to the children, too! Ok, there are many wonderful things about Patrick and we are so happy to have him as a father and husband!
So, Happy Birthday Paddy!
It's his party and he'll cry if he wants too. . . .
Please don't mention the exact time elapsed since his birth because Patrick is a little sensitive about his really REALLY REEEEEAAAAAALLLY old age.

His birthday cake: Double Chocolate-Praline Fudge Cake. The picture just doesn't do it justice! It was GOOD. mmmm
A good man deserves a good cake! Happy birthday husband!

Toady Isaac

Last weekend was my ballroom company's social- a picnic at one of the many parks up Provo Canyon. Don't ask which one because I still have no idea! Anyhow, my coach is a photography fanatic and he caught our darling Isaac doing this. Just thought I'd share! (FYI- that is a piece of watermelon in his mouth.)

New Bags

SO. . . . with these new activities the children are starting, I thought they needed a bag to put things in like shoes and tights and leotards so they don't lose them. I haven't made Isaac his yet because he needs a more manly-like version, but here are the lovely bags I made for the girls!

Ballet/Taekwondo/Gymnastics Kids

I always said that I wasn't going to put my children into lessons until they were at least six. . . . this year I broke down and put everyone into something because I have no more convictions. . .or something. Anyhow, Isaac is taking Taekwondo, Eve is in dance, or as she calls it, "ballerina class", and Esther-loo is doing gymnastics. This week they had their first lessons so we had to document the moments with pictures!

Eve in ballerina class- you can't see but her teacher is a man. It was so cute to see him teaching his little flock of girls. Eve is actually awesome in her class, despite the plies you see below. (I am trying not to judge on the first day)

Isaac in class. The teacher turns around with the pool noodle and they have to duck or jump over.

Esther in mid-jump. Ok, I think she is incredibly adorable in her gymnastics ensemble! What a little poser.
We'll work on the sickled feet. Ah! Not a show mom, not a show mom, not a show mom. . .

Monkies Go Back to School

Last week we had the long-dreaded day: the first day of school! Actually, there was no dread present because both Isaac and Eve were really excited to go! Eve went to her first day of Kindergarten and Isaac had his first day of 2nd Grade. Aren't they adorable?

Bye Mom! We're big kids now.