The prep...

 The feast (corn beef, cabbage, carrots, onions and red potatoes cooked in apple juice, sucanat, and a little bit of mustard all day -- yum (except for the cabbage. I do.not.like.cabbage)...

 The dessert (pistachio chocoalte chip cupakes provided by Jessica, delish)

 The costume choices...

 The prize...

 The guests...

 The treasure hunt...

 The hosts

 Cora slept through the whole thing, so she and I had our own party later. As you can tell, I'm very entertaining...

I made a New Years resolution to make the holidays more fun and memorable for my kids. I failed HORRIBLY on Valentines Day. But I love St.Patrick's day. My mom's best friend, Retta, had a St.Patrick's day party for us and the Anderson's every year that I can remember, complete with the corn beef and treasure hunt. In fact, I think one of the most homesick moments I've ever had in my life was our first St.Patty's day away when I knew they were all together and celebrating without me. I've been wanting to carry on the tradition ever since we moved away, and finally did it this year.

Can't wait for next year...

I know, I know. March 11th has come and gone and you're all on the edge of your seats wondering "where is Bekah's 4 month post about Cora?!" :) To tell you the truth, not much has changed with my little love in the last month. She's still a great sleeper, still as happy as can be. She isn't rolling or anthing, which is a-okay with me (and could be because I only remember to do tummy time maybe once a week). She does immensley enjoy her bath and has discovered her feet. I think I fall more in love with her everyday!

I always love to hear who people think she looks like. The most common comment I get from people that know my family is that she looks like my mom and/or my mom's side of the family, the Smith's. She reminds me a lot of Nick, a teensy bit of Chase, and I definitely see my mom and my Grandma Smith in her.

Here's a photo of Nick when he was 3 momths old:

And Chasey boy when he was 2.5 months old

And my little lady at 4 months

Here she is with my mom (who's in town again--WAHOO!)

Here's my Grandma Smith (it's the eyes, I think)

And here's some other photos from this month:

Our play group went on a field trip to a local grovery store and my boys LOVED it!

Love this curly hair!

Happy March!! Hopefully spring is right around the corner!

What I do...

Last week I was composing a long overdue email to a dear friend. She had asked what was new with us, and as I set about to answer the question, I found myself staring at my computer screen, stumped. What is new with us. Why do I feel like I'm so busy, going from kid #1, to kid #2, to kid #3, all day long, but also feel like I get nothing done? So as the days have flown by this week, I've found myseld compiling a list (although not completely all inclusive) in my head of what it is, exactly, that I do.

1. Get up
2. Pray, read scriptures, exercise
3. Shower
4. Nurse my baby (6 times per day)
5. Prepare meals and snacks (5 times per day)
6. Supervise piano practicing and reading lessons (kid #1)
7. Do puzzles, build train tracks, potty train (kid #2)
8. Change diapers, smile, and baby talk (kid #3)
9. Clean. And clean. And clean some more.
10. Drive; pre-school, errands, piano and gymnastics
11. Put kids to bed (baths, pj's, teeth, family scripture study and prayer, books, songs)
12. Spend what feels like 10 minutes with my hubby before he works out and prepares seminary
13. Pray and go to bed
14. Repeat and repeat and repeat

***Disclaimer: I am not complaining. Fact is, I've never been happier. But now you know why I get that glazed over look in my eyes when people ask me "What's new with you?"

But here are some new things that have added excitement to my life:

Brad's sister, Mallory, is getting married next month! No one has gotten married in either sides of our families since we did, 7.5 years ago, so this is exciting! Welcome to the family, Jeff!

Also, the ever amazing sister-in-law Kate started a food blog! Wahoo! http://www.prettypalate.blogspot.com/

And lastly, my friend Cooper took some 3 month pictures of my Cora girl. Here are some of my faves:

You can check out Cooper's work at http://www.cooperjburgess.com/

No rhyme or reason...

...to my blog posts lately. Or my life. But that's okay. It is what it is. You have to do what you have to do (as Chase told me the other day). Speaking of my second child, he fell asleep in the car the other day. I carried him inside and sat him down on the stairs while I went to get something from the car, hoping that would wake him up. He awoke for a moment, but when I came back in was fast asleep. On the stairs. When he got into a deeper sleep he sort of fell a bit and stayed asleep. Apparently this boy really needs a nap sometimes.

 Here's my newly redecorated kitchen (above the cabinets). Thanks Mom!

 She also helped me brighten up my living room. Although I love the brown and blue combo I've had for the last couple of years, it was getting a little drab.

 My little Miss turned 3 months today!! We busted out the bumbo a few days ago! She's getting too big!

 These boys love love love their sister!

 Some photos from this evening--

Here's what's been going on with my little lady in the last month:

- She sleeps from around 9:30-10:00pm to around 8:00am! I am seriously one lucky woman!
- Not only does she contine to spit up at unprecedented rates, we've also added some serious drool to the mix. I need to get this girls some more bibs, and I'm praying that this drool does not indicate TEETH! I'm not a fan of nursing babies with teeth.
- She's discovered her hands and loves to suck on them!
- This girl is seriously happy and easy going. It seems that some days she lives in her car seat because we're running around town, but she never seems to mind. I've gotten some good giggles out of her as of late, she goo's and makes noises, and I love how expressive she is.
- Her eyes are still BLUE!
- She rolls onto her side.
- Still loves her bink, still can't keep it in her mouth for more than a few seconds.
- Sleeps best when swaddled (which helps with keeping her binky in her mouth!)
- Is wearing 6-9 month pajamas! This girl is looonnngggg!

We love our Cora and can't imagine life without her!

Granny Shanny

Want to know how you can get your mother to come visit you twice in a two month period? Have a baby! Not just any baby, but a baby GIRL. And not just any baby girl, but a baby girl that looks a lot like your mother! We all love it when Granny Shanny comes to town! Nick drew this picture after she arrived. She's in the attic (he asked her if it was okay if he drew her there), below her is me, then Chase, then Nick, and laying on the ground is Cora. Brad's school is to the left and our garage (which we don't have but talk of and dream about often) is on the right.

 My mom made valentine sugar cookies with my kids, which means I don't have to do it with them next week for Valentines day, right??? :)

 This scenario is becoming all too familiar -- Chase gets really tired around 5:00pm and if I don't watch closely he puts himself to bed on the couch. The problem? He's up until midnight or later, even if he only sleeps for 10 minutes! He sure is cute, though...

 My dad joined us at the tail end of my mom's 8 day trip, and I think he held Cora for 72 hours straight (lucky girl!), only taking breaks to wrestle with my boys!

 Cora loved all the attention from Grandpa and Granny!

 How do I get my kids to smile in pictures, you ask? Simple: BRIBERY! :) Having my mom here was incredibly refreshing. I needed some help with some decorating around my house (one of her many talents) and it was so wonderful to shop with her and then come home and let her work her magic. We talk and laugh and watch HGTV and I am constantly overwhelmed at how blessed I am to have her and incredibly grateful for the love she shows me and my kids. It never gets any easier to say good-bye when my parents leave -- I cry everytime. They simply are the best.

 My mom helped me complete a project I've been wanting to do forever -- hand and foot prints on canvas to be hung in the toyroom.

 Chase thought this tickled!

 The finished product -- something I know I'll cherish forver!

 I have to admit that I kind of love when my boys sneak the camera away and take their own pictures! This is one I discovered that Chase took of his cute feet.

 This Nicky boy has grown up so much the past 6 months. He can ride a bike sans training wheels, loves school, begs to go to gymnastics, and has recently started piano lessons. We went to a kindergarten fair on Saturday and he got this "class of 2024 shirt." I am NOT ready for him to go to all day kindergarten next year. I thought I might be more ready after Cora was born, but I'm not. I hate the thought of him spending the majority of his wakeful hours with people I don't know. He's VERY ready, though, and I know he'll love it, even though I'll miss him!