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Lucy's 4th Birthday

A few things that everyone should know about Lucy. 

1. She has a heart of gold. She loves to share anything she has with new kids she meets. She is a little less willing to share with her sister, but even then, she gives up what she has more often than not. There really is not a mean bone in her body. She is not perfect, but she is also NOT mean. 

2. She LOVES her baby brother Louis. Lucy loves to make Louis laugh. She loves to feed him. She loves when he wakes up from his naps. She is always willing to entertain him when I need her to. 

3. Lucy loves the color purple. If you ask her, "What is your favorite color?" She confidently answers every time, "purple!" 

4. Lucy loves to play pretend. She pretends all day long. Any object has multiple uses in her eyes. 

5. Lucy is very smart. She is starting to read sight words now, and doing well. She would probably be doing even better if I had more time to spend with her working on it. 

6. Lucy loves her Aunt Anna, and future Uncle Jacob. Actually both Molly and Lucy love them. They talk about them all the time. It is always a treat to have them around. 

7. Lucy has so many friends, because everyone is her friend. She never excludes anyone from her play. She is sweet and loving and I could probably list a lot more about her that everyone should know. 

8. Lucy loves Jimmy Johns sandwiches. It is amazing and disgusting to watch her eat one. She can eat it so fast, and if I let her could finish of an entire sub herself. 

9. Lucy loves to be silly. This is probably the thing that gets her in trouble the most. She has a hard time knowing when to turn on and off the silliness. But when it is appropriate she sure knows how to make us all laugh.

 Yesterday was her birthday and we partied very hard. We are all worn out today because of it. Lucy asked for an umbrella for birthday. It is what she wanted more than anything, and bugged us about relentlessly until her birthday when she opened it up. I kind of thought that eventually the enthusiasm for the present might die down once she opened it and received other toys, but the umbrella continues to be her favorite gift. She has to show everyone. She even took it to the dr today and opened it for him so he could see it. I love her for that. 

We opened family gifts in the morning and then had a birthday party for her in the afternoon. I knew who I invited but my brain didn't make the connection of how many kids would be there until the day of. Fifteen kids showed up for the party! There were two more I had invited that didn't show up. I couldn't believe it. My mom taught me really well, as a young one to always include everyone. I did it this time with out even thinking. It was a lot of fun. We decorated take home bags. Played duck, duck goose and pin the tail on the donkey, played with playdo that they got to take home with them, and ate cake and icecream and opened up presents. And by the time 5 o'clock hit, I was very ready for parents to come and pick up their children. 

I love birthday parties more than anything, but I think from now on, I'm going to keep them small. The party itself was simple and inexpensive, but the amount of kids, was not. I'm not complaining, I was happy to do it, I'm just saying, it was a learning experience for me and I am recording it for my future self to read and be reminded of the amount of work it took. 

After the party, my mom, Traci and her kids, and Jacobanana came over to our place for dinner. Lucy requested Jimmy Johns. We ate and enjoyed the peace and quiet of far fewer kids. 

I was so grateful for all the help I received to put on this party. My Sister has to be commended for the amount of work she did being 8 1/2 months or more pregnant. She was amazing. She just kept going and I don't know where her energy comes from. Jacobanana were on baby duty and sandwich pick up. Becca helped with the party favors and anything else that was needed. My mom made the trip from St. George to be here. That requires a whole other post. I appreciate her so much. She is the one that taught me to love parties so much. She always kept them simple, but I always felt special on my birthday. That is where my motivation comes from to make my kids feel extra special on theirs. She brought her nice camera and documented this entire event. Thanks mom. I love you!

And James.... I don't have enough words to write about the love and support that he gives to me. Especially in stressful times and events, most often brought on myself because of my love to entertain. His very presence is calming to my soul. If he is around, I am less tense, less likely to loose control, and always more happy. I love him. He took over games, and everything else that I needed him for. I really couldn't do anything I do with out him. I don't know why I'm so fortunate to have him in my life. 

This post became less about Lucy and more about the party, but I do love my first born. She is the best big sister I could ever ask for. She bring so much light into our life and home. I love to watch her in primary. I can see her enthusiasm for the gospel increase each week and through out the week as she learns and grows. I am so thankful for all she is and does for me. 

"Love Day"

I've never really loved the "world's" idea of Valentine's day. And other than a few gag Valentine's dinners that I've planned for James just to be funny I haven't done much for the holiday. But since I've had kids I've learned to love it. Mostly because it is a creative outlet for my brain to send out some fun creative valentines of my kids and let them pass them around to the people that they love most as well.
I think I have mentioned how much I love the show, "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood" before on this blog. They had an episode playing this week about "love day." The message in that show is really what Valentine's day is really all about. "You have to find your OWN way to say I love you." You do not have to buy roses or chocolates and balloons, like the masses think they HAVE to do. You have to find your OWN way. If roses and chocolates is the way you say I love you, on other days than say it that way.. its fine. But it is better if it comes from the heart and means something to both you and your loved one. Here are a few examples from this year.

Some love from Grandma Wells!!

I have always loved to stay in contact with people. One way I love most is by mail. Yes, good old fashioned letters and small packages. Christmas cards are my crack because I get to send mail to the masses and it brings me so much joy to send a piece of me to all the people I love. I also send out a few valentines in the mail. Its a small way that I say "I love you."
James is not a gift giver. But he shares his love by service. If its been a rough day, he helps with kids. If the house is a mess, he takes the time to help me clean it. If dinner is impossible, than that is where he steps in and gets the kids fed. I forget sometimes how much he really does for me. I repent often of that. Service is how James lets me know, "he loves me."

My kids are just getting old enough that traditions are becoming more important and so I have tried to emphasize a few simple ones as the year goes on. I purchased some tupperware heart containers from JoEllen, and I plan to put something homemade in them each year. Whether it be a card, a coupon or some sort of small craft. I have had an itch to pull out my sewing machine for a long time. My first project, Capes for the kids. Lucy and Molly have been putting blankets or towels around their shoulders pretending to be super heroes a lot lately. I decided this would be a fun and easy project to ease me into sewing again. I loved making these capes. I made a lot of mistakes but in the end they turned out fantastic! And the kids love them as well. Sewing these capes was a way that I told my kids, "I love them."
James and I have never actually joined the masses for a real Valentine's date. This year we had babysitters (aka Jacobanana), so we did! We had a lot of fun reliving the glory days in Provo. We visited some of our favorite places and had a wonderful time reminiscing about our past dating life and early marriage years as well as our future here in this area. It was fun to forget about the kids and remember the importance and foundation of our relationship and the effect it has on our family. We went on a date that is how we show our children that we love each other.
We also had a really good time preparing a Valentine's date for Jacobanana. It was their first Valentine's as a couple and so we thought we would plan something for them as well. Jacob is one of our dearest friends from back when we were dating and Anna... well she's a sister and we love her too. Bringing them together is the way that we showed both of them that we love them.

Not a mean bone in this girl's body. She's
my super hero everyday. Also, she gave
her first talk in primary today, and
KILLED IT!!
Way to go bucket head lightning Lucy!

So here's to showing our love for our loved ones... in our own way.