Happy 1st Birthday, Elise!

A year ago I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl! So healthy, and so chunky! My biggest baby yet at 9lbs 5oz 21 in!

Elise, you have brought us so much joy and laughter! We are so happy to have you as a part of our family!

We love you so much Elise Tiffany!

Happy Birthday Matt!

What can I say about this man that you already don't know? I love him more then words can say.

Here are some things I love about him!

• He's fluent in Spanish. He served his mission in El Salvador.
• He's the third child out of 7 children in his family.
• He's amazing at the piano.
• He doesn't just study things, he masters them.
  
• When we were first talking to each other he called me Melanie (once)! I still tease him about it to this day! ha
• He may not be the most observant person, but he focuses where needs be.
  
• He got a 3.9 (so close to a 4.0) this last semester, even though he has a wife, kids and a job! I could NEVER do that.
  
• He's getting his Masters in Marriage and Family counseling.
• His goal is to be a Chaplain in the Army :o)
• He says he reminds him of Mr. Darcy, so intense, so giving, yet so misunderstood.
  
• He could eat pizza everyday for the rest of his life and be happy!
• He sings opera!
  
• His favorite singer is Jose Carreras (one of the three tenors).
• He's a history buff! He knows too much.
• He's a great dad!
• He's such a romantic guy!
• He's a self motivator. He actually motivates me, I need more help in that area.
  
• He can think up of games for the kids at the drop of the hat, and they love it, No matter how crazy it is!
• He has piercing steel blue eyes!
  
• He holds conversations in his sleep!
• He loves spicy food. He once ate 6 or 7 hot hot peppers in El Salvador and beat his companion, who was from I think Guatemala. He likes to brag about that one...
• He's the creative one, I'm the artistic one.
• We are often on the same wavelength. We sometimes finish each others sentences!
• He's a walking GPS! I know I will NEVER get lost with him around!
• He will do whatever it takes to take care of this family! That's a rare quality these days.
  
• He's one sexy hot tamale
  

Happy Birthday Matt! Although we can't be with you to spoil you and take care of you today, I hope you have a great day :o) We love you more then words can say <3

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1st Grader!

Gabriel was so excited to go to 1st grade! He told me what shirt he wanted to wear that day and everything. When he came home I asked him how he liked his first day of 1st grade, he said "I don't think I like it because all we do is homework!" He'll get the hang of it! It's definitely not kindergarten, but he will have fun :o)

Red Sox!

We went to a Red Sox game vs. the Kansas City Royals! Guess who got their butts stomped on?!

Happy Birthday Brooke!

This picture was taken when she was 2 weeks!! People don't believe me when I tell them she was smiling since birth....here's proof :o)


Brooke, Brooke, Brooke. I knew from the moment I could feel her kicks inside of me she was going to be a feisty one, and she hasn't proved me wrong! My mother in law told me once while I was pregnant with Brooke "Tell your daughter to stop following me around, I can feel her around me constantly!" It's funny she said that because, now that we have lived with them for a year, Brooke follows everyone around, pestering them.


Brooke likes to think she's the mommy. We (I) have to keep her in check every once and a while and tell her that she's still a kid, she needs to do kid things instead of bossing everyone...and I mean everyone around!

She is a big helper, and loves to help with chores and getting me things for Elise, or whatever I need. She once knocked on the bathroom door while her Aunt Rachel was in there to ask if she could clean the toilet!! She takes pride in cleaning those bathrooms, or vacuuming or putting away clothes, or helping out with Elise. Her main chore is to get the toothbrushes ready for all the kids. She makes sure there is enough toothpaste on the toothbrush, she makes sure to run it under the water, and she even gets Elise's toothbrush ready with special toothpaste.

She keeps me on my toes constantly, but always knows how to make me happy! Brooke, I'm so glad you are a part of our eternal family! Life would definitely be boring without you here in my life!

My little thumb sucker!



Love always,
Mom

Elise(ese)

Lately Elise has been blabbing and singing away!
She's saying some words.

Da-da. Ma-ma. More. Thank You (which kind of sounds like "dada"). Boo. Ba-ba. Hi.

She's progressing so much! She stands up while I'm feeding her on the floor.

Matt and me joke around at how Elise always does things he wants her to do when he's gone driving. Well, Matt will be gone for about 2-3 weeks....and I can almost guarantee she will be walking by the time he gets back! Who knows...