Birthday Week

Last week was a week of birthday parties. Sunday Marlee and I celebrated our birthday's together at my parents house.

It's always fun when we have a party together for our birthday

Tuesday we went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner. It was impromptu, and superfun to have my parents and my in-laws there too. That night the WORST, most UNFLATTERING picture EVER, was taken of me that night. You can use your imagination, but it involved me sitting on a horse saddle. I was a good sport, but that picture must be burned!!!! However, I will put this picture of Vance up instead. He decided not to make me a birthday card, but a birthday hat for his zhu zhu pet instead.


Marlee had a birthday party on Wednesday with her girlfriends. Here's the equation for her fantastic party :
9 giggly girls + jumbo soft pretzels + Taylor Swift music +

kit kat/m&m cake +

bracelet making = 2.5 hours of total bliss for 8 year old girls

Thursday Marlee got her ears pierced. I don't have a picture of this, but she was very brave. They pierced both ears at the same time, thank goodness, I don't know if she would have gone through with the second one. She has been diligent at keeping them clean. She feels very grown up about it all.

And then there was Saturday. Saturday she was baptized. I can almost talk about it now without crying.

It was a beautiful day and evening.

Sisters

Artichoke Dip

ARTICHOKE DIP

8oz cream cheese, softened
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can (small) green chilies
2 c. parmesan cheese
1 14oz. can artichoke hearts, chopped

Mix all together and bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes. You can also cook in a microwave 3-6 minutes, or until hot.

NOTES: We like it baked. You will want to stir it a few times while heating. I also use mild chilies, but if you like it hot, then go for it!

Primary Talk

Here is a talk that Marlee wrote for primary a few months ago . . .

"A few months ago, I went on a trip to New Zealand. While I was there, I hiked up to the top of a mountain called Mount Manganui. I hiked to the top with my Mom, brothers, Dad, uncles and aunties, and cousins. When we got to the top, we planted a tree. It was special. When we got home that night my Auntie Lanea noticed her camera was missing. So she and my Dad hiked back up the mountain in the dark. When they got to the top they hadn't found it. They both started to cry. Then they decided to pray and ask that they could find the camera. They went back down and at the very bottom they saw something shiny in the tree. It was the camera!! I learned that Heavenly Father answers our prayers."

I can't believe that in a couple of weeks she is going to be baptized! My baby's growing up!!

Ormsby Thoughts

Here are a few things we have learned in the last 10 days . . .

Noah doesn't do well with croup. A trip to the ER, breathing treatments, and a week later, he is finally doing better.

Marlee is LOVING ice skating lessons. She kinda looks like Bambi, arms and legs all over the place, but she is determined to get it right! I am really proud of her.

On Thursday I was explaining to Noah and Vance what Veteran's day is about.
I said, "It's a day to remember the men and women who have fought in wars for us."
There was a pause, and they both said, "They fight in wars?".
"Yes." I said, "They fight in wars so that we can live in a safe place."
Then Vance said, "OH! Wars, like Star Wars, wars."
" Yeah", I said, "but without Storm Troopers".

I dislocated my shoulder, again. Lame.

Elijah said the family prayer last night. All. By. Hmself. It was beautiful. I caught a few of the words he said : Heavenly Father, Mom, Dad, Marlee, Vance, thank you, bless food, and Amen. The rest of the prayer was complete jibberish. After he said "Amen", Noah turned to us, eyes huge completely amazed, and said, "I didn't know Elijah could speak Spanish!!"

Look who's 5???

I can't believe that Van and Noah are 5 now??!!

They had a fantastic fun filled weekend for their birthday. (More of that to come tomorrow - I am too tired tonight)

LOVE YOU!!

Van is in the striped shirt. Noah is in the solid.

7 days 15 hours and counting . . .

Watching this video gets me sooo excited (and nervous) for next Saturday!! It is such a beautiful race to run! I really hope the weather will cooperate!??

WARNING!!!!

WARNING!!!!! there is blood.

One week ago today this sweet little baby . . .

was here . . .

feeling like this . . .

because of this . . .

(Yes, that is a crescent shaped hole in his head)

And he received these . . .

He's okay. If you ask him if his head hurts he says, "Van". Vance and Noah were riding on the glider my parents swing set. Elijah walked right into it. I hope he has learned now to stay away.

The staples were removed today, he didn't even flinch. I'm glad he's brave, because I know this won't be the last time. But for now, he's just happy collecting pine cones . .

Strawberries in New Zealand

(Nathan took this photo - it's not just one I found off the Internet.)

Around this time of year I get really excited for strawberries. Every couple of days I go to the grocery store to look at the strawberries. They're just not looking so great this year. Maybe it's because 3 months ago we were here. . .

picking these. . .

(Again, Nathan took this photo. Is your mouth watering yet?)

We had never been to a berry farm before. This farm had strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and other fruits I can't remember. You could pick whatever you want, and then pay for it all after. I think they do it wrong. They should weigh you first and then weigh you after you're done picking, and charge you for what you gain while you are there!

They were the reddest, biggest strawberries I have ever seen!! They were unbelievable! And oh so delicious.
Picking them went something like this, "Two for the bucket, and one for my mouth."

I think that's what everyone was doing.

Aren't these two cousins cute!!?? This was one of the few times they weren't fighting. (It was such a love hate relationship between Malachi and Tama (Elijah). They are only 3 months apart, and didn't like having to share the "baby" of the family position)

And don't even get me started on the raspberries!!! They were my absolute favorite!! It was so calming, almost therapeutic, to be out in the sun picking them right off the bush. Nathan had to drag me away from them.

Here was our harvest. . .

I am drooling thinking about those fresh strawberries and New Zealand ice cream!!
P.S. This was mid-December in Ohauiti, New Zealand. I have decided not to try and post about the trip in chronological order. It was just too much for me. So, I'll do a little here and a little there, and together we'll get through this. :)

New Zealand . . .

I miss you

Aroha

P.S. stay tuned, more pics and stories to come, soon!!

Sleeping Beauty

Found my baby ASLEEP like this . . .

Video

This is just a small portion of our trip. Thanks to Rick and Elly (Auntie Babe) for putting it together!! I promise that there is more to come . . .

Really Mom?

When Marlee left for church on Sunday I cried. She looked so grown up in her blue dress, cardigan and with her hair pulled back into a pony tail. I can't believe how much she has grown in the last little bit.

That night while watching "The Incredibles" Van asked me why super hero's wear masks. I started explaining that they wear them so that we don't know what they look like when the are normal.

"I wouldn't want anyone to know that I was really Elastigirl" I said.

Marlee dropped the crayon she was coloring with and looked up at me. With her eyes big in amazement she said, "But Mom, you would tell us if you were really Elastigirl! Wouldn't you?!?

"No I wouldn't that would be confidential." I said.

"What's confidential mean?" she asked, amazed at the possibilities.

"It means top secret. I wouldn't, and couldn't tell anyone. Not even Dad!" I explained.

"But Mom, you would tell us, right? Are you really Elastigirl?"

"You'll never know" I said, and winked at her.

She just stared at me, trying to read my soul. I loved that she believed, if even for just a few minutes, that there was a possibility that I could just possibly be Elastigirl.