Noah Love {Old Draft}

Original date 8/3/09

Noah is a major talker.

Noah loves to sing and we get a big kick out of that especially since Kyle didn't sing until he was about three. Noah's been training his vocal chords since he was 18 months old. When we put him to bed at night, rather than Mommy or Daddy singing him songs it ends up being a sing-a-long. He insists on singing with us. He is also very good at hearing a song 2 or 3 times before he can sing it by himself. He frequently surprises us with new songs he's learned.

He loves Tommy. He is always proudly saying "Tommy da big dog."

Another favorite quote is "C'mon wace (race) car!" This is used when trying to get something, anything, to go i.e. car, DVD player, toy, etc.

We are in love with Noah's big, gappy, squinty-eyed smile. It melts the heart.

Noah uses please and thank you without prompt and makes his Mommy and Daddy very proud.

Love Kyle {Old Draft}

{Original date 8/3/09}

He is such a sweet big brother to Noah. They play so well together.

Kyle is a VERY tender and sweet boy- especially towards his Mommy. Kyle always makes sure that I know he loves me and tells me at random times during the day. If I ask Noah for a kiss, Kyle insists on giving me one as well.

Kyle is an incessant whistler. He learned to whistle at the very young of age of 24 months. People used to be so surprised to hear him whistling his own little diddy. He whistles in the middle of fighting with Noah. He is whistling even as I type this.

Kyle is, for the most part, a very polite boy. The funny and unfortunate thing is that I think he reserves the majority of his politeness for Mommy and Daddy. We're working on that.

{I can't believe how big my biggest little man has gotten since this posting.}

Meggie Kate's 3rd Birthday

She is three and going on thirteen. I now know what other parents mean when they use this same line on their daughters.  Megan is sweet and shy, sassy and silly.  Her emotions run the gamete. We have had fun on this girl adventure for the past 3 years and we've learned a lot.

Megan is super girly.  She loves dresses and the bigger the better.  She loves princesses, something I never wanted to encourage in my daughter but Megan had her own plans and did not need encouragement.  She loves her night gowns that she has dubbed "jammie dresses" or even more specifically "Jammie dress princesses" or "jammie dress Minnie".  You get the idea.

Megan loves to dance. She recently started dance class "dan cool" (dance school).  She is a bit bashful but still looks forward to it every week.

She LOVES her "Baby Ella" and has from the get go.  She also loves the feel of her and is often found rubbing Ella's head, thumb in mouth.

I had a lot of fun planning Megan's tea party Birthday. I decided to do it because Megan loves to pour water in cups and also of course her girliness.

We kept the party short at an hour.  We ate little pb&j sandwiches, cheese sandwiches, mini fruit kabobs, mini cupcakes, donut holes and of course, Megan poured apple juice. 

The girls were all decked out in hats, necklaces, gloves, bracelets and purses.

It was a little girl's paradise.

The lone boy invitee (aside from Noah the butler).

Front row: Allisyn Loader, Adi Hind, Megan, Spencer Hind

Back row: Claire Pratt, Mikayla Loader, Charlotte, Ava Hind, Noah Shiflett

Birthday Q and A

... What is your favorite color? Pink

... What is your favorite toy? My Little Ponies, Woody and Rapunzel

... What is your favorite fruit? Apples

... What is your favorite tv show? Shaun the Sheep (She asks for this just about every day)

... What is your favorite thing to eat? PB and J sandwich, mac and cheese

... What is your favorite outfit? any dress

... What is your favorite game? Curious George on PBSKids

... What is your favorite snack? "nu nacks" fruit snacks and apples

... What is your favorite animal? a cat and a dog

... What is your favorite song? I Am a Child of God

... What is your favorite book? Princess book she got for Easter

... Who is your best friend? Alli Loader

... What is your favorite cereal? "Yucky Charms" (Lucky Charms)

... What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play with a ball, ride scooter

... What is your favorite drink? chocolae milk, hot chocolate

... What is your favorite holiday? Easter

... What do you want to be when you grow up? a princess

6 month Ella

STATS

weight: 18.9 lbs. 90%

(a pound bigger than Megs at this age.)

height: 27.7 in. 97%

head: 18 in. 95%

Megan went in for her 3 month too.

STATS

weight: 35.5 lbs 85%

height: 39 in. 90%

Ella is getting so much personality. She is so irresistible. She is still pretty stranger friendly which we are loving.  Night times are not great as she she is still waking up around 2 times a night.  She is rolling over.  She is SUPER grabby and mouthy. (see pic below)  She loves my hair and has just about accomplished her goal of pulling out every one.  She isn't quite sitting up yet but I think by the time she is 7 months we'll be about there.

See? Graaabby. 

D-land, Yo.

Day ONE and TWO

 Ella's first flight.

Megan was nervous to fly at first but after take off she did great and of course didn't even realize how fast we were going.  I was nervous for the flight because Ella and Megan had BOTH been diagnosed with double ear infections just prior to the trip and I didn't know how the elevation change would affect them.  There was no need to worry though. They did great.

The only thing Noah was concerned about was getting his drink and pretzels.  He kept checking the isle for the drink cart.

After we got to the airport we discovered that we had made our car reservations at a rental place located 14 miles from the airport.  At least we saved a couple hundred bucks doing so.

We went to California Pizza Kitchen for lunch while waiting to be able to check-in to our condo where we would meet up with Grandma and Grandpa (Adam's parents).

Smoothies and french fries for dinner. We were still full from lunch

{Day 2}

The first day is always the best day. The kids are skipping down the sidewalk powered by tons of excitement and adrenaline.

We checked out the Lego store in Downtown Disney. They has some pretty spectacular displays.

The boys always love this ride.  Too bad the line is always so long.

Kyle always has to have a map.

Megan had a really hard time while we were at Disneyland and the first day was no exception. (poo poo problems)  However, at California Adventure's Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, we found something that put this gorgeous smile on her face.  Yep, we paid $200 for Megan to go down a slide-yes, it was about 50 times but still- A.Slide. Whatever.

Love Buzz.

The boys and Doug.

We went to Goofy's Kitchen which we'd never experienced before. We got to meet lots of characters.  Minnie even let Ella suck on her nose!

Radiator Springs was so cool and was definitely a highlight.  

The racer ride was really cool although it made the boys very nervous. It was a more "exciting" ride than any of us expected.

Adam pushed the stroller with Megan and Noah riding and carried Kyle on his shoulders for a full .8 miles.  I carried Ella and lest you feel to judge and think I didn't carry my share of the weight...well...see the next pic...

Those cheeks weigh a lot.

Me and my crew

Look at this mess of kids. Sometimes I still can't believe they all belong to me. {Yes, I even claim the Hulk.}

5 Month Old Ella

I LOVE doing monthly photo shoots with Ella. She is definitely photogenic and it's fun to capture her growth and progress. (I wasn't going to post the shoots EVERY month but I just can't resist!)

This month was especially irresistible.  Check out these sweet little beauties.

As you can tell, Ella is a very happy, easy going baby.  We are thrilled because, for the most part, she lets anyone hold her. This is unprecedented among Shiflett babies.

 Just having fun with filters and I love this one. 

Kyle loved this picture of Ella lunching on her bunny.

 Ella's sibs always want in on the photo shoot action.

 Ella loves playing with her toes as this photo shoot most definitely proves.

Photographer and her beautiful subject.

{My hubby is gonna kill me when he sees this post 

as it will make it difficult when it comes time to "book" it.}