Happy Birthday Princess!!!

HAILEY AT 1 YR. OLD!

HAILEY NOW!!!!

Hailey Turned 2 on Friday, very exciting! 2 is such a fun birthday because, they get it! Hailey walked around all day saying, "It's my bird-day!" She picked out a Tinkerbell (aka Pinkabell) birthday cake and party plates- that she carried around for at least 2 days!

Now that she is two:

Hailey goes potty like a Big Girl most of the time.
Attends preschool and nursery without any tears.
Loves to play pretend with her dollies.
Love to run wild and dance with her big sister.
Sings her ABCs, counts to 10 (in English and Espanol), is learning colors and shapes.
LOVES pizza and applesauce.
LOVES doing any kind of art project.
LOVES watching movies.
Bosses her little brother around.
Bosses her mom around.
And says, "NO, I not a diva... you a diva!"

Hailey is an affectionate, stubborn, loving, kind little darling! We are so happy she is a part of our family. Our blessed little middle child!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Oh, the first bite of pie! ...and the gluttony that is Thanksgiving. Is there any better way to celebrate gratitude, than stuffing ourselves with comfort food and then "vegging out" with friends and family?! I think not!

...and fearlessly they trudge out into the elements.
Life is good, come what may!

Starting the Season Off RIGHT!

With Disney on Ice of course! And skeptic though I may have been... I would go again and pay double for the look on Hailey's face when Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy came skating out on to the ice. Hailey shouting "Hi Minnie, HI MINNIE, HI MINNIE, HI MINNIE!!!!"- eyes literally bugging out of her head, complete with trembling... I am certain it was the high point of her two year old life! Thanks Amy for making it possible.

...oh and don't worry- we sat on the FRONT ROW!!! WOOHOO!!!

FALL: My Favorite Time of Year!

Last week we had our first snow storm. It was awesome!(Of course it was 70 degrees yesterday- Fall in Utah :) This picture was taken a few hours before the storm started... The leaves outside had begun to change, there was snow visible on the mountains, the temp was beginning to drop- and the girls were DYING to put on their swim suits?!?!?

In the above picture the tempurature outside in about 5o degrees F. But the girls were "at the beach"! They played outside for about 15 minutes, then mommy had to close the beach because the waves were getting too big!

We went to the Barnyard Boo with my sisters and waited in line for about 20 minutes so that the girls could ride the horsies. Hailey was sooooo excited, and then....
Elizabeth dressed herself in this picture. She does a fabulous job accessorizing her outfits. This day she completely dressed herself. I wish you could see her leg warmers better. That's my girl!


For Halloween we wanted to go with a Peter Pan theme. The plan was for Elizabeth to be Tinkerbell, Johnny to be the Crocodile, and Hailey to be Captain Hook. Well, the girls were sooo excited. Hailey spent all day saying "arg Matey". Then it was time to get dressed.... KICKING, CRYING, HIDING UNDER THE TABLE!!!!! If you were to ask Hailey what she is in this picture she will tell you what she told everyone all day.... "Captain Hook, ARG Matey!"
I love the way the air smells in the autumn, I love the cool temperatures, wearing layers of clothes, and still being able to sit in the backyard and read books with the kiddies in the sunshine!
Elizabeth learned a very cute song in preschool, everyday she sings for me: "It's otter time, it's otter time, the leaves are falling down...."

Big Girls Love Heels....

...and can apparently walk down the stairs in four inch wedges! Who Knew?!?

I went to Hogle Zoo today with all my sisters and their kids. Getting dressed, I really wanted to wear comfortable running shoes... but I just couldn't do it. I convinced myself that closed toe shoes, with socks, would make me too hot- and I was willing to sacrifice comfort for "keeping cool". But, let's be honest. I'm really just a slave to fashion. Pathetic. Acknowledgement is the first step to recovery.

Well, I didn't attend the Bird Show with the girls. (Knowing Johnny wouldn't let me sit still that long -and I didn't want the bald eagle to mistake him for a big chunk of beef and try to swipe him :). Instead, I got in some serious people watching.
Amazing how many women walk through Hogle Zoo pushing a double stroller, baby strapped to their chest, wearing four inch wedges. Is it a Salt Lake epidemic. What are we all thinking? (Diet Coke and Ibuprofen?)
Someone once told me, that Utah has the most beautiful women in America. Most of us don't smoke cigarettes or dope, drink a lot, or bake in the sun for more than three months out of the year. Plus, we all aspire to be triathletes. We are fit with good hair, skin, and nails.
So why do we need four inch wedges at the Zoo? (sigh)

... Next time, I'm going with the athletic shoes.

Half Over Already!?!?!?

Gotta Love a Chic with a SHOTGUN, eh?

Pioneer Girls!

Elizabeth's Dance Performance

I cannot believe that the summer is already half over. We have really been enjoying ourselves, but the days seem to pass too quickly and it makes me sad.
Every day we spend in the backyard. Some days we run through the sprinklers, some days we blow up the pool, some days we pull weeds are dig in the dirt; but the sun on my skin just makes me feel good and children make me laugh... life at the Norat's is pretty stinkin' good!

How Does My Garden Grow

This one is for Tia Meow :)

Where many people know that I generally lack the commitment necessary to keep any flowers alive for longer than a month, it may surprise you to know that these are MY flowers!!! And they have been alive and in bloom for nearly two months AND there are a few more soon to bloom... Hallelujah! Apparently watering is the ticket... along with proper placement. ( She can be taught!) Good times.

I have wanted to have flowers and flower beds in my backyard for a couple years now, but I unfortunately didn't want any help and didn't have any time. So for the first year since 2004( when Paul moved in)...... WE HAVE FLOWERS! Now I love to sit on the back patio in the morning and have my mate'. Elizabeth and Hailey fight over the watering can... and Hailey examines the bugs that are wandering through the potting soil. Good fun.

I also potted 2 tomato plants. Anyone who says that you cannot fail with tomato plants has never been to my house. Third year in a row with pale, droopy plants. AUGH! Lucky for me, my mother took mercy on my pathetic plants and smuggled one out of her yard and into mine. Good Woman.

Hopefully my flowers will continue to grow, and so will my ability to keep them alive!

Preschool Graduation!

When Elizabeth began preschool last Fall, we were a family of four. She cried the first week and didn't play with any of the other kids. At her first program, she didn't sing any of the songs and looked a bit like a deer in headlights. Oh what a difference a school year can make!
Thursday, Elizabeth graduated from Eearly 3's Preschool. She gave a lovely program complete with singing, poems, kazoos, and the Hokey Pokey! She has grown up so much it is amazing! She is so creative and has a great imagination. She is smart and very silly. She LOVES to sing and dance, loves books and rhyming. She is so independent and much braver. I love what preschool has done for her socially!
It was a great year at the Winner School and we cannot wait for Hailey to join her there in the Fall!

Hurray for Picture Day!!

As most of you know, usually picture day leaves me in tears! My children are like deer in headlights whenever we set foot inside a portrait studio. So, imagine my surprise and glee when I picked these pictures up!

On a grand recommendation from a friend, I called this fabulous photographer named Sarah (her info is available upon request) and decided to try something new. Not only was she sweet and personable, with me and my kids, she got these AMAZING shots. We left the shoot with everyone in smiling faces- and stress free.

Finally, someone captured the "sweetness" of all three of my darling children!

Three Isn't Always A Crowd...

Here are a few cute pictures of the KIDS in no particular order... or maybe in order of demand...

Hailey's hair is finally long enough for piggies... a very important moment in a young diva's life.

Elizabeth really loves her baby... doll.

Johnny is growing and changing so fast.

It is amazing that I get a moment to post pictures, we are SO busy. But I wonder if I was sleeping more, would three kids feel so dramatic? Probably not. We are all doing really great. I've had a few crazy moments, especially with my wild child Hailey, but so far we are "holding it together" very well.
I am so eager for the weather to warm-up. We are all feeling so stir crazy. And my skin needs some serious sunshine. I took all three kids to the park today ( Johnny in the baby carrier ) and they all napped for between 2-3 hours when we got home. That is definitely what life is missing right now, 2-3 hour naps! I feel my mind wandering to the piles of laundry and dishes in the sink... augh!

More later :)