Count your blessings......

This week we have had great weather so we have been enjoying it any way we can and trying to be out doors as much as possible. That means of course that the girls don't get any nap or down time. My girls are still nappers (mainly because I force it upon them) but it does everyone a little good to be rested and have time to ourselves I think. Anyway, Friday we had been at the park all day and doing some grocery shopping. The girls helped me plant my planters and then Justin got home and we had a BBQ and hung out. The next morning we got up and got ready to go to the Tulip Festival which was amazing....(of course this is the weekend that I would forget my camera)...so we walked around this big street fair and had yummy fair food. Then we made our way out to the Tulip fields. This is something we will start doing every year it is so incredible. I also recommend it to anyone in the area at this time. So we walked around there for a bit and then headed home......well....we had told Grace that sometime during the day we would "try" (key word here) to find a spot to fly their kites. By the end of the day everyone was tired and there was NO wind. Try to explain that one to her though.....she had a MELT DOWN!!!!! The rest of her night was ruined and she went to bed early. We ended up flying their kites Sunday after church but it's just the fact that we had such a nice afternoon and that one thing can just send them into hysterics.....I don't get it!!! What do we do in these times?? Any advice?

So that night before I sent her to bed an hour early we had a big talk about counting our blessings. We went through the day and named all of the things that were good about the day, then the things that were not so good. She could name ONE not so good thing. So then I am trying to get the point across that having that one thing ruin her whole day is just silly. Yet when I got to thinking about it I am the same way at times and I don't even realize it. Why do we dwell on the negative all the time? Even as adults we can't deal very well with the word "no" and we are in reality just like our toddlers sometimes. We all need to count our blessings....every day....however small. :^)

Our little "slugger".....

So Grace started T-ball and I am not sure I have laughed this hard in a long time.......it is hilarious to see all these four and five year olds out there with NO CLUE as to what they have to do after the ball leaves the T. Grace is the second girl on her team and they share the pink helmet and have pink bats, it is very cute. I am the one complaining about the dorky hats they have to wear because they do NOT look cute and are about five sizes too big. Yeah.....I don't think the boys care too much but I have a girl so it's different.....right? :) I am a yelling, loud Mom on the side lines probably driving everyone crazy. I just love that she is doing something now that we can go cheer for, I can't wait for school sports and stuff. She really wants to get back in to gymnastics which she is really good at, we told her only one thing at a time and I love that she is trying new things.

Justin is the assistant coach to our friend Brandon, his son is Graces best friend Brayden (who is also on the team). :) She for some reason loves to be friends with boys.....I am hoping it keeps her pretty grounded and down to earth, like having brothers almost. Girls are just kind of few and far between it seems here in our neck of the woods. Anyway, Justin has a good time being her coach, he tells her she needs to take her mitt with her everywhere she goes so she gets a "feel" for it......I think she has taken it one place and that was to practice. :) Sorry Daddy......you sooo need a boy. (any volunteers???)

Stretching before the game.....loosen them up a bit.

Go Grace.....she can hit the ball very well.

Making new friends on second base.

Yes, she is still talking and NOT running.....that's my girl. :)

Sugar for breakfast......yum!!!

We have discovered our new favorite Sunday morning ritual....and it's EVIL!!! (kind of an oxymoron huh?) Anyway, we have this doughnut shop called Rocket Doughnuts and man oh man are they a little slice of heaven in every bite........we managed to keep going back for more just to try different ones because the "girls" were still hungry. (wink, wink) I think these are the best I've ever tasted, sorry Crispy Creme......

Of course the girls picked the pink frosting, pink sprinkles, pink everything. Even those were good, with this yummy strawberry frosting.

I am the maple bar (my favorite),Justin is the apple fritter man, and next time we are going for the giant homemade chocolate eclair. (my mouth is watering)

I kind of caught Justin with his mouth full.....sorry hon. ;)

We even gave the girls apple juice (because they needed more sugar) and by the time we got to church they were bouncing down the hall ways.

The doughnut are almost as sweet as my babies. :) We had a nice weekend.

Happy Happy Easter.....

I am really glad this weekend is over....I don't think I left the kitchen but to shower and sleep. We were day to day doing something else that required cooking, preparing, decorating, and of course cleaning. It was very worth it though because the weekend was great.




Justin had gotten off early on Friday and the weather was beautiful so we did some yard stuff and washed our cars. The girls played in the sprinklers and rode their bikes, they were having a great time. We just really enjoyed our lazy day in the sun. That night we went to a special Good Friday service at church and it was amazing. We were all given crosses the Sunday before and our challenge was to carry them in our palm all week......yes, it was supposed to be hard...but I think the cross that He carried was a little harder to bare. So anyway, when we showed up on Friday evening with our crosses talking about Jesus shedding His blood and taking Communion it was a very powerful hour. I pray that those who don't know the power of Christ will understand one day what was done to save us.





So after church we headed to Cold Stone.....yum! The girls were so excited to be able to pick from all of those choices. They both had bubble gum ice cream, Grace with gummy bears for her pick and Haylee with sprinkles. Why is that such a big thing for kids...it's all about the color I think, give them pink ice cream and it doesn't matter what it's going to taste like..we go to Maggie Moos and they want the bright blue cotton candy flavor.....that is quite a treat to clean up when they have drooled and spilled all over themselves. Yet I don't say "no" when they want that kind so I guess I'm asking for it. :)




Saturday our neighborhood had a big Easter egg hunt and the girls had a fun time. I was having to talk with Grace about being happy with what she gets, she tends to be a little competitive. (hmmm, Ellersick trait maybe???)






Haylee wanted to open them right when she got them and see what she got, and Justin is behind her saying "NO Haylee you will NOT slow down....MOVE they're gaining on you.....!!!"

Starting the morning off with a basket full of candy. Who needs breakfast.

They had a Mother's hunt that we waited for until 11:30 so we had lots of time to play.

Saturday evening we dyed our eggs. Haylee gave up quite easily but it was a stiff competition between Grace and Justin. Jen got us the coolest thing's this year, I recommend them to everyone. They are Q-tips with dye inside of them. You snap off the top and color with the other point, they work so well. Thank you Jen.....:)

This girl is a coloraholic, all day long all she wants to do is color, color, color.......

Here is the master at work. It's Justin creating the world in just one day....;)

Finished product....pretty good huh?

Two eggs done......about five more to go. It's only been two hours.

Happy Easter......

The girls' baskets.


Good morning.....6 am.

Ready for church.
Decorating cupcakes.
Grace the cup cake queen. These girls were on a MAJOR sugar high...the evening ended with a huge melt down from Haylee.


Saturday I tried this new recipe of Justin's Grandma Muir's, it was a sweet dough and I am so amazed that it turned out. I had TONS of dough so Sunday morning we had delicious cinnamon rolls and then used the rest of the dough and made a loaf of bread and yummy crescent rolls. We had a yummy ham dinner with scalloped potatoes and asparagus.....big suprise huh? The girls decorated a batch of cup cakes just for fun and we were going to share them with neighbors but the process consisted of frosting, then licking, then sticking all of the sprinkles to the spit. That was Haylee, Grace was just licking the knife off every time she would frost one. I don't really think anyone would want to be sharing those. Yummmmm :) Anyway, all in all it was a fun weekend and it ended with a new Desperate Housewives and Brother's and Sister's.....all the family went to bed and I got my quiet and show time, it was a good day. Happy Easter!!!

Prince....yes...the singer!!!

So I have to blog about my sister's LOVE for Prince because it so gives me the shivers....but whatever works right??? :) My sister....who is a single Mom of a great little boy Collin is graduating from BSU this May after I am sure 4 grueling years....YEAH GRETCHEN!!!! Anyway, her gift for herself was to go see Prince live in Las Vegas. We were in Boise a couple of weeks ago and were at my other sister Heidi'd house for a bbq....(this is the sister she was making the trip with). So what happens when we get there...they turn on the DVD of him live in Las Vegas.....yes they have a DVD...maybe to try and convince me he is worth listening to I don't know but the best part about it were the kids were holding a dance competition. So we could sign our names on the list and get up and dance to Prince if we so desired......ummmm...NO!! But my Gracie girl sure jumped at the chance along with her cousins. We had a pretty good laugh and I will say that the concert sounded pretty fantastic...still not enough to convince me but they both returned sleep deprived and without a voice. What happens in Vegas.....stays in Vegas....isn't that what the commercial says??? :) So here are the funny pictures of the dance party...they were partying like it's 1999......;^)

Collin, Grace, Tekyiah, and Rodney..(brother in law)

Doing the "swimmer" step...that's a great move...she learns it from her Dad.

Who is having more fun....children....adult...children.....adult???? hmmm that's a toss up.

Collin with a little break dancing action...he is quite good. :)

Happy Birthday Jackson......

Here is Jackson Miles Soelberg about five minutes old, we waited in Boise while Justin moved to Bellingham so we could see this little guy be born last March, so hard to believe it's been a year already. In the wee morning hours of Saint Patties's Day he joined this world. We are all so happy he did. :)


This is the reason for the trip to Boise and it was a great time. Jackson is one....so hard to believe. It has been hard to live away from him after my girls being around Jen their whole lives, I don't like to think of all the thing's we are missing. I got my fix for a while though, after we went to Boise Jen and Jackson made the LONG trip with us back to Bellingham and stayed for a week. We have been having great fun! :) My girls and I have been spoiled with all of the family time we've gotten in.

Jackson and Justin...this boy loves his Daddy.

Grandma's quilt......first "boy" quilt so it was very exciting.

Justin and Uncle Paul with the "manly" duties of putting the toys together....they were actually taking it quite seriously......"watch out!"

Jen's Lion cake that she did a fabulous job on, along with the Lion cupcakes.......so cute. :)

This was Jackson's personal cake that Chef Soelberg and Chef Ellersick so kindly put together....I still have to poke fun though that it was Rainbow Chip cake....ooohhhhh.....lot's of hard work put into this one boys. ;) (just kidding....I love rainbow chip cake.....;)

And last but not least .......the messy face.......he LOVED his cake and had it just about everywhere......a job well done. :^) HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET BOY!!!!!

Day at the Zoo......

We headed to Boise on the 15th for Jackson's birthday and a little sunshine. It was in the high 60's and low 70's for most of the trip and we were EATING IT UP!!!! Grandpa took the day off to be with his grandkids and we all headed to the zoo, we had a great time and the kids were all soooo good. (Mark that as a first) The Boise zoo needs a little face lift I must say though, here they are getting a HUGE Whole Foods and shopping galore but the Zoo still remains a little......sad. :( The animals were actually out of hibernation on this visit and the weather was beautiful, as was the KFC in the park beforehand, (a big plus for me). :) I of course was shooting pictures the whole time anyway.


Miley and Grace being the "big girls" of the group.


Wendy and Miley. :) Jackson was having a fabulous time.....he is squealing in this one.

This is our attempt to get them all to smile for a picture and of the three we took this is the best one. Miley, Grace, Haylee, Jackson, and little Addison. (That's all in a egg shell ;))

This is the one that got taken and actually turned out.....amazing that it worked with all of these little ones. :)