Everett's Blessing Weekend

Cody and Jessica came to visit from Spokane for Everett's blessing! They brought Baby Evan to meet Everett! These boys were supposed to be 3 weeks apart but Evan came 3 1/2 weeks early so these dudes are 7 weeks apart! I was so jealous when she had him early! I was done in July too! :) Anyway, I had an idea thinking if we made the room look more like her own room Addie would like to sleep in her "Bigirlbed" as she calls it. So I found a cute comforter to match her nursery decorations and moved it all into her "new" room. I think it helped! She loves her bed! Still took MONTHS for her to not scream and cry and go crazy and nap and bed time, but we are all good now! That's a big bed for a lucky little big girl. :)

I had to include this one because Addie is slightly obsessed with "My Canada" as she calls it. That includes her Canadian flag (in her hand in this pic) or her Crippen Family reunion t shirt we had from this summers reunion with the maple leaf on it. She LOVES Canada!

I'm Addie and I approve this bed.

The two Evs finally meet!

Evan, meet Everett! Cute little dudes!

I stole this picture at church just before he was blessed. He wore the outfit Mer Mer sewed for Zach when he was blessed. My sweet little blue stitched sailor boy.

Everett Jack Low received a beautiful blessing. Blessed with physical strength, to be anxiously engaged in service, a closeness to the Spirit to make good choices, and to be a good example and an instrument for good as he is faithful. 

But he wouldn't know it because he cried through the whole thing. :) Fitting. He became a fussy baby starting about 3 weeks old! We haven't ever had a fussy baby that I remember! Not like this kind anyway and let me say that the fussy baby should NOT come 5th in a family! Not easy! He never wanted to be put down, always spit up, just sad! And it breaks my heart and is frustrating all at the same time. I'm usually the only one that could calm him down. A lot of physical and emotional work. Oh yeah and he is horrible at napping. Newborns are supposed to sleep a lot? Not this one! Boo! I do have to say at about the 3.5 month mark he turned into an angel and is the cutest, happiest mama's boy there is! Still doesn't sleep awesome, but I blame that on traveling and sickness...and how much fun I am! :) I wouldn't want to leave me either.

Our after church family shot. 

5 kids?! That is a lot! And they are all mine. :) And Justin's. 

Being a mom is a lot harder than I thought it would be, but it is always what I have dreamed of being. I am so lucky I get to play house every day. :) With REAL dolls! My 7 year old self would be giddy! Just need to keep that perspective. It is a huge blessing to be at home. NOT easy in the least bit, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I love all of those cute faces. And they call me Mom.

I love this one.

I love the stitching on this outfit. Thank you Mer Mer!

And I can't believe this is the only picture I got of Jessica and Cody that weekend! We had a blast with them! Thanks so much for coming up guys and playing with our babies. And going to the driving range on that windy, windy day! It was really nice to have someone from my side of the family at the blessing. Happy you live in Spokane! And sad you won't live there forever!

The men in the circle...My brother Cody, Papa, Justin, Crying Everett, and Great Grandpa French.

Holding our 5th child. Only 5 more to go! ;)

Sleeping babies are the sweetest. Had to capture the rare moment. And I must say it is so fun to use the blanket I crocheted for him now! He is in it! :)

Whelp, sorry boys. The fun has to end. Cody and Jess had to go home. :( 

Go Ducks.

One last boxing match. Evan gives Everett the elbow...

Then Everett pops him a good one in the back of his head.

I wish I knew the secret Evan was telling Everett in this shot. Wise words I am sure.

Last Days of Summer.

Zach's class went on a fieldtrip to the creek to make boats and float them and do other activities...like finding rocks and painting them. Yes, this rock is painted. Who paints their rock gray? Zach. Zach does. So he can glue a strap to it and wear it on his head while he swims to look like a shark and scare people.

This picture doesn't do it justice. This was one of the biggest spiders I've ever seen! Maybe being built into a hill isn't the best idea?

A couple weeks after Everett was born he actually took a decent nap or two which allowed me to finish his cute banner in his room! This boy does not nap well. Thank you Everett!

I LOVE the story of this nursery decoration. My mom started this needlepoint while pregnant with my older sisters, Angie and Katie...she finished it with me (Took 8 years then?! Mom was busy...). Later she found out it is an excerpt from a poem called "Song for a Fifth Child". I WAS her FIFTH CHILD!! What makes it even more amazing is that my mom gave it to me randomly on our last trip to California (December 2013) when I was 5 weeks prego with MY FIFTH CHILD and she didn't know it yet! I hadn't told her...although I should have right there!. Giving the needlework "song for a Fifth Child" to her fifth child, who was unknowably pregnant with her fifth child?! :) Pretty cool treasure. I remember seeing it framed in Mom's bedroom. It now hangs reframed in Everett's nursery and I read it daily.

We grew some crazy carrots this year. :/ ?

  

I knew that at the rate this baby eats he was going to lose his skinny frog legs quickly and I'd want to remember just how gangly they were. :)

Skinny little twigs! Even when he flexes. ;)

And those toes!

And those lips!

And his pretty sister who had to be in a picture!

When he was 20 days old I ventured out  to Lethbridge with him with a bunch of other 30 something mamas and some babies. . We went to dinner and then I needed to buy him bigger soothers since he couldn't keep the 0-6 month size in his mouth. So we all went to Walmart! Ha! Where else would a bunch of young moms from Cardston go and hang out? The baby section of Walmart of course!

On the last day of warmth we had the Leavitts over for Family Home Evening and a water fight and floats! The kids had a blast pelting their dads with water balloons. I was glad to have Everett to hide behind!

It'll be fun to watch these kiddos grow up together! 

3 weeks old! He LOVES water. This is when the fussiness began. Spit up so much!

My view when I came downstairs through the picture window. :) These girls LOVE to color! Especially Kate. And Addie will only color with a purple crayon. She loves purple!

 They are actually REALLY good at it too! They really take their time and do it nicely!

Addie's such a cute little mommy to Everett. And she is so good with him. And I love Everett's sleeper. Too bad I didn't find that one in a bigger size too!

She even brought little horses for him to play with. :)