Brooke is TEN!!

I love this girl.

She is 10 today!

We started the day with breakfast in bed and ended the day with a swim party with tons of friends!

Is it just me, or does every ten-year old girl LOVE "peace" attire?

Sandals picked out by Easton. He was the primary shopper for his sister Brooke this year! Very sweet!

The two of them even worked together to make this AWESOME tie-dyed cake! So easy, but SO cool!

Fun in the sun with all of her friends! She even got to have the party on her actual birthday!

FANCY HAIR!

We even had a little gymnastics on the side!

...and dancing in the air! Isn't that seriously cool?

...some surfing!

AND LOTS OF AEROBATICS OFF THE JUMPING ROCK! (with lots of girls begging for pictures, of which, there are 42 pictures to print for thank yous!)

Look at how great Brooke's cake turned out. Great job Easton and Brooke!

WE LOVE BROOKE!

The things that I love about Brooke are:

1. She loves her sisters. She may complain or argue occasionally, but she loves when Madie does her hair, or when Ellie wants to play something up in their room, or when Annie wants to sit on her lap in sacrament meeting.

2. She loves school. Maybe not some of the work, but she loves having friends, and working with her class, and all the extras like talent shows and plays.

3. She makes friends at church, school, softball, etc...everywhere she goes!

4. When she is happy, her smile beams!

5. I love that she is my true blondie! Born as fair as they come, she has maintained the California girls blonde hair (sometimes green in summer) and the dark tan!

6. She loves blogs! She loves to contribute to what we put on our family blog, and she keeps tabs on all of our favorites. (she even found the tie-dye cake on one of the ones we follow.)

7. She is a time keeper. Sometimes, I will admit that this is NOT fun, but she always knows where everyone is, when they should be home, and we have often been interrupted on date nights because we were taking too long. But somehow, it is somewhat endearing.

8. She still loves to be tucked in, and will stalk John and I after prayer to make sure someone is tucking she and Ellie in.

9. She loves her dad. (I am sure she loves me too, but she will spend every minute she can with her dad.) Whether it is trips to Home Depot, mowing the lawn, or just replacing the lights, she is underfoot.

10. She is part of our family! A very important part!

We love you Brooke!

Happy Birthday!

Gabby's Day

Today is July 26th.

So many things to so many people, but for our family, a time to remember our little Gabrielle.

I woke this morning to a beautiful newborn.

My eyes were tired, the pain in my body still present from a her being taken by cesarean just seven short days ago.

There she lay, nursing so intently and so warm in my arms.

I looked at her as she smiled slightly, so peaceful and sweet.

Then my thoughts turned to Gabrielle.

Just seven short days ago, and let's face it, maybe even in that smiling moment, Tymber could have been with Gabby and Sam.

I don't claim to know what goes on on both sides of the veil, but I do know that there will be life after death.

A great life.

One filled with time with the little girls we don't have now.

Someone in the hospital last week took a picture of me and my five girls. I just stared at the picture. I couldn't believe it, FIVE girls.

One just as amazing and beautiful as the next.

All five full of potential to be whatever they want to become...loving mothers, doctors, nurses, or Sunbeam teachers.

I know I won't experience Gabrielle the same way that I will live day to day with these five, but I will have a chance to know her.

To feel her presence in my life.

I am so grateful for my memories of her on that beautiful day that her dad and I met her, held her and said goodbye.

I am so grateful for the person she made me become.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to see those around me in my life love our family unconditionally through that trial.

I am so grateful that she made such an impact in my children's lives that they tell strangers in the grocery store that Tymber is our ninth child and not our seventh as they tell them the short story of their two little sisters that have already returned home.

I am grateful that John and I are sealed to our children on both sides of the veil, and the work we faithfully put in to make sure that they all return home to be together as a family someday.

I am grateful, most of all, for my Savior and what he did that makes all of it a reality. No goodbyes forever, just a lifetime of waiting.

We love you sweet girl, thank you for changing all of us for the better.

Happy Day.

Annie goes to "practice" Preschool

Look who went to "practice" preschool yesterday!

I had just gotten home with Tymber when the opportunity came for Annie to head to a summer camp day at her future preschool with her friend, Cate.

I figured for Annie's benefit, (and maybe Tymber and I's benefit as well) we had better send her off with a smile.

She got all dressed, hair up, cute shoes on, and backpack filled with nothing but a swimsuit and towel and waited by the front door counting every passing minute until Cate showed up with her mom to give her a ride.

The two walked in, hand in hand, and walked out completely exhausted, but so happy!

Tymber time...

Everyone is wanting "Tymber time" around here.

Annie feels like she should have the right to hold her anytime, anywhere, but she has managed to share with visitors, cousins, and occasionally one or two of her siblings.

So far, Tymber is being a great baby and allowing Annie to hold until her heart is content!

I'm sure she will tire of this by next week.

Maybe.

Koi are in

John took the kids this morning to buy 35 koi for our pond!

They each took turns letting them back into freedom.

I love the smiles on each of the kids!

(maybe we should add hair brushing to the Saturday chores :0)

New baby-check

New fish-check

What's next on the list?

Baby's 1st photo...aka."prison mug shot"

Back in the day...

When you had a baby there was a photography group that would wake you around the 2 am time period and ask if they could take a "memory" photo of your new little one.

We all did it.

We all allowed this to happen for years.

We let them take this "mug shot" of our day old child in their hospital blanket that was so worn it no longer had bright blue and pink stripes, but faded ones to take their place.

Our babies still had the "look" of delivery, complete with red splotches.

That was...back in the day!!!

This is the way they do it now...

This lovely photographer, who actually knows what every Nikon button is used for, comes in and asks you the same question, "Would you like a memory photo of your newborn?"

Except she comes at a reasonable hour, on Day 2, after the baby has had a chance to have a warm sponge bath in the nursery, a little momma milk, and maybe even some sleep.

She comes supplied with sweet baskets, clean white linens, and ideas galore.

Here is what they can do...

(I have tried all day to figure out how to copy and paste the pictures, but to no avail.)

If you are interested:

Go to www.bellababyphotography.com

Click on VIEW PHOTOS

Password gobr0718cecil

And voila...beautiful newborn shots that are worth framing!

I can't wait to frame a few!

Tymber Julia Cecil is here!

TYMBER JULIA CECIL has arrived.

She came via C-section on Monday, July 18th at 3:04 pm!

Everything went smoothly, and she is beautiful!

She weighed in at 7 lbs 10 oz of pure cuteness!

Cousins, friends, and siblings poured in to see her!

She is loved by many!

Tymber is here and we are in LOVE with her!