Road Trip!

So, once again, I thought it would be a great idea to drive to Utah from Dallas. My mom flew out to help out and keep us company. This time we drove to Albuqueque and then up to Arches. New Mexico really was more beautiful than I had remembered- which was nice. But there was a lot of construction and slowing down in little towns. We thought we were savvy with our new GPS. We dialed up a few hotels as we approached Farmington, NM (who would imagine that most of the town didn't have vacancy) and put money down on an America's Value Hotel. When we arrived at the hotel three hours later we realized our mistake- the pool was unswimmable and the shower either scalded you or trickled freezing water. At least the beds were clean.

We had two DVD set-ups in the car because, of course, the boys don't want to watch Barbie Pegasus or Mermaidia- to which I am grateful. Two set-ups also meant headphone jacks for everyone! Mom and I enjoyed a blissful hour and a half as the children watched their movies BUT unfortunately, one of the DVD players died! The girls played with their Polly Pockets and magnetic paperdolls. The boys read and drew pictures.

We stopped at Arches. The kids made up names for the different rock formations they saw. The one above, although not in Arches, was a favorite entitled "Cupcake Rock".

My Baby is not a Baby!

Look at this angel! Well, maybe I shouldn't say that. Abby would correct me. "I'm not an angel (princess, sweetie, baby, insert whatever cuteness rolls off my tongue). I'm a girl."

My little Abigail Helen turned 3. Even though it was really hard for her to put up three fingers, she still turned three. She hasn't been in diapers for a year and can get in and out of the car without help. Such a BIG girl!! There isn't anything "baby" left in her- except the daily "sippy cup with Daddy's chocolate milk" and her love of snuggling.

Abby is a sweetheart. She loves her sister Lauren and her friends Gab, Brooke, cousin Sam, Olivia, Asher, Lulu and anyone who will pretend to be a kitty with her. She loves the color pink. Her favorite show to watch is Dora or Max and Ruby or Olivia- depending on the day. If she is really good, she gets to watch a show with a sippy of chocolate milk! Abby likes to play pretend shop, house, zoo-- whatever. She wants to be the mommy. She loves dolls, strollers, and Polly Pockets.

Lauren and Abby love to play together. Sometimes they are both kittens; other times Lauren is the owner. Or sometimes they are store owners. Lauren pretty much dictates what they do but Abby usually thinks it's great. They have a super-dramatic relationship filled with giggles, tears, hits, slaps, screams, tattling, and giggles again.

Abigail is quite shy at first. You might think she is timid, hugging my thigh and whining in her high squeaky voice. But she warms up quickly and dives into anything and everything. She is definately a fourth child. She seems socially more advanced than her siblings. She potty trained a year ago. She understands timeout and can fake cry to get her sister in trouble, too. She can manipulate her dad with a smile.

Abigail is a very wise brown-noser. She will be the first to report that she wasn't fighting, making a mess, being naughty. If another child is in trouble, Abby will say, "I'm being obedient." And smile sweetly. Or, "I don't pee my bed, " if someone had an accident. She has Steve wrapped around her finger. I don't know how to tell him that she is not always perfect.

Abby LOVES to do ballet. She sets up the "Bella Dancerella" mat and barre and asks me to put on the DVD. She works very hard to do what Bella does and I work very hard to ignore the obnoxious DVD (if you have this, you know what I'm talking about). She takes dance from Miss Lisa and ADORES her. She loves everything about class and continues to dance once she gets home.

She also likes to sing. We used to sing a simple goodnight song to Lauren until she got too big for it and then it became Abby's song. After prayers each night, Abby breaks into her song and the rest of us join her. She's gotten sillier lately as she points to everyone and sings their name. The song is "Good Night Ladies" from Music Man and we just insert each name.

I often feel guilty. If I look back on the past few years of photos, Abby has an extra chunk in her portfolio. She nicely poses and is willing to let me practice my photography on her- so it's not my fault! I also have more one-on-one time with her than the other kiddos because they were so close together in age. We get lots of quiet, shopping, special mom time.

But I think it will even out because.... don't be shocked or upset.... I didn't do a big birthday party. There are perks as mentioned about birth order and for child #1 and #2 and even #3, those perks included a big birthday party each year with an elaborate cake and 15 plus friends and chaos. Child #4 gets a tired mom who really thought she would do a party when they returned from Utah but, well, didn't. (Not to mention that I'm actually blogging this in September! I'm always two steps behind- or more)

Grandma Bender was here for her birthday so we did a sweet family party. I usually really take pride in their birthday cakes but this year-- not so much. We were leaving the next day for Utah and I had been running last minute errands and packing and then it dawned on me-- I need a cake!!!! So the cake was hastily done up with Grandma's help. Despite my disappointment in myself, Abby loved the Barbie cake.

She received a Barbie Cash Register with working microphone and scanner from mom and dad, a pair of white sandals from Mommer and Grandpa Lund- very cute! and a trip to Build-a-Bear from Grandma and Grandpa Bender.

Abigail Helen is such a blessing to our family. She is sugar and spice and everything nice and we love her!