Allyson Lucille is FIVE

Man 5 years have gone by literally in a blink of an eye, I remember when Allyson was a newborn Kyland saying "just wait babe soon we will be sending her to kindergarten" WAHHH and wouldn't you know we are enrolling her into kindergarten. Allyson has taught me so much in these 5 years. I am stronger kinder more loving and more patient just to name a few.

Things Allyson does: 

*Allyson is a born leader which makes her a great first born. When she wants to take charge she does such a great job. 

* Allyson loves making breakfast for her sisters 

* Allyson loves writing notes to her daddy for inside his lunch or for him when he gets home.
* Her reading comprehension is so good! We will read something & it could be a couple weeks later & she will see something that reminds her of it.
* She is really starting to understand church & what she learns there.
* When she feels like it, she will give the most heartfelt prayers. I love getting to hear those ones.

Things Allyson says: 

* the girl is LOUD everything comes out at full blast. 

* she memorizes things so quickly
* she sings sings sings

* she loves to quote movies right now her favorites are willy wonka and the chocolate factory & the parent trap, I love hearing her talk in an english accent!

Things Allyson dislikes: 

* mustard 

* garlic bread
* me talking about her starting kindergarten, she's not excited at all & honestly I'm not either.

a few of her favorite things:

* disney 

* purple and bacon still

* cereal

* pizza
* hot dogs
* her aunts & uncles
* her COUSINS!!!
* coloring or any arts and crafts
* loves going to lush to pick out bath bombs
* she loves when we go to the mall

Allyson.... you are so sassy. You know what you want and you will do what you need to do to get it done. You are a complete bulldozer and will knock what ever is in your way out. I love your determination.  You are a born leader and I know that will get you extremely far. I don't ever want to break down your free spirit. We love you so much!

Ally really wants a kitty 

Selfie queen 

Still my sweet baby girl 

Just ally & Lola 

potty training take 3

I am now on my third girl to potty train, and I am just glad that we are on the up side of it. Potty training has been the worst, and to be honest I don't even think my girls were that difficult. I started potty training at around two years old for all of the girls. We waited a little after Stella turned two simply because there are so many holidays around her birthday plus we were going to see disney on ice and I wasn't about to tackle a brand new potty trainer during the show. I figured I would write down how I did it, in case I have to potty train again and maybe it will help out someone else.

potty training tips:

#1- Get them introduced to their "own" potty we have mr.frog, whenever I would use the restroom I would bring stella and sit her on mr.frog so she could see what we do in the bathroom.

#2- When we started potty training I pumped Stella FULL of juice (which was an extra treat because she normally gets water ;) But as soon as she was done drinking her cup of juice, I would fill it right back up. This way she was getting a ton of opportunities to learn & notice what "the feeling" of having to go to the bathroom is.

#3- On the first day of potty training you have to except accidents, and LOTS of them. Whenever Stella would have an accident I would *kindly*(even though I was totally over the accidents) tell her uh oh we have to go potty on mr.frog & then I would take her over to her potty & sit her down.

#4- TREATS!! As a reward we chose skittles for stella and whenever she went peepee on the potty she got a skittle. We would also do a "potty dance" anything that was super exciting and made her feel proud I did.

#5- At the end of day number 1 I was ready to throw in the towel and just keep her in diapers, she had 8 accidents and maybe went on the potty 2 times, one of which being a total fluke. But that is something I couldn't do, I didn't want to confuse her so I had to keep pushing through.

#6- I never did the timer thing. Stella only likes doing things if it is her idea, so instead of getting her on the potty every 15 min, I would tell her stella stay dry every 15 minutes that way she was connecting it rather than me just setting her on the potty.

#7- the first two days I let stella run around with no knickers on, I have read that sometimes it will confuse them if they feel something they assume its a diaper and will just go. I noticed that on the 2nd day when we had knickers on she had accidents as opposed to not having them on she would tell me she had to go potty. Obviously at some point she had to get used to wearing knickers, so mid day on the 3rd day I put them on her and she did great with them on.

#8- I don't worry about potty training at nap/bed times, I just don't want to clean up all of those messes, however I also don't use diapers. We got pull-ups and they have a picture on the front that if she pees it will disappear. So every time we put them on Stella I remind her that we still have to stay dry. She also wore them to church on sunday, but told her nursery leaders when she had to go potty, and stayed dry.

The first day was rough but it went uphill from there. By day 3 when she started having an accident she stopped until I got her to the potty.  Actually having to potty train is the worst but once its done it is so awesome! Happy potty training ;)

 potty training survival kit

so happy to be a BIG girl

Dear 2014

Dear 2014, 

          I can't say I'm sad to see you go, you brought me some happy moments but you also brought me some of the darkest days of my entire life. We rang in 2014 with a ONE year old! Kyland and I decided we were going to try for another babe. 12 days into January we had a FOUR year old. Life was amazing we were healthy and extremely blessed and happy. Next came February I started feeling the most tired I had ever been in my life and I was nauseous every second  of the day. You know what that meant. Yes, I was pregnant with our 4th sweet precious baby. I was so excited I love being a mommy and there was nothing more I wanted than a sweet baby. Then march 2014 came. March 11th was the day we found out it just wasn't time for our sweet baby to continue its journey to earth. While I still don't understand why it had to happen this way, I know that my Heavenly Father has a plan for me and I have grown so much closer to him through this enormous trial I have had to face. It's crazy how one family can have the worst month of their life, meanwhile another family had the best month. Heavenly Father brought our sweet nephew kason to us the next week and I was able to forget and just be happy while holding that sweet boy. 2014 brought 5 years of marriage to Kyland and I. It really doesn't seem like 5 years somedays it seems like 50 ;) In May I had to get my bottom wisdom teeth out and got dry sockets that was awesome...(insert sarcasm) & Kyland turned 25. June was a month of birthday lily papa blake and Ryan all had a birthday. July we ventured to panguitch utah for the 4th of July & our sweet ruby roobs turned 3!! August was my birthday month I am now a quarter of a century & got to celebrate my dad took me to my 2nd favorite place I'm the world Newport beach California. Sometimes you just need to get out of town and that really lifted my spirits. Allyson was in her 2nd primary program. October was an odd month I LOVE October but this year just wasn't feeling it completely. The rest of 2014 really just flew by with holidays and our baby girl turning TWO. Everyday of 2014 I had to make a conscious effort to make it a good day, which is something I've never had to do before. I'm usually a glass half full gal but this year wasn't my year. You win some and you lose some and although this wasn't a year I would want to relive I'm still so blessed. My husband and I are healthy. My three daughters are the most beautiful sassy stubborn people on this planet and I wouldn't changed them at all. 2014 you taught me that when life pushes you down, sometimes it takes you a little to get back up, but you can always get back up and try again. Im not sad to see you go but I know you taught me many things 

         Xoxo- ericka 

stella mae is TWO!

Its our sweet babes birthday today & I honestly cant believe it even though thats what all moms say. What I would give to go back in time to two years ago when stella was born. I would go through that awful surgery & even more awful recovery all over again to just hold her newborn self. As much as I love watching her grow and develop into her own person, i miss those brand new baby days & don't get me started on that brand new baby smell. ;) Stella is growing up so quickly she learns a million new things every day and Im lucky enough to get a front row view!

Stella's nicknames at 2 years old:
stelly
stelly belly
stelly bean (ruby's favorite)
stella mae
&
stella mae jones (when she's naughty)

things stella says:
i have given up writing down all the words she says because homegirl is a CHATTERbox, and she will pretty much repeat anything we say so I narrowed it down to my favorites.
*she calls me mom or mimi no mommy
* uncle kole is now koley
* she will tell you ruby's name is belle
* she calls ally sister
* shhhh this is my song, is a new sentence that cracks me up
* it's gone is what she says when she can't find something or if daddy is at work he is gone
* I'm thirsty is also a popular one right now.
* she will ask all day wheres daddy/papa/kole/bubba

things stella knows:
* stella can identify yellow, pink, purple, & green. and she will point to the color and say its name.\
* stella uses a fork and spoon like a pro & can also use a normal cup for the most part. I can't believe i will be done with sippy cups soon

things stella dislikes:
* stella loves batman, captain america, ironman but for whatever reason spiderman scares her so badly she will have nightmares and wake up crying "maaaaannn"
* she has never liked being tickled and now if she gets tickled she will say "ow"
* she no longer likes her car seat because she discovered that a&r's seats are different than hers so she constantly wants to sit in their seats now.

things stella loves:
* she loves baby dolls & loves pretending she is a mommy.
* she loves babies in general if she sees babies or anyone sitting in a stroller she assumes they are babies and proceeds to yell "BABY BABY BABY"
* stella loves her food & easily out eats ally & ruby combined. She loves cereal and fruit but also loves salads.
* Aurora is her favorite princess as of right now & while we are on princess' she can identify all of the princess' but belle aurora and ariel are her favorites so she will say their names.
* the only movie she will sit and watch is frozen & gaspard and lisa are still her favorite show
*obsessed with books and the grinch is her favorite right now.
* stella loves dressing up
* she still loves her mae mae (blanket) and grey (stuffed zebra) and needs those to sleep.

things stella does:
* she will be the first to notice when i paint my nails and when i take my nail polish off.
* stella loves going to nursery & we will see come january if she still enjoys it once ruby isn't in with her anymore. But she loves the sweet songs they sing and always sings them at home along with the abc's which is a current fave.
*She has always loved dancing and that hasn't changed. she still enjoys maroon 5 & she likes taylor swift also, but what she loves dancing to most is iggy.
* stella loves putting the girls shoes on.
*stella is always the first to help me with chores especially unloading the dishwasher she hands me everything & she puts the silverware away, and she loves getting a new garbage bag and putting it in the trash can. She is also a pro at transferring the laundry from washer to dryer and dryer to basket.
* We took stellas paci away in october and she actually did a lot better than i thought she would. If pacis are brought up she will tell you that she gave hers to elmo and elmo is giving them to babies.
*She is giving me hints that she is getting closer to potty training & mommy wants to get past the holidays before tackling that.


Stella is a perfect piece in our family. Its fun to see how much alike she is to her sisters but she is also different is so many ways. I am so blessed that heavenly father trusts me to raise her! we love you stella mae happy 2ND birthday!

enjoy TWO year old pictures.

happy thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was a little bit different but mostly the  same for our family. We do a thanksgiving breakfast with my family & watch the parade while the boys hang Christmas lights. So we did that per usual & we always have thanksgiving dinner with kylands side of the family. Typically we all gather at his parents house but they recently sold their home, so we all gathered at Shmae & h's house. H smoked a turkey and basically it was the most delish turkey I've ever had! and we had all the traditional foods and those were just at good! Shmae & H had recently just gotten a pool & the kids just couldn't resist going in the hot tub after dinner. Somehow we even talked the kids into jumping into the freezing pool, crazy kids! I absolutely love the holidays for that exact reason, all of the family together is the best!! & i didn't get one picture!

this is halloween, everybody make a scene!!

I LOVE halloween!! Words can't describe how excited I get and how depressed I am when it's over! It's by far my favorite Holiday! This year Allyson decided she wanted to be Wonder Woman, ruby wanted to be batman, and Stella had no say so we made her robin! They were so so excited to finally get to wear their costumes! They also know that halloween is the one holiday that they get to wear make up! Such girls! This year we had trunk or treat Wednesday & the real deal Friday night! Kyland already had a captain America shirt so I got batman (original right) and we were all superheroes! I love halloween & I'm so glad that my girls love it to. Now I guess it's time for Christmas music... Ya right if anyone knows me we don't start that until at least the day after stelly beans birthday ;) 

Enjoy the plethora of pictures! 

Sisters fighting crime 

Man do I love a man in uniform ;)

Daddy with his ghouls BAHAHAHAH 

This girl is for real my sidekick batman💚💛robin

We went out with a bang October! We will miss you 

Pumpkin carving

This year kyland carved scar from the lion king & I carved tinkerbell with pixie dust. Of course kylands turned out perfect & I'm pretty proud of mine seeing as how I am the WORST pumpkin carver know to man!