April Tradition

April is becoming a big month in our family. Not only do we celebrate two birthdays, it is also the time of the annual Skagit County Tulip Festival. Since it is only a short ride from Mukilteo we went twice this year, once with Nana and once with Grandma Word! Since we have such a good time we added many of our favorite photos. Enjoy!

 

Of course the adventure ended in tulips for the birthday girl and her bestie to take home. Its official, the summer fun has begun!

Welcome Kate

Katherine Haupt was born this morning! 

She weighed 7lbs 15 oz, and was 20.5 inches long. We named her after Catherine Clark Smith Harrison, and in honor of Levi's Grandma Catherine Haupt, and Torrie's Grandma Mable Harris. The story of Catherine Clark Smith Harrison can be found in Women of Faith in the Latter Days By Brittany Chapman. 

Torrie and Kate are doing great! Here are a few pictures for all those that have been anxiously waiting.

Her sisters want to take her home now!

 She has lots of dark brown hair like her sisters did.

We think she looks just like our other two precious girls and fits right in!

Welcome Kate, we are so excited you are here!

November in our house

Levi said he wanted to do this next post but he is officially out of chances ;) November was a fun month for us, my cute little family spoiled me for my birthday with a brownie hot fudge sundae (it was a nice break from cake J) and presents. Later that week we got to go to the Dr’s for the 20 week ultrasound. Levi took last minute guesses before the stenographer announced another girl. The girls were thrilled, although Emma interrogated the stenographer to make sure she knew what she was talking about. Levi was happy, girls are routine by now, a boy would seem foreign. I was grateful to see a healthy normal baby, and quickly came to terms that I was getting what I needed. I was thinking a boy would be fun because its something our family hasn’t seen yet, and I only have 2 sisters. The girls in the car home admitted to praying for a boy, then going back and praying again, stinkers.

Uncle Adam came to visit us from Portland for the weekend. I guess the drive was worth not having to cook Thanksgiving for himself. We’re so grateful he came and we had a lot of fun, like the rest, he’s a great uncle and the girls had a wonderful time.

This Thanksgiving is the first time that I’ve actually had to cook a whole turkey, by myself. We’ve always been around more experienced family, friends, or by ourselves where I’ve  just cooked a turkey breast. We were hosting Uncle Adam and our missionaries so I knew with that many men I had to suck it up and cook the whole bird.  It went really well, and I had everything timed pretty well, despite losing power for a little bit. We loaded Adam and the missionaries up with leftovers, and didn’t have to eat turkey sandwiches until Christmas.     

The Christmas post will be in several installments, so hang in there!  

A birthday surprise for mom

Making monkey bread with Uncle Adam

Still playing "catch up",that is the story of my life! I can't help it, I am busier than others at this time of year seeing as from August to December there are major events for us to celebrate. So on to another post.....

"Ah coconuts!" we had a hard time picking out our Halloween costumes this year! Our celebrations started with attending a fabulous Harry Potter Party hosted by Dumbledore and McGonagall. ( we went via the Floo network, hence the charcoal!) 

We were nearly the Fa Mulan family, with with Levi as Li Shang the army captain, Torrie as Fa Li, the mother, Emma as Grandmother Fa ( her idea!) and Charlotte as Fa Mulan. In the end we decided to be Never Land Pirates. 

1st mate Lolo

We also had the girls help with the pumpkin carving this year! It never ceases to amaze me how brave Charlotte can be.

Our scary faces!

The finished product, pretty impressive!

The other wonderful part of our Halloween celebration was the ward party, we had a lot of fun and even won a prize for the coolest and biggest prop, whaddaya think?!

Its to carry our loot in.... 

and as I said we're Neverland Pirates, complete with a sachet of pixie dust to wear around our necks!

One pooped out pirate, too much partying!

Charlotte and Emma with Emma's Kindergarten teacher

Another tired pirate! we had lots of fun and are already working on ideas for next year! 

First Day of School!

The first day of school is always memorable. On September 7th Emma had an orientation that she attended with Levi, followed by the first official day on the 8th.

If you can't tell she was excited!

 She has been on a big Curious George kick and was pretty pumped to wear this shirt.

We were blessed to have Grandma and Papa Word here with us. They were able to send Emma off on the bus with us.

 We're not sure if Charlotte and Mommy are ready for their bestie to be gone for half the day, but they are coping well.

Emma was just as excited the first official day as she was the day before.

She was super brave and excited to ride the bus. We tried to give her a ride, but she was adamant that the bus is the only proper way to ride to school.

She is the first stop for the bus in the morning, and gets to ride in the front (where all the really smart kids sit). Near the end of the bus ride the bus stops to pick up some family friends, the Fredericksens. Each day they high five Emma and make her feel like a true big kid. Thanks Carson and Chelsea for being such great friends! 

She couldn't contain her excitement! Its time to learn!

What surely is a Woodward tradition Grandma and Mommy jumped in the car and followed the bus all the way to the school. At the school Mommy tried to be sneaky and caught a peek of Emma lining up ready to enter the school.

Meanwhile at home Charlotte was having a difficult time coping. Thankfully Grandma and Papa were there to distract her. As they waited at the best stop for Emma to return Charlotte said "Oh! My Emma, I love her!", as she grabbed Emma's hand.

 The held hands the whole 1 1/2 blocks home!

 The memory of these two best friends walking together will forever be etched in Mommy's and Grandma's hearts. It is amazing how much joy simple things can bring.