The Making of M.O.M.

Some Moms do the Christmas Eve photo in front of the Christmas tree with all the kids in their Christmas pajamas. I'm not one of those Moms. In fact, despite that I really enjoy taking photos, it's rare that ask my own children to sit and take a photo all together. And getting myself in the picture is even more rare.

For whatever reason, Easter is the one time a year I hand off the camera and ~~force~~ ~~beg~~ ~~coerce~~ bribe my kids (and husband) into taking a yearly family photo. It rarely ends well (and by well, I mean that we are all perfectly posed and I've not issued threats or made unreasonable promises), but it always makes me laugh. At least, afterwards. Many years afterwards.

It also appears to be the one thing that Lucas hates most on the earth. Olivia, on the other hand, has always rocked the Easter photo. I'm guessing it's her favorite holiday, ever. Besides her birthday and Christmas and whatever holiday is exactly next.

Easter 2010 can be found here on my blog. It's hilarious. But for comparisons purposes, here's a quick picture.

That would be itty bitty Ella on my lap next to Olivia. Goodness

Easter 2011 was apparently not blogged about and this is probably why:

The best one we got that year features our dog's back. Again, LUCAS. He's probably mad because he's wearing the exact same sweater vest that he wore the previous year. Fashion is clearly his thing. Or not. Seeing as how he's worn the same pair of jorts for the last week.

Easter 2012 things seemed to go a big more smoothly.

That's teeny, tiny Abigail on my lap.

You know, except for Lucas. At least Olivia is rocking it out. And Aaron. Clearly they were being bribed with excessive amounts of candy. Momma had a newborn. Momma was tired.

Easter 2013 apparently did not exist because I have no photographic documentation of it. Not even looking back through all the pics from my phone. So weird.

Which brings us to this year. Easter 2014. I knew I wanted a pic of all of us. My parents, my two grandmas and all the kids. Please note Lucas' over sarcastic smile because it took several photos of him not doing pointy, happy fingers at the camera, or throwing up some sort of gang symbol or staring off into the yard in the opposite direction.

23 photos later, grandparent photo: check. I mean, one kid out of 8 isn't looking but LOOK AT ABIGAIL. The cute. I can't even handle it.

And then, I politely asked Abigail to remove herself from my Mom's lap and sit with me for a nice family photo. She also loved that idea. Or not.

Okay, Abs, please just stop before you upset your baby sister.

Well, at least Lucas is happy for once.

I hope your Easter was a scream.

Tomorrow will be four years that our lives became forever changed. I remember scooping up a 4 month old Aaron and heading to the laundry room to change his diaper. My phone rang and I looked at the caller ID to see that is was our social worker's number.

"Hello?" I answered, assuming it was just a call about Aaron's case or to set up a meeting or something of the sort.

"Hey Jessica, I'm calling to see if you'd like another placement."

My heart flipped. I laid Aaron down and began unsnapping his pajamas as she outlined for me the details of a little girl who was a mere 4 days old.

Little did we know then that that tiny baby would grow into our beautiful, spunky, lively, loving, silly girl, Olivia.

Oh how I love this girl...

She so spunky, silly and fun. She adds so much pizzaz, life and JOY into our family. She marches to her own beat (and it's a good one too, because sister can break it down) and I love how much she loves life.

Her and her "twin" Ella are nearly inseparable. (Unless they're both in time out for their mischievous antics!) Those two make each other laugh like no one else can and act almost more like twins than Lucas and Ashlee do. How I hope that they remain as close as they are now their entire life.

She loves to be the center of attention, yet ironically, rarely lets me take a photo of her where she's not, ahem, posed.

At four years old we've discovered that Olivia has a gluten sensitivity and boy, she's a totally new girl when she's completely gluten free! She LOVES princesses, dresses and anything that's girly. Especially, her "beans."

I've just recently gotten confident enough to do box braids and twists and put beads ("beans") in her hair. She loves them and I'm confident they make her 100% sassier than normal.

She loves to dance and sing and can memorize a song after only hearing it once or twice. She's got a fabulous ear for music and I hope we can harvest that in her at an early age.

She's never met a stranger, being quick to introduce herself to new people and ask, with her mouth cocked to the side, "What's you name?"

Gosh, have I mentioned I LOVE this girl?

Her laugh is infectious. He's got agility like I've never seen before. She's a treasure that I pray we harvest well for the kingdom of God. I am so blessed that of all the mothers ever created, God chose me to be hers.

Happy 4th Birthday to my sweet, wonderful, vibrant, beautiful and joyous girl! Momma loves you so very much.