Arson

Yesterday around noon, I was helping Kylianne with a piano lesson and noticed that many of my neighbors were out in the street. I was curious and went outside to find smoke coming out of my neighbor's house (3 doors down). I ran outside to see if there was anything I could do and was told by another neighbor that the fire department was on there way.

Then someone screamed, "She's still inside, I just saw her in the window". My heart just about stopped, there was a lot of smoke coming out and I was really worried about her. She seemed like such a nice lady. Every year she would bring around fresh produce she had grown in her garden for us and was always kind to us and the girls.

Back to the story--A couple of neighbors ran to her door and started pounding and telling her to get out. The first police woman arrived at this point and when she heard there was someone inside she beat the door down and pulled her out of the house. She started screaming and fighting the cop and wanted to go back inside. Unfortunately, she started the fire in her house by setting off fireworks in every room of the house. Apparently she had a lot of problems and was just about to have her house taken away and wanted to end it all. My heart hurts for her, it's such a sad story.

She also has 4 dogs and she had kept them in the house with her too! It just makes me sick that she wanted to take their lives as well... Luckily, all the dogs got out safely and are doing fine.

It took the fire department a good 2 hours to put the fire out and the house is pretty much destroyed.

My neighbor was charged later Saturday with arson, disorderly conduct and cruelty to animals, with possible other charges pending. I never would have thought she would do this and I feel so sorry for her.

This a pic of the fire dept trying to get control of the fire...

sleepy girls

I love snapping pics of sleepy girls, I just love how peaceful they look, especially Zaylia. Anyone who has ever been around Zaylia when she wakes up understands that she is NOT a morning person (or really anytime she wakes up). I learned a long time ago the consequences of waking her up, she can get pretty scary, so I avoid that battle at all costs...

Even though she probably still needs them, Zaylia doesn't take naps anymore (it was too hectic when Jazilyn was born and I gave up trying) but sometimes, like in this picture, she falls asleep on her own when she's watching TV.

Ah, so peaceful...


Here she is again on top of my favorite couch, she crawled up her while Toby and I were watching our guilty pleasure, American Idol. She looked pretty comfortable to me and I wanted to leave her there for the night because I really didn't want to wake her up (see above).


It looks like Jazilyn is following in her footsteps. She doesn't look very comfortable though, poor little girl.

Kylianne's dance

Kylianne's dance class recently danced at a competition. Her class won overall for her division, and Kylianne made sure everyone knew that her class was the best! She really loves to dance and is constantly twirling and prancing around the house. Zaylia would love to follow in her footsteps, so next year I will have 2 little dancers, plus Kylianne will be in kindergarten. I'm afraid my life will be a little crazier, hopefully I can handle it :)

Enjoy the video, Kylianne is on the far right.

6 months old!

Jazilyn is 6 months old! We had so much fun with her 6 month photo session. She was a great sport and gave us many cute smiles. Only at the end did she get a little annoyed. We almost did not get the main picture above. I brought the background, which is a quilt I made for Jazilyn (many, many thanks to Lori and Alison for helping!) and I really wanted a picture of her with the quilt. Jazilyn just did not want to cooperate so we almost gave up. Thanks to our favorite soothie pacifier and a very patient, fabulous photographer, we caught these cute moments.

These past 6 months had flown by and Jazi is growing so fast. I honestly couldn't ask for a sweeter baby. She sleeps so well for a 6 month old, I put her to bed by 8 and usually don't hear from her until 6 or later. I know, I am so spoiled, it is wonderful! All of my babies have been really good sleepers for the most part which really isn't fair because my mother tells me I was absolutely horrible. Sorry mom!

Jazilyn loves her big sisters, they can get her to laugh and smile easier than anyone else. She also loves our cat, Keeya. When she sees her or even if I say "there's Keeya", she gets very excited and starts kicking her legs and moving her arms. When Keeya is near, she also loves to yank out her fur. Luckily, Keeya has had practice with this kind of abuse from older sisters and just runs away if she has had enough.

Now for a funny story from tonight - Toby was feeding her some peaches and he said "Jazi, open wide, open wide, Jazi, ahhhhh" . (Now imagine Toby saying that while opening his mouth wide-lol). I think she was a little frightened because she started sobbing. It was so sad, but also so funny. Toby and I couldn't stop laughing, poor little baby girl.

Streptococci

Yeah, we get to add Strep throat to the Chadwick's list of ailments this winter! We just keep catching everything this year and it's driving me crazy. I have no idea where this one came from, but whoever it was is in big trouble!!! Luckily, just Toby and I have it and by some miracle all three girls haven't shown any sign of it, yet... So we are keeping our fingers crossed as Toby and I get rid of this awful junk.

Once there was a snowman, tall Tall TALL

Apparently, winter isn't quite satisfied and dumped on us again this week. My brother, Nate, came over and helped the girls build this tall, cowboy snowman. The girls loved playing in the snow (hopefully for the last time--come on spring!) Sad to say, this is the first snowman the girls have built. We have have had ample opportunities, but just never got around to it. Thanks to Uncle Nate, we now have a perfect snowman that in the sun will be melting, SMALL Small small.

It worked!

It looks like my spring cleaning paid off, or feels like it at least. We enjoyed an absolutely beautiful day yesterday. The weather man reported a record high of 66 degrees, which felt amazing!

It was warm enough to open the windows up and go outside to play. The girls were very excited to ride their bikes even though Zaylia refused to ride her new "big-girl bike". She can't quite figure out the pedals and wanted to stick with the 3 wheeler, little stinker. We'll have to work on that one later.

We also cooked up some delicious abc burgers (avocado bacon cheese) outside on the grill, yum! It's too bad that this weather won't stick around much longer. The weather man is predicting rain and snow until next Tuesday, bummer. I guess that means I need to get going on some more spring cleaning...

Now for a story about the picture, don't we have an amazing view? I sure think so! I once stood on the very peak of the mountain pictured above. Now that was an incredible experience. I would post a picture but it was about 11 years ago and I'm not exactly sure where those pictures are... I guess I'll just have to take more! I am planning on making that hike again this summer with Toby, so when we do, I'll post the pictures.

I love these beautiful mountains I get to see everyday. I love all the changes that come with the seasons, the white snow in the winter, the green in the spring and summer and the vivid red, orange and yellow in autumn. I have never lived anywhere without mountains and I feel like they are a part of me and my identity. I'll even admit that whenever I visit a place without mountains, I feel a little homesick for them.