Springtime

Nicole earned this enormous bubble maker through our piano practice rewards and the kids love chasing them!

 

When they pop the kids do get pretty wet but they don't mind!

 

Spike getting some play time on the couch.

 

Nicole is not only a head taller than any other player, she is almost as tall as the referee.

 

Michael drew up plans for a house and then built it. He loves drawing maps and making plans.

 

Getting some pictures together for photo frames on our walls.

 

Me and Katybug.

 

A single bee has come to pollinate the blueberries. We are so happy to see this little dude come by just about every day it's funny. The kids know to be nice to the "big bee."

 

Our golden delicious tree has flowers! The little twig just has tons of leaves though so we won't get any cross pollination this year it seems like.

 

We get a few strawberries each week. I'm hoping the production will increase because they are SO tasty!

 

This face. She has so much energy it makes me tired just thinking about it! This age is so much fun and so exhausting all at once. Diana is a gem and loves to try out everything and go everywhere!

Katy's birthday was this week, she is 1 year old! She is 17.3lbs (3rd %) and 29.75in long (73rd %) Long and lean!

 

Singing to Katy.

 

First taste of her cake.

 

About 10 minutes later. The kids kept making smashing motions with their hands trying to get her to smash the cake. It worked! And they were thrilled!

 

Saturday morning, Nicole bragged to the boys that she'd never had to play goalie in soccer yet. An hour later at the game I was laughing to see the coach have her be goalie. I was impressed at how well she did (when she is on the field and someone kicks/looks like they're going to kick near her, she always turns away protecting her head!) and she got to do a lot of goalie kicks. They scored on a point blank kick by their best player but that was it. She told me later that she just wanted to get it over with and when the coach asked she agreed to play goalie. I was proud of her for being proactive instead of procrastinating!

 

These weeds have sprouted out of nothing in 2 weeks. If my garden grew like that it would be awesome!

 

Kiersten had her birthday party yesterday and I got to snuggle baby Easton while Marian hosted a fun tiger party for a bunch of girls!

 

Going on the obstacle course! They had to stay between the lego path, shoot hoops, use the swinging seats to get to the last part where Kaitlin asked a math question for them to solve. They loved this and all of the other fun games. Marian did a great job of having games that were simple, yet the girls were laughing, smiling and having the best time!

 

Cotton candy! The girls loved this so much it was cute to see them eat it with these concentrating faces and smiles of delight! It is so fun to be a part of the cousins' special occasions like birthdays.

 

Easter Weekend

Nicole earned some air dry clay and has enjoyed sculpting with it.

 

Michael got crafty the other day making his own Indian headdress.

 

 

And Jacob's craft was to spell his own name.

 

Nicole pops up in the kitchen every now and then wanting to make something. I never complain!

 

Nicole volunteered to help the Primary by drawing a picture for a phrase in one of the songs they are learning. Can you guess the phrase? "To look upon His loving face"

Flare shed her entire back and belly, it was pretty cool and fun to watch her go around the cage itching it off!

 

The little stick that could.

 

Our cherry bushes have been in the ground for a week or two now. Waiting for them to bud!

Michael and Jacob are on the same soccer team! There is not a much more entertaining sight than the two of them going through drills and practice together. Only once were they wrestling each other on the field :)

 

We get the Friday before Easter off and we went to the lake. It was so windy that it did not feel warm at all to me but the kids were blissfully splashing in the water and having a great time!

 

 

The cousins joined us and they spent over an hour making this pool.

 

Getting ready for our Easter Egg hunt!

 

The spoils!

 

Instead of packing them with candy, they had a jellybean or two and a puzzle piece in each egg.

 

Once they completed the puzzle they got a grand prize of a chocolate bunny! Less candy, but finding 100 eggs was so fun!

 

Egg nest bread! I dye eggs that haven't been hard boiled and add them to the dough as it rises the last time. The eggs cook along with the bread and it makes a colorful addition to the Easter table.

This year we had Honey & Clove ham, Watergate salad, egg nest bread, potato salad, and sparkling cherry limeade. For dessert we enjoyed fresh strawberry pie and hummingbird cake (if you've never had this you need to try it asap!) The meal was a wonderful ending to a great General Conference weekend where we listened to the prophet and apostles give incredible sermons. I look forward to studying them in greater detail and helping our family each day make steps towards being all our Heavenly Father wants us to be.

My Family

We had family pictures taken at JC Ralston Arboretum last week. Spring is a week or two away from blossoming but we still had some great pictures. I wanted to get 1-year-old pics for Katy and 8 year pics for Nicole and on the way there we decided to take more since we got extras with the groupon. Pictures are always a bit of an adventure. For example, the photographer made the poor choice of taking us to a zen garden with carefully raked gravel off a wooden walkway. It only took about 50 seconds for Michael to somehow find his feet in the gravel despite our previous warning to stay on the walkway. But we survived and I love looking at these pictures of some of the most incredible blessings a mother could have. I am so blessed to be a mother and to have each of these precious children in my life. 

 

Nicole has really blossomed as a young woman. She loves learning to bake and pitches in to help the family often. She wants to bear her testimony every Fast Sunday. It is always short, sweet and purely from her heart. We watched Women's Conference last night. It was a joy to eat a chocolate stampede with her in front of the tv while we were both jotting down notes. Her example and sweetness are a strength to me.

 Michael has an incredible heart. At 6 years old, he has decided on his own to fast one meal for Fast Sundays so he can pray especially for something dear to his heart. He reads his scriptures by the light of the hall light if we forget to let him stay up later for personal scripture study. He has so much energy, loves to write stories, and can play happily with anyone in the family to cheer them up. I am so blessed to have a peacemaker and warrior like Michael in my family.

 

Jacob is like a sponge at 5 years old, asking questions and curious about everything. He has started piano lessons and begs for more than one lesson a day. He is a bit of a tease, just loving the attention of a good chase for tickles or a good laugh. Jacob makes the best sound effects of any kid I know, you'd think there were three kids playing for all the noise he makes. He is the best snuggler and just loves to be near me or Jim with his blanket. His love makes being a mother so sweet.

 

 Diana is 2 and has such an exuberant personality. The childcare at my gym remark that she is just wide open! Full of life and happiness, she is into everything and aware of everyone. This can be pretty demanding on my energy to keep up, but it is a joy to see what she can accomplish with her determination. I've watched her go up our bike ramp by holding onto a rope attached to the top, all while holding in her other hand the zip line seat so she can take a ride. She'll swing on our tree swing way out over the hill, shrieking with glee. Diana has the loudest set of lungs, even saying "shhh" she is loud. I love the fun, energy and pure joy she brings to our family.

Katy will be 1 in a few weeks. She is a precious gift to me. I cannot imagine my life without her beautiful spirit. She is so active and bright-eyed, and has more hair than any of our other kids did at this age (and it's dark hair too, finally for Jim's genes!) She loves to snuggle-hug and then grab my necklace or try to climb up me. She has always been an incredible sleeper, friendly to everyone, and full of love. Katy's love and sweetness help every person in our family feel more loved. She is my little angel baby.