Archive for April, 2014

Easter Fun 2014

Saturday, April 26th, 2014

4/20

bunnykids

We had such a wonderful Easter this year. We did our traditional bunny hunt this morning. Eric and I collected all the stuffed bunnies in the house (we are up to 15 I believe, we added two more this year!) While the kids were sleeping, We hid them around the house with clues leading to each pair of bunnies. With each bunny was also a pack of bunny fruit snacks and an egg with the next clue. The kids loved it! They called themselves bunny rescuers as they dashed around the house. The last clue led to their Easter baskets. I usually try to get a couple of fun outdoor things. This year Serenity got pom poms, and Donovan got a new bubble wand. Maia got a toy with a mirror that she was fascinated by. I hung it on her play gym and she tried to grab it with her hands AND feet. Everybody got a couple of books I’d gotten at the book fair. Serenity got a books on constellations and a field guide to birds and flowers. Donovan got Dinosaur vs. The Potty one called Bubble Bubble about the ocean that makes sounds. Maia got a Duck and Goose Happy Easter book and a book called Dotty about a baby deer. I love the simply small series by Paola Opal, they are too cute. Oh, and everybody got bunny ears =)

Bunny Rescuers!

Bunny Rescuers!

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Later on I did some gardening. . I even dug all the weeds out of my garden, I’m so proud =) I’m not that great with following through on maintenance, much better at the initial work! I then placed the rocks we’d picked up out at the property yesterday. I love the rocks! They look so interesting and they are perfect for the kids to sit on for pictures.

 

Yesterday we went to an Easter egg hunt with Carson and Raegan at their church. Everyone was so nice there, it was a lot of fun! Serenity and Donovan were thrilled to see their cousins, and as always latched onto them with hugs until they nearly knocked them down. The kids, after strategizing with their Dad for awhile, got plenty of eggs. He coaches them to run halfway down the field so you don’t have to compete with a lot of kids for eggs. =) Donovan was happy after about a dozen eggs. Serenity filled her bucket up this year though, so we spent quite a bit of time sorting candy later. Donovan prefers the chocolate candy, Serenity prefers the starburst style candies, so it’s a pretty good partnership. =)

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Jennifer, ever the amazing hostess, managed to have a cookout at her new house! I shouldn’t be surprised, since this is the woman who cooked her family regular meals when her kitchen was completely demolished for renovations, but she’s amazing that way. They did chickens on the rotisserie and had other yummy treats! Her house is SO great! I’m so happy for her, and we had so much fun out there! The kids got to ride on a tractor with Casey, and swing in the boys new tire swing. And there was another egg hunt, my favorite kind, where you actually have to look to find the eggs. The other kind is exciting, but hide and seek is more my style.

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Can you tell I'm getting lots of practice with my photoshop group picture merges now that I have three kids? ;)

Can you tell I’m getting lots of practice with my photoshop group picture merges now that I have three kids? 😉

Maia is Four Months Old!!!

Thursday, April 17th, 2014

maia4months copy

 

4/18

Maia is four months old today! She is such a sweet baby. She just loves people and smiles so adorably whenever someone talks to her. The other moms at dance class just love on her the whole time we’re watching the girls in class. And Maia loves the attention, smiling and gurgling up a storm. =) They say, “she just doesn’t ever cry!” And it’s true. She almost never does. She just makes enough sound normally to let me know she’s hungry and tired, and that’s all there is to it. On the few occasions she has been truly upset… it’s more of an indignant shriek than a true cry. I don’t remember hearing that particular cry before, I think it’s all hers and I wonder sometimes how that will translate to later communication efforts. =) But for now I just revel in her sweet smiles and the occasional giggle.

 

She’s moving a lot more than she used to, of course. She loves standing up in my lap, over and over again. And she prefers to be held sitting up instead of lying down when she’s awake. Almost any time I put her in tummy time these days she rolls right back over. And when I lay her down in the exercise mat to go do something, like get a drink for one of the other kids, she’s not ever in the same position I left her in. She wiggles her way right around 90 degrees from where she started.

 

She loves the toys in the gym now, especially the butterfly. She grabs that one and pulls it down almost immediately, and then she plays with the kitty that she can’t pull loose. Her favorite toys are still her hands though. She often chews on both hands at the same time. Although, if she can get ahold of your hands she does her best to chew on those too. She adores watching her siblings. They get the biggest smiles, and the love helping with her. Donovan brings her soft toys to the point that I have to tell him to replace toys instead of continuing to pile them on her. Serenity has made her giggle the most by doing absolutely crazy silly things. She is a big help, and I trust that she will come and get me if Maia needs me or gets fussy if I need her help. She picks Maia up on occasion, but she’s always very careful, and doesn’t try to lift her or move her far from where I’ve put her. So far at least. And Maia is just as thrilled as Serenity is when they are together.

Maia had her doctor appointment! She’s 16lbs 8oz, so she has more than doubled in size since birth!!! She’s 25.25 inches. Yay Maia!

 

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She can still fall asleep on Daddy's shoulder.  So sweet =)

She can still fall asleep on Daddy’s shoulder. So sweet =)

Such a good sister =)  She reads to Maia.

Such a good sister =) She reads to Maia.

Papa and I built a new swingset for the kids.  I LOVE it!  I can swing them all at once!  They've already logged hours of swing time on it and it's only been finished a few days.  And this is Maia's first time in a swing!!!

Papa and I built a new swingset for the kids. I LOVE it! I can swing them all at once! They’ve already logged hours of swing time on it and it’s only been finished a few days. And this is Maia’s first time in a swing!!!

She LOVES the swing =)

She LOVES the swing =)

Maia under my new weeping crabapple tree =)

Maia under my new weeping crabapple tree =)

Remember this onesie Abbey?  I still love it!!

Remember this onesie Abbey? I still love it!!

My morning snuggles =)  This is the time I absolutely cherish.  One by one all my sleepy kids end up in the blue chair with me.  We cuddle under the covers and I get to hear about their dreams or just listen to their quiet breathing as we enjoy the snuggles.

My morning snuggles =) This is the time I absolutely cherish. One by one all my sleepy kids end up in the blue chair with me. We cuddle under the covers and I get to hear about their dreams or just listen to their quiet breathing as we enjoy the snuggles.

Donovan in March

Thursday, April 10th, 2014
Snow cat!

Snow cat!

 

 

3/8

Today Donovan pointed out that he is just like a shark, he has teeth.

 

3/25

He said” Lets say a funny story.  Once there was a monkey and he was scared!  He was scared from the dinosaur.  And he said help, help, ayudenme!”

Then I said the Dino was scared of the monkey.  Then they laughed and made friends.

Another time he told stories with magformers, using them to illustrate his story. He said
“The monster trapped him!  He trapped George.  The dinosaur chomped the monster and saved George.”

 

It's hard to believe we were still getting snow in March!  A lovely snow dinosaur was Donovan's request =)

It’s hard to believe we were still getting snow in March! A lovely snow dinosaur was Donovan’s request =)

He sticks his hand down the neck of his shirt a lot these days =)

He sticks his hand down the neck of his shirt a lot these days =)

Playing computer with Daddy

Playing computer with Daddy

His first experience with regular glue =)  He sorted colored squares and glued them down.   He liked this so much we did it several more times that week

His first experience with regular glue =) He sorted colored squares and glued them down. He liked this so much we did it several more times that week

Snacking with his toolbox from Evan with Jaggy the Jaguar

Snacking with his toolbox from Evan with Jaggy the Jaguar

Lion!

Lion!

3/28

Potty Training week!  He has done SO well.  Day five and not a single accident, including poop!  Day four just had one accident, and it was probably because he swallowed half the pool.  The first day we went through six pairs of underwear.  I forgot how often kids have to go when they are first learning to use the potty.  Setting the timer on the stove for 20 minute intervals made for a long couple of days.  But by the third day he just had two accidents.  He still went through four pairs of underwear though, because he just loves his new underwear =)  And when  he changed into his superman pair that required an entire outfit change so his shirt could match his underwear.  So cute =)  He also wore his underwear on his head the first day several times.  He’s also discovered that potty training is a great way to prolong bedtime.  Yesterday he came down three times in an hour so he could use the potty.  I think he was holding some back on purpose, my little evil genius.  Tonight I thought everyone was in bed, since Eric had gone to sleep upstairs when the kids went to bed, so I took a bath.  Well, he climbed out of bed over Eric, went to the potty, and then located me downstairs.  He came in holding his pull-up, pajamas, and the tub of cookies, ready for his reward =)

 

3/30

Donovan is such great company when it comes to yard work =)  He’ll sit and dig in the dirt the whole time I’m working =)  He likes to help with digging and he sorted out lots of rocks with me.  He’s the digging boy!

"I've big important things to do!"  He quotes from one of our favorite books.

“I’ve big important things to do!” He quotes from one of our favorite books.

Digger boy!

Digger boy!