Spring came, and went, and came again.

We had a few nice days and the kids were able to get out and ride their bikes around the cul-de-sac. Nathan just rides all over the place and it's hard to get a picture of him, but Aaron and Ali are just pedaling along in front of our house. They are both really good.

Then we had snow, so the kids got all of their snow gear on and tramped around in the snow one morning. Ali had a hat and gloves on, but like her shoes and socks when she is inside, they didn't stay on long.

We had a fun Easter weekend. The Easter bunny came to our house Saturday morning and Ryan was able to see the kids find all of the eggs before he left for work. The kids were good finders and very excited!

Then we went to Nathan's first soccer game of the spring season. He is so excited to playing again. He is really good and has a fun team. Unfortunately, the other team that they were supposed to play against didn't show up, so they played against their coaches. 

When we got back from the soccer game, we went to our Annual cul-de-sac Easter brunch at the Gillespie's. We had a yummy brunch, and then the kids got to go outside for an Easter egg/toy hunt. As you can see, they all made quite a haul! Aaron even got another little stuffed dog, which he has named Lorgans(? I think. Sometimes he changes their names a few times before he settles on one.) Nathan got some sidewalk chalk, and Ali got some sunglasses.

In the afternoon, we went over to the park for a neighbor hood egg hunt. (If you are counting, yes, this is number 3 for the day.)  It was fun for Nathan to be with his best friend, Carter. They looked in the trees, and found some eggs in pretty difficult places.

We finished the day with family at Kyle & Luke's house to have another couple of Easter Egg hunts and fun. They first found 5 eggs each, then they had to find the eggs that spelled their name and the eggs that had their age on them. They also found a special sports egg that directed them to Grandpa for a prize (money :). Lastly, they had a clue to where to find their special Easter gift from Grandma and Grandpa. Then we got to eat pizza and enjoy playing.

Sunday morning they all go to wear their new Easter clothes. I have hopes that someday I will have an Easter morning picture with my kids all nicely standing in their church clothes, looking like angels, ready and anxious to go to church. Sadly, this was not that year. My kids like to "keep it real" even in pictures. I sure do love them, though, angels or not.

Ali is quite a climber. In the kitchen she pushes over stools or chairs to help her up on things and can usually get what she wants. Apparently she is now an expert dresser-scaler as well. I came in her room to find her on top of her dresser reading a book. I asked how she got up there and she pointed to the knobs on the drawers and said she used those. The humidifier may have given her a leg up, but I think she can pretty well do it on her own. She is smiling and saying "cheese," but she's really thinking, "I can do whatever I want, so look out."

Nathan has been doing so well in school and has really improved in his drawing and writing skills. Here is a picture that he drew of a bird catching a fish out of the water. 

We went to the dollar store for some a couple of things and Aaron and Ali saw these pom-poms. They wanted them so badly and I remembered seeing a sorting game with them, so we bought them. They spent an afternoon putting them into the muffin tin in different colors and then using the salad tongs to pull them out. It kept them busy and entertained without making a mess. It was great! Some friends of mine and I are doing a "busy bag" swap, so hopefully I'll get a bunch of things like this that they will love.

February-March 2012

I haven't updated the blog recently because we haven't had anything "big" that has happened. I have taken several pictures, though, and realized that even though there haven't been any major events, we sure have been busy around here. Many times that means clean up, work, and keeping kids out of trouble, but busy nonetheless.

Ryan's birthday came shortly after we returned from Disneyland. We decided to do something a little different and made a giant cookie for him instead of a cake. The kids helped with the mixing and with the licking of the bowl. Then we cooked it and decorated the cookie. That night after Ryan opened his presents, we had some of the cookie and ice cream. It was almost as good as the dough.
 

For breakfast one morning, Nathan made his own giant Mickey Mouse pancake. He ate the whole thing! He loves helping make pancakes in the morning and is a good pancake eater.
 

Here are some pictures of the busy-ness that we have been involved in lately. 

Ali brought her blanket, dolls, and some stuffed animals in to our room and arranged them on the laundry basket. She was pretty proud of her efforts.
 

The boys made a fortress of cups that they stood in, knocked down, built up, and thoroughly enjoyed for the night. 
 

Ali got into my cupboard and dumped out all my baking soda, corn meal, pancake mix, baking powder, coconut, and even some sugar and flour. I swear I wasn't out of the room longer than a few minutes...she is dangerous when left alone. 
 

I started cutting up the kids sandwiches in little squares or triangles to help them eat more. They think it's fun to eat little sandwiches. Well, Ali has also decided that she likes to use a knife and cut up her bread in teeny-tiny pieces. Not sure why she enjoys it so much, but as long as I'm there to supervise and help clean up the mess before it gets all over the floor, we're okay.

In preschool, Aaron has learned some exercises like donkey kicks, scissor kicks, and our favorite, downward facing dog. Here he is demonstrating his skills, Ali joining him, and then Nathan showing us all his fancy jumps and moves.
 

We have talked about potty-training Ali. She doesn't quite get the concept yet, but she sure loves her underwear. You can't really tell, but she has a diaper, onesie, and 6 pair of underwear on. Little super girl...
 

Aaron loves dogs. He has several stuffed animal dogs and has his own little dog family. He has names for each of them and plays with them and sleeps with them all the time. I hope it keeps him satisfied for awhile because I do not want a real dog. The dogs names are Ruf-Ruf, Mamalup (on bottom - she is the mommy dog), Pupalup (the little one top of Mamalup), and Rolls, the daddy dog. If you ever see Aaron, ask him what his daddy dog's name is. He makes sure to enunciate his l's very well. Ryan loves to hear him say it. 
 

Aaron also loves ships. This is a ship/plane that he built out of legos. He would have to explain how it all works, but is an amazing machine that can pretty much do anything he wants it to.
 

Ali likes to bring her toys, books, and dolls everywhere. One nice day she had them all outside with her.
 

Washing her face before church and showing a little of the attitude that she has. She usually smiles most of the time, but when she is unhappy, she lets us know.
 

This picture really doesn't do it justice, but this is Aaron's ship (or cruise ship, depending on the day) that he "builds." It pretty much means he moves around chairs, the piano bench, blankets, cushions, and anything else he needs to build a cruise ship. This is a mild day. Some days I have all my kitchen chairs, the two barstools, the bench in the entry way, and 10-15 blankets strewn around my living room representing different swimming pools, hot tubs, and other areas of the ship. He has quite an imagination and frequently tells me to look out the window and see the whale or shark or something else. Just a couple of days ago, he ran up to me excitedly and said, "Mom, I just caught a sea bass!" What a kid. 

At dinner time a week or so ago we were eating and talking about what they had done that day. The boys had been to the park and said they were looking for 4-leaf clovers. Aaron said he found a one and wished that all of Utah was water. Nathan didn't think that was a good idea because people's houses wouldn't be here if it were water. Then Aaron said, "Yes, but I was looking for another 4-leaf clover to wish that everyone's houses were cruise ships so they could be on the water." I guess we'll have to take him on a cruise someday. But until then, he'll just have to pretend and make wishes.
 

 One night, the boys were scared or didn't want to be alone, so they came into our room and laid down. They were asleep in minutes, including Ryan.
 

Tracy Aviary

Last Friday, Grandma Taylor took the kids to Tracy Aviary. It was a good day to go because it was warm enough for Nathan (who had to wear shorts) and there weren't a lot of people there. They were so excited to tell us all about the Owl Forest, the eagles they saw, the pelicans they fed with fish, and the parrots that landed right on them and ate apples out of their hands. They had a great time! They couldn't talk fast enough to tell us all about the day.

 Grandma bought them little stuffed owls whose eyes glow and they have been taking them to bed every night. Aaron says the glowing eyes help him so he's not scared.