Oh, Mother's Day

What better gift for Mother's Day than Tyler being on call and the kids being OUT of ConTrOL, really...But, I guess Mother's Day really should just be a reminder of what being a mom is all about, rightAt least somehow I got a pretty good picture of the group. And they definitely enjoyed themselves (especially after about 8pm until 9:30! that's soooo late for them!).At least we got to talk to Uncle Nate on the phone (which was wonderful) and Nana was able to receive this GREAT present from Makinzie: a plastic "play kitchen" bowl with old tissue paper flowers from her Valentine's box in it and her finger puppet butterfly. All placed on top of a round foam block and covered by Coleson's blanket. It came with the strict instructions that Nana could keep the blanket, but not the puppet. So generous!

Coleson and Addellyn spent most of the evening playing with this flashlight, chasing the light on the floor and then shining it on the ceiling. Coleson kept saying: "where'd go, where'd go" as he went around and around in circles. He would hold the flashlight in one hand and then try to get the light that was shining on the ground with his other hand, so, of course, he never caught the light...he looked like a puppy chasing its tail. Then after about 8:30 they all reverted to singing opera (I'm the Barber of Seville is their overall favorite) at the top of their lungs and falling on the floor and screaming "ow, hahahha!"

What a CRaZy day! But, thank goodness for moms! We definitely love our moms! And now, I know just how much our moms went through for the babies they love...Thanks moms! We love and adore you!

the FOAM!

One day, my dad came home from work with giant blocks of foam. The kids loved it! They became canoes, beds, telephones, tunnells, and much, much more! Thanks for the endless fun Papa!

And here are a couple of VERY random pics...

Coleson wearing sun glasses to watch Sesame Street, a common occurence these days.

And the picture that Addellyn took to incriminate herself becuase it became proof that she really was playing with the chapstick, small tupperware of lotion, and she had pulled several kleenexes out of the box. Plus, worst of all, she used the camera, which is off limits. All this was done while we thought she was asleep...

Ready and CUTE as ever!

Ready for church early? Absurd! We had to get a picture of these two to document it.

And Ty did a great job of getting cute pictures!

Aunt Chantelle and her DANCE-a-thon!

It's like Where's Waldo, only Where's Chantelle? For months all we did for our weekly youth activity was practice for the dance festival. They worked really hard, and I had a great time watching them :). I took a lot of video, but I still can not get blogger to upload any videos...arggh...oh well.

Soon after, Chantelle was dancing the night away again at MORP, with Kyle.

Then, Kyle asked her to PROM. So, for family night, Coleson dressed in his gorilla outfit (the girls promptly put on their Halloween costumes as well) and we piled in the car to "doorbell ditch" Coleson with this banana and sign at Kyle's house. Coleson stayed on the doorstep really well, but he never cracked a smile...he was playing his role as gorilla very SERIOUSLY.

Chantelle and Kyle, ready to party and dance, yet again!

Go FLY a KITE

April weather was perfect for kite flying...which means it was mainly pretty cold and windy...but I'm desperately working on my optimism skills.

So cold that Addellyn was very intent upon zipping up her own jacket. They each took turns holding the string. The wind was blowing so hard that it didn't matter what they did, the kite stayed in the air!

Coleson loves "mine gasses." Plus, he looks so cool in them :). And, sometimes we like to lock them outside after a long day and enjoy them through the window (just kidding).

Happy EASTER

Can you believe this is right on time, I can not! But it is mainly so that Grandma can see how exceptional her sewing skills really are...

CHEESE!

Although egg hunts are exciting and dresssing up is what life is all about for these girls, I feel very grateful for a day full of spiritual uplift and a chance to hear so many others bare testimony of the resurrection of our Savior. I was blessed to listen to 10 beautiful young women each bare testimony of Jesus Christ and of their knowledge that He exists in everything that surrounds them. They bore strong testimonies that He has been there to help them everday in their own lives, answering prayers and allowing them to repent and change...it was a powerful reminder of what really matters most in life! I know He lives and I know that through His Atonement we will all live again and that we can be with Him and our families for all eternity if we do our best now to follow His example. With this adorable family, I am ready to do my very best, I must say that I am very grateful we can be together forever...

Coleson LOVES to get his hair done. When the girls are getting their hair blown dry after bathtime, Coleson get's his sprayed and then he flatens and spikes it like crazy...he really loved the fo-hawk Tyler gave him this morning :)

Thanks for the fun Easter clothes Grandma! It's sad to be so close and yet so far...we would have loved to celebrate with you today.

Here's a great short clip on what Easter really is all about:

Oh the Hospitality!

Chuck and Mer were gracious enough to let us stay with them, AGAIN, even inspite of a very sick Addellyn. We had a blast, but it was over way too quickly, especially since we had to leave early in order to get Addellyn home to see the doctor before the weekend...

Those candles took a long time to light...and the kids were ready to eat some sugar and get back to playing. Happy Birthday Chuck, thanks for letting us crash it, however, I'm sure we were the best part of your Birthday, by far! :)

The wait was well worth it. Those cupcakes were delicious! I still am amazed at how neat and clean Mer's house was, plus melas had been planned out, cheescake AND cupcakes had been made, she's AWESOME...with baby boy on the way that is definitely an excuse to turn down company or at least to put them to work when they get there so you can relax! Thank you so much Mer!

The kids enjoyed several good meals from the bar...and Coleson was a little ticked that he was being treated like a baby and put in the booster seat too far from the other "big kids." However, he was still close enough that Cameron was sneaking him his crusts and green beans all through dinner. :)

Even when she's sick, Cameron still stuck by her side and was a great friend...she's still in love! Grace and Makinzie disappeared in her room, never to be seen, until we had to drag Makinzie out and away. Makinzie cried for hours the next day over her VERY BEST friend in the whole world. (She also came down with a fever and got sick that day, which may have added to the intense drama.) "She will never find another friend like Gracie in her whole, entire life." We are so mean for separating the poor kids!

Thanks to generous and awesome friends! There's nothing else like it! We are having a hard time with the separation from our NC family...(I'm so sorry if we made you sick, but we really loved spending time with you guys!)

Grandparents, Books, and Cousins

We spent most of our time at Grandma's school because she was putting on the book fair. The kids LOVE going to see Grandma at the school. They got several great books and some fun treats and lunches as well....

One night we were fortunate enough to be able to spend a few hours with Parker, Ady and Xander. The girls couldn't wait to see them again! Miraculously they were happy to get back in the car after a full day of driving the day before, if it meant the could see their cousins! They had become quick friends this last summer and they have been missing them ever since...

The time flew by way too quickly! Hopefully we will see them all again soon!

HAppY BiRthDayS!

Coleson enjoyed pretending the present was his walk along puppy...

The girls' enjoy opening every present for you...

Tyler's was two Sunday's ago and mine was last Sunday...and somehow between the two we managed to drive down and see his parents, drive back, he started a horrendous work schedule, and all of the kids got VERY sick! What a WEEK!

But, we still all had fun singing "happy birthday" several times and eating lots of yummy dessert...brownies and ice cream for Ty, fruit pizza for me....plus cheese cake in the interim for Chuck's Birthday! Hurray for Birthdays!

And a special thanks to Ty for working 17 crazy ER shifts in a row so we could have the 6 days off to "vacation" and "celebrate." (I know it may not have been as relaxing as you may have liked, but we sure think it was worth it!) Tyler is, needless to say, the best dad, husband, friend, doctor, etc. EVER! We love you more than we could ever say! Happy Birthday!

MaRch MadNess...

So the reason I am feeling like there is so much madness is merely because I looked at my kids this month and realized they are growing up! And growing up "like mad." Coleson loves to sit on, tackle, and hug Addellyn. This picture of him sitting on her lap makes him look gigantic! They really have become little buddies in the past few months as he has gotten old enough to pretend like he is "her little kitty" and sit at the table with her and eat all of her pretend creations. They usually are happy together, they definitely have their moments of meltdowns over a particular toy or two though. Addellyn has been playing memory games very well, putting hard puzzles together with ease, singing anything and everything, painting beutiful pictures (if she ever gets the chance) and she is very awesome at "I spy" she usually finds the object before I can...I tend to forget she is almost three...she fell into the mix a little when Coelson came to us so quickly after she had...somtimes I don't give her enough credit and let her do "older things" because she always has to be doing things with her little brother. (Oh the joys of a middle child I guess.)

Coleson is talking and singing like crazy now. Some of his favorite words: "Byankie," "yhino," (he has the most fitting stuffed rhino) "tink ooo," "ear tums" (when a movie is starting...here it comes) "Peas Moma!" "that, YAH!" with giant head nods over the thing that he has pointed at and said peas moma for the last 5 minutes to have...I'm still a little slow on his new found language :) He loves to sing: Old MacDonald "eeeeee-i-eeee-i-yo," Row, Row Row Your Boat "meyee, meyee, eeeem," and MANY more songs that he tries to copy his sisters in singing.

When did she become a grown-up? When we chopped off her hair? When she started building amazing lego ships? When she started reading any book she picks up? When she began writing interesting made-up stories in "her journal"? I don't know, but it has GOT to STOP! I looked back at her asleep as we drove home from our trip this last week and almost started crying because she is so pretty and so much older, she's not a little kid anymore, she's a big kid that goes to school and everything...and it all went by so fast! I can't believe it!