April Highlights

 Gabe is 5!

 Gabe is a big star wars fan.  For his birthday we had a star wars party.  I found this idea on pinterest and thought it was super clever.  Take a pool noodle cut it in half cover the bottom in duct tape and then make different fun designs with electrical tape.  The kids had a ball pretending to be Jedi.  

 Second attempt at marshmallow fondant.  This time it was better but I'm still no expert.  I washed and then used some of Gabe's star wars people to decorate the top.

 When I was at Target a few days before Gabe's birthday they had a bunch of these guys on clearance with the Easter candy.  Score.  I think they were 73 cents.  Perfect party favor. 

 Sunday night on his actual birthday we opened presents.  Gabe got a bunch of lego stuff.  He's been enjoying putting those together with Drew.

 And we sang again and finished our left over cake from the day before.

poor kid ran up the stairs to scare Drew and fell on the way back down.  Scared me really good.  He scraped up his face, but I'm surprised he wasn't hurt more.  He did a somersaults all the way down.  We hadn't been having the best luck.  I fell down the stairs the week before and scraped up my elbow.  At least we didn't get Molly's skin virus.

Gabe is a free spirit.

He is very hot and cold.  When he loves you he's your best friend and when he's mad at you watch out.

Gabe has the best imagination.

He loves playing dress up.

He loves Star Wars, Indiana Jones and anything scary.

March Highlights

Easter Festivities

 This year the Saturday before Easter we went to an egg hunt at church.  Lincoln loved it.  He 100% understands the idea of lots of eggs=lots of candy. 

 We dyed Easter eggs.  My kids love hard boiled eggs.

Look at how happy Gabe and Lincoln are.  If looks could kill...

I thought they looked too cute not to get a picture.  And I was pretty proud of how Simon's onsie turned out.  The tie on Simon's onsie matched Lincolns tie and Gabe's bow tie.  Unfortunately Lincoln broke his tie at church.  It looks a little crazy in the picture because I pinned it.  Lincoln isn't a fan of elastic around his neck.  hence the not looking at the camera.  He was made at me that I put that tie back on him.  Gabe was mad I asked him to put his slinky down. Simon and Molly were happy.  Can't win em all.   

March Highlights

New computer/ Trip to Denver

Drew likes to remind me about how I suck at keeping our blog current.  true. true....  I hated our computer it was SO S.L.O.W.  it would take forever to upload just one picture more than 3 and usually it would freeze.  It was really frustrating.  Drew said that we should use some of our tax return money to buy a new computer.  We started comparing different ones.  Drew asked if it would help me if I had a laptop.  Then I wouldn't have to sit in a corner of the basement to blog.  I told him that would be really nice, but I know that desktops last so much longer.  So we decided on our perfect desktop and ordered it.  March 13th our computer arrived.  Along with the desktop we had decided on Drew also ordered a laptop.  I felt so spoiled.  Shortly after they arrived Drew had to go to church for Boy Scouts.  

When Drew came home he told me he had another surprise for me.  More than a lap top?  I was thinking he stopped at DQ on the way home which he'll do on occasion.  He made me shut my eyes and handed me plane tickets.  Simon and I were leaving Friday morning to go and see my best friend Becky in Denver.  I started crying.  I was excited, overwhelmed,nervous.  Drew kept asking me if I was happy.  I said yes and he just kept telling me I wasn't acting happy.  Basically I don't do surprised well.  Drew did a great job keeping it a secret everyone knew I was leaving except for me.  Drew had made other arrangements for the little girl I watch on Mondays.  He had rescheduled the talk I was supposed to give in church and he had asked someone else to give my sharing time lesson.  Thursday I had the day to pack.  

Friday Simon and I flew to Denver.  Simon did great on the flight.  He fell asleep right before the plane took off and woke up right before we landed.  Thinking about it, it almost feels like it didn't happen.  It was amazing.  I love Becky and her family.  Aaron watched Simon Saturday and sent us to the day spa.  We got massages and facials.  Aaron also sent us to a movie.  We spent the week staying up late, crafting. talking, shopping, watching movies and laughing. It was great.  It took Simon a couple days to adjust to mountain time, but he loved it.  He slept through the night a few times while we were there and basked in all the attention he got from the Anderson kids.  It was the best trip.  It made me remember that I can be fun, that I'm more than a sleep deprived mom.  It was the best present Drew could have given me.  Becky and I have some of the best husbands.  Just sayin.  :)

 before we left the spa. 

 I've never been so lotioned in all my life.  Don't we look shiney and rejuvenated :)

 quick picture before we headed to the airport

 waiting to board

 flight home

Simon didn't do as well on the flight back he slept a little and nursed a lot.  Not too much crying.

March Highlights

Molly is 6!

The Saturday before Molly's birthday we had her party.  I was excited about this game.  You pop a ton of popcorn.  Then you attach paper cups to the kids feet using paperclips and rubber-bands.  They have to fill their cups with popcorn run down and empty it into the bucket.  First team to fill their bucket wins.  The kids loved it and so did the birds and Franklin.

 Molly loves hopscotch and duck duck goose.

 Then it was inside for some cake.  This was my first attempt at marshmallow fondant. I should have read the directions.  I didn't let it sit long enough to really work with it so we cut out stars and put them on the cake.

 Monday was her actual birthday.  We went to dairy queen (Molly is an ice cream girl) and opened presents.  Molly got a sewing machine from my mom.  She loves it.  I wish I was a better sewer.  Molly will help give me motivation to practice.

Where do I start with Molly?

Molly loves to sing.  She is constantly making up her own songs or rocking out to the radio.

Molly loves reading.  One morning she asked if I was reading 'The House Girl' I said "yes how did you know that?"  She pointed at it on the coffee table.  Then she asked me if it was fiction or nonfiction.  I said fiction.  She pointed at her Fancy Nancy book and said "I like fiction too".  When did she grow up?

Molly loves riding her bike and scooter.

She loves dresses and accessories.  Notice the big earrings and headband.  :)

Molly is a  leader.

Molly has a great memory.

She's good at following directions.  The other day I was volunteering at Molly's school.  I was talking to Mitch, a boy in her class,  I said I'm Molly's mom.  He said "Molly always gets on outstanding"  When I told Molly that she blushed and said "that isn't true.  Sometimes I only get on great choices".

Molly is still shy, but every year she's becoming more and more comfortable.  

Molly is a great big sister and helper to me.  She loves cooking and sweeping.

Molly wants to be a dentist when she grows up.

I feel lucky to have this little lady.

March Highlights

Lincoln Turned 2!

 Sunday night we had friends over for cake and ice cream.  Lincoln is my candy kid.  I thought this cake was fitting.  It's frosted and then wrapped in kit kat bars and then topped with peanut m&ms (his favorite).  The kit kat bars made it super easy to cut... ;)

 Monday was Lincoln's actual birthday.  We opened presents and had ice cream. 

Lincoln is his own person.  

He's very serious and stubborn.  It takes work to get a smile, but when you do hold onto your socks.
He loves cars, trucks, buses and planes.  Jefferson County buses everyone everywhere.  Lincoln loves watching out the window and yelling bus every time one drives down the street.  Whenever we drive by the airport I love hearing excited yells from the backseat. 
He also loves shoes.  Right now his favorite pair are white lace up sneakers.  He wants to wear those everywhere and gets really upset when I make him pick a different pair. 
He has a stuffed animal named Blu.  Lincoln loves to chew on his arms and ears because of this Blu stinks.  Lincoln likes to smell blu and then he says "mmm stinks" with the cutest mischievous smile.  Blu is gross, but I can't take him away. 
Lincoln watches everyone and wants to do whatever Molly and Gabe are doing.  He isn't cautious like Molly and Gabe.  I'm constantly amazed as I watch him.  If he can't get up the ladder or rock wall at the park he'll climb the slide.  He's really determined. 
He's talking a lot now and I love it. 
Drew is Lincoln's favorite.  It makes me a little jealous sometimes watching those two together. 
Lincoln is also my only kid who has ever drawn on the walls.  He keeps me busy. 

Here's to the next year!

ahhhhh!

When I think of our family blog a lot of thoughts come to mind.  Mostly I think about how terrible I've been at updating it, lets be honest for the past two years.  I think of how far behind I've fallen and feel overwhelmed. 

Simon has been a really hard baby for me.  The first 5 months he didn't want to sleep and he wanted to be held constantly.  I felt like he was ALWAYS crying.  I felt like I was failing as a mother and couldn't get anything done.  It was rough.  In April something changed.  Simon started sleeping.  Seriously, it was AMAZING. I went from a baby that spent most of the day crying to a happy baby.  Simon started sleeping through the night, or waking up once instead of every 3 hrs.  He also went from little 20 min naps to 2 hr naps.  The past month and a half have made me start to feel like myself again.  So nice.  Heres hopeing I didn't just jinx myself and that I'mm become a more regular visitor to our blog...

guess who

is a big 4 month old...

Doesn't that little face just make you want to melt?  Well it does that to me.  Simon LOVES to be held a.l.l. the t.i.m.e. while that can be difficult sometimes he's a super smiley little guy so that makes up for not being able to accomplish much on a daily basis. :)
Last week we went in for Simon's 4 month check up.  25 1/2 inches.  The Dr said that's 50th percentile and 12 lbs 8 oz 1st percentile...  what?  I know that Simon is a little guy, but I wouldn't think that little.  So now I feel like a mother who is starving her baby.  Even though he eats every 3-4 hours and never acts like he wants more.  We get to go in again next month for a weight check to make sure he's growing.  So that's my Simon happy and very light.