Mother's Day

For Mother's Day this year for my mom we got all of the grandkids together for some pictures.  Two Color Photography is who captured the moment for us.  We went to the tiny beach at Mantua reservoir & it was FREEZING COLD!!!  We had all of the kids dressed so cute & springy - cute coordinating colors - and they couldn't even smile they were so freaking cold.  Dang it!!

 

My cuties on the beach.

Caleb adores Griffen & Blake - and this pictures captures it perfectly!!

I think that this picture is my favorite of the whole group.

We even snuck in a picture with the kids & their mama's.  We do great work!

Me & my crew on Mother's day.

For my gift this year I asked Casey to finish the front yard.  HE DID IT!  It looks so much better!  He built the cute fence & smoothed everything out, put down weed paper and some wood chips.  I got some whisky barrels and planted some color and I love my front yard so much more! 

Next year we are hoping to have the funds to do something with the concrete at the bottom of the house. 

A close up of my flowers.  They are doing great!

Hogle Zoo

Seriously - I can't stay away from the zoo.  It sure has changed since I was little kid!  They have made so many improvements!  That is probably why it costs a fortune to go!  I was fortunate though - I had 3 coupons...one for each of the kids to get in for F R E E.  I love free.

 

 The kids were in heaven.  No one ever wanted to ride in the wagon - but I am glad that we had it so that we could carry our lunch & drinks & bags!!  My favorite was the otters & the seals. 

I love that my girls BOTH wanted Zebras!!  Caleb was stoked that no one got to the snow leopard before he did.  Simple pleasures are the finest.

 This cute grizzly bear and the polar bear were showing off in the water.  The lion was just chilling - but it is a beautiful creature so I snapped a picture.  What would be more terrifying - A bear chasing you down or a gorilla?

Taylor & Rylee loved everything.  They got startled by a gorilla, loved watching some monkeys play, were thoroughly entertained by the seals, and couldn't wait to go see the next thing!  In fact - just today Rylee asked me if we could go to the zoo.  How cute.

Casey hates sloths.  They use to have it behind glass - but now it's out in the open.  They are pretty hideous creatures.  What is totally disturbing is that Casey's impression of the guy is pretty spot on.

 My mom & Casey's mom joined us for the day.  I think that they both had a good time.  My kids are so lucky that they get to live so close & be loved by their grandparents. 

 Caleb was our master map man.  I didn't even think to hand him the map until halfway through the day he asked what other people were carrying around & when I handed him his very own map - he was officially in charge.  He would tell us where we were going next & where to turn.  He was adorable.

Talor & Rylee are strange.  They are fascinated with nipples.  When they walked up to the gorilla statue I said to Casey, "Five bucks that they touch his nipples."  Casey said, "Okay.  I bet they don't."  He totally owes me still.  Funny little nipple touchers.

 Caleb & his rock & roll hands crack me up.

 It was a perfect day!  Great weather and great company.

 Ashley & Eva are the best.  The watched Luke & Alexa for us.  Ashley said that they took a 2 and a half hour nap AT THE SAME TIME.  I think that has probably happened to me twice in the last 8 months.  I am glad that they were good for her!

Temple Square Picture Day!!

Remember December, 2013.  When I had my gall bladder out & left Casey in charge of the 3 olders??  Remember when Casey thought he was channeling a hair dresser and did this to my baby girl's hair?  It had 4 months to grow and...

before picture day could happen, I had to do this.  I had Rylee's hair cut like Taylor's.  My identical girlies had to look identical again, right??  They look pretty dang adorable.

Oh. My. Goodness.  What a day!!  Car #1 = Kim, Brittni, Taylor, Rylee, Luke and Alexa.  Car #2 = Angela, Ashley, Grandma Babe and Eva.  Car #3 - Sandra & Amber.  Just for the record - Car #1 was the first one on the scene.  Just sayin people.  Rylee went into complete panic mode as we pulled into the parking garage.  She thought we were in a car wash.  I wonder if she will end up being claustrophobic?

 

Temple square in the springtime is breathtaking!!!  I can't recall going any other time than winter to see the Christmas lights.  I recommend spring.  My cousin yet again captured some adorable pictures of my littles.  Luke & Alexa's pictures were for their 6 month milestone & Taylor & Rylee's were for their 3 year mark!

 

This little girl has my heart.  She is so delicate & so feisty at the same time.  If you try to make her smile & she doesn't want to - she flat out won't.  It's almost like she knew she was coming into a crazy family & wasn't about to take crap from anyone.  She also loves to suck her thumb!!!!  She prefers to eat her veggie baby food over the fruits.  So far at 6 months - she is tooth free and loves to sleep on her belly.  She still wakes up 2-3 times each night.  I am ready for that routine to cease.

Seriously - can you see what a stud this little chunk is going to be?!?!  He has the sweetest smile and adorable laugh.  He his cutting his first two teeth on the bottom & neither he nor I are enjoying it much.  He is a much better sleeper than his sister.  Usually he will sleep all night long or just get up once.  He loves to eat!!  Baby food or bottle - he will have it!

Luke

Weight - 15.11 lbs - 17 percentile

Height - 26 1/8" - 38 percentile

Head Circ. - 44.6 - 69 percentile

 

Alexa

Weight - 13.4 lbs - 5th percentile

Height - 26 1/8" - 56 percentile

Head Circ. - 42 - 34 percentile

 These girls....I don't even know what to say.  They are a complete joy.  They have such different personalities.  I love watching them grow into little ladies.

I don't think that my Grandma knew what she was getting into.  I think that if she could go back in time - she would have NEVER gotten into Ashley's car.  It was a day filled with a whole bunch of crazy & cuteness.  She bought all of the little kids a water bottle at the Disney store.  I love that my Grandma is still up for these types of adventures.

 Eva is hilarious.  When she sees that the whole group is getting together she literally squeals with excitement.  She freaking loves each and every one of us!!  She had fun picking the flowers and drenching herself in every drop of water that she could possibly find.  I don't know how her mom keeps up!!

 

After a tasty lunch at the Blue Lemon (BEST sugar cookies ever) we did a little bit of shopping and then headed home.  By the end of the day this is how we rolled.  Needless to say - I got a few looks.

 



Really SUCKY Virus

Really Sucky Virus.  The abbreviation is RSV.  Okay....it really stands for Respiratory Syncytial Virus.  Caleb started feeling sick on Monday, May 12th.  He missed school on May 13th, 14th, 20th, 21st, and 22nd.  For some reason this year the Kindergarten classes got out a week early so he missed the last 3 days of school.  He was so sad.  He took a pink rose to his teacher, Mrs. Barker, and told her that he was going to really miss her.  It was adorable.

Over the weekend of May 16th - Luke & Alexa started acting sick.  So Monday afternoon I took them to see Dr Dawson.  He swabbed their noses & they tested positive for RSV.  I was MAD.  I kept these little darlings at home & around family only for the 7 months of cold (Oct - May) and they still got this stupid virus!  I am grateful that they didn't contract it when they were 2 months old & more fragile.  But it was still REALLY scary!  AND - Taylor & Rylee had both started coughing.  My mother was a brave soul and yet again my saving grace.  She took the girls for 3 whole nights so that I could care for Caleb & the babies.  Casey works a swing shift - so I don't have help at nights.  Which consist of dinner, baths, teeth brushings, story time, and just trying to keep everyone happy.  I am so glad for her help!!  Total bummer though - today she isn't feeling the greatest.

 

Luke has been a tough little fart.  He was pretty bad for a couple of days and now he just has a super disgusting snotty nose.  Caleb has slept so much this past week!  One day he was coughing so hard that he was throwing up.  Poor kid laid on the bathroom floor for about 15 minutes hacking his poor lungs out.

Alexa got the short straw of this whole deal.  Not only did she get diagnosed with RSV on Monday - we found out on Friday that she also had a double ear infection.  They gave her a shot of antibiotics right then and there.  Thanks goodness!!  We were in the hospital a total of 5 times getting her some fluid.  She is NOT interested in drinking her bottles!  She fights me so hard with trying to get any motrin or cough syrup in her.  It always ends up with me having to change her clothes.  But - she does love here breathing treatments.  She almost always stops sucking her thumb and just breathes it all in.  I have 5 different lists hanging on my fridge with different columns.  One for each child.  With a column for motrin, cough suppressant and the nebulizer.  My brain can't handle keeping track of who had what when.

When we went in for fluids the guy that was sticking her with the needle tried to poke it in a vein in her head about 3 times.  I wanted to stick a needle in his eye!!  She was so sad!  He then tried her foot & was in on his first try.  Why didn't he start with that?!?!?  They wrapped up the needle and it stayed in for 3 days.  Then we had to get a new one in her hand.  She loves her hands.  The one that had the needle in it usually goes behind her head.  At least they didn't stick her thumb sucking hand!  One week later - she is finally starting to feel better!!

These two hams haven't been to bad.  Rylee gets some pretty goobery eyes and wakes up with a fever.  Once the motrin kicks in she feels much better.  Taylor has a hacking cough - but she sure has her spirits high.  She's been cracking me up lately.

Here is Rylee one morning BEFORE the meds kicked in.  Both of these girls are medicine junkies!  Taylor gets so sad when Rylee gets medicine and she doesn't.  They love the stuff.

So excited for this next week.  I'm going to disinfect this germ infested place and hope that everyone is feeling MUCH better!  Fingers crossed that Casey or I don't get sick!!

February Favorites

My little Lukester loves to bath.  I will place him in the tub & he starts kicking like crazy before I even turn on the water.

Caleb was pretty excited for Valentine's Day this year.  Thanks to pinterest I had a few awesome options for him to pick from for his Valentine's.  He picked the option with a glow stick attached of course!

 

Lexi and I stayed up late one night to bake some Red Velvet Whoopie (I believe should be spelled whoopee) Pies.  They were tasty!

I bought everyone a little gift and made lunch that totally BOMBED.  But hey - I still made it with love.

Either myself or Casey or one of the kids would be dead without this woman.  My mom has been such a great help to me since the NEW twins were born.  She has been a cook, a therapist, a maid, a personal shopper, and in this case, a jungle gym.  These kids LOVE their Grammy! 

Alexa got a new kitten from Grammy one day.  She loved it!

These 3 had to have a night on the hide-a-bed after  a movie.  They slept great!!  I don't know how they did though - that mattress looked so uncomfortable!  I think kids are able to sleep just about anywhere.

Caleb thought he had invented the neatest trick.  I told him to hold it while I got the camera.  When he checked out the image of himself, he cracked up!  True talent in this one.  Nothing but true talent.

Best helpers ever!  They love to do the dishes.  At this stage it is usually a disaster & I end up getting my "mopping" done for the month.  Yes - I said month.  They don't like to get their sleeves wet so they take their shirts off to wash.  In this case...pants followed.  Taylor decided to take it one step further.  Funny girl.  I wonder why she left her socks on?

Easter Sunday

The girls & the babies weren't feeling well on Easter Sunday so Casey & Caleb are the only ones that went to church.  Runny noses & coughs are not fun at all when you times it by 4!

After church the kids went into the backyard to see if the Easter Bunny had left them anything fun.  The fabulous rabbit did!!  Each of the kids got a new scooter and a basket full of fabulous things!

 Luke & Alexa even got a few things.  Lucky kids!

 Caleb had 4 peeps in his basket.  I think he consumed all four in record time.  Smart boy.  They are so delicious!

The Easter Bunny had a wrapped present for the family.  It was a stomp rocket!  The rockets even glow in the dark.  Caleb was so excited!

 Taylor & Rylee found bubble guns in their basket.  They loved them!  They only worked for about 3 days though. 

We headed to the park for some kite flying and to play with the stomp rocket.  The kids had a blast.

 Here is proof of these little darlings on Easter.