St George - Day 2

Day two we loaded up and headed to Zion National park.  Caleb got a compass to help us out on our hikes.  Shelby & Malissa had a baby carrier that was amazing.  I want someone to carry me in one!  We couldn't have asked for better southern Utah hiking weather.  I think the high for the day was around 80 degrees.

We were limited to where we could go because SOMEBODY had to have a double stroller.  I have loved our stroller.  It doesn't fit through all doorways - which is obnoxious, but we've managed so far!  Our first stop was the lower Emerald pool.  It wasn't a terrible trek.  The kids did really good! Casey helped the girls, Caleb pretty much held his own, and I tackled the stroller.

The next stop was weeping rock.  It is a very short hike, but VERY steep.  I'm probably an idiot for taking the stroller up there because if I would have lost my grip - it would've been bye bye babies.  Because of my weak and questionable ankles, Casey managed the stroller on the way down the trail.  On the way down Lexi's luck was sticking out the side of the stroller and got stuck on a part of a bridge.  It got bent pretty good!  It was so sad.  She isn't a crier - and she was so upset!  The kids found a fat lizard and a big butterfly at the bottom of the trail & had fun looking at and watching them.

The final destination was the river walk.  Caleb was done before we even started.  He was tired of hiking.  He made it to the end though.  Such a tough guy! 

Luke loved being able to get out of the stroller and dig his hands in the sand.  He is my dirt kid. He freaking loves it.  Taylor & Rylee loved getting their feet in the water.  Caleb was happy to be able and sit and rest his feet.  This is the point where we realized that Lexi wouldn't stand up.  She wouldn't put any weight on her leg at all.  It wasn't swollen...but she would NOT stand on it.  Saddest thing ever!

A few random pictures.  Brad & Mona...aka a couple of bookends...at our little picnic. Brad & Casey, Casey & the kids wandering around weeping rock.  When I would push the stroller up the hill, Caleb would push my butt.  One time he said, "Come on mom! We can do it!"  Caleb and his fat lizard at weeping rock.  The big boys waiting for the shuttle bus after we had lunch.

Casey stopped at this little dive place to get himself a drink after we left Zions.  I hopped out of the car to take some pictures of the pretty flowers.  See that lizard.  I jumped a freaking mile into the air & totally yelled the mother of all swear words.  I'm glad the kids were asleep in the van.  His sudden presence and scurry scared the crap out of me.  Jerk.

I need a t-shirt made for me that explains my family.  I received so many comments on this little adventure.  There was a lot of whispers too.  "Are they twins?"  "Are they twins too?!"  "You get to skip the gym today!"  "Were you on fertility?"  "Did you see that family?"  "You are crazy!  This is a big hike."  "Good for you!"  We did learn that in Ohio every year there is a twin festival or convention or something.  That might be something fun to do when everyone is a bit older :) 

St George - Day1

Last month we went to St George for a few days.  We met Brad & Mona there and Shelby, Malissa & MaKayla.  On the ride down we had SEVERAL "Are we there yet" moments.  At one point Caleb heavily sighed and said, "We are NEVER going to get to George Washington!!"  We only had to stop twice on the way down.  The first stop was a fuel fill up, potty break and lunch and the second stop was a false alarm potty break.  Better safe than sorry though!!  After our false alarm stop Rylee said, "Are there going to be bathrooms in Curious George?"

 

There was a really nice splash pad in the middle of St George.  After checking into our hotel and going to dinner, we decided the kids needed to get their wiggles out.  Lexi didn't want to get to close to the water.  She's a cautious girl.  Caleb, Taylor, Rylee and Luke were all in though.

 I love this picture.  It wasn't staged, they were all just walking down the little river. 

 They all loved this little area.  They water would shut off and you wouldn't know where it would pop up next.  They kids would FREAK out if Luke or Lex were in the middle somewhere when the water turned off.  They were afraid that the spot they were standing was for sure going to be the spot where water was coming out next.  They were all drenched and had a blast.

Mother's Day

Mother's day 2015 has already came & went!  We met with Casey's family the Saturday before and we were supposed to have a picnic, but the weather was NOT cooperating.  I was able to get us into the conference room at Crystal Inn and we were able to eat and visit.  Most everyone was able to do that...not me though.  Luke was NOT having it.  He was being pistol Pete that afternoon and was having a hard time calming down.
 

Casey & The kids got me some fancy sandals, a planter for outside, a solar light and some gardening tools.  We went to my mom's house for hamburgers on Mother's day evening.  It was nice to have some decent weather and watch the kids play outside.

 I'm not sure whey these 5 cuties picked me for their mother....they must want a close up look of what CRAZY looks like.  They are all so sweet and I can't imagine my life without them!

Luke & Alexa - 18 months!

Is it weird that I still vividly remember being pregnant with these two crazies?  I swear it was just a couple of days ago that I was lying in a hospital bed admiring their cuteness...wondering how in the world I was going to take care of them.  Well - so far, so good!!

Lexi Loo...She is a spitfire!  If you ask her a question she will always have an answer.  When looking for her stuffed animal she says, "Kitty...where'd he go?"  She loves to give long kisses and hugs with large grunts.  Out of the two of them, she is my climber.  She knows what a kitty, cat, cow & snake say.  Her favorite things to say are, "Mmm hmmm" and "No."  She loves SHOES!  She freaks out if she can't get a shoe on her little foot.  It cracks me up.  She also loves hats, sunglasses, necklaces and so on.  She loves doing patty cake and singing The Wheels on the Bus and There Was A Little House.

 She has gigantic blue eyes...untamable light brown hair...adorable teeth and such delicate features all the way around.  She still sucks on her little thumb when she gets tired.

 Her stats for her 18 month checkup were:

Weight - 20 lbs 11 oz - 3rd percentile

Height - 31.5 inches - 34th percentile

Head Circ - 46 - 30th percentile

My little mama's boy through and through.  He freaking loves me...to the point that he might need therapy one day.  He is in love with his puppy!  He is also in love with dirt.  Or sand.  Or small gravel.  He just digs his hands right in and flips it up into the air with delight.  He also is my water baby.  He LOVES baths, swimming, splashing, puddles, and the sprinkler.  He also loves dinosaurs and cars!  I would have to say that his favorite food is fruit.  He loves it all!  He is a little man of few words at the moment.  Mama, cracker, mm hmmm and all done are the ones he says the most.  When he is in a great mood he does this weird oriental jabber talk that is hilarious.

His teeth are tiny and perfectly straight.  His crazy blonde curls are the best.  I will probably cry when they get trimmed off.  His little belly after he eats is huge.  He walks with it sticking straight out with a cute little waddle going on in his hips.  DARLING.

 His stats for his 18 month checkup were:

Weight - 23 lbs 1 oz - 11th percentile

Height - 32 inches

Head Circ - 48.5

I love them.  SO FREAKING MUCH.

April

April started out with a prank.  I poured some Jell-O into classes, stuck a straw in and hid them in the fridge until dinner time.  I sat out the kiddos dinner, and BAM.  APRIL FOOLS!  Caleb freaked...Rylee was confused and only got upset because Caleb did...Taylor was a little confused, but totally rolled with it.  Tee hee.

Sweet Taylor headed outside with the bin of sidewalk chalk one day.  Shadow just wanted her attention so badly!  She couldn't get her drawing done because the cat just would not get out of her way.

Caleb had a whole week off from school for Spring Break.  One night me and the older 3 went to stay at the Crystal Inn.  We went swimming (Caleb perfected the belly flop)...went to McDonald's...ate popcorn in bed and stayed up until 11 watching the Disney channel.  They had a fun time!

The kids FINALLY got to put on some snow gear and experience winter.  Look how green the grass and trees are?  It was a fabulous spring snow storm.

Casey didn't want his picture taken.  He lost.  I took one anyway.  Look at little Luke....and silly little Lexi.  I want to remember these two like this forever!

Later that same night I went to check on the sleeping beauties....seriously...this little girl is a sleeping beauty indeed.

And I love that Luke was passed out like a total man.  Camouflaged, sweaty, sprawled out and fast asleep.

The net around trampolines is ingenious.  Forget about the safety issue for older kids, it is the best outdoor play pen ever.

Have I mentioned that I love this cat?  I bet I have as many pictures of Shadow that I do of my kids!

Ashley had her sweet baby boy.  Jackson Derrick Bodine.  Luke & Alexa were surprisingly sweet with him.  It was adorable.  It blows my mind how little the start out and how quickly that tininess goes away.  Sniff sniff.

 

March

Luke....the best helper EVER!!

For St. Patrick's day the kids & I made a rainbow cake.  It was delicious!

Oh look...a picture of a sleeping little one.  SO CUTE!

We went nuts and went to Draper and visited Aunt Sandra one afternoon.  We took a little hike on the river trail with the kids.  They loved it.  That night we went to dinner with Shelby & his family.

My girls and their cereal.  If I would let her...Taylor would have cereal for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

For Easter the kids made adorable rabbits.  Rylee's whiskers crack me up.

Here is Luke loving on his puppy.  Such an adorable boy!