Miriam's Fifth Birthday

We were so lucky this year that Baca got to take off a day of work so we could celebrate for 2 days! My parents came up Thur night and we played and played all weekend. First we went over to Aunt Nicole's clubhouse to swim around 11ish. I believe it was Benjamin's first time swimming and it was a little cold for him and Rachel. We really love swimming!

After naps we went to get Miriam's pictures taken at Target while Baca entertained the other kids. For dinner we met up over at Chuck-E-Cheese and had a great time! I hope you can see some the great pictures from Chuck-E-Cheese with our guests- Grandma, Baca and Aunt Dar (ie Jennifer). I love how much my kids enjoy being with each other for the most part. What a great day!

Saturday, her actual birthday with the traditional strawberry waffles though the kids seem to like whipping cream better than ice cream on their waffles. Yum yum!

With Easter approaching Grandma and Baca wanted to help us decorate our Easter Eggs. We loved having extra help. Aren't our eggs beautiful?! It's fun seeing them get more and more into decorating. we wanted to go on a picnic and have an egg hunt, but it snowed us out so we decided to have our picnic inside.

We had a picnic of mashed potatoes, chicken, strawberry pop, grapes and potato chips (aiming at a picnic, some of Miriam's favorite things. Picnic went well except for a couple of spills. Also a lot warmer than outside!

 Miriam with our usual balloon bouquet, and helping Grandma with her Rapunzel cake. She got to open her presents Saturday after the picnic and got lots of cool things. Like a bike helmet so she can learn to ride a 2 wheel bike. Grandma and Baca also took her over to Kmart to pick out something.

Kids View

Aaron told me the other day, "You make things so hard for me". Of course I was puzzled, we were trying to get everyone ready to go with shoes to go over to the babysitter so I could go help with centers at Miriam's school. He said it was because I made him clean too much. Oh brother, I got so tired of nagging, bribing and threatening I really haven't asked them to do anything for awhile except get dressed, put their dish in the sink and get their pjs on. In the car he continued I wish I was the only one in the house so I wouldn't have to do anything and could eat whatever I want whenever I want. Also note I have never asked them to do anything on their own I'm always doing it with them.

Story number 2 on Aaron. He was so excited when Eric came home from deer hunting with "deer horns". He went around saying deer horns like a battle cry and waving them around. It was hilarious.

March 2012

Aloha!

Sunday March 11 posing after church in our Hawaiian clothes. I can't believe how young the girls look almost a year and a half ago!

Sporting some of our St Patty's clothes. Upper left the kids on March 6, we like to get started early and wear them all month! I love how Aaron obviously was not into the picture, it was probably right before we were getting ready for bed. Lower left is Rachel on March 8, also same on the right, she had too many adorable expression to pick just one! She is wearing shamrock pajamas and is 8 1/2 months old definitely sitting well. Middle is all of us in Delta on St Patricks day. Upper right is Rachel also on St Patricks day, not sure why she is wearing 2 different outfits. Lower right all of us sitting on the back deck on March 15.

 On Saint Patrick's day we found ourselves in Delta. Upper left Miriam and Aaron doing their favorite Delta activity- watching movies! Upper right we went out to eat at our favorite Mexican restaurant La Rancherito (?). While we were there the wind was threatening to send us to Oz and some cowboys came to eat. Miriam was excited to see the horses and wanted her picture with them, bottom left. After lunch we stopped at Alco where Aaron tried out a little motorbike in bottom right picture.

Not too much happened in March the only other thing was my brother moved back from Texas just in time for Miriam's birthday. We were glad to have him back! He also let us use his trampoline as he had no place for it. March 31 showing how much fun the kids had with our new 'toy'!

4 year checkup

April 29, 2012 in her dress that Grandma Delta gave her and her dolly.

I've decided that I love four year olds the best of any age so far and that three year olds are way worse than two year olds despite the catch phrase terrible twos. Miriam has blossomed so much in the last year and I have felt a shift in her capabilities and desire to learn, grow and explore. In some ways it scares me because I'm not at the top of my game and I don't want her scarred for life thinking that a huge disaster of a house is normal. Also I'm afraid of missing some vital training because I'm too whacked out taking care of 4 little kids. Being our oldest she is the prototype for how we want to raise our children and we are learning as much or more right along with her.
Miriam finally got potty trained day and night for the most part, there are a few accidents when she waits too long to get to the bathroom but nothing bad. She also magically has been sleeping in her own bed all night long and will even take herself off to bed and go to sleep herself! That is so huge and gives me hope that maybe Aaron will do the same. She is a wonderful big sister and a huge help for me most of the time. There are times I have to remind myself not to expect to much from her in the way of babysitting because she is only four. She and Aaron are still best friends and do everything together.

 Taken April 1, 2012 during general conference wearing a dress Grandma Nicee picked up on her trip through the south. Also thought she was big stuff wearing Daddy's boots.



 She had her well child check up on March 22 and at 3 they change the statistics they are looking for slightly. Except she had the misfortune of having para influenza for her birthday. Miriam weighed 33.51 lbs putting her at the 42%. Over the last year she gained 3.53 lbs and decreased in percentile. She was 39.5 in tall putting her in the 51% which was a 3 1/4 in growth dramatically increasing in percentile. Then BMI is 15 (still not sure how to interpret that) though it was one less than last year. Everything else checked out great. She is wearing 3T clothes and 4T dresses.

Taken on April 22, 2012- Miriam loves our chickens and helps take good care of them.

Family Bike Ride

Before Miriam's cousins moved they passed down a 2 wheel bike. Miriam was so excited but we didn't get very far with it as first. Then Miriam's interest was renewed when her friends brought out their bikes though theirs had training wheels and Miriam had to have them. So we got her a helmet for her birthday and she started riding until Daddy accidently smooshed one of the training wheels. Time passes but then her bike was ready and Daddy let her ride to the park on Thur (while I worked on cleaning without children around!) She was hooked and has been riding constantly since.

Saturday Eric decided to get our bikes out ready for a work bike trip we're taking next week. I don't think my bike has been ridden in a good 2 years due to babies.

We have recently obtained another bike trailer so we can all go as a family. Rachel and Benjamin strapped in and ready to go. This was Benjamin's first bike ride on July 27. He wailed a lot of it unfortunately until he fell asleep. We decided to test everything with a ride to the Little Acorn Drive In apx 2.2 miles away. I thought we would just load all the kids up, but Daddy decided to let Miriam try riding by herself. She did fabulous! She rode all the way there keeping up really well, in fact I still might have been the slowest most tired one! The only trouble she had was on the uneven rocks she would get stuck. She had so much fine that she was till riding while we were eating and had to keep going even after we got home!

At the end of the ride wearing her helmet, camelback and gloves just like Daddy!

Miriam's 4th Birthday

Somehow a new baby tends to slow down the blogging from less energy while pregnant and then all posts after are of the new baby. I am not sure how I will keep up on four kids! Also perhaps if I kept up faster on events then I wouldn't have lost that file of pictures last year right after my birthday. The computer ate most of Miriam's birthday pictures, sadness. Though we have lots of videos though I can't seem to upload any more videos.

We had my family come down a little early (Thur night I believe). We let her open a few presents before Daddy left for work. Aaron picked out a fishing pole for the bathtub and we gave her a cupcake necklace. Normal meals for the day- strawberry waffles and mac n'cheese for lunch. The kids decided to eat outside for lunch.

Then we did something a little unusual. I had gotten a groupon to play laser tag long before and this was the last possible chance to use it so I arranged a group date with my cousins that night. My cousin Dallin's birthday was also around then so my mom cooked his favorite birthday meal of lasagna and cheesecake that we came back afterward for. We had Dallin+ date, a Carlson cousin + date, Jordon, and Ryan besides Eric and I for the date as we couldn't find either Jordon or Ryan a date unfortunately. We also invited my cousin Stephanie but our kids had a pretty contagious flu thing and she didn't want to risk it while she was pregnant. Ryan had actually just moved back to Utah from Texas that week so it was fun having him around after 4 years of him being down there. The kids liked playing with the college kids and they enjoyed watching Miriam open her presents also. It had been a long time since we did something with a group like that. I really enjoyed being with them and playing laser tag for probably the second time it you count the portable one I did at my high school during a a lock down.

Miriam opening the rest of her presents that night to an excited audience. She received play food, a Princess kite (what she is actually opening), an a leapster (that she calls her laptop) from Grandma and Bacca. Rachel enjoying the new play food also!

Saturday we played with the new kites down by the school. Bacca was an excellent kite flyer.

Miriam went back and forth over what she wanted on her birthday cake. I showed her all the different cakes Grandma has made and talked about all her favorite things. She had about three she was deciding between. We thought she finally decided to do a Clifford cake and then when the time came she changed her mind and wanted a monkey George one instead. Her are Miriam and Aaron supervising Grandma decorating her cake.

Unfortunately this is the best picture I have of the cake. I will have to check with Ryan and see if he has any better. Thanks Grandma for the great cake!

 

Miriam's Map

Miriam has been interested in maps lately. I'm not sure where this came from if it was Dora the Explorer or what. In any case she found some exercise chart from my exercise ball and said it was a map. We went for a walk one Sunday in March because I couldn't get Rachel asleep and I saw Eric had forgotten some things. Miriam was excited and had to use her "map" as pictured here. I was surprised because Rachel was pretty fussy about riding in the stroller till I realized she hadn't spent much if any time in the stroller. The last times we used it where before Benjamin was born and not much while I was pregnant and then I had her in the snuggli. She seems to have gotten used to it now. I love how creatively Miriam looks at the world. As we were walking to church she pointed out the landmarks on her map. Then she eagerly showed Daddy and the councilor in the Bishopric her map. He said it must be a good map because we made it! ;)

Benjamin's checkups

It was nice to have initial checks at hospital instead going up like we did with Rachel. We did come in on Nov 26 at 3 days old. First we had to have blood drawn to check his biliruibin levels. That was an excruciating experience as the nurse squeezed his feet for like ten freaking minutes trying to get enough blood as he's screaming. I couldn't be a pediatric nurse inflicting pain on the little ones no matter its for their best good. Luckily the results came back low risk and the doc said as long as he eats well there would be no problems. He measured 21 in (though not for first time do I question their measuring accuracy because I'm not sure he would grow an inch in three days!), 93%, 6.5 lbs, 13%- back to birth weight, and head 13 in, 7%. Picture is Benjamin in Aaron's welcome home outfit on December 12. You can kind of see his long feet, if hands and feet are any indication he will be really tall when he grows up.

Rachel kept holding out her arms just expecting us to put Benjamin in them. This picture was at cousins blessing on Sun Nov 25. We got to back to the doctors on December 11 when he was 2 1/2 weeks old for the 2nd PKU. It was amazing that size 1 diapers still drown him and that newborn clothes were just fitting well. He measured 21.5 in, 81%, weighed 7 lb 8 oz, 11% and head was 13.75 in, 14%. So he was still pretty scrawny though growing well gaining a lb! Unfortunately we had to take everyone in for being sick on Dec 27 though I was mostly just wanting a weight check on him since he still seemed so small at just over a month. He weighed 8.6 lbs, 10 %, 22.25 in, 80%, head was 14.25 in, 21%. Picture taken on that day.

Next we were in on January 28 for his 2 mon check up. I hope never to have another winter baby it has been so hard staying home all winter and all the sicknesses that have come through. This was one of the worst respiratory seasons in 10 yrs according to our doctor. Got an early start, but luckily finished early also. With his coughs and such we had a long talk about what watch for with rsv and he has given me a couple of starts by refusing to eat though obviously hungry- I think he has just had the same digestive troubles all the rest have had. The doctor said he passed the eye ball test ie looks good. He is still wearing size 1 diaper and more into 0-3 mon clothes. Benjamin measured at 23.75 in, 78%, weighs 11.62 lbs, 31%, and head is 15 in, 17%. He is definitely catching up to his siblings quickly. Picture below was on Jan 18 in one of my favorite outfits my friend Heather gave Aaron.

Aaron's Sneak Attack

Last week early in the morning when I was super tired (as always) Benjamin was stirring. Eric was already up getting ready in the bathroom and I was trying to decide if I was actually going to get up to nurse Benjamin or nurse him in bed. Lacking the energy to move I just laid there as Benjamin got more upset, I also heard a strange noise that I couldn't place. It was a rustling or maybe something against the bed. With Benjamin really insistent I finally got up and decided to look over the edge to see if I could determine the source of the noise. As I leaned over Aaron popped up scaring me to death! I shrieked and Eric came running to see what was up. Aaron was so pleased with himself waiting who knows how long on the floor for me so he could "surprise" me. He certainly did that!

Aaron at the bottom of a box, always full of surprises!

Welcome home Benjamin

Welcome home Benjamin!

What an armful! Or is it lapful? One way or another Benjamin's siblings were glad for him to come home. They showed him around the house and basically loved having us at home.

Benjamin trying out all the places to sleep and hang out! In his bed the day he came home, 24th, he looks so little in his great big bed! In Uncle Ryan's lap on the 25th, a very unusual place. Not that it is unusual to sleep in someones lap, but it is for Uncle Ryan. On the 27th he tried out his swing and bouncy seat, looks like a comfy place! We're so glad Eric got the swing working on electricity instead of batteries as 4 D batteries lasted maybe an hour.

Grandma, Miriam, and Aaron went out and picked me theses welcome home balloons and flowers. We were all excited to finally find some blue carnations, one of my favorite flowers. I love the picture where everyone is looking at Benjamin.

Benjamin's first bath at home on November 29

. Miriam, Aaron, and Rachel were very interested in the process. They very much wanted to help.

Thanksgiving through the years

Our Thanksgiving tour begins in 2010

 (I've wanted to do these forever so I thought what the heck I'll get them all done in one whack because somehow we don't take a lot of Thanksgiving pictures). This year we did Thanksgiving with the Jones. We got together for dinner over and Rusty & Kim's house. I elected to bring pie and my jello fruit salad. This was a major undertaking because I made these pies for the first time ever all by myself. I'm wary of doing pies because my mother is the queen of pies and there is always a major pie making production at her house (always at least 2 dozen!). I struggle making the crust in particular having always left that up to her, but I tried an apple, pumpkin and lemon meringue.

Miriam really loved the pumpkin pie that year. Here she is in a Thanksgiving outfit enjoying pie with daddy, she is 2 yrs 8 mon wearing some of the same clothes as Rachel now! We even caught some of the Macy's Day parade as I made the pies.

Here Miriam is ready to go with her baby and diaper bag (Aaron was 15 mon old). We were late as usual, but enjoyed visiting with the family for the rest of the day. This was the year Deb made all the girls matching Thanksgiving apron including some dolls!

Then we kicked off Christmas holidays by getting a tree and going to Marshall & Melissa's to make gingerbread houses together on Saturday.

On to Thanksgiving 2011.

Miriam and Aaron's Dora shirts were the best we could find for Thanksgiving. They don't make near as many Thanksgiving clothes as other holidays, I've picked up about one outfit a year, this last year I was thinking of making us matching shirts. That obviously didn't happen with Benjamin, perhaps we'll do it this year. Miriam is 3 yrs 8 mon, Aaron is 2 yrs 3 mon, and Rachel is 5 mon in these pictures. Her first Thanksgiving onesie with the baby food wasn't quite accurate.

We decided to take a couple extra days off and spend a full week in Idaho as we wouldn't be going up for Christmas. We got there Friday night and my dad immediately started showing Rachel around, she had only been there once before briefly when she was 2 mon old. That is my dad's favorite thing is to watch kids explore and see what they do with new sensations. We've always got to have a piano picture with the littlest playing but this was the first time it was my dad playing with them!

 For our trip we had asked everyone before hand what they wanted to do while we were there otherwise we don't go out or do much of anything. It was decided to up to Green Canyon hot spring pool with the kids and that fit in best on Saturday. This was Rachel's first time swimming and the nice thing about this pool is its warm like a bathtub. this might have been Eric's first time at that pool also since he doesn't usually stay long periods with us in Idaho.

My mom's favorite thing is taking the kids to church and showing them off, so in her honor we all wore purple. As usual we got our Sunday picture taken after church. In case you can't see Eric is wearing a purple tie and I have a purple skirt on. Otherwise it was the usual Sunday.

On Monday we decided to have our Thanksgiving dinner because one of my cousins in Blanding was getting married on Friday so mom was leaving then. That was the best decision because we were not rushed and enjoyed the leftovers the rest of the week. We invited my grandparents over and had a great evening. Bottom corner is Eric and kids breaking up bread for the stuffing. Rachel was interested in everything (upper pic with Eric) and lower is her Thanksgiving dinner through me!. Miriam and Aaron got to eat at there own little table.

A close up of seating arrangements for the grand feast. I love the comfort of the familiar foods and place settings. A lovely meal!

On Tuesday we did our Joy School Thanksgiving lesson. It was fun for mom to revisit the songs and stories from 20 odd years ago. It was also nice for Daddy to help them with their art project of making paper plate turkeys. Aunt Jennifer helped them make cornbread like the Indians. Tuesday we also had Aunt Heather come watch the kids so we could go to the temple though Eric ended ups staying home not feeling great. We did some sealings for family names and that was one of the must do things on my list. I always try and get a trip to the temple in when I'm home. I love going to the Idaho Falls temple, it embodies home like no other building.

The rest of the time we hung out and did our usual things, go to park, watch movies and play games we even did a little scrap booking  We came home on Saturday. Thanks family for a great week!

I conclude with Thanksgiving 2012.

As already mentioned our plans did not work out how we expected for Thanksgiving. We got part of our Joy School Thanksgiving lesson in where we made these cute pilgrim hats. We were headed for Delta when we ended up in the hospital instead having a baby which pushed all plans back.

 We came home from the hospital Saturday around 1:30 to find everyone getting ready for our dinner. Miriam was a big helper to Grandma in peeling apples and helping roll out pie crusts and the rolls. The kids as usual helped tear up the bread for the stuffing. It was amazing we actually found our bar (ie got it all cleaned off)! When we left for the hospital the kids were just getting up and Granddaddy found the parade for them to watch. They wore their Thanksgiving clothes several times but didn't ever really get pictures of them. The poor turkey wondered back from porch to bathtub while we were tyring to figure out when to have our dinner. Without mom and dad we wouldn't have had a Thanksgiving dinner, Thanks!! So I guess I have now "hosted" Thanksgiving at my house. ;) Not that I did much just coming home from the hospital but it was at my house.



Spring

Spring is coming, How do I know...

I'm so excited to see the flowers come up! I love watching the world green up in the spring with something new each day! Spring is definitely my favorite time of the year.

Invite for Benjamin Blessing

My little boy is three months old! We are braving the germs and having him blessed this coming Sunday the 24th. Our ward meets at 9 and after sacrament meeting we will have brunch at our home. We would love to see everyone and have you meet our precious bundle of joy!
He is getting much more smiley and talking. Talk about melting my heart when he starts cooing and gooing. It reminds me why we put up with all the fussing. He is getting pretty stable holding up his head.