Kate's Gym Performance

Kate is really enjoying her gym class.  She has learned so much and has also learned that she can do hard things!  (Yeah!  That is the reason her mom enrolled her in gymnastics.)
She had her performance today.  She was a bit upset because she didn't do a great job and her coaches insisted on helping her with things she can do by herself.  A bit of a frustrating day for her, but we are so proud of all her hard work!

Binky Boy

Guard loves his binkies. 
REALLY LOVES HIS BINKIES! 

And, since he is the youngest, and I am old and tired, I let him have one pretty much whenever he wants.  I know, I know - it's awful of me.  I do try to stand strong and tell him no, but he can now scale his bookshelves and reach the binky box to get his own.  It's a losing battle.

I do pull it out now and then to see his absolutely adorable smile. 

 And he likes to play the smile game (and you can't have a binky to do that).  He 'wipes' off his smile (and then has a frown) and he 'wipes' his smile onto my frowny face (and then I have a smile).  It is a fun game and Guard loves to play.
The really sad part is that he usually isn't content to have one in his mouth.  He has to have two or three in his hands.  Those binkies are everywhere!

Doggie Guard

A little bit ago, I lost Guard.  I searched the house up and down and could not find that kid.  He was gone.  I was getting panicking and I called Greg in tears,  "I just saw him!  None of the doors are open!  I've looked everywhere and called his name!  He's gone!"
And then, with a huge smile on his face, I saw him climb in through the doggie door.

Little stinker!  He was in the backyard playing with Coal and I didn't even think to look back there.  Now, he is in and out of the doggie door a dozen times a day.  He is so quick and skinny that he has no problem coming and going.
Now, if I lose him, I automatically check in the back and there he is, jumping on the tramp, playing with Coal, playing in the snow and exploring.  Guard doesn't bother wearing shoes when he goes outside, but he usually will put a hat on his head.  He loves being able to come and go as he wants.  And now that I know where to look, it's rather nice for me too!

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

Our family had a wonderful opportunity to visit the new aquarium in Salt Lake.  Jim Loveland, who is the president of Xactware (the company Greg works for), was the major donor to get the aquarium new and improved.  He invited all his employees to visit to give the aquarium employees a test run.  We were happy to help.

 Not everything was done and some exhibits were empty, but I must say, the new aquarium is amazing! 

 We first saw the river otters (Kate's and Tresa's favorites).  Three of the otters were sleeping, but one was very active - swimming, exploring the shore and climbing a tree.  He was super fun to watch.
Sorry, no pictures.  It was so hard to get good pictures because the lighting was low and all the animals are behind glass.
We saw the penguins next.  Very fun even though they were all asleep - some standing and some lying down.

The sharks were by far Guard's favorite.  He climbed right up to the glass and would squeal and clap and giggle and yell every time one would swim by.  He could have stayed there for hours.  He especially liked the shark tunnel.

Lastly, we visited the South American rain forest.  It was hot and humid!  None of the exhibits were open yet, but the kids really enjoyed the rope bridge.

Enoch's favorite part was outside the aquarium.  They have a giant light wall that we noticed coming in but it wasn't dark enough yet to see the lights.  The lights change color and every now and then a shark swims by.  It's pretty neat and Enoch loved it.

Thank you Loveland family and Xactware for letting us go to the aquarium.  We loved it!

Bare

Guard hates shoes.

Guard hates socks.

Guard wants bare feet all the time.

I have a really hart time keeping shoes and socks on this kid.  He takes them off every chance he can get - in the car, at the store, during church and of course, at home.  I find his shoes everywhere.  He doesn't seem to mind the cold and it does motivate us to scoop poop in the backyard every day!
Good thing he has such cute feet!

Speaking of bare, Guard has taken to removing his own diaper whenever he feels like it. We have tried onesies.  One day after his nap, I found him without a diaper and his onesie still snapped up.  We tried putting on his diaper backward.  He just reaches behind him and undones the velcro.  We tried taping the diaper.  He just shimmies out of it - he is so skinny.  It would be amusing if it was someone else's kid.  I don't dare hope that means potty training will be easy.  We just try to catch him before he takes off his poopy diapers.  He likes doing that.  (deep breath)

St. Patrick's Day

When Pinterest came out, I fell into the mommy trap of feeling like I had to do everything I saw on that blasted site and then comparing it to other moms and realizing I was constantly coming up short.  After about a year, I decided I was done doing that (and the chest pains stopped!).
One holiday that I have cut way back on is St. Patrick's Day.  We are not Irish, so I feel no need to make a big deal for this holiday.  We wear green. And I didn't even get a picture of the kids in their green because our whole day was busy.
I did however make a 'extra-special' treat for FHE.  Rainbow rice krispies treats.  It was easy - all the ingredients were in the storage room.  And guess what?  The kids thought that was just as great as the chocolate coins, leprechaun trap and mess from last year (that took me hours to make and then I had to clean it up).

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Pi(e) Day

Today I was answering some emails and I thought, "Pi day is coming up soon, I wonder when."  Oh, that would be today. 
Between naps, gym class, an emergency visit to the dentist, piano lessons and a monster headache, pie was not made on pi day.  But, I did redeem myself and make it a few days late.  I don't think any of the kids minded.  Maybe Gavin, but he did have three slices, so I don't think he was too upset.

YUM!  Homemade chocolate cream pie with mounds of real whipped cream.  It was worth the wait.

Scattered Thoughts about Kate

1.  One hundred days of school!  For Kate's poster she choose 100 stars at Lake Powell.  Of course, because she loves, loves, loves Lake Powell!  For pulling it together the night before it was due, I think it turned out well.

2.  For Kate's birthday, her grandparents gave her a sewing class at a local quilting store.  She was so excited to go and asked for weeks if today was her class.  Finally!  The day was here.  She was able to go with her grandma Randall and make a pillowcase.  She picked out her own fabric and did most of the sewing (grandma had to push the foot because Kate was too short).  She did a fantastic job and had an incredible time!  She keeps asking when her next class is.  Hmm...I guess I should sign her up for more!

3.  A few nights ago, Kate complained of a toothache.  Since it was a bedtime, we gave her some Advil and she feel asleep.  The next day, she was fine until bedtime again.  We took her over to see Dr. Lambert and he said to bring her into the office the next day.  I thought we could wait until Monday, but she was up about every 45 minutes that night screaming and crying.  After gym class the next day, Greg took her up to see the dentist.  Kate ended up having a pulpectomy - a root canal for a baby tooth.  Greg said she did great - just watched TV.  Poor thing.  I'm so glad we got it taken care of and a big thanks to Dr. Lambert for going in on his day off!

4.  Kate has been having some night-time fears of a stranger coming into her room while she is sleeping.  Fairly typical at this age, but we are trying not to minimalize them.  We stick closely to her bedtime routine.  Reassure her that everything will be okay.  Nothing seemed to help until we reminded her that even if we are all asleep, someone will always know if there is a stranger nearby:  Coal.  Coal barks at every person who crosses her territory, meaning the yard.  Now, Coal sleeps in Kate's room.  Kate has had no problems going to sleep and sleeping through the night.  Coal is such a great part of our family.

Scattered Thoughts

1.  A few days ago was Dress Crazy Day (or something like that) for Red Ribbon Week.  Enoch and Kate had fun picking out their clothes.  Kate's outfit turned out looking more cute than crazy, but she is wearing her swimsuit top over a shirt.  Guard's outfit is crazy because he actually has a diaper on, unlike how he is most of time running around without one.

I tried to do Kate's hair crazy, but it turned out quite adorable.  We have done it like this several times since then and she always gets comments on it.

2.  Sunday afternoons are the best!  I really love 9 o'clock church.

3.  Sometimes it's the only way to keep him out of trouble.  (Guard actually likes to be 'hand-cuffed' and asks Greg to do it whenever he sees the duct tape).

 4.  We had a pet-themed pack meeting in March.  All the kids sent in pictures of them and their pets.  I love this picture of Enoch and Coal.

BYU Gymnastic Meet

Kate and her cousin, Brynnley, look forward to attending a BYU gym meet every year.  They have so much fun together.  We start with dinner (Chick-Fil-A this year) and then try to find a parking spot at the Field House.  We usually move around a few times before we find a good spot.  The girls like sitting on the top tier because they can see everything up there.  They clap and cheer.  Eat popcorn and drink Sprite.  Dance to the music.  Giggle.  And sometimes they watch the gymnastics.

And guess who we ran into on our way out?  Cosmo!  The girls were so excited!  A perfect way to end a great night.