Monday, April 11, 2011

Feels like summer in Missouri


Jack and the other 3-4 year old boys in the neighborhood found some sticks that quickly became guns and they had quite the battle one day. This is Jack's hero shot. This is how you know living with a bunch of girls hasn't ruined him yet.

Ryan helped a friend move over the weekend so we had to take out the seats in the van.  The kids don't like sitting in their seats while in the car but move the seats to the living room and it is the coolest.  I guess it really is all about location, location, location!


I bought new summer clothes for Kaitlynn.  I thought I would buy just a little big so she could grow into them a bit.  I bought too big.  Her skirt kept falling off so our neighbor grabbed our mailbox clip and cinched her skirt back up.

We made homemade bubble soap.  I was very pleased with the results.  I think they work better than the stuff you buy at the store.  The recipe calls for a little bit of karo syrup so the bubbles are a little stronger. Bubbles would land on the grass and not pop until a child attacked!



This was the farewell picture to Wesley's (the neighbor boy) Big Wheel. Notice that the steeling column broke off the top, the pedals have long since functioned, and it looks especially well worn. He rode that thing like a maniac and could even pull a sweet 180 drift parking job. Awesome.

We love our little neighborhood. All the neighbors got together and had a very impromptu pizza party in front of our townhomes. We just sort of threw some money together, got whatever sides we had in the fridge already, and made a party out of it. We were all outside already, so why not? We have never lived in a place before where we had so many friends nearby, so this has been great.

For lunch, Ryan was watching a documentary something on the computer while Kaitlynn sat next to him. He thought she was terribly interested in whatever he was watching. Turns out that she was just asleep sitting completely upright. Too much fun outside lately.

Jack decided he was done with dinner before the rest of the family, and was excused to play quietly by himself for a few minutes. This gave him just enough time to find where mom keeps her makeup and see if he could apply some mascara. This is what happens in a house full of girls I suppose.

This is Kailtynn and Seth (our neighbor) trying to play catch. Seth is actually pretty good. Kaitlynn sort of plays ball like a girl. Lots of excitement and giggles, but not a whole lot of athletic ability. Only she would play ball in a pink dress with hair all prom ready.

More awkward athletic shots.

This one made her look like she was about to catch an awesome throw, except this is how she throws. Funny.

Olivia needed some attention and love, so Ryan provided her with a good, semi-safe swing. She seems to be happy about it. The other kids lived through him so far, so it seemed to be ok.


This is Olivia really trying to walk with a little help. She has more balance than she thinks she does so she always requests 2 hands for help. She is growing up. Just needs some more teeth.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Conference weekend

So I kind of blew it this last weekend.  I hardly took any pictures and then when I finally did pull out my camera it was almost dead.  Grr!  Hate it when that happens.  Anyway it was a good weekend even if it wasn't documented in pictures.  Ryan made sure we had plenty of treats and legos.  I was surprised how well it actually worked.  Saturday the kids watched or played quietly for all of the sessions except for the last half hour.  Sunday they were just as good.  We watched the last session at a friends house so the kids all played happily downstairs.  Sunday afternoon we also had a BBQ with friends too.  It was a bit on the windy side but can't complain too much since it was a very warm 90 degrees.  It was a little weird to see the snow in Utah and then walk outside and feel the heat.  Since it was so nice and Sunday (Ryan's no study day) we went for a family walk to the park.  It was fun to watch Jack try out his big boy bike.  He did very well with a little help from daddy.  I only got a few pictures before the camera died. 














Friday, March 25, 2011

Popcorn Popping

Ryan surprises me.  Sometimes he plans a perfect family moment.  In this case it was a popcorn popper.  After dinner he announced we were going to the store and buying a popcorn popper.  So we did.  There isn't a whole lot of choices when it comes to poppers these days.  We were lucky to find this one.  It was a lot of fun to watch the kids.  They had no idea you could make popcorn without a microwave!  

First the popper

Add a few seeds


 Don't forget to plug it in!

Then watch the magic show.

 Quick snap shot of her just because she's beautiful.


 Watch a little Fantasia with your popcorn.  

There you have it, a recipe for a perfect moment!

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Legos

The other day I was stir crazy.  So I used Borders going out of business as an excuse to get out of the house.  I told the kids they could pick a book.  In the end neither of them actually chose a book.  Kaitlynn got some princess color by number pages and frame.  Jack picked legos.    When Jack picked the book I thought it was just a book about pirate legos, I didn't realize it came with actual legos.  Plus I thought he had gotten it from the pile of 50% off.  He didn't.  It was only 30% off.  And the price was already marked down for the sale price.  So I thought I was going to be paying half of what was on there.  (Sigh) I was a little surprised to see the price ring up at twenty dollars!  Yikes! I really didn't want to pay that much but I really didn't want to tell Jack, he needed to go pick out another book.  So I bought it.  I don't know who was happier him or Ryan.  They played legos all evening. And again the next morning.  I guess these pictures were worth the twenty dollars.


















Monday, March 14, 2011

Happy Birthday Olivia!

We had a fun birthday weekend.  I am quickly learning that it may have been a mistake to have them so close together.  Too late now!  Olivia's birthday was much less exciting than either Kaitlynns or Jacks first birthday.  We didn't even buy her a present!  Gasp! I know we are officially the worst parents ever.  She honestly doesn't need anything and doesn't know any better.   Good thing her grandparents love her, they made sure she wasn't without on her birthday.


The beautiful birthday girl.


 First church then afternoon naps and movie.



Toy Story Three.  Think they can see it?


Here is more evidence that we didn't really think through having kids so close together.  I really didn't want to make another cake and was more than willing to reuse Jacks pirate cake for Olivia.  Ann couldn't stand for that kind of abuse so she made Olivia birthday cup cakes and put them in the shape of a one.


Grandma Hylton made sure Kaitlynn wasn't left out either.  She gave Kaitlynn a little poodle just like Frenchy (Fancy Nancy's poodle.)  Frenchy has been sleeping safely under Kaitlynn's pillow since then.







Time to blow out the candle!


I think she was pleased with Nannys hard work.




"I'm One!"


We let the big kids handle the present opening.  It was much more important to them than Olivia.


Though she was curious.



And did come down and try them out.