First half of March

So I've noticed that with 3 kids at home, I have a lot less time to waste... So I don't feel I get as much blog posting time as I used to and forget about trying to advertise photography services, but overall I feel happy and less stress than I did when I had the other babies (even though the baby weight I'm carrying is as annoying as ever). Duane is very helpful with the kiddos and I rely on him a lot when he's home.

 Kalvin got a letter in the mail from his cousin, Brighton. It asked that he send back to Brighton's school info on the state of New York, so we made it school time for Kalvin to put this book together. He had a good time getting it all together and coming up with ideas for what they'd like to see.

 Trestin trying on my boots.

 This is why I will never buy a new car (at least when we've got small children) because I have a real hard time not having food in the car and then I got Tristen an ice cream cone when he was super tired. It got all over!

 So, each day before the boys are able to bring in their bikes, they have to get dressed. So, Tristen will get his clothes for me to put on him. One particular morning, he picked out boots (without laces), Kalvins button up blue shirt, and Kalvin's church slacks. I had to laugh.

 We went to the mall as a family because we heard they were having free pretzels at Auntie Anne's. We forgot the stroller at home, but we were lucky enough to find one of these fire engine carts in the parking lot. They typically rent for $7 in the mall (with a $1.00 reward for returning)!

 It snowed out here, but Duane's schedule has kept him busy (and has been coming home as the sun was going down each night) so we could never get out to the snow as a family and I was too scared to go on my own with the three boys. Anyway, one Saturday, we got out as a family (you can see the snow was slushy and almost gone). I had William in the baby bjorn, but he was hungry and crying so we didn't last long out there (good thing it's only like 1.5 miles from our house!).

 The last time Duane went down, they were going fairly quickly and their tube went over the asphalt path and flipped over making them land on the other side of the path in a slush puddle. It went all down Duane's back and then he wanted to go home!

 We all got a good laugh out of it though!

 The boys went one time by themselves after the fall in the puddle.

Kalvin made this:

 Then Tristen did this:

 (This happens about 10 times a day that Kalvin makes something then Tristen ruins it and Kalvin cries)

 One Sunday afternoon I was taking a nap (cause I'm always tired on Sunday afternoons--church wares me out) and when I woke up, I found the boys had found a new jumping place. They climb up the metal shelf to get on the tall book shelf then jump off to the love lounge.

 We started our garden in the egg cartons! Let's see if they last!

 I took Kalvin to school the other day and found Tristen in the back playing with William. I thought it was cute because Tristen does not have a lot of interest in the baby yet.

 While Kalvin is at his friend, Logan's, for school, Tristen and I go to the library for story time (and a little bonding time). It's a lot of fun and I think he really likes it as well. He always picks the "W" rug for watermelon.

 After the story time we played with some blocks. Tristen build this gun that shoots fire!

 The long top are the bullets (all according to Tristen).

  Even though it's still not summer, the boys are anxious to get the hose out and have some fun. Tristen still does not feel the cold, it seems.

 Kalvin made a truck from his blocks "Oh yeah!" His latest phrase for the camera.

The boys got skates the other day at a huge consignment sale that is about 1/2 mile from our house and people bring stuff from cities all around to sale stuff. It's so cool! Anyway, Tristen has been falling a lot and without a diaper he doesn't have much padding on his rump so I put this pillow on him with a belt. He didn't like it.

 So, my friend Sommer was having a hard day and her husband took her to the hospital to get some help so I went to their house and played with all the kids. It was so wild! 5 kids! Sonnet just turned 5 (she is the oldest). I did not stop working till they got home at 10:30 PM (3 of the 5 never fell asleep!) But we had some good times and I took some good pictures on my phone of Sonnet and Sela to cheer up Sommer and Yashar.

 And we made scrambled eggs for dinner.

It took a while to get the kids to settle down to lay down... I just kept laughing in amazement thinking about what it would be like to have that many children, those ages! I would definitely go insane!

 They finally calmed down and I told them stories for about 15 minutes and then sang them songs for another 10. That got Sela and William to sleep... and the others were fairly mellow the rest of the night while I tried to clean up some.

 The following morning we had Kidstitute. The boys were so excited to see the tractor working out in the front digging a huge hole!

 I caught Tristen blowing bubbles the other day...

  At 55 degrees, Tristen took off his clothes and put water in the pool and kept going down the slide. It wasn't long till Kalvin changed into his swim shorts as well.

 The skates. Tristen's are the cool kind that strap onto your shoes. For $8 we got these skates, elbow and knee pads (but we just have Tristen put the elbow pads on his knees and Kalvin gets the knee pads for his knees). When are they going to come up with a pad for rear end? Tristen could have used that a lot more than for the knee's.

 Kalvin got blades for $5.  They have two wheels in the back.

 Tristen being a stinker and getting into my makeup!

 I got a good laugh out of this one. Kalvin looked at me and said, "Mom, look how big my smile is!". I love that he crossed his eyes too.

St. Patrick's Day was fun! We went to a parade that was just a couple miles from our home. The temperature was great, we got there just as it was starting so we didn't have to stand around a long time and we were right near the start so we didn't have to walk far from the car and since were right at the start, when leaving we didn't have to deal with rode closures since we just went the opposite way. Good times!

 About half way through the parade Kalvin asked, "Mom, where are the people that pinch?"

 I would have never guessed there were as many "Irish" groups around here as there are. There were all kinds of Irish dancing schools and bag pipe groups, etc.

 When we got home from the parade adventure, Kalvin quickly jumped out of the car and before I could even get out of the car myself, I looked out my window to see him peeing on the neighbors house! Here he is walking toward Duane who is scolding him as he pulled up his pants.

 Bubble bath!

 Yesterday was a beautiful Sunday so we went out front. We told Kalvin that we needed pictures of the truck so we could sell it. He got some. Tristen was in a couple.

 Then he started taking pictures of other things... like Duane who forgot to put his belt back on...

From the eyes of a 4 year old

 Kalvin told us all to look at him and say "Oh yeah!" We did just that.

 Here is the picture zoomed in.

 Then Kalvin wanted to dig in the small garden we will be starting this summer that's in the front yard so I took the camera and thought I'd snap some of Will and I, since I really haven't taken many of him on the nice camera.

I love my little WillMan!

 

 

These are the smiles he gives when he sees his Mommy! Love it!

 

 While I took cute pictures of the baby, Kalvin and Tristen played in the dirt.

 As things were winding up, playing outside, Duane asked about making fonuts (doughnuts that are baked, not fried), but after looking at the recipe, we discovered that we didn't have all the ingredients so we looked around for other things we could make. In my opinion, it was taking too long to find something to make (it was already 7:00 and the kids needed to go to bed at some point), so I told Duane he could make what he wanted and I was going to make my own thing.

I found an Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe on the flour bag and Duane made up his own banana cookie recipe. I thought my cookies would be divine considering how much butter it called for. I couldn't be more wrong! They were so gross that I threw them all away! Duane lived up to his reputation of yummy desserts and we are still enjoying his creation today. All day.

Mine.

 His.

 Both look good. Only one tastes good.

We had Lucky Charms for breakfast. Tristen only liked part of the cereal. Can you tell which part that was?

 Kalvin saw me taking a picture of Tristen's bowl and had to have a picture of his own, saying "oh yeah!" Kalvin likes to do, what I do and eat everything but the marshmallows and then at the end just eat marshmallows by themselves.

Look where I found Tristen taking a bath today!

I caught William laughing today... so cute!