Ah, the temperamental weather of spring. One minute it's hailing, then it's warm and sunny, and then it's snowing. You never quite know what to expect.
One thing we did expect was that the trampoline would be the same huge hit that it was last year. Actually, we misjudged: if possible, it's a bigger hit. Even without an enclosure. Or a pad (the old one was crap and lasted one season). Just praying that no one dies on it.
Dade has continued to monopolize my phone for it's camera. I'm constantly impressed with the pictures he takes. This idea came from Brynn. Though I also have a dozen of Dade holding up different leaves, plants and flowers between his pudgy little fingers.
Yard work has started in earnest: we decided it was time to level the very back of the yard that had been a raised garden area when we moved in. Grass had slowly been creeping over it, but we wanted it level with the rest of the lawn.
The first order of business was to rent a stump grinder from Home Depot. At one point, there had been at least 3 large trees (a couple in excess of 2' diameter) in that back corner that had been chopped down before we bought the house. Then we rented a rototiller to break up the dirt. Finally, we leveled it by hand with metal rakes. We are planting grass next week. Hopefully it will rain enough that it takes. Last time we seeded it was in the fall, so this is a new experiment for us.
When the weather cooperates, we have firepit. It's just so nice to not have to plan dinner and to enjoy burning some Peeps. With Easter coming, we tested out a few new flavors like Bubblegum & Orange Creme... :)
Let's not forget the blueberry and pink lemonade marshmallows I found at Walmart. I'm guessing all those artificial colors & flavors can't be healthy for you, but edible non-foods are what makes a fire pit so delicious.
Sedona's experiment involved a stack of marshmallows. Quite an accomplishment that she didn't burn them all...
Of course we love to hit up the Rock Canyon bowl park when we get a chance. Derek has been working with Dade and his forehand Frisbee throw. The kid is freakishly good at just about every sport he tries. No big surprise there.
Derek likes to throw his Frisbee into a stiff breeze so it spins back like a boomerang. You can see how Sedona felt about that Frisbee coming back at such high speeds...
We finally started our running club at the elementary school. It's been wildly successful with over 150 kids. It's Sol's dream come true to run around with all the kids. Hopefully the weather will hold for the rest of the school year...
Speaking of after-school clubs, Sedona attended the state chess tournament with her cousins. She has a really fun time with the other kids and has been getting better and better at chess every year. You can tell that what she learns is going to stick with her forever, so watch out world...
She didn't win a lot of games, but she had fun and definitely learned some new moves...
Derek took Adia, Sedona & their cousin skiing at Deer Valley one Friday. That resort has so many runs! They had a really great time and everyone improved their skiing enormously. Their cousin even got some jumps in! I'm loving that the girls are getting some good exposure to winter sports. I didn't get that chance as a kid, and now am loathe to waste the money on me skiing when they could be learning...
Adia has continued to make marked progress on her harp skillz. She played for the ward YW talent show, and...
...her first wedding! She did a really good job and is hoping to get more chances to play through her single aunts & uncle (hint, hint!).
She decided to run high school track this year. She did a little running long jump, but mostly is focusing on the 1-mile (800m) and the 2m (1600m). She has been learning how to run a smart race--not get boxed in, not use up her speed to early, and to push hard in training. It's been a source of great discipline for her.
She's still a ham and leads the kids in a number of silly shenanigans.
We've been really enjoying working with the Webelos in our ward. We took them on a hike one day; it was hard for some of them and a good experience to talk about endurance in different aspects of life.
We also did the traditional thing and taught them how to build a fire, then did firepit. (Surprised?) Somehow we managed to get away with no hair singed or fingers burned.
St. Patrick's Day has inspired the girls to create some elaborate leprechaun traps. They are amazing at making them--stunningly bad at cleaning them up...
I personally prefer the model in this one.
We love to attend the St. Paddy's swim at the community pool just south of here. They throw green coins in the water and the kids redeem them for prizes. They also colored the pool water bright green. Derek & Dade's white swim shirts will never be the same... :)
Dade & Ash continue to enjoy swimming, though not swimming lessons. I guess it's a way to save money...
All of the kids have turned into major Minecraft addicts. But we let them get away with it because they seem to be getting their creative juices flowing--it's a lot like digital legos. Derek even set up a server so we can invite friends to play with the kids.
We've been watching lots of Studio C reruns. Can't wait for the new season next month.
Speaking of comic relief, I came downstairs from showering one more to this wretched puppy. He had been carrying Dade's lovey around in his harness for who knows how long. He was having trouble eating his food because it kept falling in his face. And because he's a good dog, he didn't chew on it or try to tear it out with his mouth. Doesn't he look pitiful?
He continued to be a living Barbie doll with all manner of accessories. He's earning some golden wings in heaven, I tell you.
Where did the dog come from? Let me tell you a story about Dade...:
One night that Derek had had to stay up all night, he lay down on the ground and crashed. Dade snuggled up with him. Just a few hours later, he woke with that dreaded croupy cough and straight in we went to the ER.
Good thing we did because he was retracting by the time we even got to the car. Mind you, this was 5 minutes from his waking with croup. After sitting in the ER forever and finally being seeing by a respiratory specialist, he was given a steroid (decadron) and the drunk 4-year-old monster was born. People around us were moaning in pain and vomiting, but Dade was talking loudly like an inebriated Alzheimer's patient on speed. I had downloaded Minecraft onto my phone (hey, I was getting tired--it was 2am) and he kept asking me questions about it while simultaneously bouncing around on the hospital bed. He asked questions over and over again, and was distracted by the slightest thing. Someone gave him a stuffed dog which he instantly christened "Sol" (and was later changed to "Snow"). That dog got the beating of it's life from Dade slamming it against the bed and throwing it up against the ceiling. We were finally discharged, and by the time we were getting Dade back to bed, he had crashed and was asleep in minutes...
Fortunately, he seemed to get better from that croup episode and everything else has just been booger-noses and little coughs. <
> Hopefully his health will be as boring as he looks in this pic...
As much as he loves his new doggy, Bunicorn remains his Precious. He takes it to preschool in his backpack regularly, and still loves to scratch it's head to fall asleep.
Dade finally started soccer with the other preschoolers. They all have no clue what they are doing and ended up chasing a ball across the entire park during their first game. It was enormously entertaining. But he sure looks adorable in his uniform.
He's really been blossoming socially. He's getting other kids to interact with him and likes talking about his friends at preschool. I guess it's to be expected when you're a 5th child. Maybe it's good I nap in the afternoons or he wouldn't know how to be independent in any way, shape or form.
He's been learning some numbers and math lately, along with his letters.
He can even spell a few words, including of course, his name.
And yes, a sleeping dog is a perfectly suitable backdrop for counting on your fingers.
We've loved his preschool--a small neighborhood one that is cozy, but has the resources and is run like a 5-star preschool. Dade keeps surprising me with the things he learns there.
I've been trying to really cram in the high-intensity exercise. I'm hoping it will help me to have a speedier recovery after my surgery in April (for endometriosis). I've been doing Insanity (mostly with Derek), Zumba Pump, and some P90X type stuff. It's pretty hardcore, but also very addictive. My arms have never been so sculpted!
One of the communities south of here was holding a free rock & mineral convention. Since all of the kids (but especially Adia) are budding rock hounds, we decided to make a morning of it. We took along a neighbor friend who also loves collecting rocks.
Adia and the friend pretty much disappeared right away, but the three younger stayed with us to gawk at all the bright colors and pretty designs.
They had a guy who made these anatomically correct dino skeletons out of foam that he wore like a suit. Then he would "eat" all the kids as they came up to him. Needless to say, he was the main attraction.
The black-light room was also amazing. Our earth is just a wonder, and the more you learn about it, the less you know...
Brynn thinks she's going to be the top predator in this situation.
Ash knows better....
Even Dade loves to see all the things they polish rocks into. We'll make a geologist of at least one of them, yet, Steph...
My little nephew had his 2nd birthday. Besides the delicious cupcakes my sister made, we enjoyed watching him get slimier and slimier.
He's part 4-legged critter. I guess anyone would be that grew up with 2 cats & 2 dogs.
Another nephew had a birthday that we got to celebrate together. It's so fun to grow up with this kiddos around.
Dade was the entertainment as usual.
Derek obliged with a game of chess with his nephew. He's forever a teacher to everyone around him--lucky us.
The rest of the kids worked on a puzzle.
I've been getting to hold my adorable little nephew in church since my sister-in-law was called to be the Relief Society secretary. He takes little naps on my shoulder and is just adorable. :)
You can see his serious morning-face here after one of those long, lesson-induced naps (j/k!).
Dade has been having fun learning how to entertain a baby, including what not to feed the poor little munchkin.
My mom, sisters & I have been getting together for lunch every month. It's been lots of fun. My mom even brought my grandma this past month. It's so good to see her getting out after so many years of caring for my grandpa. She's been a constant source of love and support in my life and I'm loving living so much closer to her.
Until next month, adieu!
0 comments:
Post a Comment