Having a (Snow)Ball!

We started off February by celebrating Valentine's Day early at the Piano Guys concert.  It was the first time I had left Lincoln for more than 2 hours.  After being stressed for 2 days about whether or not I could pump  enough milk to hold Lincoln over and if the babysitter (14 years old) could handle putting all my kids to bed, we went and I forgot all about the kids (for a few hours) and had a blast!  Musical, beautiful, entertaining, funny.  Yay for dates that I love with a man that I love!

The very next day we sold the car (that we called The Butterfly) and I ran out of gas, almost.  I picked up one of the Young Women for an activity and just as we pulled off the freeway the car started jerking.  We jerked all the way into the church parking lot.  Then I got Lincoln out of the car and had no diaper bag!  Which meant I had no wallet, no money to buy more gas.  Aaahh!  After the Young Women activity another leader (Sister Ipson) followed me to the gas station (jerking all the way there) and bought me some gas.  What a blessing that the car made it to the gas station, that Sister Ipson helped me, and that Lincoln didn't need anything the whole time we were there.  The Lord was really looking out for me.

 I think this is a race track for those Hot Wheels cars.

 So handsome in the sweater Grandma Hardy knitted for him!  

 Everyone loves to crowd-I mean, give attention to-Lincoln.

 Random!

 He's helping Lincoln do Super Lincoln! (it's in the arms)

 Snow day!  Kyle's work let out early, and he got the next day off, school was cancelled, church was even cancelled.  I didn't know those could all happen!  I come from Utah, where blizzards don't stop anyone from doing anything.  We had a fun Sunday with the Dovers over for mini-church.
At the end of Kyle's time off from the snow days he was exhausted and I was feeling really rested up!  Just goes to show how much energy it takes to raise kids all day.

The kids had a blast, especially Dillan.  He went sledding so long that we made him come in a few times, just to make sure he didn't get frost bite.  Good thing he had cousins that would stay out with him, us adults got cold too fast!

We stayed in and watched the Olympics.  Dillan said he's most interested in the Giant Slalom.  But after all that sledding, I think he's most interested in the Skeleton.

Our nice friends, the Dovers, gave us their old antennae, so we got to watch the Olympics most evenings after the kids went to bed.  My favorite was the Ice Dancing, which always came on right when I was going to bed!  Grrr ;(

 New Discovery!

 That's me!

 Notice the snow bibs.

Lincoln's version of snow bibs.

 First the snow was too dry/cold to make snow balls.  Then, days later, it was too wet and compact.  So this was the best I could do for a snowman.

 I'm still good-looking!  Actually, I think Hazel demanded I make a funny face.

 Cute smile!

That bib is so missized it fits Kyle!

 Ninja Dillan!  That's a long sleeve T-shirt ninja mask!

Dillan has been asking me for over a month to make him a ninja costume.  I love the internet!  I didn't need to make or buy anything, just tie the shirt on.  So we all did it and had a family ninja party!  We even have a song about ninjas that we listened and danced to.  :)

 Everybody, Ninja!

I finally got a picture of Super Lincoln!  It's especially great when his bib turns around and becomes his cape!  He's been doing this almost since birth.  The bibs are a new addition, he started drooling this month!

 Hazel is "feeding" Lincoln with milk in her finger.

 We got out the Bumbo.  Both kids fit in it, or should I say, all 3 kids!  That's crazy!  And it caused a lot of fights.  Bumbo, too cool for a 3 year old and a 5 year old to share.

 Multnomah Falls after a breakfast with Aunt Misha and Grandma Hardy at Multnomah Falls Lodge.  That's becoming a fun tax season tradition.

This shirt is from Grandma Kirkham who began chemotherapy the day I took this picture. 

February also included a Valentine's Day party at Dillan's preschool (no sugar! just fun games and a song!).  We made it back to the temple for the first time since Lincoln was born.

I started having some pretty bad stomach aches, regularly.  And I'm work with a Wellness Consultant/Yoga instructor to get better!

Starting Off Right (with hiking and laughter)

Here comes 2014!

What better way to start the New Year than hiking?

Latourelle Falls

Grandma Tanner and I (with Lincoln attached) are 2 of those little people.  This picture was taken from behind the waterfall.  Lincoln got hungry and I ended up nursing him while hiking since he was wrapped up right on me!  I felt pretty impressive!

They sure love each other!

2 of Kyle's friends came to visit while they were on winter break.  Matt Riding on left, Jared Harris on right.

Dillan made this all by himself!  My favorite is the parking space and the wedge shaped blocks behind it.

Dillan was playing with Lincoln on my bed.  He came downstairs and told me he had put 2 pillows on top of Lincoln.  I panicked and ran upstairs, those are the pillows on top of him, not suffocating him.

Hazel fell asleep crying by her door (during Rest Time).  I could only open the door enough to fit my hand through and take the picture.

 Bath Time!  He loves it.

 Classic Hazel face, on her birthday.  She got to choose the dinner, special spiral noodles and cheese sauce.  Grandma and Grandpa Hardy came over too.  She refused to even try a noodle, then didn't like the brownies I made for her.  She ended up having a frozen chocolate popsicle that Dillan had helped make for Family Home Evening a few nights before.  Welcome to being 3 years old, Hazel!

Other things from January: I had a girls' night out.

Kyle built some huge shelves in the garage for storage.  They make me happy!

All the kids got a cough, it lasted about 1 1/2 weeks.  I had to sleep sitting up holding Lincoln for a few nights so the mucus could drain.

Lincoln had his 2 month check-up: 24 inches long, 12 lbs., developing normally.

Dillan had his first play date with a friend from school, whose name happens to be Dylan.  It was my first experience with someone having 2 moms.

Our stake had a women's conference, it was nice to have a half-day off and soak up some spiritual feelings and ideas.

Kyle and I went to the dentist; I didn't have any cavities!

 4 little super heroes jumpin' on the bed, none fell off and bonked their heads!  (Neighbors Daniel and Kaelynn).

Kyle sold his car!  We are glad to be rid of it, it wouldn't pass DEQ, it defied our attempts at fixing it, and we only used it once a week.  The Lord really blessed us with and quick and easy sell.  

For the second time we have just one car.

Who knew he was strong enough to do this?

I love the smiles and laughs!

We had a family home evening about new babies and how to take care of them.  Hazel is practicing how to hold him, and he is too heavy for her!

December Videos

Pen Rider, or Pen Writer?

Christmastime with Little Lincoln

This is the first year we have Christmas lights.  Hazel got out of the car one evening, saw our neighbor's Christmas lights and exclaimed, " They're SO BEAUTIFUL!" So I HAD to get some!  It's hard to tell, but she's standing at the bottom of the ladder, "helping."

Cups are one of Hazel's favorite toys, and making nests is her favorite thing to do with them.

Grandpa Tanner came to help for a week.  He was so helpful and fun!  Did housework, ran errands, played with the kids, and let me sleep in after night feedings with Lincoln.  Thanks Grandpa!

This was also the week that Lincoln was circumcised.  He's a champ though, was only irritable during diaper changes for a few days.

Dillan turned 5!  Happy Birthday!

  We went to Red Robin to celebrate with Gpa Tanner and Gpa and Gma Hardy.

Notice the muffin with candles: sugar-free, blueberry muffins were our treat!

He was awkward, but enjoyed being the center of attention while the workers sang to him.

A big Christmas present...

...filled with Dillan and Hazel!

We had a cold snap while Grandpa was here.  A pipe froze (only the hot water to our kitchen sink)!  Upon inspection of the frozen pipe Kyle found a broken drainage pipe that made a nasty puddle under our house.  Good thing he's handy, it was fixed in a jiffy.

Dillan was a wise man in our ward's Christmas party Nativity.  I love our thrown together costume, very Arabian.

Lincoln's favorite position.

Dillan's Christmas program at preschool.  He didn't sing much, but he was great at the actions!

 I didn't even know Kyle took this picture.  Must have been exhausted.  Snuggle-sleeping with Lincoln is the best!

 Hazel is being just like Lincoln.

 How is he holding his brother and playing a game on the phone at the same time?

 Dillan had a little party at school for his birthday.  We played a balloon popping game, where a balloon was tied to each child's ankle and they all tried to stomp on each other's balloons.  A lot of kids ended up crying due to the noise or wanting to keep their balloons.  The second game was an unwrapping game.  If you rolled a "blue" you got a turn trying unwrap the present.  Dillan was the only kid that never rolled a "blue," he ended up crying at his own party.  I guess I need to improve at choosing age appropriate activities.

 Santa brought the kids a block castle for Christmas.  He is so cool!

 Christmas morning, waiting to go down the stairs.

Gma and Gpa Hardy came over Christmas morning.  They got to watch the kids open presents, eat breakfast with us, and play with all the fun new stuff!  Dillan got some stilts and spent the whole day figuring out how to walk with them.

I'm so grateful that Kyle was able to take so much time off and that my parents could each come help.  Christmas season would have been so challenging with a newborn without all that help.

I like the angle of this picture. Dillan or Hazel must have taken it.

 She fell asleep at the dinner table before we started eating, and slept all through dinner.

 Grandma Tanner also came and helped me for a week.  She let me sleep in, was great at playing with the kids and helping with Lincoln, and babysat several times while Kyle and I went out.  I think we wore her out!  Thanks Grandma Tanner.

 Lincoln got his baby blessing on December 29th.  This is our new great family!

 Our home teacher gave us matching ties for Christmas.  These boys look great!

 Kisses for Lincoln

 Talking to a one of her great grandmas.  She's got the pose down!

Banana Cream Pie.

We attended Patrick's wedding reception (Kyle's cousin) and gave a gift from the wedding registry for the first time.  I feel like we are entering the real world of adults, one small step at a time!

We also got to go to a New Year's Eve Party.  So fun!  Kyle and I are pretty good contenders for Just Dance!  2013 was great and went by so fast, bring on 2014!