Real Life

We started off March with Dillan's first birthday party of a friend at preschool.  Sometimes I feel so lost in this parenting thing.  I had to ask the birthday boy's mom what protocol is: Do we drop off the child?  Do I stay? Is there lunch provided? Can Hazel be there?  Who knew a party could be such unknown ground for me?  The party was at his preschool and involved lots of tumbling!  He had so much fun!  And the lunch of meat/cheese sandwiches, dried veggy straws (like a bag of chips), and an applesauce pouch seemed like such a treat to him.

I began meeting with a Wellness Consultant to help with my stomach aches.

Kyle shared some missionary experiences with the Young Men and Young Women at a church activity.

Kyle job shadowed his dad, considering taking over the business.  We've been thinking and praying about it for months, ultimately we decided not to do it.  We feel very peaceful about that decision.  It came down to realizing that time together with our family was more important than making more money.

We also decided to stop participating in a community farm we were a part of.  Kyle had been going for several hours each Saturday for almost 5 months, and still nothing had been planted and there were no animals.  I love having him around on Saturdays!

Dillan, in his wonderful friendliness invited a neighbor (who was also his Primary teacher last year) over for dinner and Family Home Evening.  I totally enjoyed it.  I'm glad our kids get us to do things we otherwise wouldn't do or think of.

Can you find one leg from Dillan and one from Hazel?

Hazel started taking pictures with our camera.

Without a stroller, this was how we traveled!  Getting ready to go on a family walk.

When you cover his face with the bib, he goes happy crazy!

Peek a boo!

Dillan gave him a "sword"

Connie comes over regularly to babysit or just play with the kids.  This night we went to the temple and Lincoln wouldn't drink out of the bottle!  But he sure would snuggle.

Fun morning at the park with the Dovers.

The park also had some trails.  

The next weekend we went on a hike.  Upper McCord Creek Falls, 2.2 miles round trip.  The next several pictures are from there.

We tried to get Hazel to walk for a little while, but she loves that pack so much that we only got her to walk from the car to the trailhead.

On Sunday, after church we went to Lake Merwin with the Dovers for a barbecue and to hang out outside in the lovely sunshine.  The deer here are pretty tame and will eat out of your hand.  Hazel wouldn't do it, but everyone else did.

Monday was the start of Spring Break, and the only nice day that week, so we went to the beach!  Lincoln is sleeping in that pop tent.  The wind came up after about 5 minutes, then the beach wasn't much fun.  We ended up crossing a small river that went up above my knees.  We felt like pioneers crossing freezing rivers carrying gear and children across, which was fine when the weather was nice, but really stunk when it got cold and windy on the way back.

Fun house mirror in a toy store at the beach (Canon City).

Grandma got everyone ice cream.  Hazel tried for several minutes to get Jonathon to sit next to her.  When I asked in my sweetest nicest voice, we finally got him in between us!  Teenagers are funny...

An art project with spray paint to send to Grandma Kirkham.  The kids LOVED getting to use spray paint.

Lincoln had his 4 month check up.  He is doing great in all areas, weighs 14.6 pounds, and is 50% in all areas.  I thought he was rather large, and heavy, and growing super fast, but I guess that's the average size of a 4 month old.  The only concern is some exema on his legs, which he's had for at least a month.

Lincoln started sucking his thumb!  It is so nice when he's crying and sticks that thumb in, immediate contentment.

Hazel likes to try and be a baby.  

March ended with the General Women's meeting (had me in spiritual tears several times) and a family dinner at the Grandma and Grandpa Hardy's.
We feel like this was a month full of making big decisions, but looking back on it, we had a lot of fun and adventures as well!

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!