March 2017

March was moving month for us! Our house was done two months ahead of schedule (thanks to our amazing builder, Chad, and the amazing weather we have had this winter), and we managed to get in and unpacked during spring break. I'll post more pictures of the inside once we get it furnished and decorated. Here are the last few pictures from our construction.

My parents came up to help us during moving week. They hauled up some beautiful pots for us from Albuquerque in addition to all of Dad's welding equipment. He and Dave spent the weekend building window well grate covers for our new place, saving us lots of cash and making memories. We're so grateful for them and their sacrifice for us!

We have one very large window well that was particularly difficult to make a cover for. Dave and Dad named that cover "Alexander the Grate". :)

In the meantime Mom kept all the kids busy while I was unpacking. They especially loved doing her hair with all of the girl's hair bows. She was a good sport.

Clara's favorite spot in the whole kitchen (other than sitting smack dab in the middle of the island during dinner) is this tiny little cabinet that she fits just perfectly in.

Part of the adventures of moving was selling our old furniture to anyone who would come and get it from our rental. Needless to say we met some interesting people who had interesting ideas of how to get things home.

After my parents left Dave's mom came to stay with us for a whole week. It was a huge help for me as I continued to unpack and organize our new home, and the kids couldn't get enough of her attention. I think we're all going through withdrawals of Grandma time!

Despite the craziness of the move, life still happened in March. Lexi won first place in her school district's art contest for the Preschool level, and was awarded a ribbon and a $25 scholarship. She was tickled pink.

Our little artist is constantly wanting to paint pictures, which was a blessing because all the other toys were packed.

Clara is becoming more and more of a girly-girl and absolutely adores dressing up. We got her all ready for church and found her putting on her zebra skirt under her dress, declaring, "Now I'm all ready to go!".

Yes, I did take the girls to Lowe's with me dressed like Elsa and Ana. Trust me, I had no other choice if I was going to get my errands done that morning.

Lexi loves tumbling as much as ever. We're going to get her into a real gymnastic's class shortly. She is so nimble and strong - it's unreal!

 

Cole was asked to draw a picture of his "best self" at school this month, something that reflected his good qualities. He didn't want to draw a picture, but he did write this (I have lots of friends). It was a good reminder to me that he is very good at a lot of things, including making friends and being kinds to others. I love that boy!

February 2017

We have had an absolutely beautiful February! There have been more warm days to play outside than not and lots of sunshine. Clara still loves to wear her mittens and sunglasses inside while she's "grocery shopping" though. She is developing her own sense of style fast.

With all of the warm weather we were able to try out Lexi's new bike she got for her birthday. Yes, she is wearing her ballet leotard under her clothes. She also has her own sense of style.

Clara was excited that Lexi got a new bike because that meant she got Lexi's old tricycle. Eventually she'll figure out the whole peddling concept, but for now she insists on scooting around with no help.

Lexi had some birthday money she had not spent yet and decided she wanted a tea set. Here is our bunch having their own little tea party.

Clara thinks that markers are for coloring on her body, and anytime she can she sneaks away and tattoos herself. This time Daddy found her.

The kids wanted to help Dave put together some chairs for our new place. I'm not sure he found them so helpful, but they were happy.

A much needed ice cream break one evening Daddy was working late.

Cole continues to lose more teeth, this time in the middle of Sacrament meeting at church. Technically he lost the tooth twice, once when it came out of his mouth and once during primary. The tooth fairy seemed to understand his note and left him some money anyway. ;-)

Lexi loves to be active. She's currently in tumbling, swim lessons, ballet and preschool, and would do a million other things if she could.

Clara spends a lot of time in the car with me these days, dropping off and picking up older siblings and running errands. Sometimes it requires a few more bribes than other times to keep her happy.

According to the kids, the biggest progress on our house this month was toilets going in! Clara ran through the house finding all the "potties" and yelling and screaming until we came to look. Cole was just as excited as Clara. I guess there's something magical about toilets. There was loads of progress on our house though - move in date is about three weeks away!

Look closely - do you see the little boots hanging off the bench in the shower? Lexi and Clara decided to camp out in the shower with Dave's phone one visit to the house. 

We also had a very quick visit to Albuquerque at the end of the month to meet my sister Shantae's brand new baby, Lily. The kids were smitten immediately. Lexi sang a never-ending lullaby to her and Clara has not stopped talking about her since they met. Cole's eyes say it all in these pictures. Last night he asked me if I was hoping for a baby boy and told me he was really, really, really hoping for a baby brother. He loves babies.

There was a new pile of rocks in the arroyo by my parent's house and they took the kids to go rock climbing. It was the perfect kind of "hiking" for them and they are already asking to go back.

Somehow Grandpa managed to make it to the top of the bouncy house slide and down again without the entire thing collapsing on him and the kids. Lexi was particularly tickled to go down the slide with him.

Clara has developed a new fear of bouncy houses and wouldn't go in, but she loved her time on the trampoline.

Grandma and Grandpa also took the kids bowling for the first time on base. I think Cole was the only one that waited to see if his ball actually knocked down anything, but the girls enjoyed rolling the ball down the lane (almost as much as Grandma).