Matix

Matix... You kill me. This is what you decided to wear one day. The rings from the fortress are not usually considered clothing, but you are creative and this was your outfit.  I hope you can always be your own person, and do the things that make you happy. I love you.

happy

It has been raining here a lot. Today was no exception. These pictures are from a week or so ago though. Paul was at home, but studying up on some things for work. He asked for an hour or so to be alone and get it done. The kids played outside until the rain started, came in, stripped down to their undies/diaper and ran back outside. Solace was napping and I was doing the dishes and giggling at the three biggest running around and flying down the slippery slide. I got my camera out, just as I saw Paul running through the living room, through the kitchen and out the back door, to join the kids. They had been begging for him, and waiting while he was studying.  What a good daddy he is. These kids are SO lucky, I am so lucky.

Today at church Paul and the kids received a compliment from a nice older lady who sat behind us. She said, "I was watching you and I am impressed with your parenting. Your kids are so well behaved, and even after you left (I had gone to nurse the baby), your husband kept them all sitting and behaving. Not many husbands can do that after their wife leaves!" I was very proud. We have good kids, but all kids get squirrelly in sacrament meeting, and I was happy to hear that Paul was doing a good job helping them to behave. I was happy to be noticed too.  It's always good to be noticed for something positive.

packages!

The kids got two packages recently. One from Grandma Stacy and one from Auntie Holly. I haven't taken pictures of the things Holly sent yet, they require a little photo shoot, so that will have to wait, but thanks Holly! :)  The package from Stacy were lots of little things, towels for our downstairs bathroom, workbooks for the boys to use in their preschool, jammies for Matix and a cute carseat cover for Solace. Thanks Stacy!  And how much do you love this picture of Hawky's face?! So funny.

the cake pop flop

I love cake pops. Well, I love it when other people make cake pops. I think they're cute, and tasty.  They are very tricky to make though.  I have tried a few times without perfecting them, which makes me crazy. Then my mom bought me a "cake pop maker" which bakes the cake into balls instead of rolling them yourself. Then the idea is to dip them in almond bark or whatever it is you would like to use. Well, after baking them, they all turned out like this:

Not perfectly round, and not cute enough to dip... Bummer. But there I was with several dozen lopsided cake balls. So instead of trashing them, or eating them all myself before anyone else could see them, I tried something.  I cut them all in half and put them on a cookie sheet.

Then I poured the melted almond bark over the top, and smoothed it out. I put that in the freezer for a while, and just before the party, I pulled it back out and cut it into pieces.

The great cake pop flop turned out to be quite the hit, in this new renovated form. Cake pops no more for me.  I don't know what to call this new creation though. Because we LOVE this. I first did it by accident, at Lulli's party with pink blue and purple spots, then I repeated it at Matix's party with blue yellow and (supposed to be) red spots. So fun!

Any ideas on a name for this tasty treat?

new pet

Hawken is loving preschool now and comes home talking about all the fun things he did. Sometimes we get to drive Logan to preschool too, which makes it even better. His favorite activity so far was building this caterpillar habitat.

He even made a little caterpillar out of pompoms. This is my kind of pet caterpillar. It sits in his room, so he can look at it whenever he wants to.  Lulli and Matix are jealous that Hawken gets a "pet" and they don't. So funny.

the tutu

Lullaby got this adorable tutu from Laurel for her birthday and refused to take it off for several days. She wore it under other dresses, with pants, outside, inside, to stores, to bed, to church... She loves it.  The only bad part about it is trying to fit her into her carseat wearing it...

It was ridiculous trying to get those buckles buckled.  It's in the wash today, and she has been asking for her "bird day dess" (birthday dress). Cute. Thanks Laurel!

scaredy cat

Home Depot has their Halloween decorations out already and Lullaby is terrified of this blow up cat.  We went there once without Paul and I was telling him about her reaction. Then we went again and he got to see it for himself, and I got to take pictures... She knew it was coming.  So funny.

Also in the store, the boys found a friend and played with her funny glasses and mustache toy.  I love how sweet and social they are. They make friends everywhere we go.

doughnuts

When the kids are good, I like to reward them. I'm not a huge fan of bribing, although I have been known to do that too. I like to catch them when they are being good and give them something on the spot. Usually it's just an extra hug or telling them I noticied the wonderful behaviour, which they eat up... But sometimes, I like to get them a treat. This day, I had dropped off Hawken for preschool, adn on the way home, I saw this doughnut shop. It looked like fun, so we went in. (Sorry Hawk) Matix and Lulli each got to pick out the doughnut that they liked. Matix got chocolate with sprinkles, and Lullaby got one with red frosting.

I was sitting there, texting this picture to Paul, and admiring my wonderful sweet children. I told Paul how good they were, and how proud I was.  Then, before I knew it, Matix asked for another one. I said no and explained that this was just a special treat and we were going home soon, so if he was still hungry when we got there he could have something else.  Well, he had a come apart. He was whining and crying and begging for more doughnuts, even after I said no. (I never go back on my word, ever.)  I had to shoo him (still crying) out to the car, while holding the giant carseat and baby, and holding Lullaby's sticky hands... What a scene. Nice moment ruined. Kids are so challenging.

play group

Playgroup with 4 isn't all that different than playgroup with 3, so far. But I think that's mostly because Solace sleeps most of the time. :) We went to a nice playground last week.  Solace slept.  Easy peasy.

Then today we went to the pool. Solace slept the first hour, making me think it was easy, but then of course he got hungry. I tried to time it when the big kids were hungry too, but alas, no such luck. The big kids were still playing in the pool. It went better than I thought, and Lullaby only jumped in once without her inner tube. She knows how to swim back up to the surface and at least keep her face out of the water when she does this, but she still gets upset about it after I pull her out. She does it a lot. But only once today.  Poor thing. She is the closest to actually swimming though, out of the three biggest kiddies, and I think it's because of all her attempts without the inner tube...  We all survived. I count it as a good day. :)

Plus, one of my friends, Lindsey, made "dirty diet cokes".  I had never heard of it before, but it was a diet coke with lime juice and coconut syrup in it. It actually tasted really good. I was surprised because I'm not a diet coke fan. Thanks Lindsey!

new bike

Lulli got her first bike. She picked it out. It has Dora on it, not that she really knows who Dora is, but she recognizes the character from some jammies that her cousin Alexandra (I think) gave her.

The kids love to play in the cul-de-sac and now taking turns is even easier. Now there are 2 trikes, 1 bike, and 2 skateboards... You would think that would be plenty, but there are several times when they all want the same thing. :) Silly.

first bath!

Solace took a good long time losing his umbilical cord, and then he got impetigo, so he had sponge baths only for the first month! Finally he got to try out his new tub, and he loves it. Matix got a few pictures with my phone on his first day in the tub.

Matix, Hawken and Lullaby all watched from the sidelines. It was really cute. Then after he got out, they all wanted to try out the baby bath too. So silly. Their legs hung over and they barely got wet, but they had a blast. So funny. :)

After his bath, Solace was WIDE awake, taking it all in, I'm sure.  

Then moments after getting wrapped up again, he crashed out hard. He slept for an hour (when he is usually awake).  I think it was just so exciting to be in the tub.