Sundays

Sundays are a nice day for us. Especially when Paul can join us. His schedule this month makes it so he works crazy hours all week (like 18 hours at a time, then 9 hours off, then back on), but then on Sundays he gets done at 9am and doesn't have to work again until Monday at 1pm.

Sundays are a day for church and family. Some families have strict rules on Sunday, no playing outside, no running around, etc. To each his own, but our rules are that as long as we're together doing something, it's allowed. We feel good about that.

Our cul-de-sac comes alive on Sundays. Our neighbors are out washing their cars, or sitting together on the lawn weeding the dandelions, or walking their dogs. Although everyone keeps to themselves, we smile and wave. We love Sunday.

We color with chalk and ride our bikes and skateboards. It is a time that we cherish.  Our family is eternal and we continue to grow closer together. Sundays are the best day for that for us.

pictures

I take too many pictures. That's true. 

And once I take one, the other kiddies come running. "Please! Take a picture of this creation too!" They are so proud of their work. I can't help but humor them. 

Sometimes, I am told to pose with one of their creations too, as they practice their picture taking skills. :)

naps

I know I am spoiled with my kids. They are GOOD kids. They are sweet and funny and (mostly) obedient. They also still nap. All of them. Matix is 5 and 1/2, Hawk will be 4 and 1/2 soon, Lullaby is 2 and 1/2, and Sully is almost 8 months. Naps are expected for the youngest two, but I know so many people with kiddies Matix and Hawken's age that don't nap anymore. I know every kid is different and everyone needs different amounts of sleep to function at their best, but I am SO happy that my boys have hung on to naps as long as they have. That being said, next year in Kindergarten, Matix will be missing out on nap time. I was told that some kindergartens do a "quiet time", but some don't. I have yet to hear about the one that Matix will be going to... As of right now, he is my sleepiest kid. He sleeps 2 hours for a nap and at least 12 hours at night. During the day he plays HARD and really tires himself out... Hawk is totally different. On the days I have kept the boys up (for a noontime activity or birthday party, etc.), Hawken can handle it usually. I think when Matix goes to school, Hawk will probably drop his naps all together and just have a quiet time with me while Lullaby and Solace sleep.  For now though, I'll soak up all the big boy sleeping faces I can get.

They like it when I lay and rub their backs or just sit in their room while they drift off to dream land. I have been very aware of how quickly time passes recently, and I will not have any regrets. I will not regret ever spending so much time watching them sleep. I cannot think of a better way to spend my time.

Solace is a crazy napper now that he's so mobile. He rolls around and pulls himself up to kneel (he can't stand all the way up yet) to peek over the side of his crib. And when he finally does pass out, he's always in a different position than he started in, but always with a paci, and always with a soft blankie next to his cheek. I could really stare at them sleeping all day long.

Not much to say about Lullaby napping. She is more like Matix and is a fabulous sleeper. She wants all her babies counted and kissed and tucked in, and heaven help me if one of the babies is missing, she will wait for that baby to be found (by me, the baby finder)... But, if everything is just right, and it usually is, she falls asleep after singing to herself. She is so good to stay in her bed (except potty breaks) and sleep until the boys thunder down the hall about 2 hours later.

bugs

Hawken learned about insects in preschool. Part of that included making these little antennae crowns. He has worn his several different days now. He loves it. I love seeing what things interest him. And apparently, he likes bugs, and pretending to BE a bug is even better.

Also, bugs like to pick their mommies flowers, did you know that?  Well they do, here's proof.

pesky

I'm pretty sure that all little sisters have this pesky trait inborn in them.  Here is Lullaby trying to block the TV so the boys can't play their game.  Where does she come up with this stuff? She thought she was so funny, trying to make her brothers mad... Stinker. Luckily for everyone, it was funny, because she is way too short to actually ruin their game, and we all got a good laugh out of it. 

playroom goings on...

In the playroom one evening. Lullaby reading to her baby. She set up her baby doll in the chair, sat down in another chair and read to her. It was adorable and planned completely by Lullaby. (Also, she is wearing underwear, FYI)

Hawken made this little Lego village. He placed each piece so carefully, and with so much thought. He told me about each area, who lived there, what they liked to do there, what the little characters names were, etc. He is so creative.

Matix and Hawken were doing something together and Solace scooted his little self over to them to see what they were up to. He wants so badly to be a part of their play. I'm so glad the boys love him, I hope they will continue to grow together and become the three amigos! :)

dinner date

The Newell family live in our same neighborhood, but when we went over for dinner one night, it took us 20 minutes, because this is how we went:

Paul riding Hawken on the skateboard, Matix kneeling on the other board scooting along, while Lullaby yells out of the open car window, "Hey boys! Be careful! Hey! Be careful!"... I went less than 5 miles per hour. Dinner, was fabulous, of course, as is to be expected from Mindy. Thanks guys!

gift from Alexandra

My niece Alexandra is as clever as always and made me this "princess walking her dog". She used dental floss for the leash. Clever, right? Well, I love it Alexandra, thank you! You are so talented!

friends

We have been playing lots with Logan and Summer lately, although, it's never enough. Either Logan cries when he has to leave, or my kids cry when they have to leave. Lunch with these 5 (Solace was napping) is very entertaining. I'm always surprised to see that any food has been eaten, since most of the time was spent giggling and talking.

Sweet little Summer even had fun, especially with Hawken right by her side. They snuggled together on the couch while we watched a show and when Hawken jumped up to go to the bathroom, she cried and fussed and held her arms out toward him. He reassured, "Oh Summy, I'll be right back. I'm just going to the bathroom. It's okay Summy." She fussed until he came back and they snuggled again. So sweet. They have a special little bond.

stuck

Solace scooted himself half way under my bed until he was stuck and couldn't move back out. Of course, being the sweet baby that he is, he just laughed about it. I cannot explain how much I love this little guy. Perfection. Simply perfection.

Coco gets married!

Auntie Colleen got married! We got to watch a live stream from the computer camera they set up at the back of the room. Thanks Dale for setting up the group video chat. Dale and his family were watching from their house in Spring, we were watching from our house, and Grandpa and Grandma Berg were watching from their house in Utah. Very cool. Although it wasn't the best connection and the sound and video was pretty grainy, it was so good to feel like we could be there with them. The kids were so excited to watch.

Afterward, they all grumbled because we didn't get to see them DANCE, which to my kids, is the most important part of the wedding. Who knew? I took a screen shot of this picture that Colleen had posted on Facebook. Everyone looks so happy, even Lee is smiling? Wow! Congrats Auntie Coco and Uncle Shane! We love you both!

Then, just yesterday, Colleen and Shane announced that they are having a baby! We already knew about it. :) What an exciting and crazy year it will be for them. Congrats again! Colleen is just keeping up with the tradition that Vanessa and I were working on for the past 7 years...
Gavin - 2007
Matix - 2008
Hawken - 2009
Linnaea - 2010
Lullaby - 2011
Duncan - 2012
Solace - 2013
SHANE AND COLLEEN's BABY - DUE SEPT. 2014!!!
One grand baby every year.  Too fun, right?

mud puddles

One puddley afternoon, after naps, the boys went outside. They had clothes on when they went out, and slowly they stripped down to their underpants, and just kept on playing. They are such wild things. Lullaby went out too, but stayed clean and dressed.

They thought they were pretty funny, being outside in only underpants, covered in mud. And the laughing pictures have got to be my favorites of these two. They are so cute.