And we're back!

It's been a minute since I have updated.  Between trips back and forth to Illinois, life, and late night meetings so things just aren't happening.  We'll start back at a month ago...

He's 1!  It's crazy how slow, but so fast the last 12 months went.  So much has changed and he has grown and developed right along with it.  He didn't really get it, but what 1 year old does.  The older kids really enjoyed decorating his chair and keeping me on track to complete his baby blanket.

  

In the past month he has become a speed crawler.  He learned how to open cupboards and when he is getting into something he knows he isn't supposed to be in, will start laughing and see how much of a mess he can make before I get to him.  Owen will be our latest walker.  He's not too interested in it.  He got a clean bill of health at his 12 month appointment.  He has three molars in and the last is close to popping out.  Perhaps the most exciting development can best be described in picture.

                                                    
Up until this point, I couldn't get him to sit to look at books.  He would always wiggle away.  Randomly, he started bringing up books to look at with him and I have caught him several times relaxing on the floor reading a favorite book.  I think it's adorable.

The kids experienced their first hail storm.  The weatherman was forecasting golf-to-baseball-sized hail.  Luckily, it was only marble sized.  The kids enjoyed going outside on the porch to watch it come down and then collecting some after it passed.  It's a little hard to see, but they each have a little piece.  Liam of course was eating it.  That kid...


By the end of the week we were heading back to Illinois for more wrestling and cookies.  The kids enjoyed spending quality time with grandparents.  They also enjoyed digging once again in the garden.  Mom was ready to fly solo by the end of the week, so we made the trip back home.  The kids did really well in the van.  I was super shocked.  Usually, we have kids crying for an hour+.  Overall, it was a peaceful trip.    
  

We had some really warm weather and then it cooled off.  With the warm weather the grass started growing like crazy.  We mostly have weeds and the kids decided to start picking the clovers.  The kids piled it up and had a blast playing with it.  I was cleaning it out of hair and pockets, so the pile got thrown over the fence after a couple of days.  


Warmer weather has also brought on more wildlife.  The kids have found a caterpillar, ladybugs, flies, watched a lizard lose it's tail, and a frog.  Can you spot the frog?  Liam is the most fun to watch because this is his first real experience with most things that he can remember and has words for.  

Liam is growing up so fast.  He is wanting more independence and asks constantly to do things.  One day he started feeding Owen breakfast and did a wonderful job.  He is getting more into cooking and wants to cut and stir.  He's also firmly in the questions stage.  So...many...questions!  He says the funniest things sometimes.  He has been having so nighttime issues where he is awake for a couple of hours in the middle of the night.  Tim usually takes him, thankfully.

Hyrum continues to love Kuk Sool.  He loves working towards new belts.  I'm surprised at the growth he has had in the last six months.  He wasn't terribly coordinated, but he is starting to get it.  He learned how to play chess and reverse checkers.  He likes to play both.  I'm trying to avoid learning to play either one.  The less I know, the less I will get stomped!  He decided he wanted to improve his cooking skills, so he's been working on handling the oven.  He's made lunch for us several times using the oven.  He also wanted to learn to sew and he's learned to make simple stitches and to sew a button.  

Lila continues to be Lila, with a little more drama.  She's going through a very dramatic phase where she ends up in tears for the littlest things.  I just hope she gets it out of her system now, so we don't have to deal with it later...wishful thinking.  She is doing so well with reading, really with everything in school.  She continues to love her dance class.  I asked her if she wanted to try soccer or something else and all she wanted was to dance.  I think the biggest thing for her is that she did the scripture in primary.  We've been working with her for a couple of years on getting up in front of people.  She will either refuse to get up or will just stand there while one of us reads or says the prayer for her.  She wouldn't go up to the microphone, but she said her part, which is amazing for her.  St. Patrick's day was fun at our house.  The kids tried to catch "Lenny the Leprechaun" who always comes to be a prankster and move around the furniture and belongings, but he got away again this year.  Before going to bed, Lila said her one wish was for the leprechaun to make her a four leaf clover.  She left out the brain flakes to encourage him.  Her wish came true and she was so happy.  
    

This last week public schools were on spring break.  We were able to play with kids at the park and in our house that we don't normally get play with.  We also went to a spring break activity at the park.  The kids enjoyed activities and eating hotdogs.  

Tim stays really busy at work and with his calling.  We both do.  We've had so much going on the last month or so and April isn't looking much better.  We are down to seven weeks of school and then we will have an easier routine.  I've decided to school through the summer, but it will be very minimal.  Just enough to keep the kids thinking about school, but flexible enough that we won't be spending much time on it.  We've looked at a couple of houses.  One was super promising, but we ultimately let it go.  Our realtor is great and very encouraging, because I'm ready to become a permanent renter.  Supposedly more houses will come on the market, so we will see if anything interesting pops up.

Until next week!
































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