Caleb's Well Check

On Monday I took Caleb to the pediatrician for his four year well check.  I'm one of those mean moms that had him get shots.  He only had to have 2 and he was so brave!  He didn't cry, he just said "Hippopotamus, hippopotamus!"  (Thanks for that trick Grandma Terri.)  The good news is that now he's got all his shots until he turns 12.  Yep, Kindergarten shots are DONE.  Yay.  Dr. Clarke always gives my kids a book when they come in for a well check.  This year Caleb got a Curious George book.  He had me read it to him while we waited for the nurse to come in with his shots.  He was excited because it had a train in it.  He showed the book to his dad when we got home and he had his dad read it to him again.

Caleb's Stats:
Weight: 34 lbs -- 32nd percentile (Yes, I am aware my 1 year old weighs 27 lbs & my 4 yr old weighs 34 lbs.  I am quite certain Brookelyn will surpass Caleb rather quickly.)
Height: 38.5 inches -- 13th percentile
BMI: 16.1 -- 66th percentile

Average height for a four year old is 40.3 inches so he's a little short, but we knew that. :)
Average weight for a four year old is 36 lbs so he's a little smaller, but we knew that too. :)

Things about Caleb:
1-He is an extraordinarily picky eater.  He won't touch the food on his plate if there is a sauce of any kind on his plate (spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce, ketchup, mustard, mayo, ranch, etc.)
2-He still loves pink milk and doesn't want to drink white milk at all.
3-He likes to refer to himself as "Cowboy Caleb".
4-He would wear his cowboy boots, hat and chaps everywhere if his mother would let him.  Oh, and he informed me a week ago that he also needs spurs now.
5-He is FINALLY using the potty regularly.  We still have a few accidents here and there, but for the most part, I think he's finally decided it's not so bad.
6-He loves dirt.  If he isn't in the house playing toys, he can be found out back behind the fence digging in the dirt.
7-He has recently picked up on Nash's, "Mom.  I love you." at random times during the day.
8-He likes to snuggle with me.
9-He's as stubborn as his mother.  Not sure this is a good thing.
10-His dad put training wheels on Nash's old 2 wheeler Spiderman bike about a month ago and he loves riding it with the big kids.
11-He says some of the most hilarious, random things I've ever heard come out of a kid's mouth.

I will admit that Caleb is my challenging child, mostly because he's got my personality.  He really has grown into his own person and wants so much to be just like his brother and his dad.  He loves his family (extended family included) and has recently started telling us just how much he loves us.  He likes to help mom with chores and I think he's enjoyed having his own chore list so he can earn some allowance.  He's pretty good to go play by himself or with other kids.  He's got quite the imagination and vocabulary but will usually let his sister or brother boss him around so he can play with them too.  He likes to wear his flying suit, Karate suit, ninja suit and any other suit he can create.  He lets his sister dress him up in her dress ups or sometimes even doll clothes, and will willingly show them off to mom - no matter what he's dressed like (and I've seen some good ones!).

We love you Duleb!

An eventful week in photos

On Sunday, we got to meet our new cousin, Weston.  He is super cute and so, so tiny!  When I heard he was 8 lbs 14 oz I expected him to look enormous like Brookelyn did.  Not so.  He's just a teeny, tiny little butterball.  He's super sweet and Samantha was perfectly content to just sit and hold him.  She didn't like sharing him with her brothers or mom, but she was willing to.  We can't wait to love on him some more soon.

The other day I made spaghetti for dinner.  I always just give Brookelyn the noodles plain (no sauce).  Turns out I should be giving her sauce.  I was going around the kitchen cleaning up a few things when I noticed she had taken command of Nash's dinner plate.

A few minutes later and she had complete control of Nash's plate.  She finished up all his noodles and left hers untouched.  Guess I'll have to start putting sauce on hers so she won't steal anyone else's!

After she finished her spaghetti she needed a bath (there was sauce everywhere, but she was happy).  Sister's hair is getting so long.  I keep playing with the back of it because it's almost long enough in the back for a tiny little pony tail (she'd still have to have 2 on top because the top isn't long enough).

 On Monday Caleb came inside looking like he'd just taken a dirt shower.  He looks up at me and says (with really wide eyes), "Mom.  I just found a REAL LIVE bug in your flowers.  So I squished it.  With my fingers!"  Then he made the sound I'm sure bugs hear when they walk and he wiggled his fingers like bug antenna!  A little bit later we were at my mom's house.  She's got a bunch of wasps that hang out by the filter of her swimming pool.  We were watching the boys through the window when Caleb screamed like a banshee.  Turns out he tried to squish a wasp with his fingers.  Don't think he'll be trying that again any time soon!

This little monkey has learned a new trick every time I turn around.  I was NOT happy about this!

Every time I get my camera out to take a picture Brooke will say "CHEESE!" but she doesn't always look at the person with the camera!  She was looking at Nash instead of me!

This little girl LOVES her musical instruments.  She has this little xylophone that she loves.  She's recently figured out how to turn on the keyboard as well.  I'm fairly certain this one will be starting dance lessons when she turns three.  Just like her sister in more ways than one!

Last night we took Trav's parents' jet skis out to Hyrum Dam.  Trav dropped the kids and I off at the beach and then wen to unload the skis.  The water is super low right now.  I put Brookelyn's life jacket on her because, let's face it, the girl is fast!  I sat her on the ground by the water and she was perfectly happy...until the cold water touched her!  She and I spent most of the night up on the grass..

The water touched her:

Caleb was happy to throw mud in the water for awhile.  I was happy it didn't hit me!

Watching her sister and brother in the water her reaction is always "Ooooo"

Sam & Caleb swimming in the water

Her balance is getting really good.  She can totally walk when she wants to.  I've recently discovered that as long as she has something in her hand, she dares to walk.  Whatever she's holding does not need to be anchored to the floor, she just needs something in her hands!  Silly girl.

My view of Sam & Caleb from way, way, waaaay up on the grass.

Brookelyn entertained herself up on the grass with her life jacket buckles, dumping out the diaper bag, crawling away from mom & toward the drop off onto the sand & mom's shoes.

She also found 3 pair of sunglasses she rather enjoyed playing with!  Can you see all three pairs she has on?

Nash decided it was a good idea to bury his feet in the sand.

 Brookelyn took a 3 second nap while up on the grass.

This little girl has latched onto her daddy since he came home on Monday.  He picks her up and she just puts her arms around him and lays her head down on his shoulders.  She'll stay that way for a good 30 minutes.  Not sure if it's because she misses him and finally realizes it or if it's because she has four molars coming in and doesn't feel the greatest.

 Poor Caleb was freezing when he finally came out of the water.  He kept telling me, "Mom.  I'm freezing AND I'm turning purple!"

 Brookelyn has developed a shoe fettish.  The girl finds a pair of shoes and she crawls off as fast as she can with them!

There were a few Young Women groups at the beach and a lady from one of them was nice enough to snap a few pictures of me and the kids.

As we were waiting for Travis to come get us after loading the jet skis Caleb told me, "Mom.  The clouds are beautiful!"  That kid has the same kind of vocabulary as his big sister!

13 years of marriage & counting

13 years, 10 moves, 4 towns, 3 college graduations, 3 colleges, 5 pregnancies, 4 kids, 14 jobs, 1 3.5 yr long distance relationship, 3 nieces, 6 nephews, 4 vehicles, 2 forest fires, 1 vehicle fire, 3 funerals, 6 cancers, 4 Relays, 9 weddings, 1 new house, 4 insurance companies, 1 bout with Rheumatic Fever, 2 broken arms, 22 surgeries, 2 ENTS, 2 Orthopedic Surgeons, 1 amputation, 2 dogs, 2 cats, 1 trip to CA, OR, AZ, FL, St. Louis, Bryce, Zions, Yellowstone, Disney World, & Disney Land, 1 lost kid in the Denver Airport, 3 guitars, 6 yrs of dance recitals, 1.5 yrs of piano lessons, 1 camp trailer, 47 birthday parties, 1 car accident & 1 spring training.  Whew!  Happy Anniversary Travis!

Lots of cute pictures of Brookelyn

Last Sunday we went down to Aunt Jamie and Uncle Robbie's house.  Samantha had picked out a birthday present for Cousin Jaxton and it gave the kids a chance to play one more time before the new cousin was born.  The kids had lots and lots of fun and of course didn't want to leave when it was time.  Brookelyn was able to get in on the train table action on this trip too.

The other night I walked into the girls' room to check on them before I went into bed.  I found Brookelyn like this and just giggled and giggled.  I have no idea how the heck this could possibly be comfortable at all!

Yes, she IS in fact griping the sidebar of the crib!

I've been working on this wedding cake and 100 cupcakes.  I think I mentioned mom bought me a Cricut Cake machine.  The other day I had the Cricut out and was cutting more gumpaste daisies.  I figured even though B was running around she was being good so I could get a few done.  I only had 31 to go so maybe I could finish it up.  A few months ago she figured out how to open my drawers and learned that it was super funny to pull all mom's dish towels out of the drawer.  She has since found the other drawer full of dish towels and empties that drawer quite quickly as well.  I was working on the daisies and she was emptying my drawer.  The next thing I know she's popped up right next to me and starts watching the Cricut cut daisies.  After a second of checking out my machine she looks up at me with her cheesy little grin and says, "HI-YA!"  Little stinker!  She was so cute I couldn't help but giggle!  I got her out of the drawer after the picture but since then she has managed quite a few more trips into the drawer.  One today without pulling all the towels out (a bonus for me).  Although, she did have the idea that if she pulled everything out of the next drawer up, it's as good as stairs!  Crap.

I was playing with B's hair the other day and decided I'd try and do a couple braids in it.  I had sat her in the bathroom sink so she had access to the toothbrushes and all the hair elastics.  She was pretty good for me to do it.  She didn't hold still, but she wasn't screaming, "OWIE" like she does when she sees me coming with the comb!

Sister has decided she still really likes to play here.  I've recently busted the shoe lace back out and tied the cupboards shut.  She isn't too keen on that idea!  She likes the drum/bang noise it makes when she yanks on it though!

Yesterday sister busted out my Swiffer Sweeper.  I wondered if she'd give up and crawl while pushing it around the floor like usual.  Turns out, sister just needs something in her hands to have the confidence to walk!  She took a good 10-12 steps while holding the Swiffer Sweeper!  I think we'll just keep the Rock Band drum sticks out for her!  She did a repeat of her trick holding those!

Yesterday we went back to my mom's house to get in the pool.  The big kids were in the pool for a total of FOUR hours!  The only reason they got out when they did was because dinner was ready!

I love this little swim suit!  It was one of Sam's when she was this size.

I was impressed I got her to leave Caleb's shades on long enough for a picture!  She will usually only wear them on her neck!

Today we went back to Grandma's house to get in the pool again!  This time Aunt Cassidy's kids were there.  Sunny was perfectly content playing with the spoons and measuring cups next to the pool rather than getting in the pool!  Silly girl!

B's hair is getting so long!  I left it down for a change today because her teeth have been bothering her so bad lately and I didn't want to torture her any more than I had to.

Caleb informed me he was the King and he was making "Bullet soup".

The girls got their first jeep & hummer time today.  The battery in the jeep is dead and the battery in the hummer is almost dead too.  They were perfectly happy just climbing in and out of it 100 times!

Grandma Terri got a stick and pushed the gas pedal for B so she could have a ride in the driver's seat!

After Grandma quit pushing the gas pedal she would stand up on the seat and dance!  It was too funny!

Finishing off Grandma's blueberries:

Here's the stand for the wedding cupcakes I've been working on.  I think it turned out pretty cute.  I hope it doesn't tip when I put cupcakes on it!

This is what the wedding cake is going to go on.

We've been keeping it pretty mellow here the last week or so.  Basically just staying at home.  Tonight Nash is getting to have his Cousin Clayton sleep over.  Samantha is excited that Aunt Jamie & Uncle Robbie will come pick him up tomorrow and bring the new baby & Cousin Jaxton to visit.  Sam's been DYING to meet her new cousin because as she says, "I love his face!"  Travis comes home tomorrow (yay!).  Monday marks our 13th wedding anniversary!  Wow.  That went fast.  Not sure what we'll do to celebrate yet.  Caleb has his well check scheduled for that day and I was planning to do his Kindergarten shots.  Hope there isn't too much drama with that!  We've talked about heading over to Bear Lake while Travis is home and maybe going camping.  Not sure how I feel about the camping idea - I'm still trying to recover from the last time we went camping!  Only 3 weeks of summer vacation left!  Guess we'll have to kick it into high gear to fit everything else in before school starts on Aug. 23rd!