Spring Break Visit

Nana was on spring break this week. So we got her to come over to see us!

It worked out nicely because we really needed a babysitter Sunday evening for our small group murder mystery dinner. So we really twisted Nana & Grampy's arm and got them to come over to stay with the kids. Grampy went back to work Mon & Tues, but Nana stayed. I promised Nana a shopping trip.

I actually almost forgot to use my camera at all while they were here. We were so busy. I think I need a day just to recover! Monday morning the plan was to go to the mall and be back in time for Nana to drive herself to her 2pm massage (thanks to Uncle Kent). Let's just say we didn't make it in time and totally blew the top off the schedule! We were gone from 9a-4p and Nolan only had a 20 minute nap. Amazingly he was in a better mood in the afternoon than the morning. I think he finally realized he was stuck with these females and their shopping-crazed minds so he might as well enjoy himself.

The next day the kids had Mother's Morning Out. So we had 3 hours all to ourself. That 3 hours just goes waaaaaayyyy too fast! We did get naps that afternoon. I'm pretty sure that two days in a row of that would have been a nightmare!

Grampy came back Tuesday evening to get Nana and they left this morning.

They are off to strip the wallpaper in the living room and paint it. I think they just decided to do this project while every room but the kitchen was already still in a mess.

Tuesday after naps, HK & Nana made a cake with her Princess cooking set she got for Christmas. Nolan was awake and did not want to be left out of any part of this fun. I actually think he may have had more fun than HK?!?

HK using her "mixer like Mommy's" to mix the most nasty tasting cake you'll ever eat! Nolan had a front row seat.

Nolan: Uhhh girls. You thinks you doing that da right way? I not so sure? I might need to taste it for you.

...And that he did. He managed to get his fingers in the little cakes. Then he would actually stick them in HK's mouth. Then he would squeal and laugh and do it all again.

Finger stick...

Sister taste...

Squeal, laugh, throw hands in the air...

Nolan: Yes, Nana...this is funny! You should try it.

After the cakes cool baked in the Princess oven with ice cubes, HK iced them. You know when she is really concentrating...the tongue is out.

Pucker up!

No Nolan...I don't want a chocolate kiss!

Nana started feeding Nolan the chocolate icing.

He tried to feed her too.

HK fed Nolan the icing as well. Now don't you want to eat these lovely cakes with all of this licking and sharing going on.

It was definitely an activity full of laughs!

The other activity I remembered to photograph was the egg dyeing.
Just in case you ever wonder, you can use apple cider vinegar instead of white vinegar. It was all I had. So we gave it a whirl and it worked!

These pictures are dark because I was sitting on the couch across the room...too worn out to get up. Yet I finally dragged my rear up to get a closer shot.

The apple cider vinegar mixed with some Grampy & Nana love & HK hands made some beautiful eggs!

Now back to the real world....laundry, laundry, laundry and a to-do list filled with many other jobs!

He Does Get Hungry!

I feel as if Nolan has been quite challenging in the "real" food department. When I say challenge, that term is very relative. I am sure he is just a normal toddler, and I really don't know what a challenging eater is. However, since my first one ate like a horse...that is all I have known.

He was a great nurser and loved baby food. Yet the transition to table food has been a slow one for him. I am convinced the only reason he gained weight in months 12,13, and 14 were because of his love for whole milk.

Yet month 15 has been a breakthrough month for him. He has eaten more new things (and not gagged or vomited) this month than all the past 4 months put together. This has made me very excited.

I have even resorted to not giving him a snack when he wakes up from his nap so that he would be really hungry and actually eat supper. It seems to work because as soon as he sees me in the kitchen starting supper he starts hanging at my feet like a child that's not eaten in days. Even though it can be bothersome and annoying while trying to cook dinner, I am actually very excited to see that HE IS HUNGRY! For awhile I began to wonder if he was ever hungry!

If it's a dinner that takes awhile to cook, it can be hard on the guy. Once the table is set, he starts grabbing silverware and trying to find food on the table.

He even tries to get in his highchair.

Below was one night while I was fixing dinner.

I missed the part where he pulled the tray off the highchair and threw it in the floor. Now he is trying to scope out if there is anything on the table yet that he can get his hands on asap!

"Mommy I do get hungry. Will you please feed me now?!"

"Okay, have it your way. If you won't help me, I will figure out how to do this even if I starve trying!"

He is still sort of picky and has better days than others, but we have definitely made some serious strides in the "real" food world.

Nolan, we may look back on this one day (I hope) and laugh that we ever had any trouble getting you to eat. One day the words from my voice may be the total opposite...I can't ever seem to keep you full!

Corners

Corners...
What is it with kids and corners? My crazy kiddos love to play together in the corners!

Since they have started doing this in Nolan's room as well as HK's, I now pull his curtain up into his crib and open the blinds first thing in the morning. Otherwise, the curtains would be down in the floor and the blinds gone crazy!

They will get back in the corner and then HK sees how much stuff she can put back in the corner with them! I was kind enough to save it one day to show Daddy and let him have the privilege of helping them put it all away.

If it is quiet and I am not 100% sure where Nolan is...I look in his corner first. Most of the time, he is sitting there quietly looking at books. One day he emptied a whole shelf of his books into the corner with him.

I love this crazy face! You're right buddy...I don't trust you when it's quiet and you're alone (or with your sister for that matter).

One day he stole HK's teapot and went to his hideout.

If you're not sure where they are...check the corners!

Bullets N' Barbeque

Sunday evening our small group got together for an evening of food and fun!

There was definitely barbeque and great food....not so much the bullets!

We did a murder mystery dinner where we were the cast. Everyone knew their character and how to dress before arriving...but that was it.

Justin & Lindsey or "Sally Forth" the mail order bride

Seth & Julie "Bibi" the town flirt (to put it nicely)

Meagan & Cheyenne or "Rowdy"

Andy or "Juan Bandito"

Tabitha & Josh or "Doc Mallard"

Here are the girls. Everyone dressed for the evening, but only one person from each couple had a speaking part. I was Miss Patience the school marm, with a hidden side. Nate had to work and was late. That was how I got elected the acting one. It was a great time with lots of laughter and eating.

Puppy Love

One day after nap time, Nolan and I were snuggling. Of course, the puppy was with us. I snapped a picture with my phone because I wanted some new pics of the kids for my screen.

Nolan is in security heaven right here because he is sitting on my lap and he has the puppy's ear in his mouth. He has never used a paci, but rather just chewed and sucked on this ear. I find it rather disgusting and if you get a good whiff of the ear it can make you gag! This is why in our house we have multiple puppies! Some are tucked away in a drawer for when the current ones get beyond smelly or lost.

I was glad I finally got a sweet picture of the two of them together to show him some day!

Easter Eggs with the Slaters

This morning we dyed easter eggs with the Slaters and sooooo much more.

I borrowed my Dad's new Nikon d90 this week. I wanted to get the pics he had on his camera from the weekend. Since their computer was in the shop I figured I would get them faster by borrowing his camera. So I decided to try it out this morning while I had it. Oh boy...I took way too many pictures. Some times I took several pictures and I only meant to take one. It was fun to use. Not sure I need one? I am pretty sure I would take way toooo many pictures. So from the 80 that were shot this morning of these munch-kins, here are a few I really liked!

This tent of Kellen & Keagan's is a hit and somehow manages to bring out the rowdiest in Kellen & HK when they are together.
We finally had to put it away!

Today Nolan enjoyed the shopping cart. He would carry Kellen's trains in from the other room and toss them into the cart. Maybe he thought I would load them into the van and he would get to take them home that way?

Keagan has started walking! Yea Keagan!

He got so excited!

We finally got to the main event...the reason for this mornings get together.

"Uh Mommy, why don't I get to do this with them?"

HK thought it was funny when she got dye on her hand. We even had an accident and one cup of green dye spilled. Oh well...that's what you get with three year olds, some eggs, and egg dye. Thankfully the only thing that remained green was Brooke's fingernails.

"Kellen you got some right here. I will clean it." I'm pretty sure his look is telling her he doesn't really care and to step away with her towel.

Keagan enjoyed the egg activity from the highchair with a snack.

Nolan is trying to figure out how to get himself some of those Teddy Grahams.

Brooke grilled us some hot dogs for lunch!!! Yummy! While she did that, Keagan got a short nap in and the other 3 took off in the yard.

The first chase of the spring.

At one point HK wiped out and got her hands all muddy. She was not happy about this and even less happy when we said it might be dog poop. We took a time out to go in and wash up!

The buddies trying to climb up the slide at the same time.

Nolan was very excited and didn't know what to do first!

I'm thinking it might be about time for a hair cut or maybe trim...but I just can't bring myself to do it!

A fun morning was had! We can't wait for more spring mornings with our friends!