Hands and Feet

On Sunday May 8th I read the kids a story from the library that had to do with colors and what colors you will get from mixing them together. The kids and I tried some of the colors. Some worked and others didn't. I guess you have to be real precise or you just get blah. Since we had the paints out I let them paint on their poster boards that they had painted on with Clif  a few weeks before.
While they were painting I decided to have fun and get all of our feet and hand prints. We even did the babies. It was a messy time, but it was fun because I allowed them to be messy without worrying about the mess! Spencer and Clif shared a page and Addy and I shared. Fun to compare all the sizes. Here are the results. I wish the pictures conveyed how small the babies feet really are. They are still so tiny!

My thoughts

Life has been kind of challenging lately. We have been through so many trials in the last year that it gets really hard. It seems like once I get used to one big trial and adapt to the situation, something else hits. I try really hard to stay positive and look for the blessings that we do have, but it isn't always easy. (I am human after all). Plus, on top of all the obvious trials I haven't lost a pound since I had the babies, I break out all the time, and Clif and I have been having some troubles. (I hesitate to say this, because I know that while my blog is private, people do read it. However, this is more of my journal than for others and today is a day I need to just write freely. I of course won't go until details of what he did).

So while I have a good habit of reading my scriptures and praying every night, I have found it hard sometimes to want to do those things. Of course, I know that is the opposite of what I should be doing. Yet, sometimes it is just all too much for me. Clif and I read and pray each night with the kids and we never miss a pray at meals. We have FHE together and I really make an effort to have the spirit of love in my home. (My sweet kiddos have been fighting a lot lately). I know that when I do read my scriptures I am more loving, patient, and slow to anger. I am always correcting my actions to be more Christ like. I know I often fall short of this. I get upset over Addy putting a whole new roll of toilet paper in the toilet because money is so precious right now. Or when she spills her milk and it goes all over the floor, ceiling, me and her two sisters. However, she is much more precious than any mess or any amount of money. I need to show her the right way with kind words and not harsh tones. I really most often do this. This week has just been more challenging in that area. I have caught myself raising my voice more than I would like. I am trying though. I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and I know He is there helping us through these hard times. I also know that I can't give up.

I hate being overweight, it is so hard for me, especially when Clif and his family are so thin. I never had this much trouble getting the baby weight off before so I am pretty sure that my body is holding on to the weight for the babies. It makes no sense that I can not exercise and eat whatever I want and stay the same weight...and then work out all the time and eat better and still stay the same weight. I finally just had to realize that even though I wasn't losing weight that I still need to continue to work out. It is good for me to have that time alone and it is good for my health. I have tried to stop breastfeeding the babies, but have had no success. I am not pushing the issue too hard though because I do want what is best for them. However, I feel it is important to slowly try and wean them now because I don't believe that on October 1st, they are going to know they are 1 and just automatically stop breastfeeding. Allyson could probably stop now. She sleeps through the night and eats enough baby food that she could be alright. She still wants me when she is tried and in the morning. I am more of a comfort than anything. Haleigh on the other hand still wakes up 1-2 times and doesn't east near as much baby food. The fact that she is eating any baby food is progress though. Way to go Haleigh.

Although I may sound sad/upset (I am on my period), I really am doing okay. I am often too busy to even be upset and I know that I have so many things to be thankful for. There are just sometimes that I get discouraged (like when I drive by the house we built) or sad, but I try really hard to stay positive.

Pictures of the Babies - February 2011

I need to play catch up again. I know I still haven't posted about Addy's birthday, but I also haven't posted about Easter or Christmas for that matter! All my posts are out of order, but I am really trying to catch-up before I forget what actually happened.

1/21/11- Trying to get them to look at each other.  Not the cutest picture of them, but you can really see how much they look a like here.

1/29/11 Sitting in their high-chairs for the first time. They look so small and at the time they had gotten so big!

 Crazy Haleigh eyes.

 2/3/11-Just some updated pictures of them. I try to take pictures of them together at least once a week. Notice how their expressions are almost identically in a lot of them! I didn't realize it until I was posting these.

Addy and Spencer always want to be in the picture, even though it doesn't look like it.

2/7/11- I laid them on Addy's sleeping bag and before I knew it they had both fallen asleep. One of my favorite pictures.

2/8/11- The first time they tried baby food. They aren't too impressed with the rice cereal.

 Haleigh does actually look like she is enjoying it, but believe me she is not.

Haleigh nice and bundled up for bed. Gotta love the swaddle.

 2/12/11- I love how Allyson's profile is on the couch in this picture. So neat!

 2/15/11- Bath time! Look at their crazy eyes again, too funny! I usually don't post naked pictures, but I had to document all their chub!

2/16/11- Some fun pictures of them on their play mat.

 Haleigh Baleigh

Some of my favorite pictures of Allyson.

 2/21/11- Sleeping together

 2/24/11- My girls. (Taken on my ipod so sorry for the blurriness).

 1/13/11- While these pictures aren't in February, I had to add them. They are such little cuddlers. I am so blessed to witness their special relationship.

Staycation

In February we decided to take a little of our tax return and go on a small vacation. Clif had almost not been working a year at this point and we wanted to take advantage of him being home. We wanted to go somewhere warm and considered going to St. George. Then we figured if we were going to drive that far we might as well go to Vegas since Clif thinks there is nothing to do in St. Geroge and I had never been before. After we calculated the gas and everything it was still going to be more then we could justify with Clif not having a job. So we decided on Plan B: a staycation.

On Friday, February 18th, we went bowling. I found a deal on-line and it was a good midpoint to our final destionation of Springville. We had never taken the kids bowling before and they had a lot of fun except for when they had to wait for their turn. Clif and I used to go bowling all the time when we were first dating. It was fun to think of those memories and see how bad we had gotten! I miss going on dates with him, we really need it.

They had these nice alligator "slides" they could roll their ball down. Addy wanted to use it as a slide.

Addy did a great job even though she was clueless as to what she was doing! She would hardly pay attention and get a strike. She beat us all both times.

Haleigh wishing she was old enough got bowl.

We stayed the night at a hotel that I got off of Priceline. It wasn't my favorite place we have stayed. Mainly because there was no elevator and we were on the 2nd floor, but it did have yummy free breakfast and the beds were comfy.

The next day we went to Jumpin' Jacks. We had gotten a punch pass over a year ago and hadn't been able to use it, since the one near us went out of business. The next closest location is in Springville, which is why we chose to stay the night there.

These pictures are not the nest of quality, but here they are none the less.

Haleigh got all the picture time on this vacation.

 At one point, we couldn't find where they went. Turns out they were behind us reading books from the book fair they had going on! Too funny (well it is now anyway)!

Finally, we went to Hollywood Connection. We got a groupon for $5.00 for unlimited rides. This was by far the kids favorite thing to do. They had a roller coaster, merry-go-round, and many other fun rides for the kids to enjoy. We also tried our hand at roller skating, which was an absolute disaster! I took both the kids out and we hardly made it around once. Spencer kept falling and I would have to pull him up while trying to hold Addy with the other hand. Thankfully some sweet 12-14 year old girl came and helped me get Addy off while I took care of Spencer. Then Spencer got lost in the crowd and was screaming my name and while I was trying to get to him I ran into someone and fell over. Needless to say we won't be going roller skating anytime soon.

All in all our staycation was a success. I am glad that we got out and spent the time as a family with no other distractions. I hope we can make this a priority in the year to come. No matter if it is big or small as long as we take the time out to spend it together.





April Overview

The kids filled up their sticker charts and chose to go swimming. So on April 13th we took the kids to the indoor swimming pool. Since Haleigh still had her cast on, Clif went in with them while I watched and took pictures. They hadn't been in the pool since last summer and had a lot of fun.

Cute picture of Spence and Daddy.

Addy having so much fun, if you couldn't tell.

 The girls waiting ever so patiently!

On April 14th Addy went to her first birthday party. Her friend Lucy turned 3 and had a dinosaur party. She got to dig for dinosaurs in sand and came back with a whole pail for (which Spencer insisted were meant for him).

The next day (April 15th) was such a nice sunny day that we were able to go on a bike ride. I had Addy and the babies in the bike trailer, and Spencer rode his new bike that my mom bought him. We took a break at the park and weren't able to go for very long because Spencer was still getting used to riding again. I really enjoyed being in the nice Spring weather and the babies must have loved the ride because they were so good and even fell asleep!

The next day was Sunday and I got to stay home with sick kids. So Spencer and Clif were the only ones for our Sunday Pictures. They took a lot of very nice pictures. I need to print these out and frame them.

Haleigh started sitting up for longer periods of time. They then went through a phase where they hardly sat up at all. I know most of that is my fault, since I would forget to have them sit up.

Haleigh has her first cast on in this picture. She could sit very well with her first cast, but her 2nd cast was too bulky. Now that it is off she is getting used to sitting again. Poor thing.

They also started interacting with each other a lot more. They are always touching, pulling, and yanking one another. Most of the time they are unphased by the other, but sometimes it becomes a problem! My favorite thing is when I am feeding them and they hold hands.

Haleigh starts out and then Allyson takes over.

Haleigh above

 Allyson below

On April 19th, after we took Haleigh to get her cast off, we went to two fun places in Salt Lake. I had gotten both of the deals on groupon for a great deal and was excited to take the kids. The first place was Jump Around Utah, which had a great variety of things for the kids to do. The floor was a big trampoline, it has various bounce houses, and then a climbing area with slides. The slides are so fast and fun, you fly down them!

The 2nd place we went to was Jungle Jims. I met my friend Melissa (who I know from Washington) and her kids there. Both of her boys were so sweet to my kids. Carson would help get Addy out of the rides. My kids really enjoyed playing with them! Jungle Jims had some fun little rides and climbing areas as well. The kids enjoyed themselves, but it wasn't as fun as Hollywood Connection and defintely wouldn't pay full price.

These are the only pictures I have. Addy, Spencer, and Carson on a spinny ride.

 Melissa and I on the same spinning ride. I will never go on that again.