Spring Break Visit

Back in March, Ben's brother Brian brought his church youth down to Dallas for a missions trip over Spring Break. They stayed at a church in the area and did various missions/outreach projects. During that time, Brian's wife and kids as well as Ben's parents came and stayed with us for a few days' visit.

It was our first time to meet Nicole since she had been born last year. So glad to have a new niece/cousin! 

She was a big hit :)

They boys got to take a bath together.

The girls got to take a bath together.

 

We watched videos.

We played outside.

We had fun swinging.

Rachel took a turn too.

Random pic where I stuck my arm out to take a picture with Lila.

One evening Brian brought his youth kids over for dinner. We had about 30 high school kids, some inside and some outside. At one point as I was eating, I realized Wyatt was missing and said, "where's Wyatt?" I found him sitting on the back porch amongst several teenage girls (who he didn't know). He had wandered outside and climbed right up between them, happy as you please!

All the partying wore Piper out.

We used the top bunk for the first time during this visit.

All the kids thought it was fun to be up there!

Right before they left to go home, we tried to take a group shot of all the kiddos.

L-R: David (2 1/2), Nicole (7 mos), Rachel (almost 5), Lila (4 1/2), Piper (3 mos), Wyatt (2 1/2)

Who Do I Look Like?

Well, once again I'm pretty far behind in my blog posts. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I can catch up. (I've been busy working on some projects that have consumed my free time.) My mother and grandmother came for a visit this past weekend. I asked my Mom to bring some pictures of me when I was little so I could do some comparison shots of our three kiddos. So, you tell me... who do they look more like, me or Ben?

Piper, 4 months

Wyatt, 2 1/2 years

Lila, 4 1/2 years

Rodeo Day

Back in March, Lila's preschool had a Rodeo Day. We were invited to join in the fun.

First all the cowboys and cowgirls came riding in on their ponies.

Here's our cowgirl and her creation.

Next came a little square dancing with Caleb. (Most of the dancing was done side by side, individually, but there were a few do-si-do's).

Then came a fun relay where the kids had to put on western garb and race back and forth.

Only the boys really "raced" but it was still fun.

After they had their turn, then they sat down to watch.

Wyatt was watching too.

Next up: picture time! (Well, it is if there is a lull and your mom has her camera).

Time to choke hug your brother!

Another picture with a horse. This one was Lila's idea.

Now we were going to do some fun Rodeo activities. Her class broke up into groups of 4 (only Lila's group just had 3) and we rotated through the various stations. Our first activity was shooting. I think someone needs to help Lila with her form.

Nicholas had it down though!

(They had a thing that worked kind of like laser tag I think, and when you shot at the bottle it would push a lever underneath the bottle which would make the bottle go flying. It was cute. All plastic of course.)

Next station: three-legged race.

Since our group only had three, Mrs. Hedges wanted to know if Wyatt wanted to race with Nicholas. His reply: "no thanks." Turns out Nicholas didn't want to race either, so it was a short activity. We killed time by wearing Lila's hat.

Next station: lasso? 

I'm not sure what to call this, but the picture says it all. They sat on a saddle and tried to get the hula hoop around the steer's horns.

Cowgirl Lila

The kids were invited to wear any western clothing they had, so here Lila is wearing her boots and a red handkerchief. And, I also braided her hair! But that's about as Western as we had :)

What was Piper doing all this time?

Sleeping.

Next up: Pony ride!

They just rode around a short loop in the parking lot.

Wyatt got to ride too since there was an empty spot. I just put him up there and didn't really give him a chance to say no. I don't know how sure he was about the whole thing, but he didn't cry.

Last stop: Craft

They got to decorate a picture frame that was later sent home with a picture of Lila from Rodeo Day in it.

Wyatt didn't get a frame, but he had fun decorating a paper.

Mrs. Hedges was there to keep things moving along because it was time to eat now!

Here's the class with their "BBQ" lunch: hotdogs!

My little cowpoke got to have some grub too.

It was a fun day. So far our preschool experience has been wonderful. I'm hoping next year's Kindergarten (new school) will be just as enjoyable.

3 Months

Who does she look more like?

<--Lila or Wyatt -->

I think her hair is a *tad* darker than both of theirs :)

Smiley girl

Full body shot

She is bringing her hands up to her mouth these days. She'll start sucking on her hand if she's hungry, but that is the only time. Still no use for the pacifier either.

She looks like she's not too sure about having a turtle in her lap!

How about next to your head?

Favorite place to sleep :)

My Baby

MY BABY will be three months old next week. She likes to smile and coo and talk to me... especially in the morning after a good night's sleep. Which she has been giving me some great sleep for the past few weeks. This week there were a couple of nights of her waking up every few hours to eat (I think she was having a growth spurt) but last night she went back to sleeping her normal longer stretch from ten to four, then back to sleep until around 7. During the day, she prefers to take catnaps, sleeping for only 20-30 minutes at a time.

I have noticed that Piper doesn't like to be left alone. She starts to fuss after just a few minutes if she can't see someone. She LOVES to be held. That is her preferred method for going to sleep, although there have been a few times she has drifted off on her own in the bouncy seat. We are usually willing to accommodate her desire to be held because (unlike her older siblings) she doesn't demand to be bounced, just held and maybe walked around a little bit. (Once she's asleep, I can put her down.) She is usually happy to sit in her seat or lay on the floor if someone is nearby to watch and occasionally talk to her. She is delighted when that person is Lila because Lila holds her hand, talks to her, brings her a toy, bounces her seat and informs Mommy promptly if she needs a diaper change!

Just this past week I have noticed Piper bringing her hands together and holding on to things more. When she nurses, she will have a fistful of my shirt - or the other day, she had brought her arm up and grabbed a fistful of her own hair! Speaking of her hair, I am always getting comments about her hair. "Look at all that dark hair!" I don't remember getting so many comments with Lila or Wyatt, so that makes me think that their hair wasn't still as dark at this age. Or maybe I just don't remember. Her hair has a natural little curl or flip on one side and is straight on the other side. It also seems to have a little more body in it. Does this mean maybe she will have a little curl in her hair?! I think that would be fun. Ok, I admit it. I really hope she has curly hair. Just a little! My hair was curly when I was little, so it's possible. It's like it hasn't decided yet what it will be with the curl on only one side. So, like her eye color, we will have to wait and see.

Until then, Mommy is just enjoying you, little one. The way your whole face smiles when you think something is funny. Are you going to giggle like your brother did, or only give me smiles like your sister did? The pouty lip you give as a warning before you start to cry. The way you cry for a few minutes when you are upset about something, but then let loose with your "mad cry" if you're not attended to right away. Yes, I know you're upset but I think it's cute! The way you quietly kick and enjoy your bath, but immediately cry when I take you out and don't stop until you are dressed. Were you cold or did you finally decide that getting back in wasn't going to happen? Do you like that there are usually three faces smiling down at you in the tub? The way you stretch so big when I unswaddle you in the morning. The way you relax against me when you fall asleep, usually with one hand holding on to my shirt. Don't put me down, Mommy. Yes, I am enjoying you because I know it won't be long before you are no longer MY BABY.

(This picture reminds me of those Magic Eye posters where you have to unfocus 

your eyes and then the 3D image pops out at you.)