Discovery discovery

Well at least you can't say I didn't warn you!  I try not to take so many museum pictures lest my pages of scrapbooks be filled with repetitive images, but I simply cannot resist capturing these moments of discovery, of learning, and of pleasure.  Additionally, I am shocked to see the difference in Kolton's experience each time we visit.  First, he was a newborn sleeping in his stroller the entire time. Then, he was able to crawl and get around.  This last visit, he walks and can navigate stairs, and slides, and all things fun. 

When we arrived he promptly climbed on this little device and stared in amazement.

And I truly didn't know he could go DOWN stairs until his little head popped up...

then disappeared.... again and again and again!

And no matter how many times we go, or how many pictures I take, this little girl learns something... experiences something... perceives something anew.... and then on the way home (all the way home) reflects on her findings.  It's inspiring.  Some outings are annoying and inconvenient, and I will be the first to admit that my kids get colds ever time we come here.  But when it's all said and done, I find it valuable regardless.

Plus the kids get a substantial amount of play time!!! 

Kolton went up and down this slide by himself a million times.  I think Xiana began to feel a bit unnecessary because she swiftly came over to "help him down the slide."

I tried for a minute to keep Kolton out of the water.  I then decided it was a lost cause and instead attempted only to keep the water out of his mouth... I was moderately successful.

While both my kids appear as though they have peed themselves... alas, they have not:)

Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun!  I love the idea that my kids will remember going to the museum often as children.  That is a memory I will do all I can to promote. 

Play ball!!!

Remember last year and the year before that and the year before that when you had to endure countless photos of fountains and water parks?  Yeah well, now enter the stage of countless T-ball posts (marry them to the museum posts and you're basically caught up on the next 4 months of our lives).  Brian is coaching these littles with his brother Mark and doing a wonderful job. They're patient, kind, and take the time to teach these little ones how to play ball... or at least how to run the right direction to first base.  We had cake and cap night (an utterly annoying fund raiser that I won't go into for fear of poisoning the well of all things T-ball) and the kids were so darling.  This was their first uniform appearance and I'd say they look the part.

The first few nights of practice were cccccccccccold.  Mark taught them the most important thing to know about baseball is that it's cold.  Xiana was most enthralled with putting their hands on top of one another and then yelling, "cardinals!"  She only told me a million times how neat that was.  As for the actual sport, I think she can take it or leave it.  But her friends are on her team and she's having a good time.  When we asked her if she wanted to sign up she emphatically told us yes.  We questioned her repeatedly to ensure she did, indeed, want to play T-ball.  She didn't waver from her initial response so we decided to go for it.  Finally, the night we signed her up Brian asked, "Xiana do you even no what T-ball is?" "nope."  But you know my girl... she's game for anything.  Especially if it involves other kids.  She throws the ball for the first little bit.  Then she gets distracted... by the flowers and grass and passersby and cars and clouds and bugs and.... lets hope she makes it through this season without getting nailed in the face.

Kolton cheerfully eats clogs of dirt and sucks on rocks as I try to corral him back to where the rest of the spectators are.  I have a theory that he is building up immunities that no other foods could create.  He laughs and walks around while flirting with Maiya and Carmedie.  He yells when sissy is up to bat and has, knock on wood, so far not been hit by a single fly ball.

Sister couldn't hit the ball to save her life the first few practices, but she looked darn cute missing.  She's scarcely affected by her inability though and runs the bases like she's in a beauty pageant...literally.  I know I'm partial, but I think she's one of the most entertaining... though all the girls seem to be a little... preoccupied.  This is a fun, bonding, learning experience for her, and I'm glad she gets the opportunity.  I'm excited for their games and grateful for sweet daddies that take their time to coach these little players.

Baby time

Note to self: beautiful days + park = sunburned baby.  I must not forget this one again.  I've burned this baby twice now... the only two nice days of the year.  I am not used to worrying about sunscreen for an impromptu trip to the park, but the diaper bag is packed so from now on... bring on the sun repellent.  Sliding is a wonderfully joyous thing the beauty of which is not lost on Kolton.  He spent much of the day sliding, then climbing up, then sliding some more.  This little man is fearless and I dare say may spend some of his life in the emergency room.  He loves to slide and swing.... over and over and over again. 

Charlie would love to have a brother.  He'll borrow Kolton when we let him.  He's so sweet and tender with him.

Weeeeeee

oops, "mom, I can't get Kolton off the slide!!!!"

And finally, baby time.  Seriously... summer it's on!!!!!
"But we're trapped... let us out!!!!!"

Siblings...

Not very long ago I spoke with my eldest sister about siblings.  She commented on how siblings know us better than almost anyone else on earth.  We are confidants to them long before our outdated parents, know them longer than our friends and way before our spouses.  They understand our backgrounds, our upbringing, our experience.  In short, they know us in ways only siblings are able.  When I see this little man quickly emerging into so much more than a blob o baby, it is inspiring to witness the instant and immediate relationship these little buggers have.  Kolton is drawn to his big sister.  He seeks her; he claims her; he tries always to tell her his stories and have his cheeks next to hers as he giggles ferociously deep from the belly and she complies with his laughter.  They love each other.  Their love is palpable.  It is something fierce and loyal and unstoppable... and they are still little tiny people.  I cherish the ability to witness the development of this relationship.  Tonight Xiana played her guitar while she belted the latest Adele song (a very common occurrence around these parts) and Kolton admiringly gazed up at her while he belted his very own song.  Partly a battle of noise, partly a beautiful harmony only able to be created by these two loving creatures.  I can already see the teasing, the fighting, the annoying, but first and foremost...I see the love. When Kolton wakes from a nap or in the morning, Xiana kindly climbs in his crib with him keeping him occupied until I can get him out.  They yell and squeal and have a hooligan time.

Much like Kolton already looks up to Xiana, Xiana has a fierce emulation of her big sister.  Schedule conflicts prevented us from our normal weekends with Ekco and tonight Xiana lamented the loss of her weekend.  She misses her big sister.  They too love each other in a way only sisters can (though they've more perfectly mastered the art of annoying one another than the littles have yet... they'll get there).  Kolton, too, excitedly awaits her arrival and follows her around the house every time she's here. Ekco constantly remarks about how much her sweet brother has grown in her absence, and she's usually spot on.  She caters to him and helps with him while still finding time to spend a moment reading to the one who looks up to her most.

Xiana sweetly feeds Kolton and not so sweetly drags him away from the stereo, toilet, dishwasher, art corner, bookshelves, stairs... okay, from everything.

He rests his head on her belly and puts his smiling face in hers until she breaks down and giggles which is exactly what he's been waiting for.

And when dada puts music on, they both come running, begging, pleading until he gives in and dances with them in the living room. 

Which they can't get enough of.

Xiana informed me the other day that when she's a mommy she's going to be a nice mommy.  I told her I hoped she was lucky enough to have nice kids.  But the truth is, despite my sarcasm... I do have nice, beautiful, special, wonderful kids.

who drive me crazy sometimes.

Alicia's shower

After many hardships, much anticipation, and struggling to get there, my dear friend Alicia found herself pregnant with a viable pregnancy.  She is beside herself with joy, and concern, and stress, and finally, on bed rest.  However, we already had her shower planned and got the go-to from the doctor.  As long as she stayed reclined for the duration... which she did.  It was a great success and, despite my chocolate fountain breaking right before it started, went swimmingly. 

I had to take pictures of the beautiful and delicious food.

I've been dieting so much that I might have gone a little overboard on this free-for-all binge... it might have also continued for a few more weeks :)

Alicia in her throne.

Thank heavens April co-hosted the shower... I have very little creative ability, but April rocked the decorations like nobody's business.

I'm glad it was so successful because this will be Alicia's last, and her first was born at 24 weeks... prior to a shower... so technically this is also her first. 

We gave awesome prizes for the games!

And Xiana and Tristin played without a single fight for 6 continuous hours!

I had to get a picture of this.  This was my vantage point through all of gift opening.  Very very wonderful! 

Update

• At ten months Kolton is a prolific walker.  It is now is main mode of transportation
• We went to eat breakfast at the buffet, and he double fisted food into his mouth for 60 full minutes.  A group of women at another table came by to comment that they had never seen a baby eat so much.  It's true.  I thought if he ate one more bite he might explode... just before he polished of another donut.
• He LOVES to dance.  If he hears music or if you even utter the word dance, he points his finger in the air and starts bouncing with a happy grin across his face.  It is just too much sometimes.  I alternate between melting and laughing hysterically.
• He is a crazy baby.... says most who look after him... and confirmed by his family.  He wreaks havoc on everything.  He scarcely slows down, and he thinks punishment is another form of a game that makes him laugh out loud.  I had a friend watch him one day and I apologized in advance for how crazy he is.  She assured me that her baby was the exact same age so not to worry about it.  When I came on my break to help out,  I walked in the front door to her exclaiming, "Your. baby. is. crazy!"  To which I simply responded that I had warned her.
• He already has a chipped tooth (no idea how he got it) and purses his lips together when we try to brush his teeth.  I'm going to give a public disclaimer that if he ends up with cavities... it is his OWN fault!
• He dances differently to rap than his does to country showing he's got rhythm.
• He can now successfully go up and down the stairs... so that's what he frequently does...all.day.long.
• While he destroys things, he giggles... loudly!
• He gives his sister kisses all the live long day.
• He runs for the door to greet his daddy when he gets home from work.
• He points at everything.
• He is wonderful!

• Ekco is becoming a young woman more and more and more.  Her fashion, her appearance, and her demeanor are changing right before our eyes.
• She loves to read and has her nose buried in a book most weekends.
• She does not like to play anymore (which makes Xiana very sad).
• Her prayers are very mature and sophisticated.
• She is getting close to 11!
• We left her to watch Xiana for about a half hour while we ran a quick errand one day.  Like I said, she is growing up!
• She is very interested in cooking and is learning more and more about it. 
• She is getting to be very helpful and can even get Kolton out of his crib after naps!!

• Xiana is 4 1/2 going on 14.  She is pretty positive that she is in the Young Women class.
• She continues to belt out songs at the top of her longs and knows ALL the lyrics to roughly 500.  Currently her favorites are: Taylor Swift, "You Belong With Me, Mean," and pretty much any of her songs.  Adele, "Set Fire to the Rain, Someone Like You, and Rolling in the Deep," "Colder Weather" by Zac Brown band... I think... And I heard her the other day singing, "American Pie" pretty accurately.
• One night when we were reading scriptures I thought she was goofing off and so, when she asked if I would read another page, I answered that she wasn't even listening.  She insisted that she was so I asked, "What just happened?"  She promptly responded, "Amulek went to Amonnihah because the wicked people still wouldn't listen to him."  Pretty good.
• After a visit to Al's house she told Grandpa that it takes the water a long time to get hot because it has to come all the way from the garage.  Spot on.
• At 7-11 she pointed out her window and said, hey, there's propane tanks.  And there was.  Seriously I don't know where she picks all this stuff up from.
• One day we were having an especially hard time and she was suffering from the worst punishment of not being tucked in.  When we were driving she told me, "mommy, when I was in the bathtub I prayd-ed to Heavenly Father and Jesus that you would be nice to me and not fight with me and tuck my in tonight." I asked, "did you also ask for help to be obedient?"
• On a windy day she told me, "the wind is blowing so hard I just can't resist it."
• One night when I cut off scripture reading, she was engrossed in what would happen next.  She informed me, "when I wake up in the morning we better go straight to reading the scriptures."
• She brought me a drawing of a girl with long hair and red spots on her face, hands, and feet.  She told me, "mom, this is a picture of me having hand foot and mouth disease.
• After Grandpa was out of town for a while she told him, "Every time I see my panda I think of you."