Yep. I rode a camel.

It seems like things have been really busy lately. But it's a good busy because a lot has been getting done around the house. We recently went five days with no internet service. You know what I missed the most? Not being able to check the weather (we haven't had any TV service for awhile now and so I can't just turn on the news). Speaking of TV's...

Haylee is master of pushing buttons and so our Sour Cream and whipped cream cheese lids are taped over the buttons to keep Miss Busy Fingers from being tempted (which would always result in Carter yelling and Haylee because she would always turn off his movie or something fun like that).

Miss Busy Fingers can now reach the top of the table. Carter left his breakfast a little too close to the edge and so Haylee took full advantage.

Olivia lost her first tooth (& shortly after, her second tooth also) and left this letter by her bed.

Yep, those are the two new teeth growing in. She had those before she even lost a single tooth.

Carter started playing T-ball. Annnnndddd....he hates it! We are trying to make him finish the season (we really are just getting started) because we don't really know what else to do. He is SO bored with it and is constantly yelling from the field, "Mommy, how much longer?" Poor kid. Maybe he's more of a soccer dude.

Haylee's first ice cream cone.

I don't think she understood that it's not really a finger food.

Carter and Olivia got a Butterfly Garden and Ladybug Land for Easter. They have LOVED watching their caterpillars turn into butterflies and larvae turn into Lady Bugs. It was a huge hit!

Haylee got really sick a few weeks back. She had a fever for five days and was extremely lethargic. Luckily Netflix has plenty of Sesame Street episodes to keep her entertained while laying around that long.

The kids getting a turn at looking at the disgusting gutters.
Someday they'll be able to clean those out for you Aaron!

I remember always doing this when I was a kid. Carter has gotten quite good at getting almost to he top before he chickens out.

Carter got a haircut!

He wanted it just like Daddy's...#1 all over.

Last Saturday we went down to the GE plant for Family Day. They haven't had one of these since before Olivia was born. They spare no expense at these events! It was great!

Free food all over the place.

Carter enjoyed an afternoon of chips and ice cream.

(Because what four year old wants a chicken sandwich when there is the good stuff around?)

It rained off and on, but that didn't keep us from having fun. Carter and Olivia doing the Wax Hands.

Those were pretty cool.

Haylee feeding the goats.

Olivia loves this kind of stuff.

I think she sat here and fed the chicks and chickens for 20 minutes.

Haylee hung out in the stroller a lot. Lots of candy kept her happy.

Cincinnati Circus did most of the entertaining for us.

Olivia trying out the tight rope walking.

Squeezing in a little snooze.




Yep. It's really a camel.

Bleh

Couldn't think a title for this post. I don't think there is any one word or statement that sums it up. So...bleh :)

I did a little make over in our bedroom. We've had the same look going on for almost ten years and so it was time for a change.

I'm happy with it. Parakeet window treatments and all!


This is in the back corner of my new bedroom. I had been using an 18 gallon tote for my nightstand all this time. When I found this for $3.75 at the thrift store, I was so excited! I know it doesn't match my other bedroom furniture, but the size and price were right on. I had plans to refinish it, but I think I like it just the way it is. In fact, I kind of wish all the other bedroom furniture matched my thrift store nightstand.

Back in February we had a Minute to Win It game night. Since I was over the games, Aaron did all the picture taking and this was the only still picture he got. All of the video he took is lots of fun to watch though.

Carter and Olivia wanted to wear each other's pajamas to bed one night. I was fine with it but Aaron wasn't (go figure). But I had to snap this quick picture for black-mail purposes before he changed.

Yeah, I guess Olivia does look better in these pajamas.

I do love that Olivia loves to read to her little brother and sister! They love it too!

Haylee's hair is getting pretty long. I got to do it the way I always used to do Olivia's.

This used to be Olivia's outfit.

Haylee started walking about three weeks ago! Obviously this was a very momentous occasion as she is 21 months old (now 22 months). We're so glad to see her catching up with her motor skills.

I just love this little munchkin. And she loves nutella.

We colored Easter eggs! About six dozen! Hey, at $.79 a dozen, that's an inexpensive art project that kept Olivia and her friend, Jane, busy for three hours. We not only colored them, but we painted them, stickered them, put hair on them, and we have a cool egg spinner that splashes paint all over them for a neat tie-dyed effect.

Crafty kids

My kids have been pretty creative the last few months. Here is what we've been up to!

I don't often get to see Carter take a nap (I think he's only dozed off twice this year). So this was a fun surprise I found in Haylee's room.

Can't believe this kid is going to Kindergarten in August!

A crown fit for a king.
I don't think this kid realizes that his head is much bigger than he thinks it is.





Annual sugar cookies.
(Yes, that is right, I only make these once a year.)

Olivia's clay replica of this...

Speaking of Olivia...she got very sick this past month. It lasted almost an entire week.
Not only am I so glad it's over with, I'm also glad that Carter didn't get it. I am not a fan of changing the sheets on her top bunk everyday.

Carter LOVES boxes.

Whenever a package arrives at the door, he cares more that he can have the box than about what is inside the box.
So when I emptied out the diaper box, Carter and Olivia were excited for their next project...a car.

Olivia asked if I could remove the wheels from the rollerskates for the wheels for her car. Ha. So this is what the kids came up with...taping cars to all four corners. They wanted to glue them on with Elmer's glue, but after I turned them down on that idea too, they turned to tape.

At least they laughed when Olivia got in and it promptly hit the ground.

Makeover project. I got this desk for $5 at a yard sale last year. After a little sanding, primer, three coats of paint and some new pull knobs...

Daniel & Shellee Hyde

Last month I got to take a quick trip to Utah. I left my kids for the first time ever. Aaron took a few days off of work so he could stay home with them while I flew out to see my little sister get married! I was a little worried that I would be a mess without my kids, but we kept very busy in Utah. In the end, it was kind of refreshing to go nearly five days with no children. Haylee did have to take awhile warming up to me again. She certainly didn't want me holding her the night I got back, but luckily that wore off fairly quickly. All the pictures are from Shellee's special weekend. It was a gorgeous wedding! Beautiful weather, beautiful bride, great family and lots of fun!

Shellee and Daniel outside the Provo Temple before receiving her endowments.

Mr. & Mrs. Daniel B. Hyde.

Shellee & her girlfriends

My handsome older brother.

Tres Hermanas

With the younger crowd

With my parents

Looking at her ring. Shellee lost a diamond from it right outside the temple.

Yummy, Yummy, for my tummy! Tucanos for the luncheon and it was delish! I got to sit by Mark, Kylan & Kendra. Mark kept me laughing through most of the meal.

Daniel picked the luncheon location...his favorite restaurant!

Getting ready for the reception to start at The Bungalow.

These table cloths look bright purple when the camera flash hits them, but really they were a plum colored fabric.

Shellee picked out these centerpieces for several of the tables.
Her wedding colors were gold, plum & pearl.

One of my favorite touches was the large pictures hanging from the wall lights.

My sweet Grandma Harper was with us the whole day!

Kelton watching Sam while he played on the stairs at the reception.

My cousin, Ashley and her daughter, Marli. Ashley did Shellee's hair for her big day.

Getting ready to cut the yummiest wedding cake ever! (Besides my own. Wait...they were the same ;) More delish food!

We made Shellee & Daniel eat before leaving the reception. Daniel just wanted black berries on his crepe.

Daniel's friends did a fab job on their car.

What a dream day it was for Shellee & Daniel! I had SUCH a great time and was so happy to be a part of it!