Hallie

Hallie is just the ultimate first child. She is so responsible, helpful, loving, smart, aware, intuitive and is such a great big sister! I never have to worry about her behavior when she is out of my care. People always comment on how "well-behaved" she is and how helpful and sweet she is. She loves her friends, siblings, school, the outdoors, arts and crafts, and TV time. The fact is that I need her everyday. I can count on her to help spread the load(s) I carry on the daily. She sometimes complains about all her "responsibilities" but I secretly think she loves taking charge and being counted on. She truly is a special kid. She didn't come to our family by accident. I am constantly stuck between being so proud of the lady she is becoming and devastated by how quickly it's happening. I love you Hallie! 

She's never been one to like sleep. She fights it every night. It is very rare that she takes a nap. It never happens willingly. She must have been just so tired this day. There is nothing more precious then my sleeping babes!

Making dry ice with daddy

Working on a crossword puzzle. A few times a week she asks me to come into her room (at night, when the others are asleep) and we do crossword puzzles together. I really enjoy that time we spend together!

Brooks

Oh Brooksie. You are giving me a run for my money! This little hat wearing, daddy loving boy does everything he knows he is not supposed to do just because. He is choosing not to be a good listener and is testing my patience. However, he finally decided one day he was going to go poop in the toilet! I guess he just needed to decide to do it on his own. He has been going poop every day in the toilet since. He is so proud of himself. He tells everyone he now goes poop in the toilet. It's pretty funny! He can also keep his underwear dry all throughout the night too. So officially no more diapers for Brooks!! It is awesome! So proud of this kiddo.

He attempt to write his own name.

We are working on switching out Stockton's car seat for a bigger one and Brooks is being upgraded to a new one as well. He quite liked having his car seat in the house.

It's been a pretty cold spring this year. Brooks can't wait to mow the lawn with Russ when it gets warm enough. In the meantime, why not mow the snow instead? Haha!

Activity Days

I'm not sure if I have mentioned this before but I was called to be an activity day leader for our ward. I think this is going to be one of my favorite callings. The girls are hard not to love. They are just so sweet! It is only 2 times a month and doesn't require anything of me on Sundays (which is great because I am solo moming it Sunday because of Russ' calling). 

Today was my first activity that I was in charge of. We decoupaged flower pots for our moms because Mother's Day is soon. I wish I knew how to keep things simple. I just go all out no matter what. If I'm going to do something I am going to do it well. I don't know how to make things easy. I blame my mom. She is like this too. Every party she throws is just over the top. Oh well though. I think the activity turned out great nonetheless.

Hallie's flower pot for me and the card she wrote me. She's so sweet!

Kids

Watching siblings love each other is just one of those moments as a parent that your heart just melts. It's one of those times when I feel true joy and happiness. It is one of the times where I feel like I am right where I am supposed to be. Brooks can never be trusted with Stockton but he and Hallie play pretty well 60% of the time. 

It is very rare that Russ and I get to go on a date. Part of it is my fault, I don't trust very many people with my kids. My parents are getting old and watching 3 kids, one of which is a baby, is hard for my mom. Russ' parents unfortunately do not like to watch their grandkids. They make us feel like it is so inconvenient to watch them, yet they are both retired, and they make it obvious that they aren't overly thrilled to do it. Since our falling out with Becky over a year ago I feel like Becky has been trying to make it up to us by being more willing to watch our kids. Anywho, long story short, we asked them to watch our kids so we could go to dinner with friends. 

Cinnamon rolls for conference weekend

I can't believe that the life I dreamed about having is my real life right now. I'm so lucky to call these 3 mine!

Stockton loves his Hallie and Hallie loves her Stocko. 

Movie night!

No training wheels!

I think Brooks just likes to be in control of his own life and likes to decide to do things on his own time. Just like pooping in the toilet, Brooks just decided one day he wanted to ride his bike without training wheels. Within 10 minutes he was riding like a pro!

Stockton

Cute little Stocko is 13 months old and is getting busier and busier! Although he has been walking for well over a month he falls and trips all the time. He always has a bump on his head and several bruises on his forehead or face too. He does have the cutest little walk though. We joke that he looks like a drunk baby by the unsteadiness of his walk. He climbs into every nook and cranny of our house. He is still my worst sleeper and wakes up once a night wanting you to come lay by his crib. This kid does not like to sleep alone. Luckily we still have a very comfy mattress on the floor near his crib which I usually spend half the night sleeping on. He loves to sleep with his burp cloth and stuffed animal, Ollie. I'm just obsessed with my little Stocko taco dimple boy!!

Stockton was walking around with no clothes on and just a diaper. Without us noticing he pooped in his diaper and then proceeded to take his diaper off. Once I discovered he was walking without a diaper on, and then noticed the diaper had poop smear in it we looked around and found a giant turd ball in the pantry. Gross!

Another biff!

Moab

 For our first camping trip of the year we went to Moab! Not only did we go with Bryan and Amber and her parents but wee lucked out that Brett and Jess came with us too. We didn't luck out with the weather, however. It was incredibly windy, like the trailer was swaying and rocking, and then for an entire day it rained so hard that we couldn't even go outside. We stayed in the trailer for 8-9 straight hours! It was rough. During the nights the wind slowed down but it was chilly.

The kids had a great time playing with cousins though. They rode bikes, we went on a few hikes and just enjoyed being at camp. This was the first time Stockton has slept in our trailer. The first night he was nervous and wanted to be sleeping right next to our bodies. But he got better every night and for his first time sleeping in the trailer he didn't do too bad. Despite the weather it was a fun camping trip!

The wind made it perfect for kite flying!

Stockton and I spent more time in the trailer then anyone else. The wind blowing all the dirt in our eyes was not fun for Stockton or for me. Luckily Stockton is so chill that staying in a tiny trailer didn't seem to bother him. 

The kids built a mini fire pit

Stockton loves dogs! He followed Amber and Bryan's dog around all day. I'm working on convincing Russ that our family needs a dog. Haha!

Hallie said she would put sunscreen on herself while we drove to a hike. I looked back and her entire face was white and lets just say she applied a very generous amount of sunscreen to her body. Haha!