A New Beach to Explore

Over Spring Break we found a new beach to explore.  Nice and quiet, shallow water, great sand, nice trees for shade, no salt and only 20 minutes away made for a great beach trip.  We still like jumping waves, but this little beach will be a great summer hang out.  The men took the day off of work (which was awesome since Zane had worked a lot of hours that week) and we enjoyed the day with my extended family.

Naturally dunking started right away.

 Exploring the bottom of the river

Swinging with Grandpa

Chillin with Grandma

Getting ready to throw Grandpa in (he thought we would just be wading in the water and didn't bring his swimming suit.) He didn't stay dry for very long.

Playing with Dallin

 Lining up for the race.  Dallin and Caleb were trying to run so fast so that they could run on top of the water like the Basilisk lizard.

 Not quite fast enough

 Throwing Dallin in

The Hulk took down a bumble bee.  I wish I got this on video because it was hilarious.  Gavin picked up a bumble bee (probably dead because he didn't get stung) and took it down. The bee had no chance.

 Eating the sand?

Gavin really loves sand.  His hair does not love sand which means mommy doesn't like sand.

Grandma stayed dry so she took care of these two.  Bryson is a month older than Lili.

Starting the sand city.  It was pretty awesome when it was all done.

It was kind of chilly in the shade.  I didn't mind little kids who stopped playing long enough to cuddle with mommy.

Burying the little boys.

 Burying the daddy's

We will definitely be heading back to this little beach soon!

Park Time and Sleepover

Over Spring Break, my mom introduced us to a really fun park.  As luck would have it, Zane's busiest week of his accounting busy season was Spring Break.  When my mom mentioned a picnic dinner and playing at a park, we were game.  Anything to keep the boys entertained while Zane was away!

Gavin is really into being the Hulk.  He can be kind of scary.

Gavin loves (I mean really loves) feeding ducks!

My only picture of Lili and Dallin.  Lili slept through our picnic then Grandma took her for a walk in the stroller.  This park has a great walk/bike path around a pond.  Dallin run ahead, discovered new things, and then ran and caught up with the walkers while I played with Gavin at the park.

 At the end of our Spring Break week, the big boy grandchildren had their first sleep over at Grandma's.   They had a blast.  Grandma caught this picture of my boys.  Since this sleep over, Gavin asks every day if we are going to Grandma's house.  He found his new favorite place away from home!

Spring Break

 I know I need to blog when I start getting emails asking if we are still alive.  Hopefully I can play catch up this weekend.

My nephew Caleb has a hard time at school knowing that at home we are all doing really fun activities so over Spring Break my sister planned non stop activities every day for him.  We joined in on many of them.  I felt like my old self as a mom this week.  Before Lili, the boys and I were never home but always out on adventures finding places to play.  Having a preemie in the middle of winter and just three kids in general meant our life changed and we rarely went out.  Lili is so easy going though making our Spring Break a success!  Over Spring Break we went to the zoo, many parks, a bounce house place, and played at a creak that made us feel like we were at the beach (without the drive).

Here are pictures from our zoo trip.  We have been having unseasonably cooler weather this year.

Grandma made this trip really easy especially when Haley or I needed to feed! I'm so lucky to have her close by.

Lili at Three Months

 Lili at three months weighs around 9 lbs.  We think she is a chunk, especially her cheeks.  They are the perfect size for kisses.  I think Lili acts more like a two month baby.  She still sleeps a lot, eats around 3 oz, and takes one feeding during the night.  We are attempting to put 0-3 month clothes on her.  They are still a little big.  Every once in awhile we hear her coo, but mostly she just observes us.  We have also had accidental smiles, but I'm still waiting for her to smile at me.  Lili still rolls over from her back to front and has very strong neck muscles.

Lili loves playing dress ups (ok, I love playing dress ups.)  This little dress came from Aunt Kara and is such a great color for Lili.  She looks so sweet in it.  My mom found the perfect little black sweater to go with it.  I'm not the only one who likes playing dress ups.  After I'm done dressing her, Dallin will say, "Mom I just have to hold her now.  She is so pretty."  Dallin can definitely help lift your self esteem.  Gavin on the other hand always says to Lili, "Ew Luli," like she smells or something.  Let's hope she listens to Dallin more than Gavin!

Here is one of those accidental smiles.  Isn't she pretty!

Lili still spits up quite a bit so she is usually wearing a bib unless Dallin has just held her.  He has an aversion to bibs.

Lili is great about going with the flow.  The boys wanted a picnic lunch on a sunny but windy day.  Lili went right along with it.

I don't think there is a sister who is loved more than Lili.   She is so patient with them.

 She was definitely their valentine.

 Lili puts up with a lot.  Gavin acted all innocent in the below picture, but the next minute he fell backwards while still holding Lili.  I'm not sure what his next plan was...wrestling?  This is typical.  I try not to let him hold her too often.  This is why Lili already has a doll, so that Gavin has a baby to hold and feed.  At first he was scared of the doll (that was quite funny) but now he likes holding "Lili's" doll and is really sweet with it (unlike Dallin but I rather him do super baby with the doll instead of with Lili.)

 Lili also puts up with a lot of touching.  Between mom's and dad's kisses, the boys kisses, the occasional realization that she has an eye too (by Gavin who likes to point that out every so often), and Dallin trying to pinch her cheek, Lili is lucky she is doing so well.  Or maybe Lili knew what she was signing up for and still chose our family.  Who knows!  By the way, Gavin is throwing one of his 2 year old temper tantrums because Dallin got to hold Lili and not him.

I think she is getting back at them here although her punch is a little weak.  The boys better watch out.  A baby who can roll over at 1 month is definitely someone to be reckoned with!

 She is a cutie and we have loved every minute with Lili.

More Birthday Fun

 Dallin of course wanted a friend party this year.  I wasn't up to it and decided our rule was every other year.  I told Dallin instead we would go to Incredible Pizza instead.  He was excited about that but every once in awhile he would mention how we shouldn't go to Incredible Pizza and instead have friends come over with a pinata.  Friends and candy...Dallin's favorite.  Dallin had a great time though and even got a little crazy at times.  Grandma and Grandpa joined us which was a lot of fun too.

Lili was an angel and slept the whole time! 

Pizza, games, and ice cream...you can't beat that!  And it was all you can eat pizza and ice cream.  That is Dallin's kind of restaurant!

5th Birthday Celebration

 Dallin started his birthday off with presents.  He was up at 6 a.m. ready to open them.  We held him off till 7.

 He was thrilled to get a double light saver.  So now we have a double nerf sword and double light saver.  The swords provide a lot of entertainment when they're out.  They get put in time out and then forgotten about every few days.  That's fine with me.

Dallin opened up one present announcing in his know it all/bored voice that he knew what this present was...books.  Then he totally stopped opening presents and just looked through the books.  Zane and I just looked at each other trying to figure out what was going on.

 Dallin had to find his last present.  He was led to the garage where he walked right past the bike below to the box.  He picked up the empty box interested until we pointed out that the bike was right in front of him.  Dallin was super excited.  This bike has a lever that you pull making the big wheels in back go up and you ride on little wheels that turn.  If you turn the handle bars at the same time as pulling the lever, then you will spin.  He has had a lot of fun with it. Dallin loves riding his two wheel bike and is always trying to figure out new tricks, one handed, no hands, no feet etc.  It is just a matter of time before he thinks up dangerous stunts.  I'm hoping to prolong that moment with this bike.

After present opening, it was time for preschool where Dallin brought cookies for all his friends.

Later that night my family came over.  We made grilled homemade pizza.  It is my favorite too!

Carter and Caleb are the only cousins that live close enough to join us.  Dallin did ask about Drew and Sam (live in the Netherlands) and his Utah cousins.  For him, the more the merrier!

We did a spider man cake this year.  Dallin thought it was awesome because he got a new toy too.

What a great day!