Sweet Sunday

Today was just a great day of sweet things. Church was awesome - Bryce AND Clara cooperated so I could actually hear and/or remember most of the lessons and talks. When we got home, Derek and Bryce went down for a nap without (much) complaint, which left time for some sweet little moments with Clara before her nap. We pulled out the walker which has been used by all three of the kids now. Clara wasn't impressed, but she pushed her little legs against the ground and that's all that mattered. Austin and Liz and Jon and Jenna and all the kids came over for dinner and games afterward and EVERYONE wanted a turn in the walker. It was so cute! I was glad we put Clara in it before everyone descended on it because she surely would have been squished and had a bad first experience with the walker. Gracie was much more resilient and loved both the attention and the toys. So fun!

Checking out her surroundings from a higher level

Baby #3 tries out the walker and proves herself a worthy adversary. She's also a Lipless Wonder, just like her brothers!

She was more interested in my feet. Oooookay...

 Emeri snuck into Clara's swing when no one was watching. Stinker! She's so light, though, she'd probably still be under the weight limit.

 Gracie tried out the bouncy zebra

 Emeri was the first to try the walker... not such a good fit as the swing

 Gracie loved the walker and Emeri was determined to get back in and master the thing! Haha!

Miscellaneous Post

This is just a whole lotta random from the last week or so.

Clara fights going to sleep in the sling. She's got her angry face on and her tiny fist up underneath her chin.

Savanna and Bryce last Sunday getting ready for church (Bryce isn't dressed yet). Savanna's little pink boots are adorable!

Yes, those are extra eyes painted on their foreheads. We read a story about Cyclopes and these two wanted to have an eye in the middle of their forehead just like Polyphemus. They're looking at you with their one eye. Hahaha!

She fell asleep trying to put the binkie back in her mouth. Quite an advanced move that would tire anyone out.

Oh this kid...

Bryce insists on having his diaper changed next to Clara now. They're so cute!

This actually has a hilarious story behind it. Derek brought this lump of playdough to me and said, "Mom, I made you a temple so you can get married." He tells me I need to get married about once a week or so. No idea why when our wedding photos are on the wall in plain sight. So I told him (again) that I was already married and he responds with, "Ok, well, I guess I'll get married in it. I'll be the daddy and Kaitlyn can be the mommy. She's a good mommy." Whoa. That escalated quickly. Pretty sure Kaitlyn's going to have something to say about that. ;)

Uncle Colton brought home this cool contraption - glasses made out of a straw. Derek was enthralled and I was pleased. I've never seen him drink that much water in one sitting, lol!

If you can't guess by the mountain of towels, water splashed on the bottom of the door or soaked cardboard toilet paper roll, Derek flooded the bathroom - almost a half an inch over the whole floor. This was taken after I drained the bathtub down to acceptable levels, but it was just like in the movies. I walked in to see the water CASCADING OVER THE SIDE OF THE TUB!!! The water was making waves as it broke against the raised threshold. Not thrilled, but Derek thought it was great.

Cuteness Overload

 I absolutely LOVE this little cuddlebug. I love having her in the sling, I love how she falls asleep clutching my shirt (you can just barely see her little fist clenched beneath her binkie), and I love the sweet, sweet newborn smell. Ugh, I LOVE BABIES!

We call these two "The Twins" jokingly, but for good reason. They almost never smile at the same time, nor do they ever look at the same camera at the same time. But still, they are cuteness personified today. Especially Savanna in those adorable little pink cowgirl boots!

Bunkbeds for the Boys

It finally happened. The boys have a bunkbed! Mitchell heroically spent a big chunk of this gorgeous Saturday evening putting these beds together. The cousins were over, too, so we had to put a baby gate up in the doorway to let them watch from a safe distance, haha! Derek was thrilled to finally have a bunkbed "like Isaac, Mom!" and he immediately claimed the top bunk. Bryce was happy to claim the bottom bunk (once we boosted him up on it), so I think this will work out nicely. The two beds even come apart into individual twin beds, but I don't think the boys will be needing that for a while. I'm sure they'll be thrilled to find that out as teens, lol. For now, I can't wait to get their room decorated while I still can. I'm going with a red, blue and tan vintage airplane theme. I've even got a painting set I'm working on to hang in their room... probably above the top bunk.

 He gets the top bunk by default since Bryce can't climb any higher than that bottom step

Bryce taking his bottom bunk for a test snooze

Two very happy little boys!

Towing the Van and Birthday Presents from Grandpa and Grandma Bazemore

The van is dead. No idea what's wrong with it, but we found a place that will do the auto work for what we can afford! I'll get my wheels back in no time. One of the brothers in the ward was kind enough to offer his giant expedition to tow us to the auto shop. Derek and Bryce insisted on being outside to watch Daddy hook the two vehicles together, so we spent some time out on the sidewalk til they drove off.

Later, after Mitchell got home, we pulled out the presents Grandpa and Grandma Bazemore sent for Derek's birthday. Shipping had been difficult, so they didn't get here til recently but the boys thought it was awesome, especially since Grandpa had sent a little present just-for-fun for Bryce. Derek loved the giant truck and Bryce carried around the little tractor and pig. Thanks Grandpa and Grandma!

 Hooking up the van with spectators - not an easy job

 The boys loved be-bopping around on the sidewalk

 Having fun

 Off to the auto shop with Mitchell at the wheel. Yikes!

 Bryce got the big package started

 Derek jumped right in

 A package within a package! Package-ception!

 Derek and Bryce with their presents

Derek couldn't wait to get this truck, trailer and bobcat out of the packaging. 

 Bryce was so excited to be opening a present

 Yay! Tractors!

Aunt Mary and Aunt Nancy Come to Texas!

Aunt Mary, Aunt Nancy and their friends, Rhonda and Linda came out to Texas for fun! Woohoo, boy did we have fun. Between the park, watching a hockey game at Beth's house, and amazing pesto alfredo stuffed pastas, it was awesome! Last night, we all got together to watch a hockey game. The game was being played outdoors in the middle of a snowstorm, so they had to paused roughly every ten minutes so workers could clear big piles of snow off the rink. Crazy! 

We all met at a park today and I missed the pink shirt memo, lol. Pretty much everyone was wearing a shade of pink. Derek had a blast playing in the dirt with Declan - he didn't really do much else. Bryce was happy to dink around between the table with breakfast burritos and the slide. I tried to get him excited about the slide by going down it with him, but he was more content to watch everyone else go. Clara charmed everyone with smiles, of course. Mitchell and I thought we could stay and play the murder mystery game with the adults later but the kiddos decided they'd had enough fun for the day. It was cool to see everyone dressing up for their parts as we left though! 

Adorable!!

Sweet kisses

 John was the first to claim bottle time with Clara

 Bryce and I went down the slide together. Brave boy!

 Jilli shot down the slide!

 Declan and Derek digging in the dirt

 Aunt Mary discovers the best thing in the world - a sleeping baby on your chest. Perfection.

 Bryce cheesing

 Aunt Nancy and Clara trading cuddles

 She WILL cut you ;)

 Rhonda got in on the feed-the-baby gig, lol. Thanks Rhonda!

 Aunt Amy and Derek rock these green 'staches

Amy, Aunt Mary and Clara - Luck O' The Irish!

 

Aunt Mary and Clara - aren't they such cute leprechauns?

Aunt Amy and Bryce

 Declan, my favorite not-nephew! Lol.

 Aunt Mary, Aunt Nancy and me. I love you guys!

 Bryce, Aunt Nancy and Clara

 All dressed up for the murder mystery! Linda, Aunt Jenn, Aunt Mary and Amy