Misc

Here are a few pictures to show a little more of what we've been up to the last several months ...

Winter seemed to last FOREVER this year, but I have to say, my kids were pretty good sports about it and did a good job keeping themselves busy.  One of our winter strategies to help pass the time are nice, long baths before dinner.  Shortly after Kellen's birthday, bath time ended in a bit of a disaster.  It was one of the rare nights where we were bathing right before bed.  I had just turned on the water for the little boys and as I turned around to pick up Kellen, Landon slipped getting into the tub, banging his forehead on the water spout.  It was only a small cut, but gaping, and I felt like he could probably use a stitch or two.  Thus began my first solo trip to the ER with all three boys.  I'd say it was a success -- not long of a wait, the boys were fantastic, Landon was an awesome patient.  We left the hospital with a glued forehead and $1500 worth of medical bills.  YIKES!  Note to self:  next time find an urgent care facility instead.  OR, avoid the trip all together and keep my medicine cabinet full of steri strips.  

Landon spent the winter crashing all of his "guys" together.  This was one of the rare occasions where he actually took the time to set up a battle scene first -- good guys vs bad guys.  The poor Green Ogre on the far left was new this Christmas.  I swear it had "arthritis" by Valentine's Day, and just this last week got sent to monster heaven.  That poor toy saw more action than it was ever designed for.  

Shortly after his birthday, Kellen really started getting around.

Tanner made him this little sign.  Don't you just love it!!  :)

At the end of April, I got to take a trip by myself to visit my sisters in Atlanta and meet my new niece, Liza.  I just love spending time with my sisters.  They are my best friends in the world and I feel so lucky that we're close.  I'm extremely jealous that they live a mere 10 minutes apart right now, but I'm happy that they have each other.  My first night there, we went out to dinner and were on our way to a different place for dessert when I slammed my pinky finger in the car door.  At first I thought I was fine, but then I looked at it and had to sit down.  Within a few seconds, I passed out.  My poor sisters!  I think I gave them a bit of a scare!  The injury was totally gross, the doctor said I smashed the hell out of my nail bed.  Thankfully, it has healed well.  I was a total dramatic baby about it, though!  The rest of our weekend couldn't have been more perfect:  Starbucks and pedicures, an outdoor festival complete with funnel cakes and margaritas, an outdoor barbecue, and lots of sleeping in.  The highlight of the whole trip was watching my beautiful niece, Lanier, ride her little scooter before I left.  She was hilarious.  She would get it going really fast, look back and make sure everyone was watching, and then lift her leg up high behind her and pose for us.  It was the cutest thing.

A few weeks after my Atlanta trip, my mom came to stay for a few days.  Having Grammy here with us was HEAVEN!!  The weather was super nice and we got to spend a lot of time outdoors just watching the boys play in the backyard.  Kellen got to have his first ice cream cone.  He is definitely mine -- his eyes lit right up when I gave it to him and he was such a happy camper relishing each bite!

The last day she was here, we took the boys for haircuts.  We decided to get Kellen's done while we were there since my mom would be able to help.  Shortly after these pictures were taken and the initial shock of enjoying his first lollipop wore off, Kellen realized what was happening and threw a FIT.  My mom literally had to hold him down while he screamed with tears running down his cheeks.  I felt just terrible and got in the car and cried when it was all over.   I felt like the worst mom!  He does look pretty stinkin' cute now that the mullet is gone, though. 

This last picture is courtesy of Tanner.  I've been realizing a lot lately that I'm never in any pictures -- I'm always behind the camera, or I'm too critical of myself and immediately delete a picture that I don't look well in.  I love looking back at pictures of my own mom when she was younger and I think that someday my boys will want to remember what I looked like when they were little.  So here it is:  me at 33, raisin' my kiddos :)