Qatar camel

Our good friends Scott and Lynette are living in Qatar for a year (maybe more?) and they sent us this adorable camel for Louise. 

Obviously she loves it. 

Pinewood Derby 2014

William's Pinewood Derby was on a Saturday and since Russ works Saturdays I had to go this one alone. Luckily someone held Louise for me so I could snap a few pictures. 

Here is checking out Jesse's car that did really well.

William won quite a few races. His car did pretty good.

Russ helped him shape the car and put the wheels on but he painted it all by himself. I was really proud of him. He had a great attitude and had a great time.

Hard days

Some days are hard. I know this one was because I was wearing pajama pants in the afternoon and had Lou out on the porch swing. That tells me we were having a rough day and needed a break. 

Stopping to squeez her thighs or smell the roses can often turn things around. 

Another hard day was when we were getting ready to go for a walk and Joseph was looking for his bike and couldn't find it and we realized it had been stolen. Immediately his should dropped his head dropped and he cried into his hands. Gracie cried with him and sat with her arm around him in the stroller until he felt better. 

Lice

One day as I was looking at myself in them mirror I noticed some black spots on my scalp pretty close to my hairline. It looked like I had gotten ash in my hair or something. As I looked closer I saw a tiny bug in my hair and then another one. I got them out and called Russ to look for more and do a google search and sure enough it was lice. LICE! I am itching just thinking about it (oddly enough my head never itched before I knew they were there). I checked Russ and didn't see anything. The kids were at their once a week school so I went to pick them up when we got home I was searching through Williams hair and a bug fell on the ground and Gracie definitely had nits. I googled treatments and saw that the nearly toxic pesticides you buy over the counter have essentaily stopped working so I with some natural remedies and got a lice comb. But first things first, Russ shaved the boys heads.

William wasn't in the mood for pictures. After that Gracie and I got doused with apple cider vinegar and combed through it which got rid of a lot. Then a coconut and tea tree oil mixture that we let sit on for a couple hours and then combed out. That also got a lot out but I wasn't feeling confident and realized I only had Russ to check my head and that didn't feel reliable to me. So we found a place online called No Nit Noggins and they take care of it for you. It is pricey but worth it. 

It's a nightmare I don't wish to relive. Washing all bedding and clothing and towels in one day. Cleaning out and vacuuming the car. Just feeling plain creepy. Luckily they were gone within a few days and have not returned. I have no idea where we got them and I don't think we spread them to anyone else. Whew.

Tangelo juice

Making tangelo juice from the tangelos on grandma and grandpa Christensen's tree.

Everyone loves to help and everyone loves to drink it.

We love Lou

There is not much better in this world for me than snuggling one of my babies in my bed. Everyone loves to snuggle with Lou and she gives the wettest kisses. 

This baby is not a very good sleeper. So many times she will hardly nap during the day and she will go to sleep at night but wakes up every 2-3 hours to eat. It would be more convenient for me if she would sleep but I can't bring myself to sleep train her because the thought of not rocking her and snuggling her to sleep anymore, break my heart. This being my 4th I realize how fast this will go by. I know I will sleep again some day, but she will never be this small again. 

A nice night

Lindsey was in town for March and part of April. While she was here we really wanted to go to the new Gilbert Temple. We tried a couple of times and it would not work out for me but one night I made Russ miss a meeting so I could go. I was in the middle of reading a book that had me thinking deeply about things and I wanted to go to the temple so bad. So Connie, Lindsey, and I went and it was a lovely night. 

I loves these girls so much

It don't mean a thing

A favorite way for us to pass the time is swinging at Grandma and Grandpa's when the weather is nice.

This was Louise's first time in the baby swing. She liked it, but didn't swing very high at all.

Practice pig show and auction

Williams 4H club had a practice pig show and auction to raise money for the club. The pig show was good practice for William to learn what to expect. 

He did an excellent job looking at the judge and walking Charlotte but he was SO excited that he literally bounced instead of walking. The judge talked to him about it and explained that he needs to stay calm to help the pig stay calm. He got third place but he got a ribbon and was excited about that.

Gracie and Joseph decided to go and play by the animals and started playing in the mud. There had been a lot of rain so there was a lot of mud. 

Connie, Mark, and Grandpa Clyde all came to watch William and it was fun to have them there supporting him. 

Spring is here

Leaves are sprouting and growing on all the trees and the chickens are laying more and more eggs.

One day it was too beautiful to be inside. As I watched Louise play with the grass and saw the bucket of eggs that Gracie and Jojo had collected, I knew that spring was for sure here.

It was the kind of day where you do school work outside and when I decided it was probably time to take our summer break. I decided for us spring break and summer break should be switched so when it is hot outside we will spend more time doing school work but while the weather is nice outside the kids can go out and play and play (and they have).

Then Joseph decided to put grass on Lou's head and Gracie quickly got it off.

It was so nice that I let the kids eat outside. It is one of their favorite things to do.

Making me smile

Joseph loves to climb in my Bed in the morning and snuggle with Louise.

One day I put Louise down for a nap and she started to wake up as I laid her down. I quickly laid down on my bed so she wouldn't know I was there. Then I got to see her stick her legs straight up in the air and crunch all while being swaddled. She would did it and held it long enough for me to get my camera out of my pocket and take a picture.

Then there was Sunday dinner where Casey and Louise started noticing each other for the first time. Also loving the rolls on Louise's legs.

One of the youth text me these pictures of Russ while he was a mutual. I was reading to the kids when I got them and we just looked at them and laughed and laughed.

I love how happy this simple little merry-go-round in front of the dollar store made Joseph one day.

And when Louise smiles for the fan I can't help but smile too.