growing up

I'm noticing some changes with Liv.

• She is more aware of "strangers" and cried yesterday when someone at church held her.
• Her cry (though still rare) is getting louder and has a hint of drama now (is this my imagination?).
• She is napping less often, but her naps are getting longer.
• She still likes and will take a binky, but will usually pull it right out after I put her in her crib and sleep with two fingers in her mouth.
• She still adores her brothers, and is becoming more and more interested in her Daddy (so now there are five of us fighting for his attention--ha!).
• She will fall asleep in Rob's arms which she won't really do for me.
• Her complexion seems more fair than any of our other children and I'm starting to wonder if she is going to have freckles in a year or two.
• Although she is still plenty bald, what is growing in seems to be bone straight (and stick straight up).
• She seems very interested in what we are eating and I think it's about time to try some cereal for the first time (I'm hoping this will help her to spit up less too).
• She goes to bed around 7pm and often does a nine hour stretch.

She is still sweet and happy and adored by all of us.

100s again

It was really warm again this weekend. It got up to 102 at our house yesterday afternoon. Rob and I made a "to-do" list yesterday morning and then we were both feeling kind of "blah" and not really motivated so we scrapped the list and went swimming with the kids for maybe the last time this fall? The pool water is getting pretty cool, but it felt really good yesterday and Rob and I spent a lot of time cleaning leaves out and it looks really great now. It was really fun just to hang out, relax, and enjoy being together. We put Liv's swing under the covered patio (under a fan where it was pretty cool) and we had a great time swimming.

First, a few photos of Liv being tickled by Rob:

The boys warming up out of the water:

per hewitt's request

We would like to introduce the newest addition to our family:

Sharon
(with Hippo, of course).

week/weekend highlights

The boys were out of school this week (and next). We mostly enjoyed just hanging out at home and going to the park. The weather is pretty much our idea of perfect right now. We bought an orange tree and a grapefruit tree that were planted this week. Rob did some other work in the yard but there is still a LONG way to go.

We let Hewitt pick out a b-day present that came in the mail yesterday. A darling "Webkinz" dog (Golden Retriever) that he got to name. He decided that the puppy was a girl and named her Sharon. Yes, Sharon. I love it.

Rob and I went on a hot date last night. The Stake Talent Show. Without going into a lot of detail here (and believe me I could, it's actually a funny story,) Rob was asked to be the MC shortly after we moved here and the sweet 75-yr-old gentleman that asked Rob to do it wanted to put together a little band. We ended up singing "Close to You" with me singing lead and channeling "Karen" of course, Rob on piano, Rob's nursery co-teacher on bass, and the cute 75-yr-old on clarinet for the ROCKIN' 70's solo. Rob did a great job as MC and it ended up being a much better night than I anticipated. We took Liv with us and the daughter of Hewitt's preschool teacher babysat the boys. We have a great Young Women group in our ward. Tons of girls that love to babysit. Her mom told me today that Sarah (babysitter) had a blast with our boys and that they are "so funny and so smart." She thinks that Burke looks just like the boy on Stuart Little. I can sort of see it.

Speaking of Burke, he gave a talk in Primary today that he pretty much wrote all by himself with very little guidance by me. He also typed it up by himself and went nice and slow. He's a good kid and has been talking to me a lot more again. I have missed this. He's such a great help, it's been so nice to have him around this week. We had one of his favorite meals tonight: Pork roast with applesauce, orange mashed potatoes with gravy, steamed broccoli, and fruit salad (grapefruit, oranges, apples and bananas). Burke was so excited about every single item and after dinner asked, "What is it that you call someone that doesn't eat meat again?" (vegetarian) "Well, never call me one of those!"

Tonight when I was putting Tosh in bed we were talking about his day and I asked him how nursery was. Knowing what Rob's lesson was on, I said, "So did you talk about saying 'sorry' today?" Tosh said, "Yes." Then he rubbed his eyes and pretended to cry like he was acting out 'feeling sorry' and said, "I sorry, Jesus." Such a cutie. I guess he was actually listening.

And that's our week in a nutshell.

sweet baby liv

Apparently it's hard to go a few days without posting new pics of Liv. Since it "cooled down" here this week, I took a few of her in a cute hat that Grandma D. made.

I laugh that when we open the windows in the mornings now, the kids tell us they are "freezing." It's like high 50's outside and 75 inside. Already Arizona lizards I guess.

I took this one of Liv the other day. I think her legs and toes look so cute! Seriously, she is like a little doll that I just want to pick up and squeeze.


One of Liv's latest things is that she will be playing in the family room on her tummy (loves her tummy) and will just put her head down on the blanket and go to sleep. It doesn't really matter what is going on around her. If one of her brothers starts talking to her and wakes her up, (they love to get right down next to her as I'm sure you can imagine), she will wake and pick her head up, give a huge smile and then go right back to sleep. How did we get so lucky?

party highlights

Hewitt had a great birthday today. Thanks for the calls, cards, blog wishes, etc. There were a few times today that I thought about the fact that this was the first time we have celebrated a child's birthday without any extended family members or friends present, but I don't think it bothered Hewitt much.

We had a fun night. Here are a couple more pictures:

Thrilled to finally open the gifts

A brotherly embrace

Star Wars guys!

For some reason Hewitt thought that the cake/candles smelled bad. Funny kid.
(The chocolate stars on the cake were starting to melt!)

Happy to be five!

double the wishes

We had the following conversation at dinner last night:

Rob: "Whose birthday is it tomorrow?"

No response from Hewitt

Me: "I know. Cousin Kate!"

Rob: "Who else has a birthday tomorrow?"

No response from Hewitt

Me: "One of Kate's cousins has a birthday tomorrow."

Hewitt: "What's her name?"

Rob and me (laughing): "It's a boy cousin."

Hewitt (with huge smile): "Is it me?"

(This was very funny especially since we've been talking ALL week about Hewitt's b-day)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO KATE AND HEWITT!

Note: Rob just took Hewitt to the store to pick out "birthday breakfast." They came back with a box of Corn Chex and a box of Nutty Nuggets (Grape Nuts). I love it!