Run!

I participated in my first race on Sunday! We certainly were not racing, but I walked it with a friend and pushed our strollers. It was fun and for a great cause, which is really what it’s about. This was the Run for Ryan and it’s sponsored by Scheels and the proceeds all go to SIDS research. So any money the participants paid went to research, which is super cool.

Posters

Saturday my mom and sister came over to help make posters for the airport when Nathan comes home. (He is safely back to the US now, Woohoo!) They ended up doing most of the actual work (I have no artistic talent at all) while I was trying to decide what to put on other signs. The kids’ signs are done and they are so cute! I won’t post a picture until he gets home just in case he decides to read this. But here are a few of the kids painted feet/hands while making them.

Gemma started crying when they painted her hand (she was okay with her foot though) and Niko through out his hand and was saying, “stop” and “it hurt her” such a good big brother! But then he was scared to have his painted…then he said, “it tickles.”  It was fun, the posters turned out awesome and now at least part of that is crossed off my list!

Easter Weekend

These are obviously from before the weekend, but Niko helped Nana to put Easter decorations in the front yard. She doesn’t do much inside the house with my little tornado around

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good Friday was spent in the car all day (well since my dad got off work until late). This was a special trip for Aiden’s baptism, but I feel like it was also a ploy from my sister to get all the family there for Easter I think my kids did quite well for their ages, but by the time we were ready to stop Niko was breaking down. I think his legs were restless because he would just started crying and then kick his legs around (plus mine were restless and I think we just needed out!)

Anyway, I bought a double pump (which was totally worth it for this trip). And Gemma took her first bottle like a champ. I was worried she wouldn’t take one since I had waited so long to introduce it. But here is a picture of her first bottle ever.

And Niko chillin’ in his car seat watching a movie. I asked if we could take mom’s magic movie car to help entertain the two year, it was really nice until the screen went white on the way home!

On Saturday, Aiden was baptized and both my children were grumpy and noisy so I didn’t get to hear much. What I did hear was nice and I did get to see his actual baptism so that was nice as well Congrats Aiden, we are so proud of you and the choices you are making!

The kids dyed Easter eggs, and Niko was pulling his eggs in and out and in and out of two colors and then he smacked them together. Everyone laughed so of course he kept doing it (I think he got this be the funny one thing from Nathan!) His eggs were in pieces in the dye, I had to walk away and let my sister make sure he didn’t fall over off the bench. (I’ve been having some anxiety and I think it’s justified from all the stuff going on, which I guess is for a whole other story.) So after my random side note, pictures of egg dying.

One before the destruction, and one after. I love Dallin’s face in the second one!

And one of all the children, you know the ones who are old enough to understand what this is all about

 

 

 

And Gemma in her Easter dress sitting with Grandpa so much cute!

The day after Easter all the kids came to the hotel to go swimming. It was really crazy and fun. Niko had no fear (and I mean NO fear) and it was Gemma’s first time to swim. I wish a video was easier to put on because it would show Niko’s zero fear better than a picture. Amber was a great sport and she took Niko (even though she had three of her own munchkins) because I was feeding Gemma before I got wet.

Oh and Niko jumped in while Anika was getting in, then Grandpa decided he better go get his suit too! Niko loved jumping in and stared doing it without holding hands and then would kick back to the edge (I finally found a floating device he likes, the arm floaties!) to do it again.

Gemma was kind of eh about the whole thing. She didn’t hate it and she even smiled a little bit later.

And a cute one of Zander, the other kids were all over the place and it was hard to get any pictures of them.

 

 

 

This kid was confident, but scared me every once in a while when he got tired!

So that was our short (not the length of time to get there, but time spent there) trip to Jeni’s house.

Mama

My kid has taken to calling my “Mama” all day today. I don’t know where he came up with it and that’s the only name he has called me today. Toddlers are funny!

Homecoming

We have officially started our countdown to Daddy getting home! He should be here towards the end of April and we are very excited. He’ll be in the states before he come home so I’ll be able to relax again when I get word that he is at the demobilization site.

Niko and I made a chain for our countdown, we take a ring off as part of his bed time routine and he gets so excited that we’re special Daddy coming home (I say we’re one day closer to Daddy being home and I guess that is his translation). We made it red, white and blue of course

We’re getting so close!

This weekend we are headed to Lamar for Aiden’s baptism, yay Aiden. Plus time will go a little faster!