April Phone Favorites

 My little bunny getting some groceries after our egg hunt. I love it Daddy keeps a baby and I only have one. Duke is an awesome shopper! Plus those bunny ears were so cute!

 E had Kamera come over and they just wanted to play in the car. E smiled and said "Bye Mommy, we going to get shoes and french fries!" She's her Mama's girl! 

 I {love} snuggling with this boy.

 All four of the kiddos bathed and ready for scripture study before bed. 

 We had two sick kiddos with fevers. It was so sad but it was so nice to have both kids nuzzle in and snuggle.

 Jakob's MSF class had a little olympic day where they had games such as text book toss (which Jakob won), tug of war, three legged races and my personal favorite... eat a whole box of Twinkies! It was a lot of fun to watch and a fun time to show off the little people. 

 Ethnie made a special friend Eliza and she was so wonderful. E wanted to run around the field and Eliza had no problem running and playing with her. Ethnie {loved} her. As we were leaving she said "Mommy, Eliza loves Ethnie, and Ethnie loves Eliza." It was so cute! Thanks Eliza!

 After the games we went and explored Dragon Park. It was pretty awesome. 

 I finished my first chap stick ever! I really think I should get some sort of an award or something! I mean for me... this is big!

 I cut my hair for the first time in 10 months. Not that I wasn't loving my hair, it was long with a few layers but it felt like a sheet of hair and it needed some life.

 My friend Jami cut it for me and gave me some layers! She took three or four inches off the bottom but it's still super long! I love how it moves and how much lighter it is!

 I am hoping that spring in Kansas is as beautiful as it is here in Nashville. These flowers are in full bloom and they are beautiful!

And what phone favorite line up would be complete without a picture of Duke getting into trouble. Seriously, he was watching a show and a left for a minute. Such a monkey! Good gravy, May!? It's going to zoom by. T minus 16 days until the move!

Water Fun!

Stir crazy, I really think that describes our current situation right now. With no where to go, some days we just need to breathe the fresh air. The issue with outside is Duke. That boy is wild. If there is something in the yard that you don't want him to touch... guess where he is? Last time he started eating huge clumps of dirt. So to try and distract him from all of the temptations we made a water table. 

 E was all about mixing the colors and making green, orange and purple.

 Magic!!!

 Duke was really into it! He really liked scooping out the water and using his funnel.

Isn't water fun?! I am looking forward to more sunny days!

Ants

There are several things that bother me. Being OCD isn't fun. It isn't a choice that I make every day. If things aren't a certain way I cannot function. I have panic attacks that range from mild to severe where that bad ones leave my limbs numb and tingly, and it feels like someone is sitting on my chest where I cannot breathe. Like I said, it's not fun and lately it's been even worse since our house has been invaded by ants. I know, it could be worse but since this is my journal I want to record the infestation of 2015. So far we have had 8 break outs. A few by the door, one in our room (where we do not eat), some invaded our couch crawling all over the cushions, the kitchen and tonight all in our cupboards. I vacuum three + times a day, wash, pick up food immediately but these things are persistent. I have tried every home remedy on the web and am at my wits end! Thankfully we have an exterminator coming on Wednesday. Down with the ants! Okay.... end rant. I promise I'm okay, I'm learning to cope and like I said.... it could be so much worse!

A Few Guests

 Last Sunday I sat next to my friend Jami and she said she had something to ask me. They were going on a trip and didn't want to take the younger two of their four children and so she wanted to know if I would watch her kids for three days. I said of course. It would be fun! The kids would have a ball! I may not get anything done but we would laugh and play! Plus, if I needed to leave my little's with anyone Jami would be my go to. So we played... a lot!

 and we danced!

 Rocking our signature move!

 Poor Stella. From the hours of 10-5 someone was always napping so she had a very looooong quiet time which she was really good at. E read her a story. 

 Everyone got cozy to watch a show (even though the T.V was in the same room.)

 Time to beat on Daddy! So thankful for Jakob! This man, I really don't think husbands come better than him... but that's another post.

 "Hiiiiiiii-yaaa!!"

 We made crowns (so that everyone could have one! Sharing was a bit difficult!)

 And then when two giggling girls just couldn't keep quiet any longer we went outside and learned how to blow dandelions! Here are a few too many picture of that!

 Stella was really good at it!

 I love this picture!

 E, bless her heart just couldn't get enough wind. She was so gentle, just like blowing bubbles.

 It was a busy, fun and tiring three days! Having two three and two 1 1/2 year olds is CRAZY! Bless the hearts of parents with twins! Gus and Stella are such amazing kids it was a piece of cake. Plus E and Duke had a blast though and that's a win in my book!

Naked Manfred

Now that our blog is private I feel 100% comfortable posting a picture of Manfred. This is how he woke up from his nap a few days ago, shirt and all. Since then he has undressed himself a few times, once with a poopy diaper that he felt the need to use as body paint and smear all over his fabric pack and play. Yeah, it wasn't as cute as this but, we'll just laugh it off. I just love baby bums.

Bubbles

 Sunny days have been few and far between here in Nashville and when the sun is shining, we try to make the most of it. E has gotten really good at blowing bubbles. She sat there for over an hour just going to town.

Manfred was having a blast with the bubbles too. He hadn't exactly caught on but he was trying pretty hard!

Seriously, this kid is the cutest!

 Once E had blown all of the bubbles she was a bit soapy. We had to have an impromptu bath before she started getting itchy. 

 

Ah, fresh and clean and back outside enjoying the sun. It doesn't get much better than spring time afternoons.

More Play

We play in our house.... a lot. I am really trying to limit the amount of T.V that the kids watch. They usually get one show a day... during bath time or while I make dinner. The weather here in Nashville has made it difficult to get outside so sometimes we are stuck inside for days at a time. One of E's favorite things is play doh. She can't get enough of it and neither can I. Quiet, for the most part clean, and independent play time... PERFECT!

One day E decided that she wanted to make people. On the left is my "mommy" with a baby ginger bread man then E said that she needed a "decoration" on her tummy... makes her look preggers. The one on the right is her "daddy" complete with "seashells" that look like boobs, a hat and a massive lollypop. It was hilarious!

Oh and our latest princess dresses.

Some days we make forts and then watch shows from inside. 

Other days I sit in awe at how lucky I am. I mean seriously... these kids are my world and I love them to the moon and back.

Duke {loves} to play hide and seek/ chase/ peek-a-boo.

Rocking his signature dance move! 

Morning time snuggles!!! 

 

 Another favorite activity is wearing Daddy's shoes. He is THE cutest!!!

And as always this little princess is all about Mommy's shoes. I love the day to day with these munchkins. It doesn't get much better than this!