Party Prep

There wasn't much prep involved in this party. Lots of printing and laminating. I did make the pinata from scratch and it was very straight forward. 

 Not my finest piece of work, but Duke was thrilled!!

The fire trucks that the kids had their race in was a little more complicated and they turned out so much cuter Than I had hoped! I started off spray painting a couple of diaper boxes black. I then did a light uneven coat of red over the top. 

I taped white paper to the front and cut out a few windows from construction paper. The bumper is tinfoil. 

 i made a grill from tin foil and added a few lights. 

 I cut out a glittery 4, cut out the words FIRE DEPT and 911 on my cricut. 

 I used a mini solo cup for the light on top and put a battery operated light inside so that it would light up. 

I just love them! They turned out great and where super simple! Now it's time to party!

5 Months

• Height: 27 inches 
• Weight: 18lbs 1oz
• Nicknames: Sprout, Sproutatticus, Leifer, E calls him Goo Goo

• Those hands are always going!! He is really getting that grabbing thing down and while he's not very accurate he's getting better!!
• Sprout loves to dance and bounce. This kid is a gem!
• He has THE happiest disposition! He has been sick and not feeling up to snuff and he still just smiles and coo's away. People are always stopping me in the store because he smiled at them or he's just a giggling away. It melts my heart!

• We have semi started a routine. It's difficult with multiple children. For the most part he is up by 7:00 a.m. he goes down for a power nap around 8:30-9:30 then he goes down again at 11:00(+/-) he's up by 12:00 and he stays up until around 2:00 then he takes a good nap until around 4:00 or so. Then he's in bed by 7:00. This is a complete guess because I honestly don't check the clock. This months goal is to nail down a routine that works for us. It's hard because with #3 you are just running everywhere and lots of times he's napping on the go.

• Leif is SUPER interested in food!! If you have it he wants it and he's tasted a few things like a smoothie and pizza at Costco, bread, popcorn, grapes. He's a big fan. Time to break out teh rice cereal and start this food thing for reals!
• He is still a super clammy baby! I wonder if it will tone down at all once the humidity calms down here.
• He is super into toys now and really enjoys laying on his tummy and playing. He is becoming semi mobile and I am sure army crawling is right around the corner.

• The drool has toned down a bit bit he's still a very slobbery creature and EVERYTHING goes in his mouth.
• His favorite toys are Duke's Lego's, his bunny rattle and peacock.   
• While he doesn't care who is holding him Sprout still keeps a look out for me. It isn't as intense as it was a month ago but we like to keep tabs on each other. He's still my boy but is warming up to snuggles with Daddy.

• Sprout is a blanket chewer. He always wants to have his blanket in his face and/or in his mouth. He is still a big fan of sucking on his hands but is warming up to his sue's. 
• The flat is leveling out now that he is sleeping in his pack and play. He has lost the vast majority of his hair but it is starting to grow back in. It's MUCH lighter than it was before.
• Sprout loves his family. E is the best big sister and those two have a bond. He adores her and I swear he perks up when she comes home. She is always willing to give him attention and he eats it all up!!

• Leif is completely into my phone. He knows what it is, looks for it (which is great for pictures) and wants to see himself.

• Sprout is the most ticklish baby. He wil start laughing just by looking at him. His tummy. ribs and armpits are the best places but he'll bust up laughing at the slightest touch.
• He is sitting up!!!!! He's a bit wobbly but he is determined!! He is also rolling over from his back to his tummy but has NO desire to go from tummy to back, but that's probably because he enjoys tummy time for the most part. 

•  This boy is BUSY! He wants to be looking, seeing what's going on. He wants to be right in the action. He hardly snuggles and if he's sitting o your lap he's not reclined he's sitting up checking out the scene. The only snuggles I get are while he's nursing and even then those little feet are just a kicking!!    

Love this sweet sweet boy!

Bike Riding!

 One afternoon E came up to me and said that she wanted to try riding her bike without her training wheels. I was a bit skeptical, but she was determined. That Saturday the training wheels came off and we began o practice. She was pretty wobbly. After 20 minutes I asked her if she wanted to put her training wheels back on so she cold just ride for a minute. She very firmly said no. 

For the next three days she just balanced on her bike with her feet on the ground. Helping her practice was something we had to wait for Daddy to come home to do since Sprout wasn't very fond of being left in the house while we practiced. She was content to scoot along.

I came outside for 5 minutes to help her out. She was much more stable I held on to the back of the seat and I let her go. She was riding. I went back inside and check out the window to see how she was doing and there she was, peddling all on her own!! 

This girl is brave, fierce and determined and she got it done! I am so proud of you Peanut!

Sun Flower Feild

 This is our second year of visiting the sunflower field and they are quickly becoming my second favorite flower! (Tulips will always be my favorite, but that's just the Dutch girl in me.) I saw this flower standing above all the rest and I had to take it's picture. What a symbolic photo. I am pretty excited to use it in my YW lesson. Being in the world but not of the world. Rising above. It could be our Savior and how he stands as an example for us all to literally grow towards. Man, all the heart eyes!!

How does that not make you smile?

I took our first family photo with our GoPro and am fairly pleased with how it turned out. 

Jakob picked me a little baby flower. 

Where did Mama and E go?

Manfred wasn't in a picture taking mood but these two were ADORABLE!

The best! What a wonderful afternoon!!

Sprout

This kid has me bewitched. He is enchanting and I am completely obsessed with him. I mean how could you not be??

So naturally we had a little photo op. He loves to see himself on the phone and I love all of his smirks, smiles and faces. Here are a few of my favs! 

The scrunchy nose sniff!!! *Swoon*

This kid. Can I please freeze time?!?!

Our New Neighbours

 We have some new neighbours in our yard. This is Chuck. He's a woodchuck and doesn't technically live in our yard, but we see him from time to time. 

 These little guys have taken up residence in Jakob's new grass patch. So far I have seen four of them but who knows how many there are. E has named the Mama Crystal. Jakob named one Woodstock and i have named one Truman. I think Duke decided to name his Spike, but the jury is still out on that one.

 We have a perfect view of their hole from our front window.

Oh Kansas and your wildlife!