Playing catch up. (from March)

I've gotta keep it real with those big chicklet teeth, messy face and snotty nose.  This is real Maren.  

 Lets see...in March she was 13 months old.  Walking like a champ.  And being very girly obviously with all of her purses.  

 In this one she has her purse, a baby and Claira's dress.  Too bad she wasn't cleaning the backyard! 

 I worry that she doesn't get to play as much as the other kids did because she has to be in the car so much more with the older kids and all the running around that we have to do, but really she's just fine.  And I know that, but I have those memories of just having all day to sit and play toys and we just don't have that anymore.  It's just a fact of life.  But she's obviously happy and developing just fine so all worry needs to go out the window.  

 Maren the monster strikes again!  Do NOT leave your stuff our or she will attack!  We have learned this the hard way too many times.  

 This was during baseball season.  She did not like those shoes.  This was the first day I had her wear shoes I think and she was not a fan.  In all honesty, her feet were just too big and she only wore those one day!  She's a giant! 

 Baseball snuggles!  It's funny how fast teeth grow.  Those two front teeth are practically all the way in now. 

 Early Maren walking days were the cutest!  She just hobbled around and still kind of does.  She totally has an old man walk and I love it.  

 And its funny because once you start walking, you are an automatic big kid!  At least you think so and get mad and cry when you can't do something.  

 Yep.....ALWAYS on the table.  I should find all my pics of Maren on the table. 

 Bathing in the sink.  The BEST! 

 All of my kids have been little mothers from the very start.  

I should give Maren the advice that the baby bouncers are not for carrying. 

 This is what our evenings look like a lot.  Just hanging out in our pj's.  Maybe we should be more productive but we are tired by the end of the day! 

 I may have posted this picture before but I can't remember.  This is him and his beloved Percy Jackson book.  He demolished all of those books and then there was nothing good to read until a friend suggested Harry Potter and then he read all of those and now there is nothing better than Harry.  We need a trip to the library so he can choose something else that he can like. And he has to learn that every book will not be as amazing as Harry or Percy but they are still good. 

 And my blogging is so horrible that I can't remember if I posted about this or not.  Claira and Gentry were in a dance class this year.  They had two sessions.  The first was a musical theatre/ballet class and the second was a ballet/tap class.  They were super low key (which I wanted) and you didn't have to work all year for a big production and pay a bunch of money for all the outfits and stuff.  I like this one.  I don't love dance in general, but if my kids want to do it, I want them to have the opportunity to.  

 Miss Chelsea is very good at her job.  She has the perfect dance teacher voice and tons of energy.  

 Gentry ready to tap! 

 Claira is with the bun and the black.  Claira definitely has a dancers body but hasn't showed a great desire to dance all the time which is fine with me.  She is super excited for soccer and loves sports too so it's a good mix. 

 Gentry has the bows.  Her cute little body kills me. 

 I love that when they put these dresses on they really feel like princesses!  

 These were from the first session.  Gentry was not good at listening at first and was the youngest by a long shot but really figured out how to be a student! 

 Cruella DeVille! 

 Cutest puppies ever. 

What else....

This picture makes me laugh.  Maren is just a funny little person.  She wanted to play with the soccer ball with me, all the while brushing her teeth with Pacen's toothbrush.  Makes sense, doesn't it?  

 More proof that buying our pool's solar blanket was the best decision ever.  That's 87 degrees!  It was awesome.  I'm finally liking our pool and we've had it for three years. 

 Connor and Pacen both have birthdays in July.  It's fun to have a little birthday month for them.  Here is the card Connor made for Pacen. 

 First off....where does Connor get such neat handwriting?!  And second...that is so sweet!  I'm glad that they can have each other since they don't have any brothers. 

 Matching haircuts!  

Ronaldo had this hair for the world cup and connor just had to have it and then so did Pacen.  Oh man.....apparently twinning is winning. 

 More Maren.  I came in to get her after her nap and she was singing in her microphone.  Have I mentioned that she's the cutest??

 And this little Gentry pie is the sweetest.  She is the most openly loving child I have.  I never have to ask her for a hug or a kiss and just gives them freely....almost to the point where I'm like....okay now...enough!  

 Really how sweet is she?

 Notice the bracelet....that thing may have to stay on her forever!  

 I don't even know what to say about this.  He's a 10 year old boy wearing a speedo and a skirt, flexing.  That's my boy! 

 The other night for our FHE treat, we made ice cream in a bag!  My mom taught me how to do this a long time ago and so I looked it up and did it with my kids.  They loved all of it except for actually shaking it.  Go figure.  We made strawberry, nectarine and chocolate.  

 The strawberry was the best.  I guess it was tied with the chocolate.  The nectarine had too much nectarine skin.  Next time I would not put the skin in when I blended up the nectarines.  It was so delicious that when Claira dropped some and I told her to clean it up, she got right down on the ground and licked it!  Yuck!  

 Than is super anti homemade ice-cream but I love it!  And the kids love it too so it is totally worth it!

 We took Connor out to ice cream for his birthday.  Foster Freeze for the win! 

 "Hey girls....look over her for a picture." 

"Hey GIRLS!  Look over here!"  

 "No seriously!  Look at me!"  That was the best I got. 

 Maybe the reason Pacen makes such a mess when he's eating is because he's eating with his eyes closed.  Just savoring every bite! :) But seriously, even Gentry can eat ice cream neater than he can! 

 I'm sitting here in the Marriot waiting for Than to get done with work so we can head back to California.  I'm ready to see those kiddos!  And I did what I hate most.....I ate lunch by myself!  I'm sitting here on my computer all by myself like a big girl but I still don't like it very much.  No one wants to eat by themselves!