Sat Mar 28, 2015

We went on a Easter egg hunt frenzy today. First we went to one at a Baptist church. They had inflatables, face painting and a fun hunt out on the lawn. We shared our fun with Stephanie and the boys.

Then Stephanie went home to be with her hubby. I wasn't ready to go home to an empty house (nick is out of town till tonight) so I looked up online to see if there were any afternoon egg hunts. I found one not too much further away in the community of Hurst. Ella didn't super want to go at first. She told me we had enough candy.  She told me that "candy is not that important because it doesn't last". What a mature thing to say haha. Well I have a hard time giving up on free Easter festivities so I  told her let's just try it out to see if it's cool. And of course it was. 

There was this super awesome petting zoo. It was probably the best one I've ever seen. They had four little baby goats and a little joey kangaroo and then of course tons of other animals. Lisey was in her glory. She loves touching every single animal. I wish I could've recorded her running from animal to animal petting them, touching their faces, squeezing them...everything she likes to do to us humans that we don't like very much. The animals didn't seem to mind to much. Then we had another egg hunt. Fun times! I love free things, especially Eastery free things!

Fri Mar 27, 2015

Look at my big boy! We went to Walmart and Link sat in the cart for the first time. He looks so handsome. Lisey wanted to stand up in the cart so bad. She did a bit, that little wild child. She likes to live on the edge ;) 

Ella rocking out because it's Friday...and because she's awesome 😎 . 

Lisey loves loves loves Lincoln. She's trying to trade places with him. 

Classic sheek. Looking good little girl!

After I took Ella's pic Lisey wanted me to take hers. This is as close to "look at me and smile" as Lisey will do. 

We went over to Stephanie's house for movie night. Fun and craziness as always. 

Thurs Mar 26, 2015

I went for a run. It was too windy and chilly to take the kids. Link slept pretty good. He went to sleep at 8pm and woke up at 10:30, 2am and 6:15am. Much better than it had been but not the best. I think all the spring allergens are making me tired. I know it's making me and lisey sneeze and have itchy runny eyes. Ella didn't sleep well either. She came out while I was feeding Lincoln at 2 and then She called out for me at 3:30am saying she still couldn't sleep. I was not as patient as I should have been bc it was another moment awake in my long night of sleep disruptions. Then Ella came out at 6:15am to start her day. 

We were going to go to the park before gymnastics but I'm just too tired. I tried to get a few things done today but I was just moving like a snail. Even now at 3:45 pm I can barely keep my eyes open. I will be going to bed early tonight. Nick is leaving for out of town this evening so going to bed early shouldn't be too difficult. 

We ended up taking Nick to the airport after gymnastics. Then instead of going to bed early like I planned I cleaned the house. I guess you can take the sleep out of the mom but not the mom out of the house work...that sounded a bit cooler in my head...

Wed Mar 25, 2015

Lincoln slept great last night! He only woke up once at 2:30 then slept in till 7am! I felt like a new human when I woke up. I woke up at 6am and was so surprised he was still sleeping. I went back to sleep for the hour. It felt like I got an hour nap! Now all day I've felt good. It's amazing what a little sleep can do for your spirits. 

I took the kids on my run this morning. We stopped at the playground to play. Both kids had a blast. 

Link went on the swing for the first time. He wasn't sure about it at first but he ended up loving it! 

Look at that adorable sleeping face! Link took a super good nap. I got the house cleaned up and dinner made. We're having enchiladas. We didn't end up having them last night like I planned. It's been a good day so far :). 

Lisey and Lincoln reading and playing together. After school we went to the library and the park.

Tues Mar 24, 2015

Started the day with a run. Then Lisey and I played and played while Link took his nap. It's one of those days you wish your kids could stay little forever. Lisey was so cute using her imagination and making her voice all tiny to have her dolls speak. So cute. 

Then we walked to get Ella from school. Lisey and Link rode in the big red double stroller. Ella wanted to ride in the stroller after we got her from school but she made it home even though she didn't think she could. 

Now the kids are in the backyard with the hose and their swim suits cooling off. I'm so grateful for a backyard!

I'm in feeding Link and I couldn't help but take a pic of him. He is just so cute!

We went to Ella's art night at school to appreciate a work of art done by Ella. Then the girls got ready for bed quick and had a mini jump on the trampoline. After the girls went to bed Nick and I cleaned up the kitchen. We should do that every night. It feels so good to work together and leave the house clean for the night. It makes getting up in the middle of the night not quite as dreadful. 

Mon Mar 23, 2015

Went for a great run. Took nick to the doctor for a check up on his tailbone. It's still not healed. The doc used silver nitrate on it today to try and burn off a layer of skin grew in wrong. Poor nick. This thing just won't go away! He has to go in every two weeks to get the silver nitrate for awhile.  It's a stinky situation :(

Lisey took Lincoln down the slide for the first time. After school we went to the park and then later on nick met us there for a picnic and family home evening. Stephanie and her boys were there too and they had fhe with us. The lesson was on the importance of listening to general conference. We read the story out of the friend about elder Hales. When Elder Hales was in baseball. he was a pitcher. But for three games in a row the other team beat them. Elder Hales coach said that he shouldn't be showing off before the game, throwing all the fastballs. He was wearing out his arm.  Elder Hales listen to his coach. And struck out the other team. It talked about how If you want to learn to do something you should listen to the experts. The prophets and apostles our expert. They have lived a long life and learned many lessons plus they have the Lord talking to them. We should listen to the experts during general conference if we want to learn to be happy and make it back to Heavenly Father. 

Then we played the follow the leader dancing game, where we take turns following someone's dance moves and dance like them. The kids always like that one. 

Great night!

Sun Mar 22, 2015

Link woke up at 11:30pm, 12:40, 1:45 and 2:30. I was feeling dead. I looked up online about what to do about babies that wake up every hour. Apparently it's fairly common. REM cycles are about 50-60 mins long. So when a baby wakes up every hour, they are just unable to put themselves back to sleep after they wake briefly after their REM cycle. This can be caused by numerous reasons and as a mom it's my job to figure out why. I liked the article bc first of all it made sense. If a baby is uncomfortable or stressed out from 'crying it out' or was too stimulated before bed they have a hard time going back to sleep. The article got me thinking at least. 

So when Lincoln woke up at 2:30 I was ready to investigate. He was wet through his clothes. I started by changing him then I noticed his ears and legs seemed a little cold so I wrapped him in a thicker blanket and put a cozy blanket underneath him. Finally I had a prayer. I had read my primary lesson and there was a game I really wanted to play with the kids about the beattitudes and the Sermon on the Mount. I told Heavenly Father that if he could help link sleep, I would prepare that game for my class. Well you probably guessed what happened but Lincoln slept till after 7:30 in the morning! I was so deeply asleep that when Ella came in to talk to me at 7:20 I thought we were late for school. Then I remembered it was Sunday. I was so surprised Link slept that I started worrying something was wrong. I went to check on him and he was up but very happy. That made me very happy too :) 

It felt great to be back at church. It had been so long since we were able to teach our class. It went pretty good I guess. There's a few kids in there that go crazy and it makes it hard to teach everyone. I need to figure out how to lovingly get them to behave and love the gospel. I better pray hard...

We went for a family walk in the nice warm sun. Very fun. It felt so good to be out with my family. Nick even left his phone at home --which is a big deal. It was truly 100% family time. I love it! 

Sat Mar 21, 2015

Ella's having Lincoln do the "milk dance. He looks concerned about it...

We had some of Ella's friends over today for a stuffed animal party. It was a pretty big success. We had Westin, Sydney, Jayden and her brother and sister over. They used boxes to make houses for their animals and we made cupcakes. The kids used food dye to make each cupcake a cool color. The kids jumped on the trampoline and rode around the backyard in the pink jeep.

 I think everyone had a great time. I  was exhausted after though. Link slept terrible last night. Luckily my sweet true love took all three kids to Walmart and I stayed home and took a nap. That helped a lot! My mind hasn't felt that fresh in ages.  

Fri Mar 20, 2015

My cuties. They love each other so much!

Went for a run and got soaked to the bone. It wasn't raining when I started the run, but it started pouring at about my half way point. There was nothing to do about it except run the 2 miles home. Not freezing but still really cold! 

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before but Lincoln is a cuddle boy. He loves to wrap his tiny arms around your neck (and usually grab your hair) but then give you a big squeeze. He loves to be held and snuggled and be near his family. When I walk in to get him after his nap he instantly stops crying when he sees me. I'm thinking that he wakes up at night because he's lonely or something...

Which reminds me...I couldn't do it. I couldn't let him cry it out in the night. I tried it the first time he woke up. He just cried and cried. I would go in and comfort him every few minutes but I wouldn't pick him up (like the article about "Ferberizing" or "crying it out" said). But he was just crying so hard! Finally I picked him up and cuddled him and patted his back. Poor buddy was hiccuping because he had been crying so hard. I held him for about a minute and he was out cold. Maybe I'll try it again sometime or a little here and there but I don't think I can handle the full blown crying it out method. 

The girls are having a great time riding their pink jeep in the back yard. Even in the rain. They are pretending that the jeep is a time machine and they are going back to the time of dinosaurs. So cute. Earlier today Lisey was pretending that she was Lincoln's mommy and I was Lincoln's sister. Good thing Link likes to be cuddled because Lisey sure does love to cuddle him.

I made homemade pizza for dinner. The crust was delicious! I made it in the breadmachine. I love the breadmachine! It makes everything so much easier!

Link loves to put things in his mouth. He is so blasted cute!

 

Thurs Mar 19, 2015

Link had another bad night. I think I'm going to try the crying method. I'm feeling desperate. I can't go on with so little sleep. I feel like half a human. Nick was sweet and took Ella to school and even held Link so I could go back to sleep for a little bit, but my desire for a run was strong so I got up when nick and got back and went. I'm always glad when I go for a run. 

It was a very misty morning. The fog blanketed the trees and streets but at least it wasn't cold. I ran into some of my mom friends on the trail and we chatted for a few minutes. I told them about my series of unfortunate Sundays and about Link's horrible sleeping pattern. They gave me more  courage to try the crying method on Link and some tips to help it work quickly.  We'll see if I still have courage to try it tonight. I think I will. I'm at the end of my rope. 

I don't think Lisey is feeling well today. She's been tired and cranky all day. She's been quick to tear up. And has just wanted me to hold her most the day. Poor sweetie. I think it may be allergies. I feel yucky today too. My eyes hurt and my nose is drip drip dripping. 

I guess Lisey really was tired...I'm in the car at the gymnastics parking lot sitting with two sleeping kids. Lisey and Lincoln are both out cold. I wish I could nap too...maybe if I just close my eyes for a moment my head will stop throbbing...

The mini semi nap actually helped. 

Lisey slept for 2 hours and now it's 11pm and the poor sweetie can't fall asleep. Nick has let her come in our bed. I have a terrible feeling that its going to be a big mistake, but I guess we'll see...

Wed Mar 18, 2015

Link slept terrible yet again. I was planning on going for a run this morning but it was raining. So Nick told me to go back to sleep for the hour I would have been running. I did. It didn't help. I woke up even more tired then when I went to sleep. Thats the worst. Oh well, I'll survive. Although, I have often wondered if there's not some kind of permanent brain damage that comes from lack of sleep... Because I'm starting to feel it...

Cleaned the house and made dinner plans for the week while Lincoln was snoozing then we went to Walmart. We got Ella from tutoring and now I'm trying to figure out how to make dinner with Lincoln in my arms... Being a mom is a tough job. 

Link loves hair and Lisey is happy to give him hers. 

Made broccoli cheddar soup for dinner and it turned out scrumptiously if I do say so myself. Even with a baby in my arms.  Nick did the dishes tonight and it was great. I feel so tired I could fall could close my eyes this instant and be asleep in 1 min flat. 

Tues Mar 17, 2015

Lisey, Link and I went to Costco this morning. Then after school we all went to the park with stephanie, baby Jay, Ayden and myles. The weather was excellent. Great day. I was tired all day but if was still good. I guess I'm just getting used to being tired ALL the time. 

Pic taken by Lisey of Lisey. 

Sun Mar 15, 2015

I was planning on staying home from church with Link and Nick was going to teach our class. Unfortunately Nick started throwing up. Our poor primary kids! That is the third Sunday in a row we've missed and then 2 Sundays for the cruise. 5 Sundays we haven't been there for our kids. Darn sickness! Taking over our lives!

At least Lincoln can still enjoy himself. He loves loves loves to chew his feet!

The two sickys. 

Mon Mar 16, 2015

Cute Ella quote of the Day: (when we're driving home from school and Ella sees some trees with a few white blossoms blooming) "looks like springs coming our way!" So cute to hear from a little girls mouth. I love it!

It was hard to get up this morning. I miss spring break already! 

I took Lisey and Lincoln on a run today. They both loved it! It was pretty warm by the time we went. Nick wasn't feeling well again today so I wanted to take both  the kids with me. Link took a really good morning nap so I used the time to clean up the house and clean this disgusting mold from out of the box hidden in the floor of the car. It was very gross. It looked like the mold was alive it was so huge! 

After school we went to see the new live action Cinderella movie. Link was very good and Ella but Lisey was being very crazy and could not sit still. Even so every one had a great time. We had the lesson on the way home and got some Braums ice cream for dessert. 

The kids were wired before bed. They were going crazy. Finally got them tobed. Crazy kids. I'm pooped. Time for bed...oh wait link is still up. I guess I can sleep when I'm dead. 

Sat Mar 14, 2015

I stayed up last night and folded all the million loads of laundry. It took me till about 11:30. Then I had a hard time falling asleep. Then at about 12 I hear Lincoln. We didn't get to bed for real till after one. So needless to say I was very tired this morning. 

 We went with Stephanie and Jami Pratt to the mini train station in Fort Worth down by the zoo. I almost didn't go because I was so tired, but I decided that since it's the last day of spring break we'd go out for one last hurrah. 

Ella climbing a tree down by the train depot and begging me to help her down. What do I say? Let me take a picture first haha. 

Waiting for the train. You can tell by the last picture that Ella is like "I'll smile but I want out of here!"

It was a pretty cool little train. The ride was about 40 minutes and went through a nice park area with trees and then over the Trinity river. It was windy but not freezing. The kids all had a really good time. 

Then we went and played at a big playground with three different Play sets.  That's where we ate our lunch.

Fed Link rice cereal...turned out to be a bad night to do it....

After we got home, we were all exhausted. I let the kids watch a movie and I had plans to go to bed early. But my plans got foiled. Lincoln started throwing up. He threw up over and over...poor little guy. I was nervous he was going to continue to throw up so I held him till about 1am when nick got home. I didn't want him to choke if he threw up so I proped him up on his side in his bed. Luckily the throwing up was over. He did still wake up at 2:30 and 5:30 but at least it was too eat not vomit. 

Fri Mar 13, 2015

Lisey smile! This is what I get...

The girls had fun making forts out of the couch pillows. Then the girls had a tubby and we cleaned the house. I did laundry too. It was kind of a catch up day. It was rainy out, so a good day to be inside playing. The kids didn't seem to mind since it's been go go go all week. It gave them a chance to just play together. In the afternoon we had Jayden and her family over to play. Lisey and Ella both had a really good time. 

Here's all the kids wrestling. Link has a good hold on Lisey's hair but she surprisingly likes it. Lisey and Ella both love there brother so much! 

Thurs Mar 12, 2015

We went to the zoo today. I wasn't planning on going because I was nervous about taking all three kids by myself. But in the end, Stephanie talked me into it. I'm glad I went, even though it was very very crowded. I may not have been as glad if I had had to pay for all the tickets. But luckily our season passes worked through the end of the month (which was a very pleasant surprise because I was pretty sure it wasn't going to). Having it be nearly free made it more worth it. The kids had a blast and I'll admit I always love the zoo. I'm like a little kid that way. I love the zoo... Any and all of them. 

There was the cutest little baby giraffe :)

We had a great time at the zoo! 

After the zoo we went over to Caroline Sagers house to play. She had us over for dinner.  I'm not sure if I mentioned that nick is out of town till sat night. 

Poor little link was so tired he fell soundly asleep and even stayed asleep for awhile when I put him on caroline's couch. We had a great time. When I grow up I want to be like Caroline Sagers. She is the nicest person I know. 

Wed Mar 11, 2015

We had a full day of fun. Stephanie found out about this little science museum in Arlington that has fun activities each day of Spring break. Today was a bug exploration activity. We got there by 11am, but it was so popular that we couldn't get tickets till 2pm. Meanwhile we took the kids through the very small but very fun science museum.

There was this huge bee for the kids to sit on. And a few animals to check out like turtles and snakes. The kids had a blast. 

Then we went to a park to play and eat lunch. The way the girl described the the distance to the park made all us moms (stephanie, me and our friend lindsey) think it was very close. In actuality it was a good distance from the science museum. We walked. The kids were pooped by the time we got there. On the way there I just had some of our stuff in the stroller and lisey and then I carried Lincoln. On the way back I managed to fit Lincoln, Lisey and all our stuff which, if I do say so myself, was a pretty impressive packing job (I guess my packing skills have come in handy 😉) . 

The bug hunt was a little disappointing but the kids still had a good time. We all thought the kids were going to get a bug box but that wasn't the case. Ella was especially disappointed. But we made the best of it and had a good time learning about the animals in the Texas wild.

After the bug hunt we went to the library. We had signed Ella up to read a book to some dogs in the library. Ella was very excited because the dogs could do tricks. She had fun playing with the dogs after she read to them. You should've heard how much she was laughing. It was very cute... And I'll admit it made me want to get a dog. The dogs could say prayers, get shot and play dead, and shake your hand. Ella thought all of that was hilarious.

 

Tues Mar 10, 2015

Another cold day. We spent most the day inside playing. The girls had fun just being together all day. Then we had a movie night at stephanie's house. It was a great day. 

Mon Mar 9, 2015

It's the first day of Spring break! Hooray for no school! This morning we went to the jump house and then got our oil changed and the safety and emissions done. It's been rainy all day so I'm really glad we got out for some inside fun. 

The girls having a slide together :)

Ella giving Lisey a piggy back ride. 

Lincoln being the cutest boy around town

I was so proud of Ella today. She's decided that she wants to save up for a Nintendo 3D S. She asked how she could earn some money and I told her she could clean her room. And she did...all by herself...and it looked great! I'm so proud of her! Usually she loses interest or begs did help, but not this time. She still needed some direction but she did all the work on her own. Ella I'm so proud of you!