A few weeks ago, the weather switched from bitter cold to a suddenly pleasant 50, 60, even 70 degrees! The kids and I just flitted around outside without coats as the snow melted.
Sand. I remember sand.
Why not use the big squirt guns to soak up the melted snow puddles?
All this non-frozen liquid outside, it's amazing!
I could take photos outside and not get freezing! So time for some face photos:
Stop taking pictures and pick me up! (belly photo bomb)
When you try to take a selfie with a 50mm lens.
After a week of miracle weather, things settle back into the 30s and 40s, which would have otherwise felt pleasant but comparatively felt downright chilly. Oh we are just so fickle.
These days, I love playing with my brothers- wrestling and chasing and being goofy. While Liam and Dash can push each other's buttons, I can get away with a lot more with them when we're playing together. Ha, it's great! I love to break into my unique stomp dance and giggle, giggle, giggle. Sometimes I just break into laughter at my own, secret jokes. When I see something I want, I bust into the fastest run, with piston legs, fingers positively aching forward.
I just learned to climb out of my crib. The first night, I kept climbing out and out and out. And then again in the middle of the night. When I found the house dark, that was really upsetting. Then for the next week, I stayed in my bed! My mom thought it was a miracle, especially after how she had to stand watch over Liam and Dash's room like a prison guard when they learned the same skill. But then I took to escaping at bedtime a few times each night and a few early mornings. But it's still comparatively better- I'm golden!
I still eat a great breakfast and lunch but am pretty picky at dinner. But I still always want dessert. Always ready for dessert. My mom loves my enthusiasm and sweet voice. I started really liking Disney movies, especially Frozen. I spend a lot of my time talking about Anna, Elsa, Hans, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf. I really like letters, identifying them and telling people to write them down for me. Dad loves my cuddles- I am a really good cuddler. I love to laugh and smile at the world and it smiles back at me!
(And because I love them so much, here's some photos of my favorite brothers, Dash and Liam!)
View from Sean's work room at the hospital on day. Frosty. He was just glad there was a window.
When grey woke up, he pulled Liam into a big hug while still in his crib and when I got him out he just latched back on to Liam for several minutes. It was so sweet.
After weeks of scanning the Land of Waldos looking for the man missing a shoe, it was the two-year-old who finally spotted the striped sock.
#tbt that time a bunch of Bradleys wandered through a rainy Chicago around thanksgiving time
The only way he could be made happy that morning.
Laughing at the snowfall. Cutie pie.
Mommy injury. Head to mouth. It was so purple!
Magformers! Everyone loves 'em.
When Sean's in charge of everything.
My valen-turtles.
As lofty as my intentions are, Grey's definitely not the oldest- he doesn't get the greatest one-on-one teaching time. So it was a surprise to me when he set up these playing cards in order. Maybe Liam and dash have been educating him behind my back.
Live long and prosper.
Raspberry fingertips
Ah, to be outside without shivering.
20 weeks and just picked up my first feminine baby outfit. Or as the boys called them, "pretty shirts."
Faces painted! (Grey had a bunny but was a little wiggly in application so the artist wiped it off. After that, he was done)
VIDEOS!
Our ward has a sizeable population of Karen people (from Burma or Thailand) and they had a little party where Liam and Dance learned some of their cultural dance. At some point, Liam started crying because it was just a little too much for him. But he and Dash both did great.
Little singers
Dash helping Grey say a prayer. Sweet sweet sweet.
Grey had just caught a bunch of tosses, so naturally he had to miss the rest once I started filming.
Sean's phone has the feature where he can speed up video so the kids were having a ball with it.
And here's the result!
I feel like Grey learned the alphabet on his own. He knows all the letters and I didn't spend nearly the time reviewing it like I did with his brothers.
(That's facepaint on his cheeks) He was just keeping himself entertained while he sorted.
Back in January, our little preschool group heard about a preschool class run by the local high school for the trimester. We jumped in and our clan of four kiddos joined six other children to do all sorts of fun activities lead by teenagers three days a week. I must say, it was reeeeal nice to not have to plan our own classes and Liam and Dash totally loved it. Many activities involved things I never would have tried (ahem, glitter) or thought of. Plus, it was a really good introduction to a school setting outside of the home. (Can I just tell you, figuring out where to send these two to kindergarten is giving me ulcers)
Alas, the trimester ended. A graduation ceremony was held.
How about them tassels?
Now us moms regain responsibility for the education of their little minds. Are we up to snuff? Let's hope so.
And took a picture of Grey right after I took the graduation photo, so why not share it here:
A touch blurry and full of happy.
While I'm at it, how about one of Rusty:
He learned to walk, you know. He wasn't even eleven months. Lil ragamuffin.
