More Happenin's

Reading with Alexis.

I've been reading the Little House on the Praire books to Alexis before bed for quite awhile. Now we're on the Rose series (Laura's daughter). They are by Roger MacBride and are wonderful. I love them because they live in the Ozark Mountains and I'm a mountain person more than a praire girl. We're almost through with this series.

I'm not sure who took this picture, probably a child who was playing with the camera, but I'm glad because now I have these sweet memories documented. I probably won't read to her anymore when we're done with this series.

Makenna with Kaitlyn's baby doll

Spencer's toddler bed has officially broken. One by one the bars have broken until there were only two, then one left. Now there is no way for his mattress to stay on it so he's sleeping on a crib mattress on the floor. That same day I took the crib Kaitlyn was in downstairs to my room because we didn't have a bassinet for Makenna (she was sleeping in her carseat). So now Kaitlyn is sleeping on the floor next to Spencer, who sleeps next to Thomas in his toddler bed. We're going to buy bunk beds soon. Spencer is 8 1/2 and I've been meaning to for a few years, but now I think I really will.

Pictures of the kids when they were sick end of February/first of March.

Nathan with his sweet Makenna Muffin on her blessing day, March 4.

Alexis

Madalyn

Kylie

Not quite a month old and already looking chunky. This is our favorite blanket. Nathan's sister, Sara made it for Makenna.

Mommy and Makenna

My three sisters and I plus Kylie, Madalyn, and Alexis all wore the same dress. But then it turned really yellow and got some rips in the sheer fabric so I got this one for Kaitlyn from church distribution. Not as special as an heirloom one, but still beautiful.

Kaitlyn and Makenna

Doing some pink and brown photos

Kylie and Madalyn with Makenna (and Spencer's leg.:))

After learning that 97% of homes in Israel have solar panels on their roofs we made solar ovens and tried to cook lunch. In one there is a cheese sandwich and the other is a plate of nachos. It took a little while to melt the cheese, but hey, it wasn't that hot of a day.

Makenna was cute holding onto her paci.

Not a great picture, but Thomas had his first violin performance, playing "See the Little Monkey" on February 17. He isn't officially taking lessons but occasionally steals a few minutes of Kylie or Spencer's lessons. But he's been begging to take so we bought him a violin so that we can at least teach him from home. He seems to have a natural talent for it and learns quick. As soon as we can afford it, we'll let him have his own lesson each week. In the meantime our teacher is wonderful to let him share lesson time for free and let him be in the performances. We love our violin studio. (And they have 8 kids and homeschool so we get along great!)

February Happenin's

I've been meaning to post more pictures of Makenna but I didn't know what to title the post and I've rarely had computer time. I've been busy during normal free time after school taking Kaitlyn for a walk (we've had really nice weather), making dinner, running errands, and taking care of Makenna. My normal free time in the evenings has been spent taking care of Makenna as well, trying to keep her awake (what I should be doing now). Besides that the kids were sick for a week, which took all my time and energy taking care of them and a new baby. So finally, after a month, here are some pictures.

Kaitlyn, Kylie, and Madalyn after a shower.

The girls the Sunday before Valentine's Day.

Thomas and Makenna

This is actually a big yawn, but it looks like she's crying and I thought it was cute.

Makenna and Kaitlyn got matching dresses from Santa.

(Note to self: Don't try to take pictures of a 22 month-old after one o'clock church and she hasn't napped.)

Even though these didn't come out as cute as I wanted, I like them because it reminds me of pictures I took of Kylie and Madalyn who were 16 months apart. Those were such fun days. :)

Nathan enjoying Makenna on his paternity leave. Although he had plenty of work to catch up on, he was a huge help around the house and fun for the kids to play with.

Nathan has always loved rockets and he found this one, the Blackbird, which was around when he was a child but has been discontinued. When he found it at a local store he bought the last one and was so excited to put it together for a little treat on his paternity leave. Here it is before he painted it.

Launching it on President's Day.

It was probably the coldest day all month, unfortunately.

Still, we had a great time having dinner and FHE at the park. Nathan also lauched another rocket he has and neither one landed in a tree! (His favorite, Saturn V, landed in a tree last year and is gone.)

Spencer and Nathan made a rocket cake for the cake decorating competition for the blue and gold banquet. They won the "Out of this world" award.

Wearing new matching dresses I got them because I had to take back the matching dresses Santa got the older girls because they were too short. Kaitlyn and Makenna's don't match, but they're close.

Kylie and Makenna

Madalyn and Makenna

Nathan wanted a picture with his "Precious." Out of all of our children she'd be the one to most likely be called a daddy's girl.