Week ending 4-30-17

Last Sunday: 30 weeks 

I'm gaining weight everywhere but my stomach, but that's just how it is for me pregnant with girls.

Monday: Samuel learned to ride a two-wheeler! He actually didn't learn, he just did it on the very first try. I held the bike while he got on and then he rode away without any help or falls. He wasn't even 3 1/2 yet.

Monday: Haircutting morning. I cut 5 boys' hair and 3 girls'--everyone that was home. Kylie and Madalyn still need haircuts (they were at seminary) but they probably don't want me doing it with good reason.

Here Anderson thought he'd give it a try on Daddy. 

I forgot to take any "after" pictures. It's cut to just below her shoulders now. 

I love seeing the little boys happily reading on the couch while we do school.

Tuesday: Samuel and Spencer playing chess. 

Thursday: a double wedding. Kaitlyn married Thomas and then Thomas acted as Makenna's dad and walked her down the aisle to marry Anderson. Samuel was the officiator. It took hours of preparation but only 5 minutes of ceremony.  

The boy's not going to give up his snack even during his wedding. :) 

Exchanging paper rings they made. 

Trying to dip the groom and give him a kiss. 

They got this whole wedding idea from watching Jinger Duggar's wedding on TV. 

The girls did each other's hair. 

Kaitlyn 

Friday we had snow. It's hard to see, but it was so pretty even if it didn't stick. We had hot chocolate and watched a movie and enjoyed what was probably the last of the winter weather. 

Week ending 4-23-17

This robin sits right outside our kitchen window and then repeatedly rams himself into the window. We don't know if he's flirting with his reflection or what. He's been doing it for 2 weeks. 

Thursday: The kids made a house-size candyland game. 

It was so much fun watching them put it together and then play it.

  

The ice cream castle at the end. 

Drawing their cards and counting their spaces. 

Saturday: The kids played offices where everyone has an office on a Rubbermaid container, pass notes, write reports, and I'm not sure what else. I love this game because the house is delightfully quiet for hours and everyone can play.

Week ending 4-16-17

A lot of pictures this week! Our kids took a lot and want most of them put on the blog to look through later as a scrapbook, but I'm only putting half of them. It's still a lot.

Wednesday all of the kids went to the dentist. When they got home Alexis and under played dentist. Here Makenna is a smiley patient for the 2nd time that day. 

Alexis set up all the supplies on the pull out cutting board.

Kaitlyn and Samuel get goody bags afterward. 

Alexis and Makenna with their bags. 

Thursday: We went to This is the Place park with the pass Nathan's parents got us last year. The weather was a perfect 72 degrees. It was Kaitlyn's birthday and despite a few obstacles like forgetting the pass and Thomas forgetting his shoes, she had a great time. 

The little houses are the favorite. This was Nathan's first time going. 

Eating lunch in one of the houses. 

Thomas 

Samuel 

A family picture that we rarely get. I think it's been 18 months. 

Andy looking out the loft window of one of the houses. 

The kids playing in the loft. 

Anderson petting the baby goat. 

Alexis holding a baby chick. 

 

Kaitlyn enjoying her birthday trip. We waited a long time for this train ride and once on it we were informed it only went one stop due to construction. We would have been much better off time-wise, walking. 

Panning for gold. 

Once we got home we quickly went to work making dinner and decorating Kait's cake. She wanted Funfetti with aqua frosting then decorated it with Easter/spring sprinkles. 

One of Kait's presents was a treasure hunt by Thomas. 

He made her a little chair for her doll.  

And a box. 

Alexis sewed Kaitlyn this little bathrobe for her doll.  

We got her onesies and diapers for her doll. 

Lexi also picked out this rocking chair at Kid to Kid for Kaitlyn's doll.  

My mom got her doll clothes.  

Kylie sewed a hat and headband for her doll.  

The finished cake. 

I love watching the whole family enjoy cake and ice cream.  

Friday: while the older kids did school I made cookies with the 4 little kids to take to the Easter Egg hunt lunch. 

Our friends picnicking at the hunt. 

I love their sideyard.  

And their front yard.  

Saturday morning: Gathering in Alexis' and Anderson's room before going downstairs to see if the Easter Bunny came.  

Wow, every kid smiling. This would be a great picture if they weren't in their pajamas. :) 

Nine kids hunting candy. Next year we'll have ten. Then they'll start going away to college, which makes me sad. I wish we had more than one year with all of our kids at home. I guess we could keep Kylie back a grade because she really should be a grade lower.... :) 

Dyeing eggs. 

Sam wanted me to take this of him walking along the furniture while the other kids decorated eggs. 

We had some close friends from NC over for Easter dinner that night and I'm so sad I didn't get pictures of them or our dinner. 

Sunday morning: Easter bunny cinnamon rolls.  

We didn't have Easter dresses like in years past, but we tried to coordinate anyway.  

Kylie did Kait's hair fancy.