boater baby

We ended Kevin's week off with Colby's first boat ride!!  Kevin had been looking forward to this day FOREVER.  We went on Joe Pool Lake, and had a fabulous day with family.  Colby did great with the life jacket, so I would call the day a success. 

No trip to the lake is complete without some fence climbing, and a little duck/fish feeding.

After the lake, as if we hadn't had enough fun in the sun, we headed over to the pool.  These girls love to play.

And Colby enjoyed some time with Grandma.  My boy loves the water, and is so content to be outside.  I see a fabulous summer, full of pool days, in our future.

kevin's week off

Kevin took a week off work in the beginning of May.  A group of guys from our ward go on semi-annual golf trips, and although they always invite him, Kevin had never been able to take time off work.  When they started planning the Spring trip, Kevin told them when he was off, and they planned the trip around his schedule.  I think it was a good get-away for Kevin, even if it was only for 2.5 days.  When he came home, we enjoyed lots of time at the pool together, morning snuggles in bed, and lots of family bonding. 

These kids love their Daddy, and I love when we have time to spend just the four of us.  Kevin has been working a ton, and I know he needed this time with the littles. 

We had our traditional Friday night pizza at the pool with the Hawkins.  Have I mentioned that I love being neighbors with them?? And I love me some Marlie Jo.

colby-6 months

Fun things to remember about this month: Colby is super interested in whatever it is we are eating.  During pizza/movie night, he kept lunging for my pizza, so I finally gave him the crust to hold and chew on.  You'd think he won the lottery, haha.  On April 19th, he slept 11 hours, which was by far the record.  I, unfortunately, was up multiple times during the night due to thunder storms and needing to pump. On the 20th, he discovered his tongue and was clicking and playing with it all day.  He slept 9 hours the next two nights, and I was hopeful that this was the new normal.  He rolled over in his pack and play on the 22nd, and slept 12 hours.  On the 29th, both bottom teeth popped through, which also explains why he was loving his popsicles so much. At the end of the month, he started saying "mum" more consistently, and was talking and squealing at the High Priest social we hosted at our house.  He is quite the social boy :)

I can't help myself...I love pictures of my sleeping baby.  He just looks so angelic and squishy. He doesn't care for his paci anymore, which is so totally opposite of Brooke.  He just likes to nurse to sleep, and then I can lay him down.

Colby continues to be a happy boy, which I am so thankful for.  I love that little smile, and it's cute to see those tiny teeth popping through.

He looks like a giant in the swing now!!  But, he still enjoys swinging in there, especially if Brooke is playing nearby.

Our big boy was 19 pounds, 4.5 ounces and 27.5 inches at his 6 month cehck-up.  Miss Brooke was a great helper.  He had to get several immunizations, but Brooke was right there to "help him be brave".  I sincerely hope that she will always be a protector to her baby brother. He was crying on the way home, and when I went to get him from the car, he had a huge alligator tear by his eye.  I hate that he was in pain and upset by his shots, but I DO know that they are so beneficial.  Sometimes being a parent is tough, though!

april with the littles

Highlights of the month include: Time spent at the water table.

Enjoying the fresh air outside.

Reading books with Sissy.  (Brooke loves to rock Colby in this chair.)

Trying out the exersaucer.

Giving Daddy kisses and "love pats" to the face.

Playing catch with Daddy using her new pink glove from Grandma and Papa.

Creating her own shade with her hair. (She's a goof sometimes!)

Having play dates with Marlie Jo.

Being adorable.

Taking naps with "Baby Cow" and baby.

Skipping to the duck pond.

Blowing dandelions and making wishes.

Napping in the car. Kevin and I love her double chin when she falls asleep in the car.  I especially love her crossed leg. She looks like a hot mess, but that's when I know she is super tired.

Grocery shopping with her OWN mini cart at Kroger.

Helping Mama unload the groceries. (Thankfully, she did this with non-perishable items because I didn't notice it until hours later, haha.)

Beginning of potty training. (Pee on the potty=coins in her giraffe bank.  This method was a big failure, note to self.)

Picnicing by the ducks and geese, which was actually not the greatest idea.  That goose is NOT afraid of humans and wanted our dinner.

Tasting her first peppermint.

Riding the carousel at the mall.

Although I hate being behind on blogging, I love looking back at these pictures and being reminded of the simple moments I have every day with my kids.  Being a mother is the greatest thing of my life, and although it isn't always easy, it is pretty fabulous.

bluebonnet family pictures

I am absolutely in love with all of these pictures!  I have some seriously talented friends.  Danielle took these pictures for us, and I am so so thrilled with how they turned out.  I wanted them to be more candid shots, especially since Brooke was still not a huge fan of getting her picture taken.  We kept telling Brooke that "we were going to pick flowers with Miss Danielle."  Worked like a charm :)  Basically, Danielle is a miracle worker and was able to capture some of the most precious moments.  I will forever cherish these pictures...

It was crazy windy that day (like 25 mph winds!) and a storm was rolling in.  I was afraid that we'd have to cancel our session, which was so disappointing because there's no telling how long the bluebonnets will be in bloom.  But it all ended up working out.  Although our hair was a little disheveled, the temperature was perfect, and we didn't have the sun and shadows to deal with.  

And just to compare...this was Brooke at the same time last year...

Clearly, I am nowhere near the photographer Danielle is, and the bluebonnets were basically dead by the time I got around to taking her pictures, haha.