Rambling and Kid Updates (Very Long)

1. As I mentioned earlier, the days are getting warmer and the sun is coming out more and I have been seriously bitten by the SPRING CLEANING bug. Cleaning my oven, wiping down walls (rather having my children do it to contribute), going through closets, etc. Also, in preparation for downsizing we had a big CLEANSE of our game room for our FHE activity on Monday. The kids all helped and were totally okay with it. We gave them each a little bin and they got to keep their favorite toys, and then we also kept the basics (legos, blocks, playdoh, etc.) and got rid of the rest. We donated some to the nursery at church, gave a few more to a friend, and dropped the rest off at the Salvation Army today. It feels so good to not have so much STUFF. We had (and still have) way more than we need. It wasn't even decisions between wants vs. needs, it was between burdens vs. needs! So a purge is always good for the house and good for the soul :).

2. I made a new resolution this week that I will no longer be on my phone or computer for personal time so long as my kids are awake. No more blogging, facebook, instagram, or tv during the day when my kids are awake. I think there are WAY too many things that take us away from our families and our responsibilities and what we should be doing. I had an experience where my eyes were glued to my phone and one of my kids walked up and asked me a question and after I didn't respond, they walked away. I realized that I had just completely ignored my little girl and felt horrible. It wasn't the only incident, and I knew I needed to make a change. This has made a huge difference, and I feel good about it. Social media is unnecessary, and I only get one chance to raise my children. I don't want to waste my time away reading about what other people are doing with their lives. Who cares, really?

3. I finished our blog book again. I think this is so cool. I love having a tangible family record, with pictures included. The kids love flipping through these pages, too. It's always fun to look back. Reminds me of how quickly they change and how fast time flies.

4. Kenny and I took turns going to the temple this weekend, me on Fri. night and him Sat. morning. It was some much needed personal time where I could be alone with my thoughts for several hours. I spoke in church today (Sunday) and always appreciate meditative moments.

Updates on the kids:
Kelsey: This little girl is a ham! She pulls some funny, flirty faces and cracks me up! Every single time I sit down, whether on the couch or the floor, she will stop whatever she's doing and come and sit on my lap. This little girl loves me so much and that's one of my favorite things about babies. How their whole face lights up whenever mom comes in the room. She is always so happy to see me, and always so sad to see me go! She doesn't eat very well lately. She doesn't want real food or baby food, just a bottle. My guess is she's teething again. She's a great little walker, and communicates well for not talking or signing. When she's poopy, she comes over and hangs out by me until I figure it out. Every time. And she has done that for months. When she's thirsty, she goes and gets and empty sippy cup out of the cupboard and brings it to me. (I keep all the kids dishes low enough for them to reach, obviously.) When she's hungry she'll go to the pantry and get some of her baby food and bring it to me too. Very smart, and obviously the fourth child as she's used to having to figure things out for herself. :) She's into everything constantly and I always forget how busy 1 year olds are until I have another one reach that point. She keeps everyone alert.

Madison: This little girl can just be as sweet as can be! She is so happy when she wakes up and has the biggest smile. She sings a lot and just is so pleasant. Then I have the thought, "2 year olds are the best! i just love this stage!" And then all of the sudden something will make her mad and she will bite Brynlee and I think yep, that's a 2 year old for ya. She definitely has her stubborn moments. She is very nurturing and loving to her babies and toys. She has specific toys that she carries around all day and calls them "her friends". She dances with them, plays peek-a-boo with them, talks to them, reads, etc. It's super precious. She's a great helper and is usually the first to respond when I ask for help setting the table or cleaning up, she jumps right in. She often sings while she's on the toilet and it sounds just like "Boo" on Monsters, Inc. I love it.

Brynlee: Since Tyler has been doing piano every day with me, she's also requesting doing piano also. So I do sit down with her every day and we do about 5-10 min. of piano and she loves it. I don't push it, I don't really think 4 year olds should have to do an instrument, but she keeps asking, so I think it's great that she's anxious to learn.
Brynlee puts Madi down for a nap almost every day. It's so funny. I go down there with them and read a couple books, then Madi wants me to leave and have Brynlee stay with her for a little longer and then Bryn comes out and shuts the door, and Madi sleeps! It's so sweet, and honestly kind of helpful. She also runs to Kelsey when she's crying and says "Oh Kels don't cry, your big sister's here! It's okay Bryn's here!" I love it.
When she wants to do something that she knows she shouldn't, especially if I just barely and deliberately told her not to do she'll say "Mom, close your eyes!" Or she tells me, "When you walk away I'm going to...(fill in the blank with what I just told her not to do)." I appreciate her openness and forewarnings, but I'm not sure what to do about her way of thinking that she doesn't have to listen to me. She's just not very good at listening period, as today in primary I was told she's taken to doing somersaults off of her chair... you can bet we had a discussion when we got home from church.
While driving in the car she was watching out the window and said, "Look Mom! The sun is following us!"
In the parking lot there was some slushy water that had colors in it from the gas and she got so excited. "Mom! A rainbow is on the ground! It must have fallen out of the sky and landed right here!"
Started ballet class and didn't stop smiling the whole time. She was in little girl ballerina heaven! :)

Tyler:  Ty is still just a good, awesome kid that does what he's suposed to. He is very pure-hearted and continually surprises Kenny and I with his questions, his desire to do what's right, and his spiritual maturity. He bore his testimony all by himself last Sunday. He went up by himself and did a beautiful job, then sat down. I was so impressed. He remembers specific, thoughtful things in each of his prayers. He requests often that I sit down with him and listen as he reads the Book of Mormon. He just loves to do it. He helps out a lot, and does it very happily. I'm so lucky to have all my kids, but I love that he's my oldest as he helps set such a good example for the rest of the kids.

Some phone pictures

Tyler painted this picture then explained that it was me and Kenny watching a sunset with our arms around each other. Isn't that sweet?

Green eggs and ham for Dr. Seuss day



Cat in the Hat hats for Dr. Seuss day

Madison was in time out and crying, Kelsey walked over to her and gave her a hug. It was the cutest thing ever.

"just because" flowers from my sweetheart

First day of ballet--so excited!

 

dancing around the living with her friends

 

Spring cleaning

My beautiful baby