Garrett- 8 months

I got a couple videos of Garrett.  Now that he's on antibiotics, he's back to his happy little self again.  He's got TWO teeth now, and they're so cute.  They've even got that perfect baby tooth anatomy complete with mamelons.  I'm starting to think he's gonna get some more teeth, because when he gets something in his mouth, he just RUBBS and shakes his head so hard.....like those little teeth are just irritating him so much.  It's quite the learning experience for me, since this is the first time (in 3 kids) that I've ever had a teething baby.  The doctor said his ear infections and cough from last week probably came because his immune system was supressed from teething.  Joy.  Today was the last day of antibiotics....now that it's gone, he'll probably get another cold.  Lets hope not.

My baby has also out-grown his car seat. The weight limit is 20 lbs.  Well...he's there.  In fact he's been there for a while now.  We're going to have to move Angie's second car-seat into my car.  I've always loved having 2 car seats so we don't have to move it from vehicle to vehicle.  But we've just got too many kids now.  And I can't justify spending 75-100 bucks on a new one...even though we probably should (car-seat laws and regulations are ever-changing).  But his car-seat is still my favorite place to feed him.  It's easier than the high-chair because his head is tipped back and it's easier to sneak bites into his mouth.  Anyway.

The second video is Garrett NOT crawling.  He won't even roll from his stomach to his back anymore.  I'm really not sure why.  He used to do it...in fact when he FIRST started rolling he started on his stomach and rolled to his back.  Now he goes from his back to his stomach and then just lies there.  He'll spin himself in a complete 360- but he won't get up on his hands and knees or even do an army-crawl.  I'm sure he'll get it.  It's just kinda funny.  I remember Angie AND Caleb rolling across the room at this age.  Garrett is just taking his time I guess.

Fridays

Friday is my day off.  I truly LOVE and HATE this day.  Mostly I love it.  But sometimes it stresses me out.  It is the only weekday that I get to be a stay-at-home mom.  My kids look forward to it every week.  And to top it off, every Friday night we let the kids stay up for "smoothie night."  We pick a movie, pop popcorn and make fruit smoothies.  It started off with just Caleb for smoothie night, but we've let Angie stay up a couple times too, and now I don't think she'll let us go back.  Since she's been asking me EVERY DAY "Is it smoothie night?" 

Anyway.  Friday may be my day off....but it's also my busiest day of the week.  I wake up normal time because Caleb still has school....although I don't usually finish getting myself ready like on other weekdays, because I get to go back home after I've dropped him off.  After Caleb is taken to school, I usually spend another 30 minutes at home doing my makeup and eating breakfast.  Then I pack up Angie and Garrett and head to the grocery store.  I also run any other errands that need done at this time.  Stops to the bank, trips to the DI, paying of bills, and so on.  Usually we're in Twin until about 11:30.  When I get home I bring the groceries in and then put Garrett down for a nap and then fix lunch for Angie and I.  After lunch, sometimes she gets a nap.  But if I have too much to do, it doesn't happen because GETTING HER TO SLEEP, usually takes at least 30 minutes.  Sometimes it's less, but sometimes it's more too.  She's a stubborn little thing, and I usually have to lie by her and scratch her back and tell her A MILLION TIMES to stop talking and go to sleep.

If she does go to sleep, I usually have about 1 hour to get some chores done before it's time to get Caleb from school (because every Friday is early release).  Most of the time the bathrooms need scrubbed, or the floors need mopped.  VERY RARELY do I get these things done before it's time to get Caleb.  If the kids are still asleep when school gets out....I leave them at home and drive the 2 blocks to the elementry school to pick up Caleb.  (Insert appauled and shocking gasps here for being a bad mom who neglects her children for 5 minutes while they sleep.  I really don't care.  Angie always sleeps for an hour and a half.  Don't worry.  If they're awake I'll bring them along.  I just don't see the point of interrupting PRECIOUS nap time (that in many cases took SO MUCH TIME to achieve in the first place) just for a quick trip to the school.)  ANYWAY! 

After Caleb gets home, he usually runs over to the neighbor's house and plays for the rest of the afternoon.  Honestly I hardly ever see him till dinner. There are 3 houses on our street where he can go and play at any time.  And he does.  During that time I am usually running FRANTICALLY to get the house picked up and my little chores finished before Parker gets home.  Because my one day as a stay at home mom is not the day my house is the CLEANEST....but the day my house is the MESSIEST.  I've resorted to deep-cleaning (such as toilet scrubbing and floor mopping) AROUND the mess of toys....because I've learned that there WILL ALWAYS be toys and clothes on the floor.  And they get picked up every evening.  But every day they're back.  So if there are other chores to be done.....the house goes to pot while I get those other things done.  Cuz if I picked up the house first...I'd never get around to anything else. 

Parker gets home, and I usually try to have an early dinner, so we can get the movie started so it won't end too late.  Most of the time Parker drinks his smoothie, and falls asleep on the couch before the movie gets over.  Half of the time one of the kids is sitting in his lap and falls asleep with him.  It's pretty cute actually.  I rinse the smoothie cups, throw away any excess popcorn and old-maids and then crawl into my queen-sized bed by myself.  I stretch onto Parker's half and doze off with a lamp on incase he decides to mozie-on-in during the night.  I'd say about half the time he does.

I love my Fridays.  Sometimes they stress me out a little.  The house is always a mess, but it's my day to feel like I'm doing what I love.  My greatest desire is to get to stay at home with my kids every day.  Unfortunately it's not possible at this time.  But Friday it is.  And I love getting to be who I always wanted to be, and doing what I love more than anything else.....for this one day of the week.

Spring Break

 For spring break this year, Grandma Lyons had Kayleigh and Lucas stay at their house while their parents (Robyn and John) celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary in Costa Rica.  I decided to send my kids to stay for 3 days so that the kids could get some time to play together (since they only get to see eachother a couple times a year).  So Sunday evening I dropped them off, and they stayed Monday, Tuesday, and I went and picked them up Wednesday after work. 

Overall I think it was a good time.  It was only my second time being away from little Garrett over-night.  And I'm sorry to say that he was sick the entire time he was there.  He kept Grandma up with his coughing spells and crying (which is SOO not normal for him....he usually sleeps through the night).  I felt terrible.  He acted clingy and lethargic and had little to no appetite the entire time.  And his eyes even started to get a little cold.  One morning he woke up and his right eye was completely gooped-over and could not open.  Even so, he wasn't really fussy....just lethargic, and not eating well.  I debated for DAYS about whether or not to take him to the doctor.

 

When I did, I was sure glad.  He had ear infections in both ears, and pinkeye.  What a tough kid he is!  I felt terrible he'd been sick for so long (over a week) before I'd taken him.  Although (honestly) if you take them in too early they just say "Oh...it's a virus.  Put a humidifier in his room and make sure he drinks lots of fluids."  Because I waited, I was able to get him on antibiotics and he is doing SOOO much better now.

 

Thank goodness he didn't get any of the other kids sick.  And they really had a lot of fun together.

I couldn't believe how much I missed them.  I mean...don't get me wrong.  It was nice to have some time away, but that time away made me realize JUST HOW MUCH of my life REVOLVES around those 3 children.  On the evenings when Parker wasn't home yet, I felt....lonely and bored.  And I truly didn't know what to do with myself.  

 They spent a lot of time outside running around and getting FILTHY dirty.  I've decided that Caleb is at that point where he pretty much needs a shower every day.  He just gets so dirty!  Angie is not much better either.  Here's some photos of a day I made tortillas.  I let the kids play outside and when I finally finished I had this mess to deal with....

 I really don't think the photos do justice.  Angie is COVERED in flour and Caleb is COVERED in MUD!  The picture doesn't show it too well, but his pants were soaked up to his knees.

 

I was glad to have them back after Spring break.  I really did miss them.

Easter Sunday

 Easter Sunday was a good day for us.  We went to church at 9:00, and I sang a musical number during sacrament meeting: "He Sent His Son."  Since it's a primary song with only 1 verse, it lasted about 30 seconds.  Oh well.  People tell me it was good.  After church we headed over to Burley to spend the rest of the day at Grandma Lyons's house.  I also let the kids paint eggs....although come to think of it, that was Saturday.  Oh well.  Close enough. 

The kids dyed their eggs, but wanted to paint with paintbrushes too.  So once they were all pretty, the kids managed to deface all of their lovely eggs.  Ahh well.....at least they had fun.

Here's one of my creations:

 I am grateful for all the hard boiled eggs though, they make for a cheap and healthy lunch for me on workdays. 

 The Lucas and Kayleigh were still at Grandma's house because their mom and dad were in Costa Rica for the week celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary.  This was exciting, because Caleb and Angie really don't get to see those two very often since they live so far away.  All of the Lyons grandchildren (Caleb, Lucas, Kayleigh, Angie, and Saije) got to have an easter-egg hunt in Grandma's back yard.

 After the easter egg hunt they got out the 4-wheelers.  Holy cow, was that fun.  I think the kids rode on those things for HOURS!  And it was such a beautiful day.

 I did my share of cooking for Easter dinner.  I made homemade crissoant rolls and 2 coconut cream pies.  And yes....it tasted as good as it looks....

 Truly one of my favorite parts of the day was that I was able to get this picture:

 If you could sum-up my life in one picture, this would be it.  4 people that I live and breathe for.  A smartie-pants 3 year old with a silly personality and a smile that melts my heart.  A 6 year old boy who makes his mamma proud every single day, and who genuinely tries to be good and choose the right.  He has his moments like all kids do- but he has a thirst for knowledge and works very hard to be a good example to his siblings and his friends.  And then an 8-month old bundle of joy.  I know I say it all about all my kids, but Garrett HAS to be the happiest baby in the world.  He screams and squacks and loves attention, but does not need it to be happy.  And then a man, who works and cares and has been with me through it all.  Helping, loving, and laughing.  He ALSO has his moments (as most children do....;) but every evening I realized how much I need him, and am so grateful when he is there for me (someday he will no longer be a student and I'll get him every evening....almost.  It's true I'm married to golf too.  I'm used to it and....MOST of the time I don't even mind.)