Swimming lessons part 2

Dominic just completed another session of swimming lessons. He was in the preschool class this time. Thank you City of Henderson for coming to your sense and bringing the preschool class back. He had a boy teacher this time named David. He LOVED lessons. I think he liked having a boy teacher and wanted to do a good job for him. By the second lesson he was putting his head under water and getting more brave about the water in general.

He wanted some goggles to wear to lessons. One night, Sara and I were at Kohl's. So I picked up a pair of goggles for him. They were kids sized and Speedo brand - pretty nice eyewear. I got them home and poor D looked like he was Asian. They were too small. I had to take them back and exchange them for ADULT goggles. The adult one fit perfectly. That kid has one large cranium.

This is why some of my pictures aren't the best. Try taking pics with this one trying hop in the water every two seconds!

Simple things

Sometimes I get little glimpses into my kids' minds and most of the time they totally crack me up.

Today Dominic is changing his clothes for the tenth time while I am taking some pictures of Hudders trying to crawl. D is OBSESSED with wearing swim suits because, hello, it's warm outside and somehow by putting in a swimsuit (and lifejacket and goggles) he thinks it's summer…anyways, he says, "don't take a picture of me, I have my bra on." I am like, "what?" He says, "you know, you can see my bum, crotch and boobs, that's a bra. " I have no idea where that came from.

On a more holy note, yesterday at church, my friend and second counselor got Dominic a Book of Mormon with his name engraved on it. To say that he loves it and treats it like it's gold is the understatement of the year. So last night he tells Brad that he wants to read it when we are getting ready to read the scriptures. Only he really thinks in is smart little head that he is going to open this book and just be able to read. And then the meltdown happens. Because, he can't read. He bawls all through reading the scriptures because he feels bad because he can't read his scriptures. It about broke my heart and made me want to order that "So your baby can read" informercial thing…very sad.

Fast forward tonight. He decides he is going to read along with Brad tonight in his scriptures. So tonight he sits on his bed and proceeds to "read." In his "reading" he recaps his sunbeam lesson from yesterday about being kind to animals, says that President Monson is the prophet. Just basically "reads' everything his little mind can think of about church. Then closes his scriptures and declares that he can now read and it really isn't all that hard, and he finished before Daddy.

But wait…there's more.

Onto Jade aka Cheech. So I let me kids pick out something from the dollar store today because they "cleaned" their room. (Jade really didn't help all that much according to Dominic, but she did pick up three dolls after being threatened to miss out on the dollar store shopping fun, so I called it good.) So we arrive at the Dollar Tree and dodge wide eyes and multiple, "Wow you got your hands full" comments (really people if I had a nickel for every time someone used that line on me, I could own the Dollar Tree - all billion of them.)

Jade has her eyes set on a "barbie." She carries the thing all around the store. Talks to it, trys to take it out of the package, etc. Until, she sees a huge package of "slickerish" as DD calls it. She drops the barbie like a bad date and picks the Red Vines. And if at any time I questioned my lack of DNA in Jade, that act of thinking with her stomach affirmed that she's my girl! What two year old picks Red Vines over a barbie? My Jade, and that's why I love her:)

Jade enjoying her "slickerish"

Even somewhat "skilled" photographers can have a hard time capturing a two year old trying to share her "slickerish"

P.S. In case you were wondering, Brad passed his test…they waited a month to post it, but he passed. 2 down, 2 to go. It was back to the books tonight.

And look at this little guy. He is following in his brother's footsteps or headsize…I think that's a 12 months hat that won't fit on his big 'ol dome. However, we were outside, and my kids are pastey.

And I think he might crawl someday on this dirty floor…ignore the ugly carpet and the popcorn specs…I would say the kids just crushed it into the carpet today…but I would be lying.

What's up?

With me…nothing much. Just the same 'ol. same 'ol. Housework, feeding kids, playing with kids, screaming at kids, reading with kids, paying bills, church stuff, making dinner, REPEAT…like a thousand times over. Love the little buggers:) We have been spending LOTS of time together because Brad has been buried in GLEIM CPA CPA review books (very expensive GLEIM CPA review books, might I add) I am contemplating using the pages and wall papering the computer room when he passes…or just building a huge bonfire and burning the dang things…decisions, decisions…but he took another test today, and for one short little weekend, he is going to be all ours…shared with work, church, etc., but we will take it!

ANYWAYS, I have been doing a lot of this lately into the wee hours of the morning… and in case you are too lazy to click on that hyperlink…

There you go. I am tweeking away, wanting these two to be deliriously happy with their photos. (Sidenote: not very difficult to shoot GORGEOUS people, just saying.)

Ran into a lady in my ward tonight who I love and respect very much. I was borderline complaining about my small-one-bathroom-no-dishwasher-abode-kind-of-feeling-sorry-for-myself-because-my-house-is-old. She was nice enough to tell me that she wished her grown kids would have had to share more space when they were growing up and be around each other more in a smaller house. She reminded me that being poor and having small children and going crazy was normal and a huge blessing. Thanks, it's good to be reminded of that once in a while.

What was I complaining about again? :)

Happy Birthday Jade!

I am writing this post a day late (and I'm supposed to be writing my talk to speak in sacrament meeting tomorrow!) Yesterday Jaders turned 2. So cliché, but time goes too fast with these little ones! Jade is the little princess in our house. She has her dad wrapped around her finger, two brothers that adore her, a mom that cracks up at everything she does and says, and an extended family that thinks she is the cutest thing ever:) She is super sassy, but such a sweetie. She is quick to say she is sorry and even quicker to tell you no when she doesn't want to do something. I'll update more when she has her well check next week. We celebrated this week by having TWO parties for her. One on Wednesday night with most of the Byington cousins and the other on Friday with the Frehner cousins. She got lots of cute clothes and adorable dolls. It was like Christmas for Jade all over agin:) (Dominic is already planning his birthday party and all the decorations he wants for it!)

We love Jade so much!

Six months

Yes, it's 1:51 a.m. and yes, I am still up. (Thanks to walking 5 miles at 8:00 p.m. and a Diet Dr. Pepper after…) Tomorrow, actually today, Hudders will be six months old! Gosh, probably the quickest six months of my life. This little guy is so dang cute! He is definitely my smallest kid…but he eats all time! He has started to take interest in people food, baby food… not so much. He has the most beautiful blue eyes and cutest dimples. He, like my other two, is hard to get a good laugh out of, but tonight I was smooching on his chin and ear and really got him giggling. He is a great baby, but got a little spoiled after being in the hospital in October. I now feed him or pick him up anytime he makes a peep. (Try having one of your kids in the hospital and see if you don't do the same thing!)

He likes his Bumbo chair Grandma and Grandpa got him for Christmas. He is comfortably in 3-6 month clothes, but still wears some 0-3 months too. He sleeps quite a bit too, but is so spoiled about that - must be held, rocked, sang to, etc.

He loves Dominic and Jade. Both of them can get him laughing. Brad has recently acquired the magic touch and does just the right amount of power patting to get him to sleep.

He loves his toys and likes to roll over. When he doesn't have a sassy in his mouth, he has his fists in there! As soon as his socks come off, his feet go in his mouth too. This little guy has been such a blessing in our lives. We love him and can't wait to see him continue to grow!

Oh yeah, and check out his RED hair. Too cute:)

Brad's clones

Okay, I found some pictures at my mother in law's tonight that confirm in my mind my children's DNA make-up: Brad. Especially this latest child:)

Brad at 15 months - I see a little Jade in the face.

Brad at 4 years old - Dominic gives this look quite often!

Can you say Hudson on the last three?

My little runtlet

*Photos by Felicia Gray




Hudson hit the four month mark on November 7! He is a wonderful addition to our home. He is seriously such a good baby. He loves to be held and talked to. He loooves Dominic and tolerates Jade :) No, really, he loves all kids and watches them all the time. He has discovered his hands and sticks them in his mouth if he doesn't have a pacifier in it already. He sleeps well, eats well and is just a really good natured kid. His hair is still red too! He looks so much like Brad to me. I just keep making them closer to being exact DNA replicas of Brad, it's crazy!

We love this little guy to pieces. I love his adorable dimples, his cheeky babbling and skinny little legs:) He was a whopping 10 pounds 4 ounces at his check up yesterday! And 23 inches long. Dr. Sirsy said he is a little on the small side, but that it was okay since his head was good sized. He said the rest of his body would catch up. We got the okay to start rice cereal. We will be doning that as soon as mom can get to the store:)

A girl up the street is starting a photo business and kindly offered to take Hudson's pics to add to her portfolio. I normally take my own pictures, but she is super nice and obviously talented. All the pictures were taken by her, Felicia Gray. She did a wonderful job and turned them around super fast! I like to see how other photographers work too. It was fun for me to watch her in action.