Zoo

We bought an annual zoo pass for the next year.  It's sometimes hard for me to justify such an expense because will I really use it enough to pay for itself?  I'm certain that if I didn't buy a pass, I'd probably only go once.  But, since so many of my friends and neighbors up here have them, I'd like to have the option of going when we're invited.

The other benefits include exercise for Aiden (he really doesn't get enough), and not feeling like you have to spend the entire day there to get your money's worth. 

For our first trip, we went the afternoon of the last day of school.  We saw the baby elephant, the gorilla, tigers, and all of the animatronic dinosaurs they have on display.  Connor absolutely LOVED the merry-go-round.  He had a grin on his face from ear to ear.  So cute! 

The Peanut Butter Cup

Two weekends ago, the kids and I headed to Idaho for my nephew's baby blessing.  Rich was on his surgery rotation and couldn't make it.  In hindsight, I think perhaps I shouldn't have made the trek by myself, but I wanted to see everyone and be supportive.  We went up on Saturday, and were there with mostly with the in-laws from the other side of the family, so I didn't really know anyone and felt a little uncomfortable.

The kids had fun, but the worst part of it was that at 1:30am, my little one year old decided to cry, I mean, SCREAM, until 3:30am; nothing like a screaming baby to keep a house full of strangers up all night.  Sigh.  I think he was just uncomfortable in a strange place.

I didn't dare open the bedroom door to try getting him a bottle because he'd cry louder when I sat him down, and I couldn't take a screamer with me to the kitchen, so I tried feeding him a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup (he loves them and I had one in the stash of snacks for the car trip).  That stopped him for a little while, but it didn't take long for the screaming to start up again.  In the end, he calmed down long enough for me to get him a bottle and then he fell back into slumber with me cuddling him on the bed.

Things definitely got better Sunday morning when the rest of the Hymas clan arrived.  I love my in-laws!

Chucks!

You know those blue pads you get at the hospital that catch fluids?  They're called chucks, and Rich was able to come by a case of them a few years ago.  They have come in very handy this week as puke catchers.  It's never a good sign when you have done an entire load of laundry in the middle of the night, which is what happened last night. 

Last Wednesday, Connor came down with a GI infection.  At times, he was puking faster than I could clean it up, and sleep has been something I haven't been getting much of.  Yesterday, things were looking up and he turned the corner by bedtime.

However, Mackenzie woke up in the the middle of the night bawling.  She had puked all over her bed,  which is something she repeated several times.  She was asleep on the floor this morning and her bed once again had vomit on it.  Then Aiden started puking this morning.  I fear we have some very long days ahead.

Easter Sunday

Sunday was Easter, and the Easter Bunny paid a visit to our house.  The older kids got a lamb pillow pet and blanket and Connor got Nanny McPhie.  We ate ham and asperagus quiche for breakfast, an Easter tradition, and then the Baker clan came over for a delicious Easter dinner with ham, homemade mac’n’cheese, broccoli, and Magelby's style rolls.  It was fun to have an excuse to pull out the china, crystal, and table cloth we got for our wedding.  I wish I had taken a picture.  I forget how pretty those dishes are.  Makes me want to use them more often.

Easter Egg Hunt

On Saturday, April 23, we went to our neighborhood Easter egg hunt.  We had so much fun!  There were potato sack races, egg spoon races, parachute games, and of course, the Easter egg hunt.  Everyone brought a treat to share, and the kids came home loaded with goodies.

Messy

Connor's 1st Hair Cut

Connor's 1st Birthday

It's hard to believe it's already been a year since Connor was born, and what a year it's been.  We're so happy to have this little boy here in our family.  He's grown so much.  He has 6 teeth, is crawling everywhere, pulling himself up, and calling me Da, Da.  He LOVES his big brother and sister, and they kinda like him too. :)  He is obsessed with opening doors and hates bottles, sippee cups, and any other kind of cup.  We LOVE you Connor!

Papa Terry

Grandma's New Do

Blow!

What Do I Do With This?

Happy Birthday!

Family Resemblance

At Connor's 1 yr birthday party (post coming soon), we started looking at some old photo albums.  Here are some pictures of the kids when they were one.  I think you'll see a slight resemblance. :)

Connor

Halloween

Despite having 5 sick little Hymases, we had a nice Halloween.  Friday, we went to our ward's Trunk or Treat activity.  It was a lot of fun.  There were lots of costumes, food, and candy.  The kids went as a soldier, princess, and pea in the pod.  Sadly, I did not take any pictures.  They got gobs of candy at the trunk or treat part of the activity.

Saturday, Aiden, Mackenzie, and I went to Grandma and Grandpa Baker's house to go trick or treating.  Aiden was a cowboy and Mackenzie was a ladybug (we have too many costumes for the kids to choose from).  We only got to go to about 3 of our neighbors houses before we got rained out.  But they still managed to have pretty full buckets because Grandma and Grandpa's neighbors made up some special sacks just for our kids.  They are spoiled, I know.


All in all, it was a really fun month full of Halloween activities here on campus.  Good times!

This is the Place...

Aiden was off from school Thursday and Friday for UEA, and we took advantage of his time off and went to a fun Halloween activity at This is the Place Heritage Park.  Our neighbors got us two free passes, so I only had to buy mine.  It was a beautiful, warm autumn day.

The kids dressed up in their Halloween costumes.  Aiden was a cowboy, Mackenzie was a ladybug, and Connor was a pea in the pod.  The activities at the park included a trick-or-treat neighborhood, a story telling witch, kid friendly crafts, train rides, tractor pulls, pony rides, and panning for gold.  There was plenty of fun for everyone.  The kids had a GREAT time!

Our neighbors Andrew and Josh

Ride Em, Cowboy!

Future rodeo star

There's gold in them thar hills

Wagons, Ho!

Outlaw

Happy Halloween!

Luv Sac and Prince Caspian

I have been trying to interest my kids in letting me read chapter books to them for years.  I've tried everything from Harry Potter to the Mouse and the Motorcycle with no success.  This fall something has changed.  We started reading Prince Caspian from the Chronicles of Narnia, and they can't get enough.  Every night, they like to cuddle up under a blanket on the Luv Sac downstairs and have me or Dad read to them.

Who wouldn't LOVE those little smiles?