four weeks

Did I tell you we moved?  Here is what we've been doing for the past four weeks:

 

learning to walk

playing in the snow

unpacking boxes cupboards

running

making treats

enjoying the wind in our hair

It's been fun so far! Hope you'll come visit soon!

related

note: Another belated post, waiting for a picture.  So glad to have it now!

Ellie-Bee: Kate, you are my best friend!  Actually, you are my cousin.  No, I think you are my ancestor.

Kate: Mom, are both boys and girls called ancestors? Why are boys an-sisters?  They should be called an-brothers?

To our fabulous Burton Cousins....So glad you are ours, and you would come to visit!  Come back soon!

breathe

One of the things I look forward to the most is my Thursday morning Yoga class.  Michelle is the best teacher, so in order to make it to her early class, I load up my dressed-fed-packed brood at 8:10 am, drop the big kids off at the bus stop (waving 'I love you' til the bus rounds the bend), check in the babies at child-watch ('look bubbles!' and toy distractions as I sneak out and try to ignore the tears), and {finally} enjoy an hour to breathe.

Delightful.

Last night, sleep was alluding my Davis (although he refused his nap, so I'm not sure why).  He was awake for a good portion of the early morning hours, which means he, of course, fell back asleep about 5am and slept until 9am.  I missed yoga.

As a {not very close} substitute, I trudged my babies and mat down to the basement to yoga with a recorded teacher on the DVR.  She's not as good, and, quite frankly, the focus isn't there when young ones are crawling all over your downward dog and piggy backing on you child's pose.  But, what can you do?

I was feeling a little bit sorry for myself until I noticed my Doobie Doo following along.  He had spread out a blanket as a mat and was working his sun salutations with the best of 'em.  "I did it!" he shouted, when he bent over for down dog.  My self-pity melted away in my awe of this cutie and his desire to follow in my footsteps, do the things I do, garner my praise.

My 'class' was cut short by a little body crawling into my lap while I was trying to forward fold.  But, as I lifted her up, and she arched her back toward  my mat for a belly tickle (her favorite giggle pose), I felt like my morning had gone BETTER than planned.  And, my body felt good.  Not because I had been sufficiently able to stretch, but because I took a minute to breathe, to see my children for the wonder that they are, and to just 'be' in this blessed time of my life.

Ahhhh.

grandma great

update: camera cord located!  Hooray!  See photo below.

I came around the corner to find a blanket lump on the couch.  Giggles came from underneath.  It was Kate and Grandma Great, huddled beneath the throw, playing a game and loving their time together.

I often think back to the way Grandma was when I was a girl: energetic, busy, fun.  She's a lot slower now. Her mind isn't as sharp and her energy isn't as high.  But, one thing that hasn't changed is the way she is quick to laugh and the way she enjoys children.  My kids have loved having their Grandma Great visit this week.  They have played games and cuddled and made each other laugh.  Davis learned to say 'Grandma Great.'  Kate and Grandma had a 'sleepover' in her room.  Dallin gave her a piano concert.

The blessing of knowing and loving their great grandmother is priceless to me.  Thank you, Dad and Mom, for coming to visit and for bringing her along.  We miss you, all three!

Grandma and wearing a 'balloon hat' lovingly created by these silly kids!

found

What have you been up to lately?  Me?  I've been packing. And packing.

It is funny what you come across as you load up all your earthly possessions into cardboard boxes....

* A love note written from a love-sick BYU student to her 'long distance' (clear in Salt Lake) boyfriend. Oh the memories!
* The first letter Dallin ever wrote, to his cousin Carson, when we had just moved here and Dallin was in kindergarten.  The printing is precious, the accompanying illustration darling.  It was sent and then returned by my smart sis who knew I'd want to keep it in his book for always!
* And this:

Shouldn't it be considered 'vintage' at this point?  Why, you may ask, do I still have this lovely pastel Caboodles case?  It makes a GREAT storage compartment for Chad's shoe polish. ;)

funny things...

...I've noticed lately:

*My baby LOVES babies!  She loves to rock and give her dolls a bottle.  Today she tried to take her doll for a 'walk' in the stroller.  Problem is, she doesn't know how to walk herself.  How can a girl who is still such a baby herself love to play mommy?
* Bitty boy is talking more and has started to SING his little heart out.  I guess I shouldn't say 'start' since he has been singing for a long time, but now I can tell which song he is performing.  Not so much because I can understand the words, but this boy has great rhythm and pitch!
*Sissy is getting so long and lanky.  She has always loved to dangle from a ledge we have in our house, but now her feet reach the floor!  When did she get so big?
* Mr. D is so darling with his face full of grown-up teeth.  Maybe he won't have as awkward an awkward stage as his mother had to suffer!
*I'm not very good at taking pictures of all these great little moments.  But, I did take some one-year-old shots of this cutie.  Enjoy!

glued

College football season started yesterday. Much to my chagrin.  One person in this house, however, is ecstatic!

Make that two. 
Nothing like a perfectly still 'customer' (GLUED to the game) when you want to play beauty parlor!