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| February flew by us like somebody had their finger on the fast forward button! Here are some highlights for each of us. Colby: At 5 months old, Colby is our cheerful little bundle of smiles. He weighs 18 lbs and just started rolling over. We can't get enough of his chubby little cheeks! |
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Colby loves to listen to the kids talk to him. The kids love to talk. It is a match made in heaven :)
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Owen has finally started realizing that Colby has the potential to be something more than a lump in mom's arms. He has started talking to Colby and playing with him, especially when Colby reacts by smiling and laughing with him. It is fun to see their little relationship grow.
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This whole rolling onto the belly things has Colby thinking some deep thoughts. Namely, how does one roll back over onto their back??
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| Owen: Owen turned 2. On his birthday, we took him to the beach, since he loves the sand and the water so much. He was happy with his sand cake :) |
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His present was also a hit - with everyone!
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The next night we made him an actual birthday cake, and our neighbors came over to help us eat it.
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Owen was confused as to whether he was supposed to blow out the candles, or one of the other kids, since they were ready and poised.
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Owen loves bath time. His new phrase is "one more minute!" when we tell him it is time to get out.
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He also LOVES building himself a fort of sorts on the couch. You always have to check before sitting down, in case you sit on his secret stash of Thomas trains or race cars (ouch).
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Loves this blankie!
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Ken's mom sent him this truck and car as a gift - he hasn't put it down since! Here he is, napping with it the first day.
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Owen has also turned into an avid reader. If only he was as excited about reshelving his books...
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Chillin at the park with dad.
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| Hailey: Hailey continues to love helping - helping me with Colby, helping her brothers when they are sad or hurt. No one leaves for the day without getting at least one hug from her! |
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She's also developed an army of stuffed animals that follow her around the house and sleep in her bed at night. She needs a bigger bed!
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We were already at the park when we realized the water fountains were now functional. Despite her lack of water attire, Hailey had a great time playing in the water!
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| Will: Will is starting to really love school. He had a couple fun field trips in a two week period (the zoo, with the highlight of feeding an elephant, and a fire station, where the fire fighters not only lit a giant grill on fire, they let the kids use the firehose to put it out), and is now hoping there will be more scheduled! |
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| I got to help out Will's class during the school's International Day, and we had a BLAST. It was seriously the best school activity I have ever gone too. Lots of fun booths, entertainment, and food from 46 countries represented by students at the school! Will and Jason were insistent that we visit USA - after all, they informed me, that is where we are from! The chili and cornbread they had as the traditional food WAS pretty good. |
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| When she told him he only had enough money for 5, he told her he couldn't buy any because then he wouldn't have enough to share with his whole family! She took pity on him :) Will has a big heart. |
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| Will loves the freedom his bike gives him. The other day, he was riding around and came across some garage sales in the compound. |
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| With his hard earned chore money, he purchased cupcakes. The neighbor offered to carry them down the street for him (although he assured her he could carry them AND ride, she had her doubts), and she told me that Will had been quite insistent he get 6 cupcakes. |
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| Tyler: Tyler turned 8! We brought donuts to school to celebrate with his classmates. He once again requested that we ALL come so he could show us off. I love that he wants us all there. I know it won't always be this way, so I'll take it! |
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| Here he is with his birthday present. He rides it everyday trying to learn new tricks. I'm impressed at how well each of the kids do on it - impressed enough that I practice keeping my balance on it after they all go to bed, so that I don't embarrass myself when they ask me to try it :) |
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| Tyler had a soccer birthday party. He thought making some bracelets for everyone would be a nice addition to the party favors. So after he made 4 and he was "too tired" to make anymore and went to bed, mom came to the rescue and made the next 11. |
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| THIS also happened. We told him 8 was a good age to watch the "real" Star Wars, and Will just lucked out with second child status - aka, you get everything when child #1 does. They absolutely loved it. |
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| Well played Tyler, well played. |
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| The kids had a great time playing soccer, eating lots, and playing capture the flag. It was entertaining to watch! |
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| The boys (Hailey didn't get the memo; she just knows wherever her brothers are is where she wants to be!) |
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| The girls - I found them gathered in a different corner of the park, eating treats! |
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Tyler loves reading to Owen. And once the others hear he is reading, there is a mad dash to squeeze in and listen!
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Tyler also loves entertaining Colby, and he's good at it. He can always get a laugh out of Colby!
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| Becky: I had a birthday too, but took no pictures … it involved lots of Ken time, family celebrations, and outings with friends - it was perfect! I've been keeping busy with the usual - kids, house, laundry, laundry and more laundry :) In fact, I have a description of my job here as noted by Tyler during a recent homework assignment! |
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I got really excited about this find at the grocery store - the first sighting of these beauties since we moved here
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| I also decided that piloting my own jet might help me overcome my fear of flying… ok, maybe not :) I had a mid-day date with Ken at the IDEX weapons expo. Lots of crazy things to see, including a drone, a gold plated machine gun, and an aircraft carrier. |
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| Ken: Ken ALSO had a birthday (yep, 4 birthdays in 9 days. We are now broke, and oh so tired of birthday cake…) Here he is reading a special card we all made for him. |
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| Ken decided he was tired of having to use Hailey's hello kitty sparkle chapstick, and decided there needed to be some more "manly"options in the house. He proceeded to purchase this |
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| We had a pretty good laugh when he opened up his chapstick to find a lovely twist top that looks like … well, women's lipstick. At least it doesn't sparkle, right?! |
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| Bath time gets a little crazy at times. I came in to check on how things were going, and found this scene: not sure why Ken has toilet paper on his head, but I do know that this guy is the sweetest and best husband/dad around. And if you made it to the end of this super long post, consider yourself caught up on the latest & greatest at our happy little villa! |
