8 weeks old

Time is flying. Well, most of the time. We have a saying at camp: "the days are long, but the weeks are fast." That's pretty much how it feels lately. When I'm home with all 3 of the munchins, the day seems like it never ends more often than not. When they all get tucked into bed, whoosh, suddenly it's 10:30. Where did the time go???

I started back to work on Thursday and was able to bring Bristol. Since Kenny's dad is still on the mend, we are becoming more creative with our childcare for a bit. I have not been apart from Bristol for more than an hour (and only twice) since we got home from the hospital, so I'm thinking that I may have separation anxiety when I go to work without her!

Bristol has started giving this huge ear-to-ear smile, which is so precious. Brinley continues to be clumsy: today she fell out of her chair at the dinner table while trying to reach a spoon she dropped on the floor without actually getting out of her chair, and she had a run-in with the pavement while out riding her bike. Brayden continues to challenge us with his behavior at home. For the most part he is well-behaved at daycare and in public, which I guess is better than vice versa. He has been talking back, trying to boss Brinley and us around, and lots of screeching/screaming and generally not listening. I keep reminding myself that it's a phase and repeating "this too shall pass!"

 Arts & Crafts time

 Bristol had her first bottle last week, "practicing" for me going back to work. Of course, her big siblings could not miss the opportunity to help!

3 Kids, 2 Parents

So, I feel like I have become pretty good at triage in the last 2 months. When 3 kids are needing attention, I have to decide who needs it most at that very moment and then get to the others later. Tonight the older two were scrambling to get out of the bathtub first to get the coveted bear towel and Bristol was crying, but we got through that.

This afternoon really challenged us, however. We both had to work a portion of the day and one of the kids had a birthday party to go to, all of which overlapped slightly. Solution: Daddy went to work, me and the kids went to work later and had a picnic lunch, Bristol stayed, Brayden and Daddy went to the party at Pump It Up and Brinley went to play with a friend.

I'm sure it's just the start of the two of us needing to be in three places at once!

Newborn Photo Shoot

Our friend Amanda did a newborn photo shoot for us yesterday (Bristol at 8 weeks old). The pictures are sooooo cute, too hard to pick my favorites!

Easter

On Friday we asked Brayden what Easter is all about. He said "The Easter Bunny brings candy!" I said "Yes, that's true. Anything about Jesus, though?" He replied: "Jesus died on the cross and rose again." Indeed, my sweet boy. Our church has a tradition of everyone bringing flowers to put on the cross on Easter. We get there early, so were among the first flowers there.

 Picking flowers in our yard for the cross

 Bristol's First Easter

 I read on my friend Alison's facebook page about how she gave an Easter basket to the trash collectors this week. I read it the day after our trash was collected, but the kids were super excited to put together an Easter happy for our mailman!

 The Easter Egg hunt held by our town on Saturday- what fun!

 The Easter Bunny's goodies at our house

 The kids were up early and instead of sneaking crackers into the bathroom as is the usual custom if they get up before we do, they found their baskets and brought them up to their room. They were halfway through the candy eggs when I found them. Brayden has also taken to sleeping mostly naked lately.

After church we had a nice family afternoon that included a walk/bike ride, Slurpees from 7-11, kite flying, losing a kite in the neighbor's tree and relaxing. A great day!

Do those come in bubble wrap?

Do they make play clothes in bubble wrap? If so, we'll take some in size 3T. Brinley, darling acrobat that she is, did this to my car window on Sunday. With her head. I was in the grocery store and she was in the car with Kenny and saw her Nana & Uncle Jim in the parking lot, so she got really excited.. They came over and were talking and she was playing in the front passenger seat. She got a little too animated and cracked her head on the front windshield. She did not even cry! We monitored her for a few days, but she seemed her totally normal self without even a bump on her head. This little incident cost us $215 to replace- too bad she doesn't get an allowance yet. This is also the child who refused to participate when we signed her up for gymnastics class... She also fell face first out of the car on Monday on the concrete driveway, but managed to just scrape her hand. I'm thinking maybe she's asserting her middle-child-self and making sure she doesn't get overlooked! 

7 weeks old

Sweet Bristol at 7 weeks old:

Lately

Here are some photos showing what we've been up to lately...

 Lots of playing outside! The kids are loving being able to use sidewalk chalk at our new house and have been drawing elaborate boats (Jake and the Neverland Pirates) and animals from Jungle Junction.

 This little guy is too funny! Well, when he's not being too naughty... :) Trying to fatten him up- he looks so skinny to me with those little ribs poking out.

 At MOPS last week, we learned how to do roses to decorate cakes. We practiced on mini cupcakes and I think my first rose ever turned out pretty well. It was delicious, too!

 Brayden & Brinley have been wanting to have sleepovers on the floor the last few nights, which usually end up something like this:

 Today he dressed himself. Notice the backwards shirt, one croc and one tennis shoe with sock. Since we were only at home and the playground, it was fine with me!

 This is how we roll in Daddy's car. A little tight, but usually works out fine until one of them gets a little too close to Bristol and she gets upset.