Another Week in Paradise

Kolay had her 4-month checkup on Tuesday. She weighed in at 14 lbs 6 oz (55%) and measured 26 inches long (97%). The doctor said that she has above average head control and that he belly button hernia is almost gone! It was a successful appointment. She also got another round of immunizations. I was so impressed by her 2-month shots because she barely cried but she made up for it this time. She was quiet upset!  Kolay is getting quite the personality. Over the last few weeks, it feels as though she has decided she would rather be part of the action than snuggled in her chair and decided she doesn't always want to go to sleep when we wrap her up. I think she had a bit of an agenda too! She learned to arch her back and now uses it so she can stand in our laps and move around or be in the Jumparoo which she used for the first time this week and loved. She loves being outside, going for walks in the stroller, and spending time by Kason even if she risks an accidental bonk on the head. She likes peek-a-boo which Kason often plays with her and also spends lots of time under the jungle mat. Yesterday she did a complete 180 around the mat for the first time and has done it several times since. She if figuring out how to move!! She also has taken much shorter naps during the day and less at night. We hope this phase passes soon! Her doctor said she is drooling quite a bit and thought she may be struggling to sleep because she is starting to teethe. Poor Kolay!

Kason is a pretty fun kid! He learns new things every day. He says new words all the time and now says a few phrases on his own. We are just introducing the idea of having a "Grandma Piquet" and "Grandma Lindley". He says "nindy" and "pitay" but hasn't made the connection yet. It is pretty cute to hear him say their names as he always smiles. He loves all of his grandparents. He learned this new trick where he puts his head down and looks out to the top of his eye, like a nice little glare. He thinks he's pretty funny because he usually laughs at himself afterwards. One day this week he came and asked for "hand!" I immediately reached out my hand as he usually says this when he wants to show me something. He said "no" and reached for Kolay's hand. I put Kolay's hand in his and carried her along side of him while he walked up and down the hall, hand in hand. We then did ring around the Rosie a few times. Kason was so happy! He loves playing with his sister. He also held her hand on our walk to the park today. Kason has eaten like crazy this week! He can get the fridge door open and now chooses his own snacks. He says the name of most everything he wants now. His favorite food the last few days has been "ogurt" (yogurt). Today he had 5 bowls alone. Kason loves to imitate Grandpa Lindley. Grandpa will make a sound and Kason will repeat it, or grandpa will give a certain look and Kason will try to do it back. They also do a cute little head "bonk". Grandpa asks for a bonk and Kason comes a running and they will "bonk" heads. Today in church, Kason looked through a book I made with all his family. When he came to grandpa Lindleys picture, he shouted "Bonk!" And hit his head on grandpas picture. It was so cute! He loves Grandpa Lindley!

Monday morning Kolt did his shadowing. He has learned a lot and loves he clinical environment. He is excited to go on to the next stage of learning. In the afternoon Kolay and I went into work. Kolay is getting pretty noisy for the office. My coworkers are great and love having her, but I always worry she is too noisy. I enjoy the things I do at work. When the weather is good, I am always anxious to get home. Monday evening, Kolt and Kason went to Rexburg to pick up some fencing supplies, then stopped in Menan for a Working Ranch club meeting. Kolay and I went to volleyball at the Apple to fill in for Kallie White’s womens league team. My parents were great to come with us and watch Kolay. We won our game by a big margin. After the game, we went to Kiwi Loco to get ice cream with some coupons. We got an extra one for Kason and Kolt for when they got home.

On Tuesday we took Kolay to her doctor appointment. After the appointment, we got a few things at Walmart, including baby Tylenol for Kolay. She and I then went into work to do some more training for May. In May, I am filling in for a coworker in the office while she travels to Ireland. I have been doing lots of training over the past few months for this. Her responsibilities include arranging the ads in the newspaper each day. For 2 weeks in May, I will be working all day every day in her position. I’m getting nervous, but I have been doing lots of training and think things should go fine. After work, Kolt worked with Clyde before his evening class.

Wednesday morning Kolt had another NVCI training for work from 8-1. We had a great morning at home, as Kason was happy as can be to play with his toys. It made it easy for me to do a little work from home. I printed checks for the rest of the month that day, as the check signer is leaving town until May. It took a lot of time to get in every invoice due until the end of the month. I was able to print the checks from home, but then I went in to pick them up and of course, printed a few more as I could think of them and as they trickled in to the office. I was able to get them all stuffed later that night after the kids went to bed. It was good to not have to be in the office much, as I could do almost all the work at home. On Wednesday night, we went to Nathan’s birthday party. We had yummy pizza that Natalie made! It was so good! Nathan opened his presents. The kids all wore crowns for his birthday. We got Nathan a Spiderman tracing/coloring book. He thought that was pretty cool. Kason couldn’t really figure out why he wasn’t able to open any presents, but loved the birthday cake! It was a fun night! Nathan is such a fun kid. I can’t believe he is 5 years old! I still remember the day he was born and how excited I was to be an aunt for the first time. He is such a fun kid with a loving personality. He is so fun to be around and while he likes his Aunt “Zuzan”, he loves his Uncle Kolt, and we sure love him. Kason loves spending time with Nathan and always wants to know when “Nay-Nay” will come over.

On Thursday, Kolt went to institute early in the morning. It has been hard to get to institute as it is almost the only class he has on campus. When he got home, I went into work with Kolay to do some more training. Kason went with Kolt into the school later in the afternoon to help a friend apply for PA school. Kolt said Kason wasn’t very friendly toward his friend as he must’ve felt he was missing his regular nap time, but he did finally get to take his nap! When I got home from work, Kolt went back into school for his senior seminar class while I taught Evan his piano lesson. The kids all liked being outside with Grandma while we did the lesson. Afterwards, Kason and Kolay went with Grandma Piquet for Grandma’s Day. The kids spent lots of time outside and Kason went for lots of 4-wheeler rides. Kolt did some homework at school and then came home to work with his horse. I went to volleyball practice. Kolt picked up Kolay and then came to pick me up at practice and took me on a date! We went to The Longest Ride at the movie theater. I loved it. It is definitely my new favorite movie, and I think I could watch it over and over again. We picked up some quick dinner before we picked up Kason. Kason went to Rexburg with Grandpa & Grandma Piquet. He played with the tractors at Valleywide for a long time! He had a great time! Kolt and I enjoyed our date. We love spending time together and enjoy the chance we have to enjoy each other when life is so busy these days.

Friday morning Kolt did his usual shadowing at Family First. The kids and I got to take Nathan to preschool. Kason thought it was so cool to have a cousin ride in his car with him. After we dropped off Nathan, we took Brand his backpack which he had left in our car. By 9, I felt like we had been all over town, and Kason thought he was having the best day ever. He loves being out and about, and especially seeing his uncles and cousins. In the afternoon, Kason went with Kolt to do some errands and go to Rexburg with Grandpa Piquet. I spent the afternoon working from home with Kolay. In the evening, Kolt, Kolay and I went to an Elders Quorum Date Night Activity. We had a delicious dinner and then a presentation from our Stake Indexing Coordinator. We have renewed our desire to index, and since then, I have already done 4 batches. It seems to be a good night time activity for me to help me wind down. Kason stayed home with Grandpa Lindley; they took a long walk and had a bath.

Saturday morning Kolay and I left at 6:50 AM for a volleyball tournament at North Fremont High School. I told my girls I would bring a treat to practice for every 3-hit play they got over the net. In 3 tournaments, they’ve only gotten one, and on Saturday, they got 4! I have to think of some good treats to bring on Thursday! They did a great job and it was fun to watch their excitement as they did things right. Thanks again to Aunt Trish and Aunt Kate for watching Kolay. I sure appreciate their help! After volleyball, I went to meet Kolt and Kason at Rope & Brand’s rodeo in Rexburg.  Kolt had spent the early morning helping a neighbor with some yardwork, while Kason stayed with Grandpa Lindley. I got to the rodeo just in time to see Rope’s chute dogging, breakaway roping, saddle bronc, and both Rope & Brand’s team roping. Rope won the chute dogging event in his first time ever competing in the event! We were pretty excited for him! Kason loved the rodeo and was constantly looking for Grandpa, Rope, Brand or Daddy in the arena, and of course, he was completely focused on the “tractor” when it came in and tilled the arena in between events. When we got home, Kolt worked with Clyde and then Kolay and I went with my mom, Shauna and Angela to the movies for Ang’s birthday in a couple weeks. We went to see The Longest Ride again. It is a great movie. My mom and Shauna hadn’t seen it, but Angela and I were both going back again. Kolay was a little fussy during the movie, which was completely different than on Thursday as she slept through almost the entire movie. It was a fun girls night out!

We had a great Sunday today. We had a slow Sunday morning, eating breakfast, giving the kids baths, getting dressed, and getting Kason his nap.  Kolay and I went with Kolt early to the church, so he could get set apart as the 2^nd counselor in the Sunday school presidency. Kason came with Grandma Lindley a little later. The kids were pretty good in church. Kason had a good time in nursery. He drank from the cups today without spilling! He is still working on sitting on the mats during the entire lesson. Kolt and I enjoyed going to Gospel Doctrine together and then our Priesthood and Relief Society lessons.  After church, we ate dinner with the Lindley’s. I was in charge of dessert, so I decided to make my first Carrot Cake this morning. It was so good! Thank you Pinterest! I was quite proud of myself. I was missing a little decoration on top, but it sure tasted delicious. I did pretty good with my first layered cake too! In the evening, Kolt and I took the kids for a big walk to the park. Kolt was supposed to work, but ended up being put on call for his 4-hour shift tonight. It has been a great day!