18 Teeth--Photography Classes-District BB--Regional Conference

Kason is almost 20 months old. His new words this week are puke (when he pukes a little), I okay (when I ask him if he's okay), broken (referring I a few toys he has broken), and Zerby Derby (a TV show on Sprout). He had a few words I can't quite understand but they are all close variations of the word he is trying to say. It's just a mystery sometimes to what he is saying. I realized this week that he now has #18 teeth; I totally missed his first 2-year old molar that is all the way in. #18 is still about half way through. Kason was helpful this week in helping me get a can for the storage room. A bunch of boxes were stacked in front of the cans so I explained to Kason what I needed and he walked Across the boxes and got me the can I needed. This week I was also trying to take a picture of Kolay and Kason ran up and told Kolay to "cheese". He is pretty fun. He loves to be outside; cold weather doesn't faze him.

Kolay is now 11-weeks old. She is a great self-soother and will usually kick and kick then fall asleep, then walk up and fall asleep again all without a fuss. She is getting much more interactive. She loves to smile and anyone who will talk to her, including her big brother. She is getting quite verbal back. Her mouth is always moving and she can now get out some sounds back. She is a great eater and is really consistent. She is back to sleeping great at night which is great! She loves to scratch her face so she wears mittens most all the time.

Monday was a pretty routine day, Kolt's classes in the morning and my work in the afternoon. In the evening, I went up to Rexburg to fill in for the volleyball team again. Kolt and the kids came with me and we drove Natalie as well.

Tuesday Kolt was at class all day. While I was home with the kids, I had a visit from my visiting teachers. Kason and I made great grandma Lindley’s Special K cereal treat for them. We have been making lots of that treat lately! In the evening, Kolt has his class and I started my first of 2 photography classes at Perfect Light Photography. My parents watched the kids at home. Kolay got hungry a little early so they fed her first bottle! She did great although they said she missed me, but it was good to know she would take one. Kason played and played and was very ready to go in his bed at bedtime. The class was great! I learned so much and now I need to practice. The teacher encouraged us to take at least 20 pictures a day and to not be afraid to delete. I learned a lot about the exposure triangle this week and it has helped my pictures a lot already. I can't wait to keep practicing!

Wednesday evening my mom had her first district basketball game. It was a good game; Kason played with Brooke and Nathan. They won that game to go onto the championship Thursday.

On Thursday I made my cousin Erica Green's recipe for Chicken enchiladas from our family cookbook.   They were delicious! Thanks Erica! Thursday evening we went to the championship. I had my volleyball practice first and Kolt met me at the gym with the kids to go over to eagle rock. It was an intense game but they did beat Sandcreek. Kolay was great during the loud game. Kason played with cousins.

Friday kason had grandmas day. He played outside and had a nap. He enjoyed playing with paisley and having snacks. Kolt and I did a little shopping after I got home from work and then went out to visit at grandma and grandpa piquet's.

Saturday morning Kolt took kason yo state wrestling at ISU. Kolay stayed home with me. We finished cleaning up the storage room and spent some time together. It's always nice to have a quiet day! In the afternoon, Kolt went to rope out at his parents arena. In the evening, we stayed at home and enjoyed a visit from cousins Kylen and Kamrie and their parents. Kason loves visitors.

Sunday morning we had regional conference. My dad went early to save seats and Kolt and Kolay went a little early to fill them. Kason and I got here at about exactly 10 am. Kason was really pretty good although he still doesn't understand whispering. He played with Nay- Nay and Brooke and fell asleep at about 11:15. Kolay slept all through the meeting. I enjoyed the talk from Sister Marriott and her message about understanding others. We also got a kick out of Elder Perrys humor at the beginning of his talk. After church we had dinner with the Lindleys and played outside for a long time! It was even warm enough to bring out some bikes and scooters. Kason stayed outside as long as he could.

More Teeth & Rolling Over

Kolay turned 10-weeks old on Saturday! She is growing up so much and starting to get a personality. She is a pretty diligent roller from belly to back. She will work and work til she gets turned over during her tummy time. She can hold her head up by herself for a little while. She is starting to coo and gurgle back and forth with you. She is such a low maintenance girl and is so fun to be around. She is great to take with me anywhere. She started a good little cough and is at the end of it thank goodness. We have been diffusing Breathe right by her bed all through the night which has helped tons. She was struggling to sleep at nights earlier in the week but slept 8 hours again last night! Yay!

Kason started repeating parts of the alphabet with us. He talks most all of the day. It is hard to take him to sacrament meeting and teach him that he needs to whisper. He prefers more of an outside voice everywhere he goes! He also has found the fun in repeating the same word over and over.  He got his 17th tooth on Friday night, his first 2-year old molar. It definitely explains his sudden lack of patience and increased demanding attitude. I forgot to mention that last Sunday Kolt taught Kason that cooked carrots were candy. Kason has really bought into that and as of last night still gobbles his "candy" with both hands when we offer it. We're going to keep that one going as long as we can! He is pretty good about trying new foods and forgetting about he sweets when they are out of sight.

Monday was a pretty normal day with morning classes and afternoon work for me. The evening was crazy--I filled in for a volleyball team in rexburg and then hurried back to play for another team at the Apple.  So thankful for people who help me with Kolay at both places. It is just too long to leave her home between feedings. This girl is already getting her feel of life in the gym!

Tuesday Kolt was at school from 8 am to 10 pm. Kolt had a test in his second class. He got an 87% which he was disappointed with; however it was quite high for the class. He started the day with institute, abnormal psychology, and then studied all afternoon until His organic evolution course in the evening. Tuesdays make for long days at home! We FaceTime a lot during breaks.

Wednesday Kolt had morning classes and I worked in the afternoon with Kolay. Kason, Kolay, and I went to district wrestling to watch Kolt's cousin Shelly's son wrestle. Kason was so intrigued with the mats! He thought we were going to watch brand play basketball and kept saying "Brand" over and over. Thank goodness we ran into him during lunch! Jared lost the match we watched but went on to place quite high, just barely missing qualifying for state. Kolt was able to get out of class in time to watch as well. He and kason went back to the championships later in the evening with brand and grandpa Lindley. I had volleyball practice with my 12 year old team. It was a good practice. The girls are learning to serve over the net from farther back and getting more rallies. I think we are about ready to learn how to hit! After volleyball, we dropped Kolt off at his church ball game. He enjoys playing basketball every week he can make it, although he keeps feeling like his body is getting older and more achy. He got a good workout last night because after his game, he ran home from the church too!

Thursday Kolt was at the school all day studying and preparing for a presentation in his senior seminar. The kids and I stayed home all day; I taught Evan his piano lesson in the afternoon. Kason loves to try to play with us. He thinks Evan is pretty cool when he plays. Kason had also been enjoying being with Kolt when he plays the piano and sings the hymns. I really love having music in our home. Kolt has even motivated me to play a little more in the week. Kason went to grandmas day with Grandma Piquet in the evening. He went to a relief society activity with her. I enjoyed taking a bath with Kolay and making homemade teriyaki chicken and rice bowls for dinner.

Friday was a busy day! Kolt shadowed in the morning and I took Kolay to her photo shoot for the cover of the Baby Parade 2014 at the post register. My mom was Ardmore to watch kason on the business office while I took Kolay downstairs with the 5 other kids. The theme was a cake smash and Kolay didn't do much smashing but there were plenty of kids to smash them. Hopefully the pictures turned out as I spent most of the time under a blanket laying behind a bench to hold on to her and not be seen! After the pictures, we hurried and met Kolt to go to a funeral of a neighbor who was in one of Kolt's classes a couple semesters ago and used to be in our ward. It was a nice funeral with a neat tribute to Jonathon Horton. Kolt stayed with the kids in the nursery and listened to the funeral while I played the organ and I went to the nursery to feed Kolay in between songs. After that, I went to work with Kolay and Kolt stayed home with Kason.  In the evening we went on a date night at ISU's Idaho Falls campus. They provided dinner and showed Mockingjay. We left Kason at home with grandma and grandpa and took Kolay with us. We were glad to meet Natalie and Brady there! It was a fun night!

On Saturday Kolt got up early to go rope at the Rexburg Arena for a few hours. He had a good time and felt like he did alright. He was thankful to be able to have a horse to share because he doesn't have one right now. After roping, Kolt came home to sleep because he picked up a last minute on-call night shift. He had planned to do a little homework if he got called in, but unfortunately he got called in and had quite a bit to do. He did make some progress on his homework in the night. I felt like I was up as much as Kolt was that night. It felt like Kason and Kolay took turns being awake so I got next to no sleep. Kolt usually takes kason at nights so we can both sleep. Dad was definitely missed at our house!

On Sunday, we went to our 1 o'clock block of church. I played the organ. Kason didn't do so well during sacrament meeting. He had a good morning nap but was just full of energy in the meeting. He seems to think that if mom and dad are whispering, he has to make up for the noise by shouting back. He also found that it was pretty fun to shout "Amen" 5 times after prayers. This week I went to nursery with him. They have quite a few young kids in nursery that fuss quite a bit and Kason seems to think that he needs to have his grandma the whole time. Kason did pretty good although he doesn't care to clean up toys and sit for a lesson just yet!

Our Valentine's Day

Kason is full of life right now. He is a busy-body, always wanting to do something. He is totally content to be outside for hours and hours. It’s pretty boring when he’s home with Mom and Kolay, since it is still a little too cold for Kolay most days.  He loves to sit on Horsey Kate in the backyard. On Sunday, Kolt actually found Kason and Brooke in the corral feeding hay to Kate. We are glad they were okay and that Kate is so good with kids. Kason definitely has to be under close watch outside! Kason still loves his morning pancakes. That is always his best meal of the day. Throughout the day, we can convince him to take a break from his busy schedule to eat yogurt, string cheese, shredded cheese, bananas, oranges, or apples.  His favorite “nacks” (snacks) are “nandy” (candy) and “teem” (whipped cream). He loves his usual squirt of whipped cream on his pancakes in the morning. His toughest job is to make sure that Kolay’s binky is in her mouth. Since we have 1:00 church, Kason has started taking naps around 10 AM, and going to bed between 7 and 8 at nights.  It’s been a tough transition because he is usually ready for a second nap in the late afternoon, but then has a hard time going to bed at nights.  Kason’s favorite show is still Super Why.  He started sounding out letters this week and repeats numbers to 10.  He loves repeating words and will echo everything you say.  He can officially say all 8 of his cousins’ names. 

Kolay has already taken on the role of peacemaker at our home. She is pretty easy going and always brings out the best in everyone. She smiles and smiles now. It is adorable. She is great to go to anyone and is also great to lie in her chair or bassinet to let her mom keep up with Kason at home. She is really good at holding up her head and is getting better at sitting in the Bumbo. She is officially a roller already! She rolls from her belly to back pretty consistently. The first time she rolled over was last Saturday and today she did it several times in a row. She is so patient with her brother’s acts of love, which sometimes end up being a one-sided wrestling match. She is still on a great 3-hour schedule in the day and 6 hour schedule at night. Kolay had her 2-month appointment this week! She weighed in at 10 pounds 14 ounces (45%) and measured 22.5 inches (58%) with a 15.25 in head (72%).  She still has her belly button hernia, but the doctor said it’s healing well.  Her eczema rash is all gone! ‘nkShe got her first round of immunizations and was really tough! Kason and Kolt stepped outside during her shots, so I stayed in with her alone. I really like having Kolt in with me during the shots to make me feel tougher, but I really didn’t want Kason to see the shots more. Kolay had one oral immunization; as the nurse was telling me that she was sucking it better than most 2-month olds, I realized that that was the first thing she had had besides breastfeeding. She still hasn’t even had a bottle (which will change soon as Kolt and I really want to attend a temple session before it closes in March). Kolay barely teared up when she got the shots and was soothed about 10 seconds later and never fussed again. She didn’t even need Tylenol when she got the shots. I contribute her toughness to the fact that she has an older brother who toughens her up on a daily basis. We are pretty impressed with our baby girl!

Monday Kolt shadowed in the morning, and I worked in the afternoon. Kolt is learning a lot from his shadowing with Scott. Scott is great to explain things to him and let him do some hands on things.  Kolay is great to come to work with me still. She sleeps most of the time, and I put her chair underneath my desk, so I can rock her with my foot for hours. She is pretty content and also loves to lay on my desk and kick. After work, we drove to Sugar City to visit my Grandpa & Grandma Dalling.  They were great to visit with! They got to meet Kolay for the first time, and Kason liked visiting with Grandpa.  Grandpa talked to us a little bit about his service as mayor of Sugar City, and we visited and laughed a lot about raising kids.  I played volleyball again afterwards in Rexburg. The kids did much better this time for Kolt. Playing a little earlier in the evening seems to be better for both kids.

Tuesday Kolt had classes and the kids and I stayed home for the day.  Kolt has been working really hard in his classes.  He is taking Abnormal Psychology, Organic Evolution, Pathobiology, a Senior Seminar, and Medical Terminology. He only has 10 hours of in-class time because a couple of the classes are online.  Although he doesn’t have much class time each week, you would never know the difference. He has been spending nearly 12 hours at school on Tuesday and Thursday, the days I don’t work.  During those days, he does most of the week’s homework and lectures online.  He is a diligent student and never misses class or homework. On Tuesday evening, the kids and I met Grandpa Lindley at Grandma’s basketball game at RMMS.

Wednesday evening we went to Brand’s last basketball game. The kids got valentines from Grandma & Grandpa Piquet.  Kason loves his dog valentines! Kason wasn’t feeling good with a bit of a cough and upset stomach. Right after the game, I had volleyball practice in the gym. Trish watched Kolay again, and Kason went home with Kolt. Kolt was also feeling pretty sick today as well.  Last Friday, he went to the doctor and got an antibiotic to try to kick a nasty cough and congestion.  He has been coughing and coughing for a couple weeks now, and Kason and Kolay have both started it.  Unfortunately the antibiotic hasn’t been helping, so it must be viral. His back has also started to spasm enough that he can hardly walk or move without serious pain.  He was able to get a muscle relaxer to help him through a few miserable days. We have spent the last week heating, sitting in the hot tub, doing lower back stretches and strengthening his muscles until he finally feels better. It has been a crazy thing—he can’t figure out what made it upset, maybe coughing too much or shooting hoops with Brand outside that afternoon, but he seems to be doing much better now!

On Thursday, Kolt has class and homework most of the day. I taught Evan his piano lesson; he keeps amazing me. He’s a quick learner and practices every week.  In the evening, we went to Grandma’s basketball game again with Grandpa. On Friday, we went to Kolay’s doctor appointment and I worked. Kolt stayed home with Kason. It was a pretty routine day! In the evening, before it got too cold, we took the kids for a walk. Kason loved the park. I have a feeling we will be spending a lot of time there this summer! Friday evening, Paisley, Landon  & Shauna came to bring us Valentine cupcakes. Kason and Paisley enjoyed playing together while we visited, and Kolay snuggled with Shauna and Landon.

Saturday was Valentine’s Day! Kolt surprised me with a dozen red roses, my favorite frosted sugar cookies, and a Roku stick. He is so good at listening to the things I tell him about and surprising me with them on the holidays. I am very lucky to have him as my valentine.  I surprised Kolt with sticky notes on the bathroom mirror in the shape of a heart with all the things I love about him. The kids made a valentine craft for their mommy. It’s a LOVE board that has Kason’s handprint as the “O” and Kolays’ footprints as the “V”. Thank you Pinterest! It turned out great! In the evening, Kason stayed with Tatelyn Hill while Kolt and I went to Macey’s Homecoming dinner and Stake Conference.  Kason did great at home. He loves Tate and was saying her name all the way to pick her up.  Tate fed him lots for dinner and then let him eat cupcakes for dessert.  We had a great time visiting with Macey at her dinner. Returned missionaries have such a special spirit; it was great to be around her. Aunt Jan spoiled us by holding Kolay for most of the time we were there! We then hurried to the Stake Adult Session of Conference. It is always one of my favorite meetings.  I was really touched by a talk from the mission president’s wife in our area. I can’t even remember the theme of her talk, but I remember her mentioning that sometimes our homes are “Celestial Chaos”. I loved that. I feel like that often right now, but it really is Celestial. I love being home with my kids; it really is a heaven on earth at our home.  We also were instructed to “redouble” our efforts in attending the temple even with it being closed for a year and half. I have been thinking a lot about what that means and how we can do that. I also spent a lot of time thinking of my Grandpa Lindley who passed away on Valentine’s Day a few years ago. I am always amazed at the many things he accomplished in life and the love he had for his family. He will always be missed, and I can’t wait to see him again someday.

Sunday morning we attended Macey’s mission report in her ward at 9 AM.  She did a great job. We had an interesting meeting. Right during her talk, Kason started choking on a piece of cereal. Combined with his cough and the cereal blocking off his air, he choked pretty good and threw up as I was leaving the meeting. He was pretty upset after that, and it was pretty scary for mommy. On the way to our Stake Conference (we had to leave a little early to make it), we decided to take Kason home and let him sleep. He crashed as soon as we got there around 10:15.  I went to Stake Conference for the first half and then traded Kolt and let him go the second half. It was an interesting day! We had a nice dinner with the Lindley’s in the afternoon. Kason loves playing with his cousins.