Monday, May 11, 2020

APRIL


We drove up to my Parent's house one day over Spring Break to water their plants while they were out of town.  My mom graciously offered some kinetic sand she had to keep my kiddos busy.  They loved the sand and played well together for quite some time.
 






Millie often curls up in bed for quiet time with an iPad.  Silas joined her on this day. Melts my heart to see them all cuddled together.



Silas has an obsession with Spiderman.  He can sit and watch Spiderverse over and over again.


Here is a video that makes me smile each time I watch it.  Silas doing his Spiderman dance.




Silas loves music and the little hand harpsichord that Aunt Jamie's family gave us for Christmas.


Phin reached for a hot out of the oven cookie one afternoon and ended up with a pretty nasty burn.


One day while I was doing Teletherapy...Silas decided it would be a good time to play in the flour.  Apparently he has no idea that flour is a hard commodity to find in this Covid-19 pandemic.


We got all dressed up for General Conference Sunday so we could participate in the Solemn Assembly.  It was so cool to have that experience as a little family.



It also happened to be a pretty windy Sunday...so Seth took the kids over to the park to fly kites.




We also headed up to the Capitol Building to enjoy the Cherry Blossoms. This was a few days before they were at their peak.










Remote learning has been rough...by the time I have done Teletherapy all morning, I am exhausted.  It takes a lot to push Phin along to get his remote learning done.  


I have found that our days go best when he does his work at the same time I am doing Teletherapy.  


 Phin's Let's Play Music classes are also being done remotely.  His teacher sends out YouTube videos for each lesson that we do at our own pace.  Then we meet with the entire class once a week to get homework checked off.


Our amazing Primary Presidency organized a little parade.  They drove by and the kids were so excited to wave to them.


I also found a couple harmonicas so the kids could greet their Presidency with a tune.


Silas just loves being outside.


Seth decided this foam sword is an outside toy and he showed Silas how to go after our bushes...instead of Millie.


Seth picked up a few bags of fresh sand and our little sandbox has been a favorite.


Our favorite local ranch decided to do a Drive-Thru Baby Animal Days.  We signed up for a season pass...because really it is nice to have one place to go.  


The kids loved seeing all of the animals.




Silas is now big enough for scooter rides and loves every chance he gets to go with Seth.


Millie and Silas' amazing teachers organized an at home Easter egg hunt. Miss Margo came by and hid eggs in our yard.  It was the highlight of our week.



Phin volunteered to open all of the candy packages...and sample each package as well.


On our next trip to Baby Animal Days we loved searching for the Easter Eggs that were hidden throughout the farm.  Phin pointed out each one to me.



I love the days when my kids are kind and loving to each other.  On this particular day I looked back to see Phin and Millie holding hands.



We have been trying to spend more time outside each evening.  Millie and Silas got fresh sidewalk chalk from their teachers and were excited to try it out. 


Grandma Jo and Grandad were sweet enough to drop off some lunch for us the Saturday before Easter.  They were careful and kept their social distance.  It was lovely to see them even from a distance.


We fixed up all of the bikes one Saturday.  Phin loved getting involved.


Silas insisted that I get down the bubbles.  





 We made homemade pizza.  The kids loved choosing their own toppings and helping out in the kitchen.


Easter Sunday finally arrived.  I found a dress that was mine when I was little and it fit Millie perfect.  I love the little puffy rabbit tails on the front of this dress.


Phin humored me with a few photos...


Silas on the other hand did not.  He woke up grumpy and was not happy about our photo shoot.


For Sunday school we watched a church video.


I love this photo of my boys.




In the afternoon our baskets arrived and we had a little egg hunt. 


Silas stuck an entire Cadbury Creme Egg into his mouth. 


We also "egged" a couple of houses.  The kids had so much fun hiding eggs in Kira and Zoey, Connor and Grace's yards.  


We hooked a little training handle onto the back of Millie's bike and she loves going for bike rides.



Our swing is also up and she loves being out on the swings.


Seth's extended family has been doing a weekly Zoom call to keep in touch.  


We also have played some games over a simulator with Scott...it just isn't the same as being in person.


Phin convinced me to get the kites out again.  He was quite delighted when he got this one all the way up to the roof.





We have still been picking up free school lunch and breakfast.  It is a great break in our day and makes lunch time so much easier for me.


Silas doing his Baby Shark video before nap time.


One day Spiderman joined me for Teletherapy.


It is nice that Phin is big enough to pull the other kids around in the wagon.



I also had Millie dress up in one of my old knit outfits.  This is one of my favorite and although it was a little snug, it was so fun to see Millie in it.




Seth was able to convince Millie to give the Piggy-back-bike a try.  She fell in love quickly and has been asking for rides every night.




Silas prefers to be close to me as I work each morning.  He tends to hang out on the couch watching shows and eating granola bars while I do Teletherapy.


Because two is always better than one...


Silas cracks me up.  He can often be found wandering around the yard with a big bucket over his head.


We have enjoyed the bleeding hearts in our flower garden.


Silas has mastered the Radio Flyer tricycle.


Our kids love to jump on the sprinkler covers.



Nona was kind enough to make us masks.


Once we hit 60 degrees the kids decided it was pool weather.  We pulled out the kiddie pool and they had a blast.



We took out the tree by our front door.  Phin helped Seth with the removal.



When we talked about King Benjamin, we set up Millie's tent.


I still think it is crazy that we are living in this world.  Going to Costco is seriously a chore and nearly gives me a panic attack each time I venture out.  I also think all this stress is making my hair turn grey...


Nona and Papa gave Silas a water table for his birthday.  The kids have had so much fun playing together.









The National Guard did a flyover to boost spirits.  I was on a Zoom meeting but rushed out quickly to see the flyover.  The kids loved it.



Silas has learned to pick all of the marshmallows out of Lucky Charms.  He has also figured out how to get the cereal down and pull himself a bowl.


Sunday, May 10, 2020

2 YEARS OLD


Silas turned 2 at the end of March!  He is absolutely at my favorite age.  He is 34 inches tall (44th percentile) and weighs 23 pounds 9 ounces (5th percentile).  He is still rocking 18 month clothing and size 4 diapers.  


He loves balls...that little scab on his forehead happened when he was running after a ball...somehow he tripped and landed on top of the ball and then fell onto his forehead.


We discovered that he loves Baby Shark.  He must have heard the song at school but he sings it all on his own.  We bought a Baby Shark puppet with the money that Grandma Jo and Grandad sent for his birthday.  He requests to see the Baby Shark video on my phone consistently throughout the day.


One of his favorite phrases is "No Mom."  I have also heard him say "Go away."   I think he has picked that one up from Millie.


He is by far our best eater...which is ironic considering his size.  He is a granola bar addict.  He also loves cheese, pepperoni, apples, cereal with milk and olives.


He is finally getting his canine teeth which brings his teeth total up to fourteen.  When he was getting one of his most recent set of teeth he developed a pretty nasty ear infection.  He was so tired.


 He was also extra cuddly...which I happen to love.


After he started pulling on his ear we made an appointment with the pediatrician.  This also happened to be just a couple of days after they announced the soft school closure.  Out of an abundance of caution they had him wear this face mask...Millie and Phin also were required to wear one too.  


He gave some great cuddles when he was recovering...honestly I love these moments when he still wants to be close.  Within a few days of being on antibiotics he was back to his normal self.


 He is now in a "Big Boy Bed."   He is getting really good at saying his prayers.

 

Here is a picture of his room once we got the crib taken down and everything rearranged.  He loves to look at books as he is falling asleep for his nap.


He has a sweet tooth and loves ice cream so his ice cream birthday cake was a big hit.





With Silas it often feels like I am getting a mulligan.  He reminds me so much of Phin at this age.  Here is a photo of Phin at 2 so you can see the similarities.

 

When I look at Seth's baby pictures I remember that the apple hasn't fallen very fall from the tree.  This picture in particular reminds me so much of Silas. Silas even presses his lips together in the same duck face.


We love you Silas!  Thank you for coming to our family.  You make us smile every day.  You remind us what is most important and what needs to be cherished.  This pandemic has slowed time down and we don't mind because it means we get to enjoy you at two!