just an everyday update

Zak- Zak has another week of school and then he will be done with first grade. This year has flown by for him and it is crazy to think how big he is. Big is right...this kid is big and solid. He eats a ton and is super strong. I can't even imagine the food bill in the future. He has made lots of friends at school...Lucas and Jackson and we hear about them daily. His strongest subjects are writing, reading, and spelling. (He never has to practice and the words are huge. Half the time I have to see if they are spelled right because I don't know.) He has to give more effort with his math, and thus doesn't enjoy it as well. Zak started baseball for the first time this year and he is loving it!! I was worried he would be bored or wouldn't want to practice but he loves it and is learning a lot. He gets better and better. He has played first base both games so that has been exciting for him. He is getting better and hitting the ball and he can hit it hard!

Makelle-I only have a week left with her by herself and then it will be summer and then she will leave me to go to Kindergarten all day. I don't know if I will survive without her. All of a sudden she has turned into the biggest helper. She babysits Karlee for me most of the day while I wander around the house doing things. She LOVES her sister and loves to hold and talk to her. She is a great help and is practicing hard to be a mom. She just finished dance for the second time and she still just loves it!

Lantz-What do I say about this kid. He makes us smile all the time. He is so funny. After lots of appointments we were finally able to test his hearing and realize that he is walking around like he has ear plugs in. Poor guy. The good news is that it is all reversible and due to fluid in his ears. He goes in a couple of weeks to get tubes put in and then hopefully he can hear good. Poor guy has been getting in trouble for not listening to me.....whoops!

Karlee-Gets more fun and cuter everyday. I love this stage when her face just lights up when I talk to her. She still sleeps great and even slept 8 hours straight a couple of nights and for Mother's day she went 12! Now that was a great gift! She is super chunky with lots of rolls everywhere. She looks more like 6 months instead of 3! She is happy and easy going. She gets tons of love and attention from all of the kids. She is getting ticklish and now we can make her laugh!

John-Is officially a senior. We have less than 365 days left before he is a dentist. That's right the big day is May 11, 2013 and we can't believe it is almost here. Our time here has flown by as well as school. CRAZY! Now our prayer is that his car can just make it that long.

Me-Same old same old. I stay busy with my calling and all the good and bad that comes with it. I get to play with and referee my kids at home all day! I just learned how to index and how to can black and chili beans for the first time so that is exciting. I rediscovered my like (not love) of sewing and have been doing that.

Life is fantastic...we are so blessed!

Some of the many faces of Karlee!

Karlee's Blessing

On Sunday, April 29th John was able to give Karlee her name and a blessing.  His parents and Becca were able to come and share the day with us.  She looked beautiful and she stared at her Dad quietly for the entire blessing. Here are a few pictures from her special day.

Mom and her girls!

Our crazy family of six with Karlee.

Grandma and Grandpa with Karlee.  By now she is DONE with pictures!

What a cute, happy, pretty girl!  This is the face we see and like the most!

 Lantz provided the after church entertainment.

While Grandma and Grandpa were here we also celebrated Zak's 7th Birthday.  My, what a big boy I have.

John decorated the cupcakes for the party.  Where did he get all of his skills?

For the 3rd year in a row we had a carnival party.  It is what Zak wants every year.  This year rain was forcasted so we had the party in the garage.  I know you can't get more redneck than that!

Karlee just hung out....she is starting to get the rubberband hands!

Zak did get the apple and he got a little wet in the process.

Zak didn't have time to make his own cake so John did it for him this year.

We had fun for kids of all ages!

Karlee got to meet Grandpa David for the first time.  What do you think...Does she like him?

On the Saturday that John's family came in to town.  Zak and John spent 6 hours at the urgent care.  Zak was playing in the garage with a glass jar.  He was pounding it on the cement to see how hard he had to do it to make it break.  Well it broke and and went right through his hand.  He had to get 9 stitches and then go to a hand specialist because he cut some of the tendon.  In the end it ended up being fine and we look forward to taking the stitches out ourselves this week!  Both John and Zak were very brave with all of the stitches and blood!

Zak ended his birthday by getting to stay up late and help finish planting the garden. 

Grandpa and Karlee taking a morning nap together.

Grandma and Grandpa took us on  a little trip at the end of their visit.  We drove an hour away and spent the night at a hotel and got to do lots of swimming.  The next day we went to some fun places for the kids.

After swimming the giant toilet slide was the trip favorite.  The kids LOVED getting flushed down the toilet!