Molly-14 months

Molly has now decided that she likes to walk and is getting very good at it.  It's so fun! She wants to feed herself, very messy. She wants to be held by me lots of her awake time, tiring. If I can get her in a carrier, comfortably, then it's not such a bother to me because I can still get stuff done. She loves treats. She is very determined to do what she wants. She has the biggest grin and most beautiful giggle. And her hair is long, although thin. I can do some things with it. 

The BBQ mishap

Joel got a little singed as I was attempting to teach him how to light the BBQ. I've done this several times before but apparently we left the gas on too long before the match hit it and the flames shot up about 3 feet. Joel was standing the closest and had the worst of it. He was so scared. He burned his lips and just above his upper outer lip. He thought he looked like a vampire. To me it looked more like he had a big kool aid stain. Anyway, we treated it with doterra's lavender essential oil, every 30 minutes or so, and after about 5 applications, his lips had completely returned to normal. So awesome!

Molly turned 1

Most of us don't prefer the typical cake or cupcakes for a birthday treat. So I bagged it for Molly and did strawberry and blueberry lady bugs with chocolate! So yummy. I remember making such a big deal out of Brynn's first birthday or maybe I didn't. Her birthday was quiet, she obviously didn't really understand what was going on. She loved it when we sang to her, I did several times throughout the day. I think she enjoyed Macy's birthday better, 4 days later. She is a mama's girl. She is sweet, has the biggest grin, currently takes amazing afternoon naps-3-4 hours, which keeps my sanity, likes to make noise, loves to play with anything not a toy, especially wallets, earrings, and other things that should be off limits. She's little. 15th percentile for her weight-just over 17 pounds.  Loves to crawl and walk holding onto furniture. She can take steps but isn't really interested in walking. I can't help her see that playing outside would be way more fun and less dirty if she walked! The heart murmur they detected when she was new is not noticeable anymore. Yay!

Macy had a birthday

This sweet girl turned 9 in March. 

We love that she is kind, generous, confident, and genuine. For example today she was having this conversation with 4 year old Spencer. 

Spencer: mom is making me play with Molly in the basement while she makes dinner. (He sighs and rolls his eyes.) it's not fun to play with Molly. 

Macy: just pretend it's really fun and then she will have fun and be happy!

This girl understands better than me a couple of principles. 1.  Fake it til you make it. 2. Giving service is important and by doing it, you bless others. 

Brynn the photographer

I'm impressed with this girl's ability to capture cute moments, scenery, etc. 

Mountains are still my favorite but I've learned to love the prairie and its unique beauty, particularly the sunrises and sunsets and the ability to see for miles. 

Spring break

Spring break coincided with Easter, which is a long weekend in Canada! So we stayed home to spend Easter together. The kids and I were adventurous and drove to Washington to visit our Wright family there. It was a short but fun week. 

I got to attend the temple twice, once to watch Brynn and two cousins be baptized for relatives names we found, and once to do a session of sealings with my mom and dad, and my brother and his wife. It was awesome. I love the spirit I feel in the temple!

The next two days were spent shopping. It was time for wardrobe updates for the kids, spring and summer wear. First the boys, then the girls. It was fun bonding times and we love getting clothes outside of southern Alberta so we don't have the same items as many others in our town!

This wagon was dual purpose. Fun for Molly at first. Then the big kids discovered they could ride it down the driveway. Very adventurous of them since you can't steer it very well. 

Spencer sporting his new goggles and shirt. He ended up with a bunch of name brand stuff from Ross, which I'm not into for little kids, but it was the same price as Walmart but better quality.

And the last day we found a really fun park, the theme of the park was based on a children's story, Ferdinand, then we had to go to zips for criscuts. 

After Molly was down for a nap, the kids and me hiked to the pond near my parents house. I had never been there and the kids didn't know where they going so we took a very round about way. After 1 1/2 hours of walking we discovered we were above the pond on a different trail. 

This is where we went wrong. 

Our 2 hour hike would have been half that long, at least, if only I'd known. But it was a good time and good exercise and the day was beautiful. 

Easter

We spent good Friday at the farm with grandma and grandpa Torrie and the southern Alberta crew. Easter egg hunt. My sister in law, Whitney, was awesome and put a grape in the eggs! Then they got to find little chocolates spread on the grass. The kids threw eggs down the sand hill and uncle Spencer drove the quad like a mad man while they tried to hit him with the boiled, decorated eggs. 

Molly made friends with aunt Tonya, finally!

Other events of the weekend:

I was called as primary president on Easter Sunday. 

We announced to our kids first, then parents and our siblings, about baby #6 coming in October. 

The kids' responses were varied. Brynn was so surprised and shocked that she cried. She wasn't sure if she was happy or sad. Joel was glad as long as it's a boy. Macy was surprised and Spencer didn't really care. 

I think I'm still surprised that it's real. I haven't heard the heartbeat yet but I sure have been sick and my tummy is growing way too quickly! Mornings are my favorite and least sick time of day. Evenings are rough. I'm usually ready to crawl in bed by 6:30 or 7, but no such luck. 

We feel blessed that we can bring another spirit into the world and know we will be given help to care for it. 

We are so grateful for the Savior, His life, death, and resurrection, that allows us to have eternal life, peace, and joy. 

Child labor

I coerced my older children to entertain the younger ones at the park on Saturday. I even offered a small monetary bribe because I was afraid they would turn me down. They needed fresh air and I needed an hour of peace and quiet. 

Brynn discovered that Molly loves the baby swing! Hooray. 

Molly is 11 months

Molly likes to be the centre of attention. She is a Mama's girl to the max. She is currently getting 6 new teeth. I'm sure some of her fussiness has to do with that. She dropped her 2nd nap in the last two months. She can walk along furniture like a pro and can stand on her own. Her balance is great. She has the cutest smile and contagious giggle. She loves to babble a lot. 

Molly was hanging out with me today while I was resting in bed. 

Happenings

Bathroom renovation number #1 has begun. A full Saturday to demo, all the way down to the floor boards. We had to cut out some drywall, due to mold. Progress! Now we must be patient as we build our new bathroom. 

Brynn gave Macy a makeover. But needed some help with the hair. These moments where two children are getting along, are precious. 

We try to eat donuts the 12th day of every month in honor of Ryan Henrie, who died on June 12 in a car accident. This time we made them. So delicious and not very difficult. They are baked so it's basically a sweet bun with glaze or icing on it. 

We've been trying new hair dos for Macy, thanks to a website called "babes in hair land". This was for Valentine's Day. 

Brynn likes pictures taken in nature. 

Spencer enjoying his smoothie after declaring that he doesn't like smoothies. 

Brynn crushed this gum package while watching one of Joel's basketball games. It was intense. Her friend played for the other team and she cheered for Joel! Happy parent moment!!

His tricks on the new trampoline, the way he swings, and wanting to plant the garden in January because it was warm.