Update: April and May

Trip to the zoo on one of Aaron’s Fridays off. We made a stop by the Dog House before because we actually had cash, and it was worth the wait. I don’t know what they do, but those hot dogs are DELICIOUS. I ran a 5K in April. I hadn’t run in forever, so it was a big achievement, even if it was the slowest race I’ve run yet. Definitely not posting pictures of me running, because I look like I should go on The Biggest Loser. I know Aaron hates when I say things like that, but even he agrees that those pictures turned out very, very badly. Here’s a picture post run after I had recovered a bit. Best part of April was going on a girls’ trip to Phoenix with some of my closest friends. We all lived in Albuquerque at some point, but about half of us have moved away from the Ventana Ward. People came from California, Texas, and Washington to play. We had an amazing time. I am so blessed to be able to call all of these women my friends. Matching shirts and trips to Ikea FTW! Many preschool field trips occurred in April and May: Dions   The firestation   Mr. Walkers Popcorn Bridget had her first haircut.   Katie with Mrs. Sickenger on the last day of 2nd Grade. Paul with Mr. Nunn on the last day of kindergarten. Averi helped me make this “Welcome to summer” banner.   Paul and Katie learned how to ride their bikes without training wheels this summer. Aaron and I realized we had been extremely remiss in teaching them, and so the day after school got out Aaron spent the evening teaching them how to ride. They learned in one night! I was so impressed. It was such a wonderful feeling as a parent watching them master that skill and seeing the joy and surprise on their faces as they did it. Just as a side note: Paul has a boy’s bike. We just had him learn on the smaller one until he mastered it. He’s still a manly man. Super cute Bridget loves her babies.

February and March 2013

Katie went through a phase earlier this year where she lost a million teeth in a four month period. Or seven. Still a lot. Blueberry syrup makes for messy faces and arms. Also, I have no idea what’s going on with Averi’s hair in that picture. Bridget loved dressing up in Averi’s coat.   We did Cupid’s cafe for dinner where all the items (including utensils) were in code. The kids had mixed feelings about this. It was fun, except when you didn’t get a fork to eat your salad. I think Paul was in tears by the end of the meal. However, when I ask them about it now, they say that it was awesome.   Katie got her ears pierced. I can’t even begin to explain how hysterical she was. It took Connie and I physically holding her down while two technicians pierced at the same time. I would never inflicted so much trauma had I not known how badly she wanted her ears pierced. She had been begging for years, and Aaron and I finally decided she was mature enough. Katie is not a brave soul, however, and it was terrifying when it actually came time to have it done. Hence the super puffy face from many, many tears. Once it was done, she was perfectly fine. She did an amazing job of keeping them clean and we’ve had no problems with infection. She’s such a girly girl and adores getting new earrings.   Babies bowling are the cutest. My awesome friends Stacey and Michelle helped me tear down the hideous faux-rock fireplace that I had hated since the day we moved in. My parents had the kids for the week, and I was planning on painting the rock as an “in the meantime” solution until I figured out what to do there. When they heard about my plan, they asked why I didn’t just tear it down. Because it would be hard! And take forever! And I don’t know how! Then they said, Let’s do it now! We don’t have anything planned for this afternoon. I jumped all over that. I didn’t even call Aaron because I was afraid he’d tell me no. We went to the next door neighbor and borrowed chisels and sledgehammers and got to work. Michelle and Stacey’s little girls watched us with rapt attention (from a safe distance, of course). I think that was my favorite part. I loved that they got to see their moms doing hard things. It came off much more easily than I anticipated. In fact, the clean up was the longest part of the job. With the bookshelves painted white. The mostly-finished product. We still haven’t decided how we’re doing the hearth. We’re thinking a granite slab. Doesn’t even look like the same room, does it? Albuquerque has the best sunsets ever.