Paige is still high-centered on her tummy at 7 1/2 months, but she can scoot backwards a little bit. She is finally sitting up pretty well, and she did actually roll over today. I'm pretty sure she'll eventually do all of these things and even walk, but for now we'll just enjoy how sweet and immobile she is.
I guess I've been listening to a little too much Super Why.
I've also been making baby food for Paige. It's really easy to do, especially with my new Vitamix. Paige has tried all sorts of fruits and vegetables because it's so easy to puree them whenever we're eating them. I've also been keeping more on hand now that I make smoothies so often. I made carrots, peas, and prunes in large quantities and froze them in ice cube trays. Then I just pop them out and store them in a freezer ziplock. It turns out to be about a quarter of the price of canned baby food and it's really easy to do.
Tyson's earned his Bear Rank in scouting. It's exciting to see him excel and enjoy scouting. We're proud of you Tyson.
Today Kate gave her first talk in primary, on baptism. We have opening exercises in the chapel so it was up at the podium with the microphone. At first when I told her about the talk she said "no, I think I'll just give a prayer or something." (which I can only imagine what she would come up with to say. I'm sure she wouldn't want help since she knows well how to pray). Then I told her that in our family we get a candy bar for giving talks. After that she was all for it. We practiced a few times. The first time, instead of repeating what I said, she just finished the sentance. But she got it after that and she did it all. It was very cute. And amazingly enough she was so proud of herself that hasn't even remembered about the candy bar...yet!
Instruction in the Home
"The final desire of the Prophet Joseph Smith was to build a community of spiritual Saints. This begins in the home. The most important instruction our children will ever receive will be that which parents give to them in their own home, if parents diligently teach their children the way our Father in Heaven would like them to follow. One instruction our leaders have given us is to hold regular family home evenings where we can meet together weekly, learn gospel principles, and build family unity. Here we can counsel together, read the scriptures, pray together, and play together. Our greatest goal is to become an eternal family. We build a community of Saints one family at a time."
L. Tom Perry
Friday night we took my parents and brother, Jeff, to the Artwalk and their school. Tyson was in a recorder performance. Their class played for 25 minutes. Towards the end I noticed that he was doing a duet with another boy in his class. Before they played his music teacher said that Tyson was one of the few kids that has been playing the recorder for two years (because he is in a 3/4 split class) and that last year he wasn't really into it, but she was surprised this year that he was really good and would make a good band player. They played 'Morning Song' and 'The Lion Sleeps'. 
It was fun to walk around and see all of the kids' art. The school looked great. My family was very impressed. There are a lot of dedicated volunteers and teachers helping to make it happen. It was a nice evening. I'm sure the kids' favorite part was tapping grandpa's wallet for endless rootbeer floats and cookies.
These beautiful stawberries cut into hearts are what I came down to for breakfast on Mother's Day, along with French Toast, bacon, and a smoothie. It was a wonderful treat. Thanks kids (and Rick), I sure felt loved. Kate gave me a cute card from her preschool and Bradley gave me some sweet messages with candy from school. Tyson had been sick and missed three days of school so he hadn't made anything. Instead he gave me the gift of service. He willingly set the whole dining room table for dinner. It looked beautiful, thanks!
For dinner we had my parents, Jeff, and the Hatch's over. It was nice to spend Mother's Day with my Mom. Thanks for being such a wonderful example Mom. And thank you to Rick's mom for raising a great son, Happy Mother's Day.
I ran into Value Village the other day and saw a whole rack of cute jeans that were about my size. I don't usually shop for clothes for myself there, but I have been wanting new jeans for a long time so I figured, why not. It looked like someone had pulled a bunch from the rack, tried them on, and left a stack behind. One pair was my favorite, but I decided I might as well try them all. The pair I liked the best were the only ones that fit. I bought them and then decided I should check online for fun to see how much they were worth since I wasn't familiar with the brand. This is what I found, a used pair on a resale website.
This afternoon Tyson was frantically looking for the neighbor's mail key (he's been taking in their mail for 2 weeks). It had been in the van this morning. I told Tyson to take it from Kate and put it away. When we got home from baseball the neighbors had arrived home from their cruise so we started looking in the van for the key. Kate said she had put it in her pocket and lost it at the ballfield. The last thing I wanted to do was take four kids in the pouring rain to look for the lost key. After about ten minutes of agony we found the key right where it was supposed to be. So, Tyson forgot, and Kate fabricated a story. Not her first....
Paige, my sweet baby, that I have endearingly nicknamed "Pudgy Paige", threw her first fit last night (at 6 1/2 months). She was playing with a paper towel. I wanted to walk away to do something and thought I'd better not leave it in her hands because she'd probably eat it and choke on it. She totally started balling..... Here we go!
Today Kate decided she wanted to drive so I told her she would have to be 16. As she got dressed and did her hair I kept telling her she was getting older (6, 8, 10 etc). It worked great she giggled and giggled while usually she has a hard time getting dressed in something I choose. And at Costco she was telling all the 'sample ladies' that she was 16.
Kate: "Do I have to sit in a carseat?"
Mom: "Of course."
Kate: "How will I get a car?"
Mom: "You'll have to get a job to earn money, and then buy a car."
Kate: "No, I have a better idea, Dad can ride in the van with you, and I'll drive the car."
I'm sure her entitlement attitude will not be changing in the next 13 years. I just want her to stay the cute little girl she is right now, in the little pigtails she put in herself tonight.
Earlier this week the boys told her she could be in Sydney's family if she married Logan. Her eyes lit up!
Kate: "Mom, I'm going to ask Logan to marry me, and then I'm going to kiss him!"
Kate: (a few hours later, lying on the couch looking forlorn) "Mom, I want to ask Logan to marry me, but I think he's going to say no."
She did sound three today though as she pointed out the gatorade at Costco and said "let's get some alligator mom."
I haven't used this title much in the past 10 years. My last day of work was the day before Tyson was born in 1999. In January, Rick and I decided that with the slowing real estate market, I should try to find a part time job. I only have 1 year of experience and dietetics job are not very plentiful, so I was a little doubtful. I painfully pulled together a resume and applied to a handful of places. When I got an email for an interview I was actually shocked. I ended up getting a Per Diem job, which is what I did at my last job. It is at Highline Medical Center, in Burien, which is thankfully, a much smaller hospital that University Hospital in Salt Lake City, where I worked before. I will be working one day a month and covering vacations for 3 dietititans. Last week I trained for 3 days. Rick had the kids. It was a bit stressful commuting, getting oriented, trying to bring back my clinical knowledge for the back corner of my brain, and thinking about how my family was doing at home without me. The second day was much better, and by the third I was feeling really good about it. Rick is getting the hang of it too. Thursday I got home and he had prepared orange chicken (premade from Costco), with rice, steamed broccoli, and a beautiful garden salad. WOW! We did it...so far.
The best was after my first day, when Bradley asked if there were any surgeries at the hospital that day. I said, yes, to which he fervently asked "did you do them??" Cute.
We started our celebration by coloring eggs and decorating sugar cookies at the Gealtas. Thanks Rebecca for all the prepping.
Paige hung out in her carseat in the car while the kids hunted!
Afterwards, we went down to Kent Station where Kate got to do another hunt (limit of 5 eggs) and the boys did a scavenger hunt around some of the businesses. 
Then we got our picture taken with the Easter Bunny.
The kids favorite part was after the event, when a guy found 2 boxes of eggs they hadn't put out for the hunt and he dumped them right in front of about 10 kids and let them go to town. They ended up getting a ton of eggs (with amazingly good chocolate). They were thrilled.
I had a few things for the kids so we had another small hunt at home on Saturday night (after their baths). Because even though Bradley had said it was the best day ever (again), he still said we needed a hunt at home, like we always do.
Sunday we were able to focus on the real meaning of Easter, the Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It was nice to be able to go to church, have dinner with the Hatchs' and have a spiritual lesson (thanks Emily) the end the evening. 
A few pictures of us in our new duds (which are actually last years' clearance of course).
I think I was mostly attracted to this event because of the name (Whirlygig how cool is that?). We went as a family up to the Seattle Center House where they had bouncy houses set up. It was free on Thursday so we headed up during Spring Break. It was a little crowded, but fun. We met their cousins there.
Tyson found a dragon he wanted his picture with.
Afterward, we went outside and the fountain was just being fixed and turned on. The kids ran around for quite a while, it was nice and sunny. We enjoyed the music, water, and sunshine.
Before heading home we stopped in at Krispy Kreme for a treat. On the way home Bradley said "wow, this was the best day ever (which he says alot), and I even had fun without my friends." It's nice to get out as a family once in a while, even though the kids are perfectly happy just playing in the neighborhood with their friends.
The boys also had their first visit at the optometrist. Their eyesight was normal, Rick just wanted to have them checked. They liked the cool shades they came home with.
And of course they wanted Paige to try them too.
The boys built and slept in a fort for a few days last week. Jeff went in to check it out, he didn't make it out until morning. Guess it was more comfortable than it looks!
Friday, April 3rd, Paige and I went along with my parents and brother, Jeff, up to Bellingham to check out a dental opportunity. I'm not sure if Jeff will get a job after the trip, but we had a great day tagging along (Thanks to Rick for keeping Kate).
Paige showing off her pretty flower. It's a fun time to have a girl.
The tulips weren't out yet, but we enjoyed the daffodils.
