A little catch up...

It's been a while since I have done an update and while I am in the process of cleaning off my phone...it seems like a good time to do one. 

 

The past six weeks have pretty much felt like a blur.  I've been working a lot lately...as usual, more than I wanted to.  Working hard now, so hopefully I can enjoy some slower weeks over future vacations and the summer.  Outside of work, we continue to keep busy with regular school schedules, bible study, dance class for Aves, gymnastics for Maddy and Awana for Kens.  We've spent lots of time with cousins now that they live less than 5 minutes away.

 

Here are a few pictures from the past 6 weeks.

 

In the middle of February, my college roommate, Dawn, came down to visit for the weekend.  We had a great time catching up and enjoying some time together.

Indulging mom in a picture before church.

This girl earned herself a special "treat".  She started sleeping through the night without pull-ups in February so she was able to pick out a new toy.  She negotiated for two things: a purple lamb and some gum. 

 Avery had some fun days at school...this was crazy hair day.

And this was superhero and princess day

Kens had a blast during Dr. Seuss week

Avery has been my 'babysitter' after naps these days.  If I am still working in the afternoon, she'll go up to Maddy's room and entertain her for a while.  This day they were faking me out and pretending to sleep.

The kids had a flex day off in March and Ashley and I took the kiddos up to Huntington one day to visit the Zurchers.  In case you wondered, yes, 6 carseats and 2 mamas fit into a minivan. 

I did Painting with a Twist with my MOPS table last weekend.

I got to go to Muffins with Mom with Kens at school.

This girl is still loving 'nastics.  She requested that I take her picture.

Family selfie!  Practicing with the new selfie stick.

Valentine's Day/Weekend...

This year we had an extra long Valentine's weekend with Presidents Day and a make up snow day that wasn't used.  Since we weren't making the trip to Florida, we decided to do a fun surprise for the girls.  We headed down to French Lick on Valentine's day and stayed at Big Splash Waterpark and Resort.  Our room had bunk beds and I think that was the highlight for Kensley and Avery!  We had fun swimming, walking around French Lick hotel and checking out the town.

 

Here are some pictures of our short trip.

 



Lately {winter edition}...

Since it's been a while since I've recapped what we've been up to, I decided a random post was in order.  I usually feel like the months following Christmas drag by slowly, but I am honestly not sure how we are nearing the end of February already.  We are keeping busy and it feels like we always have something going on.

 

Here is a highlight (in pictures) of what we've been up to since Christmas.

Played in the snow!

Avery has dance class every Thursday and then we follow it up with lunch at Chick-fil-a!

We got together with some of our friends for a crazy Saturday night!

Maddy loved on baby Grant

We celebrated Elli's 6th Birthday at Build a Bear

Followed by a little pizza party at our house...

And 6 crazy kiddos!

Maddy has been doing 'nastics twice a month and she LOVES it!

We went to Disney on Ice!

Had a morning out with these two cuties at Costco.

Looking cute before church

We were able to go to the park in January because it was in the 60's!

The picture is a little dark, but this one was looking sassy!

After a few days of feeling crummy, we had a lunch date at Chick-fil-a

These two finished up a gymnastics class and graduated to the next level.

Our MOPS group spent a fun morning at Jack's donuts...decorating and eating donuts and getting a tour.

 These two LOOOOOVE donuts!

Daddy got to come watch gymnastics!

This one has done more of this...not much success yet!

First trip to the dentist this week!  She did great!

 Between all of this fun stuff, we've been keeping up with school stuff, I have been working about 10 hours a week, Awana for Kensley, volunteering at church, Bible study on Tuesdays and small group on Sundays, etc.

Madelyn: 2.5 Years Old...

I can't believe our last baby is officially 2.5 years old!  It feels like time is flying by and Maddy is growing up overnight.  She is at a really fun AND tough stage.  The 2's have been the hardest yet with her.  We have reached the screaming and hitting stage.  None of the other girls were hitters so this is new for us.  Usually when she is mad and doesn't get her way, she will hit.  Her sisters take the brunt of it, but she has branched out to her cousins and also me.  Needless to say, she's seen her fair share of timeouts and spankings/swats.

As challenging as she's been lately, she's also so funny!  She is our family comedian and is constantly trying to make everyone laugh.  She is talking like crazy and knows exactly what she is trying to say...even if it doesn't always come out clearly.  She also seems to have one volume...loud!   

 

She doesn't really like to be alone and seems to be used to always having a playmate.  When her sisters are gone, she usually wants to be near me or at least aware of where I am.  She continues to love her baby dolls, coloring, playing outside, getting into her sisters' things, all things Frozen and watching TV.  She is way more into TV that either of the girls were at this age and requests to watch it often.  She continues to love her sisters and her cousins.  She is obsessed with her little cousin, Emery and loves to give her hugs and kisses.

Over the past few months she has been able to do a little gymnastics class with our MOPS group.  She LOVES it and calls it "her nastics class".  She's spent so much timing watching her sisters do the fun stuff and she loves to be involved now.  She's caught on quick and I look forward to the Fridays when we get to go to her class!

She continues to be a pretty good eater.  Her favorite foods are mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, French friends, strawberries, boo-nanas (I hope she never says it right), waffles, peanut butter and jelly, pizza, donuts, apple juice and ice cream.

We hope to start potty training soon.  She seems interested in it and often tells us to change her diaper...especially when she goes #2.  I am hoping she catching on easily as I am dreading the process.  I just registered Maddy for preschool next year and it seems so hard to believe.  When you ask her if she wants to go to school she says "Yes!" really enthusiastically. 

 We had Maddy's well check yesterday and the doc said she looks great!  She is growing like a weed and has surpassed her sisters at this age.  Her stats are:
Weight: 29 lbs (54%)
Height: 35.5 in (51%)

Somewhat different than with her sisters at this age, she doesn't tell us she is a big girl but rather a baby.  I am sure I am to blame for that as I tend to call her "baby".  She tends to use it as an excuse now when I ask her to help with something.  Me: "Maddy, can you help me clean up?" Her: "No, I baby. I too yittle."

We are so thankful for this girl and can't believe she is already 2.5 years old!  Happy half birthday, Madelyn Joy!