Spring Geoge Saint Break!

Actually it's Saint George for Spring Break.  We were so excited to head down south and enjoy some warmer weather for the kids break from school.  What made it even better was our cousins came with us!  The first night the kids swam in the indoor and outoor pools (not even wanting to stop to go to the movies). After we headed to Nielsen's Frozen Custard for a treat.
The next day we headed into Zions for some hiking. We did any easy hike to the narrows. And then gave the hike to Angels Landing  a try.  The kids were real troopers and we made it halfway up before it got really steep.  The guys and Taylee went on a head and we headed back.  Then we grabbed some dinner and the kids swam while my sister and I hit the outlets.
It was a nice break and we enjoyed being outside...because we came back to snow ;)

Luck O' the Nelson

St. Patrick's Day was great this year.  I don't think I have the energy to have a leprechaun come to our house...him and our elf on the shelf have run off together...but I DO love dressing the girls in green and having our Green & Rainbow snacks.

 My favorite find this year was these special "Green Marshmallow Lucky Charms."  Awesome!  No dying milk.

 With all this green we knew the day would be LUCKY!

18 MoNtHs...and then some

Oh how I love this little boy!  He is the busiest, craziest little tornado but he is ours! I have wanted to do his 18 month post for about 2 months now but our photo shoot didn't go so well and I swear this boy is so fast and active that I can hardly get a non-blurry picture...hence all the pictures at the table while he is strapped in.

His 18 month stats:  23 lbs (33rd %tile), 34.8" (98th %tile), and his head is 18" (10th %tile)...a long, lean little peanut head :)

We moved him to a booster seat at the table after he started standing up in his high chair..even when buckled in.

HE is also now a "sippy" man and it is a bittersweet moment for this mom to not have any more "ba ba's" in the house.

 

He loves to open and close cupboards and lift the flap books.  He is also a fan of wheels and anything that plays music.

He has the cutest toothy grin and is generally a happy guy.

He has a big appetite and eats more than Mallory.

 

He has a favorite blanket. When I put him to bed he gets angry and throws it out of his crib.  I assume this because after listening to his desperate cries I come into his room to see him trying to reach it on the floor through the slats of his crib.

He is starting be a great little walker.
Baylor goes into Nursery with no crying but kicks and smiles when we come to get him.
This boy is SOOOO ready for spring and cries whenever the door opens or closes...he loves to be outside!

He likes the tub and has a habit of pushing away from the table and putting one foot on it :)

VaLenTiNeS and PreSiDenTs

I had the girls fill out their Valentine's a week early.  At the time I thought "why am I doing this so early?," but it was a good thing because for some reason the preschool parties really drain me and I was exhausted the night before Valentine's Day.

 I was so proud of Mallory filling out her Valentine's all by herself...I loved to see her checking off each name.  She chose scented Valentines with Lik'em Sticks.

 Tessa chose Dress-Up Valentines (cute girl figures with clothing stickers) for the girls and split a box of spy decoders with Kylie for the boys.  She wanted to give everyone Valentine Fruit by the Foots.

 Kylie chose Valentines with Nail Stickers for the girls and gave everyone Gummi Bracelets.

 Their favorite Valentine Surprise came on the night of the 13th with a visit from Grandma and Grandpa. My Dad has a tradition of tricking people with his Valentine on a fishing line trick.  He used to take the girls to do it to my grandma and great aunt but this was the first year since they both passed on and so he did it to the girls and they LOVED it!

 And of course grandma brought TONS of gifts.  Valentine puzzles with special poems on them, candy, heart-shaped banana bread, and winter coats and hats for their American Girl dolls...they are ADORABLE!

 Aunt Becca sent a special Valentine Package from Pennsylvania!  It was so nice of her, especially since she is so busy!

Kody and I got the girls each a stuffed animal, necklace and earrings and some fun books.
 I was able to help Kylie with their class party this year!

 I loved helping with the Waffle Bar Table.  Heart-shaped waffles with ice cream and every kind of topping you could think of :)

Kody's parents sent an awesome box of winter hats, candy, lip gloss and earrings!    I didn't get a chance to take a picture since we headed up to Bear Lake with Kody's co-worker Paul and his family right after opening it.  That night the adults ate a Valentine Dinner at the Bear Trapper Steak House.  It was delicious food and a great couple hours getting to know the Archibald's better.
Saturday we spent the day sledding. These girls have it pretty cushy sledding down the hill and then having Kody pick them up in the sled behind the snow mobile and driving them back up the hill.

 Baylor was just so happy to be out that he crawled all over in the snow.

After getting chilled to the bone we headed back to the cabin for some hot tubbing.  With Monday off Dad got to do some skiing and we introduced the girls to the movie classic Napoleon Dynamite!  It was an awesome weekend for Valentine's and Presidents! I hope my girls will always remember how lucky they are to have so many people who love and care about them...parents, teachers, friends, aunts, and grandparents.