We went to Castle Park today! Cody is looking for a job right now which meant he got to join us so it was extra fun. Life really is much more fun when you have someone to go through it with. We had the twins today so we thought a picnic to our favorite park would be extra fun and it was!Lulu loves to swing!

Cody took the kids behind Castle Park on a hike- or pike as Lulu calls it. They had fun. Cody ran the SLC marathon just 2 days ago so I was impressed at how well he did on the pike. I laid in the sun while Charlie took a nap. Great day!This was a cute picture to me. Lulu had had enough spinning but still wanted to be around the twins. It kind of made me sad too- like she was being left out or something. So we played balance beam together.

Cody pushed the kids on the tire swing til they were sick.
Here is Lulu all worn out. It was a fun day.

Well with a sick little guy, I didn't blog every night so here is our weekend. We had the twins so I didn't see much of my Lulu. She adores her big brother and sister so when they are here, I don't get many cuddles or Lulu time. I'm glad they enjoy their time together though. On Saturday morning, I took Charlie to the Urgent Care clinic so while I was gone, Cody did a great job of making a great bacon and pancakes breakfast for them all (and he even cleaned it up!) but Mom being gone also means they got ready themselves. This meant no showers, no brushed hair or teeth, and mismatched clothes! Nice eh? Lulu and Oakley wanted to match. I don't even know why we still own overalls but there ya go. So cute.


My sweet parents knew Charlie needed a quiet house so he could have a peaceful nap so they came and kidnapped the little darlins and took them to the d.i.! You would've thought they were going to Disneyland for how excited they all were! Yay- more junk for our house! Just what we need!Logan scored a skateboard and asked me to give it a custom paint job. He loved it.

Sunday night, after Cody took the twins home, Cody and I finally got some Lulu time. At 11:00 pm, we made nachos and Orange Julies as Lulu calls them (julius). We cuddled, watched cartoons, and all passed out pretty quick. What a crazy weekend!

Charlie is sick. It's his first real ick. Poor little man. He is trying so hard to be his happy self but is just miserable and moans with his little raspy flehgm voice. His eyes are watering, nose is running, he's fevering, coughing, and it just sucks. We both need a good night's sleep but I don't think that will happen because he is too uncomfortable to really sleep. We'll see...

When I am short-rested like this though, I get short-tempered. The phrase "lol" is bugging me. Don't know why but it is. Lulu had a lot of fun with Grace and Cooper but the many hours of playing and little adult interaction led to some unruly and tired children! She just started whining a lot and wouldn't mind. Alisha said Cooper was doing the same. Fortunately a project for her and I to do together and hot chocolate from our wonderful Cocoamotion did the trick and she went to bed happy.

Lulu and Cooper got to have Grace spend the night tonight. They all played really well together then it was time for bed.
Alisha called me upstairs to eavesdrop with her. Cooper had fallen asleep and Grace and Lulu were holding hands as little girls do and whispering the cutest little conversation:
G: Your hair is yellow. Like popcorn so that's what I am going to call you; Popcorn.
L: (giggle) My mom calls it blonde. Her hair is blonde too.
G: Its time to go to bed.
L: Are you sirsty? (thirsty)
G: No go to bed or Alisha is going to hear us.
L: Will you be my best friend?
G: OK, now go to sleep!
At this point, Lulu started to cry because she said Grace made her sad. Grace felt bad and asked Lulu if she wanted her to go get her mom. I walked in and tried to console her but no luck. She ended up wanting the bedtime routine with daddy but it was just too cute and I'm so glad I got to hear it before it ended. Alisha said there was a lot more before that. I love little girls. :)

Lulu's nickname since she was born (among many others INCLUDING "Lulu") is "Sweetface." This is why.
And here is the little man trying so hard to crawl. He wants it so badly. He got his leg stuck in the bucket today. I laughed so hard.... He's Charlie Bucket! From Willie Wonka!

I was so excited for Conference on Saturday morning, that I completely forgot to go to any egg hunts!! What is wrong with me?! But we had a big yummy breakfast and it turned out fine. Lulu didn't even know she missed anything. I LOVE Conference. And I haven't always. But it is so uplifting to me. I feel like a lot of people spoke on being a better parent and the HUGE responsibility we have to raise these precious little spirits. It was just what I needed to hear. Today after Conference, my family all came over for a cookout and an egg hunt. I don't remember doing egg hunts while wearing a parka while growing up though. Oh well. We had fun. TOO MUCH CANDY!!!
Lulu was getting very tired of waiting for Grandma Cherry and Papa Mike to get here. She kept asking, "Is is 5 hours yet?"
Here is puffy-eyed Cody after I forced him out of bed this morning to do easter baskets. He said his waist line doesn't thank me but his sweet tooth does.
Lulu got "Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeakeal!" She was so happy.

Here is my chubby little man next to skinny short Jake who is 6 months older than him! We were all laughing so hard at Charlie's chi-chis. I love my fat boy.

Lulu's favorite game: She hides, then I have to come find her and say, "There is no puppy here at the pet store. I wanted to buy a puppy. I am so so sad. Boo hoo." Then she pops out acting like a puppy and I have to be excited and buy her. This never gets old to her. While I was making dinner tonight, she said she would be my puppy helper and play with Charlie. I love these kids so much. I wish I could figure out how to get my phone videos to play on my blog because I got the cutest one of Charlie tonight. He was so hyper! Laughing and bouncing and just being so cute. He would stare up at me and poke my face and laugh- it was like he was teasing me and knew it was funny.

Oh my little sweetie Lulu. This girl is my happiness and my greatest challenge all at once. I was just going through old pictures remembering how fun she has been. She spent the night at my parents last night and me and Cody didn't know what to do without her! We missed her so much and then she gets home and I am ready to tear my hair out again! She can be such a diva and just WILL NOT accept "no." It's her way or no way at all which I think is typical of most kids this age but I don't know how to deal with it. I've tried bribery, rewarding, punishing, ignoring, it doesn't matter what our reaction is, she still screams and cries. We had an incident tonight. She didn't eat her dinner and when Cody was putting her to bed, she came out and told me she was hungry so Cody made her a piece of toast. She took it back to her bed and started eating it in her sheets so Cody told her to come back in the kitchen. You would've thought her arm got ripped off for how loud she screamed. I told her if she acts like that then its just straight to bed and no more toast. She kept screaming so Cody threw her toast away. Had it been me, I would've needed a few minutes to cool off but he took her into her room and laid with her to calm her down. I'm grateful he can pull it together so quick. I can't. But I know she was tired and wasn't thinking real straight but honestly, stuff like this happens all the time lately! The parenting books say they throw these fits because the parents have given in too often and the kids know it works. But I really don't give in! I don't know how to fix this. After it all settled down, I went in and cuddled her while she was sleeping. Such an angel when she is sleeping. :) I adore this little girl and she really is well-behaved, smart, talented, funny, loving, so many wonderful things but how do I deal with this not accepting "no" phase. Help?