5/18/16

Jason told me this was the "best day ever."

We got McDonald's happy meals and ate them at the park before his baseball game. The happy meals came with Angry Bird toys. This was also his final baseball game of the season, so he got his trophy for participating. Grandma Linda came to watch the game and gave the boys an Angry Bird soap dispenser to put in their bathroom. I also let the boys play on the playground after the game was over. Best. Day. Ever.

Mother's Day 2016

Kyle always does a great job on Mother's Day. He lets me get out of the house to do some shopping without kids, and he takes care of food and dishes. But this year Jason also tried hard to make sure Mother's Day was special for me, so it was that much more awesome.

The celebrations actually began on Saturday. All I wanted was to go shopping for new clothes. Karren and my mom met up with me at the outlets, and we had a lot of fun together. Kyle was awesome and let me be gone as along as I wanted. While I was away, the boys did some Mother's Day shopping of their own. When I returned home around dinner time, Jason kept saying, "If you're excited for tomorrow, raise your hand." Everyone raised their hands.

Jason announced Saturday night that he needed to wake up before me to finish up some things, so could I sleep in? Yes sir! Poor Kyle got to get up with them at 6:30am. When I rolled out of bed at 8:00, I got clearance to come down the stairs and found these two Angry Birds waiting to great me. This was the early morning project Jason had wanted to finish:

Next, Jason told me that I had to earn my cards and presents by playing games. Jason, Noah, and I played games like "Go Fish," "Uno," and "duck, duck, goose." After I played one game, I got to select one item to open. Meanwhile, Kyle was in the kitchen preparing a delicious breakfast and keeping Levi entertained. I couldn't have planned a better start to Mother's Day: all play and no work.

Other notable happenings that day include talking with Blair (on his mission in Bolivia), and eating dinner at my parents' house. I definitely felt loved. And I love my boys back! So glad to be a mom.

Orchestra

My parents gave me the great opportunity to learn to play the cello starting in Jr. High. I played in the school's orchestra all through Jr. High and High School. I was lucky enough to have the same orchestra all six years: Ms. Kathy Bird Wilson. Ms. Wilson just retired from teaching. One of her former students orchestrated (pun intended) a surprise alumni reunion at her final concert. Through the efforts of Facebook, about 75 alumni returned to play "Ashoken Farewell" at the final concert. I was happy I got to represent my family. Matt, Megan, Heather, and I all did orchestra with Ms. Wilson. My parents also came and sat in the audience so that they could hear one of Ms. Wilson's concerts one last time. It was so fun for me to play in an orchestra again, even if it was only for one song. I really loved doing it in school, and I hope my kids will get that chance as well.

Dear Kathy,

I feel fortunate to have been one of those lucky orchestra students who had you as a teacher and conductor for six years in a row. How remarkable that was! It really enabled us to keep strong bonds, which I believe helped us play better. We knew you cared about us, and we knew you expected the best from us. I know I tried to play my best for you, but I do feel guilty about my tardiness in high school!

I have a couple strong memories I would like to share with you. The first is of my chance to play a piano concerto with the orchestra at the Mountain Ridge Jr. High Grand Concert. It was such an honor for me. I am truly grateful that you extended that opportunity to me.

The final memory is of my infamous moment when I, walking through class with my cello, tripped over a chair and landed on top of my cello, completely snapping the neck in half. I was mortified. What truly stands out to me is your reaction. You did not get angry with me. Instead, realizing how embarrassed I felt, you sent Todd {her son} home to bring back your own cello so that I could still have an instrument to use in class. I really felt your love for me as a student that day.

Thank you for your great influence in my life!

Sincerely,

Katie Hunsaker Robbins

April 2016

Levi really needed a haircut. He was having way too much fun spreading food in his hair. I finally asked Grandma Linda to come cut his hair the week after Levi turned 1. I don't have a very good "before" picture.

This is the "after" the first haircut picture:

We had fun flying a kite at the high school field.

Three boys and a truck!

We enjoyed visiting the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point with Grandma Diane.

Noah LOVES to draw things, and his attention to detail gets better and better. He keeps busy drawing pictures, then cutting them out, and then taping them up all around the house. These particular drawings are of Luke Skywalker and Yoda. They are both holding light sabers.

Levi Turns 1-Year-Old

At 12 months old, Levi stats are:
Weight: 21 lbs (24th percentile)
Height: 29 in (26th percentile)

On Levi's birthday, I took the three boys to the Trampoline Wairhouse. All three had fun because they have areas for all ages. Levi loved rolling around in this bouncy house with his brothers. I also introduced him to a small slide for the first time, and he went crazy with excitement.

Later that day we had Kyle's side of the family over for pizza and cupcakes (my side of the family was out of town). Levi loves pizza, and he ate himself so full that he would only touch his cupcake.

I tried to get him to eat the cupcake by giving him a bite of frosting on a fork, but he just stole the fork and had fun playing with the fork instead. He was a mostly-clean birthday boy. And very happy. No tears at this birthday party!

 Dear Levi,

We survived the first year of your life! Wahoo!!! You were a great baby, but man, that first year is always long for me. I am loving having you around. So is everyone else. We are in a good place right now because we all sleep through the night, and you are eating so many different foods-- including whole milk! You are almost completely weaned from nursing.

Friends, family, and strangers often comment on what a happy, smiley guy you are. And it is true. You are happy. You are happy to hang out around your brothers. You are happy to eat. You are happy we just switched you out of the infant car seat. You get so excited when Jason and Daddy come home for the day, which of course, makes them so excited to see you. The other thing people often comment on, unsurprisingly, is your beautiful, red hair. You look like you'll take after Jason and Uncle Quinn with a blonde patch of hair in the back.

Your older brothers are so good about watching out for your safety, and they love to make you laugh, although they certainly don't have any long-lived mothering instincts. Jason has given you the nick-name "Buddies," and now Noah corrects me when I call you "Levi." "No mom," Noah says, "his name is Buddies." I am often summoned to come grab "Buddies" because he is wrecking whatever game Jason and Noah have set up. You are often cast in the role of "giant baby" who comes to wreck the town or fort that have been erected.

Your current modes of movement include crawling on your hands and knees, and cruising around furniture. You have four teeth (2 on top and 2 on bottom). Changing your diaper is torture for all involved parties. You love to sleep with a particular spotted blanket and while sucking your thumb. We still get two naps in every day. Some of your favorite foods include berries, cheerios, yogurt, pizza, most soups, crackers, corn, chili, and asparagus. You refuse green beans and eggs. One of your favorite toys is a light-saber; it is so much fun to whack things with it.

I love you so much!

love,

mom

The Snacker

One of Levi's new, favorite tricks is helping himself to crackers from the pantry. And shaking out the whole bag onto the floor.

Levi's First Easter

Levi's first Easter was fun. He didn't actually hunt for eggs, but he had fun playing with empty plastic eggs.We of course did more egg hunts than needed. First was the hunt at the church. Then we did a moonlight easter egg hunt in our back yard on Saturday night with Kelli and Thomas, complete with confetti eggs to smash over each other's heads. Then the Easter bunny delivered some more eggs on Sunday. And finally, Kyle's mom did an egg hunt at her house on Sunday evening. The boys had so much fun.