Evelyn at 5

Evelyn only has 35 days left until her birthday. Trust me. She has been in countdown mode for a while.  Evelyn at almost 5 years:

-Loves playing outside with friends more than anything. It seems like some days she is out in our front area playing from dawn until dusk with her friends.
-Has confidence that Kindergarten will be the best thing in the world
-Favorite color: pink
-Favorite story: Fancy Nancy
-Is a great reader! It clicked a few months ago and she loves reading anything she can get her hands on. We always get to hear about which stores we're driving by, things we're eating like, "Fat...Free...Milk...hey Mom, this is Fat Free Milk!" or in Church about the "Him-ns":)
-Helps by getting Blake dressed in the morning, cleaning her room, and straightening the toy area.
-Favorite foods: Cereal, any fruit, tuna, soup, and anything Dad makes
-Loves cute shoes
-Has endless compassion for most spiders, snakes, and all creepy disgusting bugs. She thinks they are so cute. Today outside she said, "Awwww, Mom look...a millipede!"
-Is a HUGE help with Blake and Addi. They both love and look up to everything she does
-Fears: Tornadoes and Scorpions
-Is a complete Daddy's girl and proud of it
-Loves her precious silver tooth (aka cavity) and uses it as a conversation piece when meeting new people ("Do you like my silver tooth?").  Lance is so embarrassed.
-Favorite thing to do: fishing with Dad

Addi at almost 3 years

Addi turns three in just six weeks!  At this age, Addi:

-Can be summed up in three words: sassy, spunky, chatty.

-Favorite colors are red and pink

-Always has a smile on her face and has A LOT to say about everything

-Loves babies and is constantly asking people at church, "What's your baby's name?"

-Is good at acting silly and pretending

-Says, "Look at me guys!" and when asked what she's doing, will say, "I don't know!" and smile and run off.  

-Favorite foods: plain noodles, strawberries, ice cream, apples, and smoothies

-Says her hair is getting so long like Rapunzel and asks for a different princess style every day ("Today do it like Belle, Mom")

-Says cute things like, "Mom, Dad, you guys are my sweethearts."

-Biggest fear: lightning storms--mean ones

-Always prefers dresses

-Is always in her own world, singing and walking and looking around, haha.    

-Favorite Book: How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night

-Loves to boss other kids around, even kids that are older than her :)

-Favorite animals are horses and unicorns

Blake at 20 1/2 Months

Blake at 20 1/2 months

-Could ride "cars" and bikes outside all day
-Has the most adorable lisp
-Is most definitely a Mama's boy :)
-Loves to wrestle with Dad
-Loves any animal (doggies, sthnakes, and birdies are favorites)
-Favorite foods are: bananas, pbj's, anything with chicken, homemade pizza ("peetzee"), and of course cookies
-Knows how to ask for almost anything he wants...usually following the format, "Hun wadder pweese, Mama?" (I want water please Mama...replacing the word water for anything else he wants)
-Is quietly destructive...always
-Plays really well with his sisters, especially Evelyn.  He and Addi are finally starting to really play as well.
-Still only has four teeth! But is currently getting in two molars.
-Loves being independent and pushing chairs up to any and all counters, light switches, etc. to get what he wants
-Is more shy than his sisters ever were
-As of last week he's starting to talk to people outside our immediate family
-Can eat adult portions at every meal, but still only manages to hit the 17th percentile in weight!
-Loves to tease, and is always bugging or teasing me or the girls with a huge smile on his face
-Answers every questions with either: "Yeth" (yes) or "NoNoNoNoNoNo!"

-

Sheila and Ryan Flores

Lance's sister Sheila got married in Utah a few weeks ago, and I am so bummed I didn't get out my camera more!  The only time I finally thought to was right during/after family pictures at the temple, so most of these are of the kids chilling and waiting for pictures.

Evelyn was up all night with the flu, and had a high fever all day during the wedding.  She was such a sport to smile for the pictures when she was feeling so sick!

 Blake during the guy picture...he was not a fan.

 Uncle Jake is always so good with the kids. I'm actually surprised Addi isn't around asking him to "jump" for the billionth time.

 Keyes Kids...and I'm pretty sure this is how Ev looks in most of the pictures.

The beautiful bride and groom with more Keyes and Flores kids

 Two cute cousins

 Starlie and Lacie

 Blake couldn't get enough of these glasses from the Photobooth at the reception. Also a little mullett action going on in the back.

 Emma and Addi (Ev was sick).  I think they could almost pass as sisters!

Spring

I think Spring is here to stay in Iowa, and it was evident as we took a walk through the trails of Mormon Handcart Park.  Nature was in full bloom, everything was green, and the snakes were out in full force.  Yes snakes. We saw at least twenty on our walk.

 Somewhere down in this ravine by the river is where the Mormon Pioneers camped on their way across Iowa.  There is also an unmarked cemetery.

 As soon as the girls got out, Blake was ready to check out all the pockets in the stroller to see if there was anything cool.

 The picture can't convey how pretty the rolling hills of grass of the Midwest are, or the silvery waves they make when the wind blows.  It's beautiful. However, tons of snakes were hiding in the grass, which is a downside to me...

 ...but Evie of course was ready to walk through it and snake hunt.

 I love how Addi runs, she practically jumps every time she takes a step forward.

 yes, a snake.

 And what could be better than puddle jumping and soaking your clothes before the walk is through? 

  ("If we ran while we slept, like this, it would maybe be called 'sleep-running'")

 Happy Spring! Hopefully yours is less snake-filled than ours!