{spring break fun}

We were really ready for spring break this year, mostly so we could have a little break from having to get up so early!  This is also the best time of the year here, and since we're in school for most of it, we wanted to spend as much as we could outside.  Unfortunately, Rick had to work, but the kids and I had a great time with friends, and enjoying the near perfect weather. Even if Rick could have had the week off, I think we would have stayed around town anyway.  For some crazy reason, almost all of Texas has spring break at the same time, so everything is TOTALLY packed, and not worth braving the crazy crowds for.  So...home we were, and it was a great week!

We spent a lot of the time at parks, and trying some different ones.  We came away with some new favorites, and it was fun to see parts of our area we haven't been to before. 

A ride on the trolley is always a favorite!

The weather was mostly in the 60's, but one day it was warm enough to head to the fountains at Waterway Square.  Texans are funny--everyone else there was in a sweater, and my kids where in their swimsuits!  Clearly, we have not acclimated.  ☺

When it rains here, it's almost always warm...unless it's winter time.  So...when it rains, the number one fun thing to do is get swimsuits on, and head outside to play! 

One morning the kids begged to come with me on my run, and so I took the four middle littles.  Caroline was sleeping, and Ryan was happy to stay with her, so off we went!  We ran to the park, played for awhile, then turned around to come home.  On the way, we encountered an impromptu splash park, when all the sprinklers were on along a whole long section of the sidewalk. We took a little break, and up and down the went, getting totally soaked, and loving every minute.  We had to make one more stop at the lake, where they built boats out of twigs and leaves. Yes, it was the longest run in history, but we all had a great time!!

 

 

Kind of random, but I got the boys these bath toys during spring break, and they are a HUGE hit.  They can build roads, towns...whatever they like.  I used to get arguments when it was time for a bath, but no more!  LOVE.  

 No week would be complete without a little trouble...and this is pretty mild in comparison to other things, but still.  These boys.  LOVE their guts.

It was a really nice week, and the next Monday came all too soon. Back to school...back to LIFE!

{instagram: our life through photos, february edition}

I came in to put the boys to bed one night and found this. {heart}

With the boys in preschool, it leaves me a couple mornings a week with just baby Caroline!  So.. we go to Target.  ☺

The best part...the spoon!

The hair.  That is totally natural, folks--no product included.  Emma had hair like this (and so did Jack, remember?) and now she has thick, curly, beautiful hair.  I'm crossing my fingers.

My newest running companion!!  Rick and Ryan leave so early in the mornings now, that unless it's Saturday, I'm taking her with me during the week. 

These toes!! Is there anything cuter than painted baby toes? I don't think so!!

LOVE this girl.

Go Texan Day!  (Of COURSE there is a Go Texan Day.  ☺)

YOU trying taking away these headphones from her!  Such a sassafrass.  She is THE queen bee!

Not really a swing lover...

but the boys love it!





 
Our favorite spot to sit in the theatre is the row right in front of the bar...so we can put our feet up!

 I take pictures of Emma's hand placements on her violin so I can remember than when we get home.  When they start playing the violin at a young age, it requires a lot of parental teaching at home for them to be successful, so I'm learning at the same time as she is! 

This was from one of my Sharing Times this month...it was a hit!

It has been a VERY long time since I had this done, and it was most definitely time!

Reading aloud at night is one of our very favorite things.  The current book?  The Princess Academy!

We had a ward talent show last week, and I was able to play a two piano duet with a good friend of mine. It's been a favorite duet since high school, and I love to do it any chance I get...which isn't often.  It was SO fun!!! 

We always use pails for the girls' valentine boxes, and even though we had some we've used in the past, I couldn't resist these that I found in the Target One Spot.  We added their names to the chalkboard hearts, and the girls loved them!

Just enjoying a beautiful day--windows open and lovely fresh air!

I was asked to participate in a Baker's Challenge with Reese's, and so I created these yummy Chocolate & Peanut Butter Brownie Bites!  Rick ate pretty much every single one of them--I'm surprised he didn't get sick, lol.

The boys have soccer practice at night, so it's always dark, and they almost always fall asleep either on the way there, or on the way home. They love it though--they think it's pretty cool to play when it's dark!

The house behind us was finished a few weeks ago, and we have new neighbors! They just happen to be LDS and in our ward, AND have five kids!!  It's pretty much a party going on back there all the time.  :) They even lived in Midland for a summer internship, and we have mutual friends. This small world of ours never ceases to amaze me! We're so excited they're here!

Life.  We love it!

{sick}

  Caroline got sick for the very first time in her little life a few weeks ago, and it was terrible.  At first she wasn't super sick--just a slight fever, some coughing, and a general not feeling well.  But it went on...and on...and on...and finally after two weeks she started to feel better. I was jumping for joy, not only because she was getting back to her old self, but because we could get out of the house after being inbound for such a long time.  

It turned out to be premature, because after a few days, she started getting sick again, and this time, it got serious.  One particular night she had a hard time sleeping, and I was up a couple of times trying to get her comforted and back asleep.  That morning she was down for a nap by 7:45am, so that tells you about how much she had slept the night before. 

When she woke up from her nap, I knew something was wrong.  Her breathing was shallow, and gasping, and it sounded terrible.  She wouldn't eat, and just clung to me. I called the doctor, and they were able to get her in in about two hours--so I continued walking around the house with her until it was time to go. By then her chest was severely retracting, and her breaths were coming quick and even more shallow than before. Honestly, I was scared to death.  I've never seen anything like it, and it took everything I had to stay calm, get the boys packed up with things to do, and drive to our appointment. If we had had to wait any longer, I would have just taken her straight to the ER, and in some ways, I wish I had.

I knew it was serious when we got to the office and they didn't speak---they just looked at her and when and got the doctor, who came in immediately.  They took her pulse/ox, which was very low (82), and within a couple of minutes she was getting a breathing treatment to help her.  It was horrible--she was screaming as the nurse and I held her down for what seemed like forever.  She had to have it on for 20 minutes, which honestly WAS forever.  The boys were being wild, since we were cooped up in this tiny room, and I had no hands to help them find something to do.  I was still really worried, and it was one of the craziest moments I've had...ever.  Finally Caroline calmed down, and the last few minutes were relatively calm while I played I Spy with the boys.  

When her breathing treatments were finished, she had thankfully improved enough for the doctor to give us our choice--the hospital, or home with around the clock breathing treatments.  I chose home--and after stopping to get the necessary machine and medicine--we were finally there.  Fortunately she responded really well to the medication and treatments, and continued to improve over the next week.  

I've never experienced a baby or child not being able to breathe, and I hope I never do again.