The Cousin Summer party!!

Today was so much fun! I have been wanting to do a couple of activities that I found on Pinterest with the kiddos, but just haven't gotten around to it. So even though it would have been fun with just my kids, I thought how much more fun would it be to have all the cousins join in on the fun?!

We handed out invites and anxiously awaited for today to come.  Really we didn't plan too much, just a mock ice cream party with freezy dough ice cream and water fun playing on a water blob/pillow. Jason helped me make the freezy dough, colored sprinkles and the water blob last night, but, unfortunately he had to work today. 

Anyways we started with the freezy dough, while the water blob started filling up with water.  I was surprised how much the shaving cream froze to look like real ice cream and melted just like real ice cream does.  Gracie played for a bit, but really wasn't a fan of the texture...sensory overload I guess.  I did, however, catch her eating a cone (that was real), hopefully she didn't end up eating any of the shaving cream!!

We then headed over to the water blob/pillow.  It was so cool and relaxing to just lay on it before the surface got all wet.  Gracie loved playing on it when the pillow was dry.  She loved jumping up and down and just laying on it. 
But the other kids tired quickly, so we had to add water.  Grace took off into the house for a break and to watch a show!

Gracie thought it was great fun to get naked.

The kids had fun running and sliding all over the place.  Then it was time for lunch. 

After lunch I don't know why, but, there must have been something about that wet water blob that was calling my name. I went over layed on it and before I knew it I was giving superhero rides and wrestling.  It was SO MUCH FUN!!  I love these kiddos so much!!

I will be really sore in the morning, but it was worth it.  I think we may just make this a tradition!!  We had two more cousins join later on, but I was too water logged to get the camera. 

What is it with my kiddos taking their clothes off?

This little guy spent most of the party napping.  But had fun when he woke up. 

Happy Birthday Baby

July 3rd was my baby boy, Spencer's birthday, I can't believe that he is already a year old!  He still seems so little to me. 

We didn't do much for his birthday.  I guess by the fourth baby, I have realized that he isn't going to need much to be happy, so I made him a cake and we sang to him and called it good.  Grandma was out of town, but grandpa came over.  We didn't invite any other family members as we were planning on celebrating Gracie's birthday 4 days later.

Really this past year has been quite easy when it comes to Spencer.  I always say he is the best 4th baby.  Spencer is the happiest baby ever.  Seriously, everywhere I go there are people that comment on how happy he is.  There is always a smile on his face, and I am often asked if he even cries.  Yes he does cry, but it is usually when he wants to nurse, other than that he is just happy and content.

Just this week we were up in the canyon and I was holding Spencer, all of a sudden he started getting nervous and swatting at a bee that was flying away.  I thought it was odd that he had developed a fear of bees when he has never been around them before (I guess I think that fear is a learned behavior); anyways a half an hour later I noticed that Spencer got stung on his arm.  Poor baby, didn't cry and barely flinched, that's why he was swatting at the bee!

Spencer was a late crawler, he only started crawling a couple of weeks before his first birthday.  Now he is into everything and can find me quicker than the other kiddos.  He likes to find me and crawl up the back of my legs until I pick him up. 

He is still nursing 4-5 times a day.  I guess I should start to wean him, but really I don't think I have any desire to.  I enjoy the time I get with him and he LOVES it.  He is not much of an oral eater.  We skipped the baby food and went straight to table food (we didn't introduce food till 10 months).  Honestly, when he is done eating it doesn't seem like any went into his mouth. 

He has a lot of babble talk, but hasn't really said many words.  His first word was Grace---it is quite cute, he emphasizes the last syllable. 

Spencer is super social and loves his brother and sister, though Ryan can never keep his hands off of him and makes him cry more often than not.  But Spencer is starting to hold his own.  We warn  Ryan that soon Spence will be going after him!

Though Spencer started out pretty big, 8lbs 6oz and looking at him he looks quite chubby.  He is only in the 15th percentile for his weight---20lbs.  I just think he is perfect!