Outdoor Fun

 It was a long winter and it has been a long couple weeks around here.  Nothing horrible, but some things that were just kind of wearing on all of us.  Anyway, we've enjoyed a low-key Memorial day weekend where we've enjoyed lots of time outdoors, and it's been good for our souls.

This girl can make anything fun.  (I really do her hair, it's just impossible to keep it in all day long!)

 First use of the fire pit. 

 Planting flowers makes me happy.

 So many pictures of our pleasing little baby.

We can't get enough of being outside!

Haylee Turns 3!

 The little berry-lover (just look at the berries all over her face) above turned three yesterday.  It's hard to believe on one hand, but on the other, it feels like she's been three for a while.  Maybe it's my wishful thinking to tell people that I have a 5 year old, a 3 year old, and a ___-month old so I don't hear the comment, "Well, you have your hands full!"  For some reason, 5, 3, and a baby sounds less crazy than 4, 2, and a baby.  Anyway, I wanted to add some pictures that show Haylee's personality.  She is quite the over-the-top personality.  She lives life to the fullest, and she thinks completely differently than I do!  She's delightful and it's fun to see her personality emerge.

She has given up naps (quite different than her older brother who napped for FOUR AND A HALF YEARS!  It's okay, I'm over it now.  Anyhow, the other day, she was having her quiet room time.  Usually she has quite the running conversation, usually between her and her babies/princesses.  She was pretty quiet the other day, so I peeked in her room and saw this....

 Thinking she had just taken it on the floor to get cozy, I looked around the changing table and saw this:

 She just decided she would like to sleep with all of her stuffed animals.  I don't think Jack would have ever done that.  In his mind, his comforter belongs in his bed.  In Haylee's mind her comforter can be wherever.  It's cute.

 She also has been saying funny things lately.  For some reason, she likes to put my dad in his place.  On Mother's Day, my dad was sitting next to her, trying to get her to focus on her food.  Haylee said to him, "My mom is the boss of me!"   Then, the next day, we were eating lunch together and my dad was talking to Avery, asking her questions.  Haylee told him emphatically, "Avery doesn't talk!"  Not sure why she picks on him, but it's hard not to laugh sometimes.

 We had a little princess party for her, as playing with princesses seems to be one of her favorite things to do.  One moment, she's in a princess dress opening presents....

 ....and the next moment, she's standing in princess underwear, shooting a princess off the deck with a water gun.  (Edited for Haylee's posterity.) When I was pregnant with Avery, I sometimes worried that she would be the forgotten middle child.  I no longer worry about this.

 

 She loved dressing up and spending it with some of her favorite people.

 

 Aunt Rachel even made the trip from Moses lake on a work day.

We love our feisty little princess!

The Second Annual In"duck"trination

Last year, Chad and his dad introduced Jack to the wonders of Oregon football by taking him to the spring game.  So, about 10 days after Avery was born, when we were in the sleep-deprived first days of adjusting to being a family of five, Chad brought up the idea of us going down to the Oregon Duck spring game as a family.   In my stupor, I agreed it sounded like a great idea to take three little kids on an eight hour car ride, stay in a hotel, and take them to a football game.  It does sound crazy, doesn't it?  Yes, we knew we'd be exhausted.  Yes, we knew we'd be staying in a hotel room where we all tried to sleep in the same room (with a four month old who has yet to master the art of sleeping through the night).  But, if we waited for a time when we wouldn't be exhausted, we'd never do anything.  So, we embarked on our journey.

 The first night, we made a pit stop in Hermiston to visit Unkie Bry Bry (which is what Chad convinced Jack and Haylee to call Bryan), Aunt Katie, Mitchell and Shannon.  They graciously hosted all 5 of us Thursday night, and we had a great laid back morning on Friday. 

 Sweet girls.  They're even holding hands.

 After our time in Hermiston, we met Grandpa and Grandma LaVine in Boardman and made the trip to Portland together. We ate at Chad's favorite BBQ place and headed to the hotel.  Chad's parents continued on their way to Eugene, and we headed to the pool.  Always a popular venue.

 

 

 The kids wound down with a show on the iPod.  We figured out the sleeping arrangement, and Chad and I brought flashlights so we could read books once the kids fell asleep.  However, we pretty much fell asleep at the same time as the kids each night. :) 

 Saturday morning, we woke up and left the hotel bright and early to make it to the hallowed ground of Autzen Stadium.  We met Chad's dad there and enjoyed the pre-game activities.

  The armed forces are featured at the game, and kids can explore different vehicles, including this Coast Guard helicopter.  Later, the chopper flew over the stadium.  Pretty exciting for the kids.

 

 

 The kids met Puddles, the Duck.  A big source of excitement.

 Chad took this picture and thinks he's so clever.  Yes, he's making fun of me, but after 10 years, I'm used to this...  This is just after I nursed Avery in the indoor practice field.  How many people can say they've nursed a baby in an indoor practice field?  Not many, I'm sure. It was quite the experience. 

 We headed back to Portland that afternoon, got in some more swimming and a yummy dinner.  Sunday morning, we woke up and headed home, but not without a stop at Multnomah Falls (which was part of the deal last year) for a little hike, and to break up the drive.

 I cannot get Haylee to make a normal smile for the camera.  :)

 I've decided that when our youngest child is 5 years old, trips will be so great.  Jack was money in the bank. He did great!  (So did the girls, but Jack was just the easiest traveler).

Avery did spend most of the trip in the front pack or the carseat.  She really did great, but that's why she's not visible in many pictures.  So, here are a couple pictures of her in all her 4 month old, rolly-polly goodness.

 How can you not kiss her?

   Although Chad and I were pretty much completely exhausted when we returned Sunday evening, the trip went well and we're happy we did it. And I'm okay if we don't all stay together in a hotel room for a while.

A 4 Month Old and Spring Has Sprung!

 Little Miss Avery turned four months last weekend.  I know I keep beating this drum, but she's so content and rolly-polly and smiley.  I love this age and she could stay 4 months forever as far as I'm concerned.  I guess since she's our last baby, I want the baby stage to last longer--well, at least this four month baby stage.  Here are her four month stats:

Weight: 14 lb. 8 oz (60%)

Length: 25 1/2 in. (90%)

I can't remember the head circumference, but it's in the 95th percentile.  Yep, she's definitely a LaVine baby! :)

 Spring has apparently sprung in Spokane, so we've been enjoying our backyard more.  I must admit that sometimes it's hard for Chad and I to hang out back there, seeing all the projects that must be done.  But, we've got time and it will come!  Right now, we're trying to dodge the wasps that have set up camp in some of the eves of our house (being vacant for 6 months isn't great for the pest situation)....the exterminator is scheduled to come in soon!  But, the quiet and beauty of the forest are great.  The other day we had a deer sunning herself in our yard for a couple hours.  Then, on my run the other day, I almost stepped on a snake--not just a garter snake, either.  We're talking 2 ft. long and about an inch in diameter.  yikes!  Luckily there was no rattle!

 We have some mature flowering cherry trees in back.  It makes leaving the cherry trees we planted at our last home more bearable. 

 The kids are loving the backyard, too!  The sun and spring make a huge difference.

Can you even see Jack? ;)

Scenes from the Week

For the kids' birthday this year, we asked their grandparents to contribute to a play structure for the backyard.  The toys seem to be multiplying in our home, and I honestly have no idea where we put all the toys in our old house.  So, instead of buying toys, the grandparents graciously agreed to go in on a swingset with us.  We got the set at the end of February, but the weather was FINALLY nice enough to get it up.  Chad, his dad, and Jack worked most of the day on Saturday and Sunday to get it mostly done.  We just need the finishing touches, like some sort of material for under the set, and a few other things, but as you'll see below, it's pretty popular! 

The work crew (well, not Haylee so much.  She hung out with me and Avery inside and we had some nice girl time together).

Haylee has also become extremely interested in her dolls lately.  She puts them to bed all over the house and comes up with these little games.  She'll put them in her room, and then she'll "hear" them cry and go get them.  In this picture, she's feeding her doll...

And Avery has gotten lots of attention, too.  Hard to believe she's almost 4 months!  Below she's being held by our good friend Brayden. Not quite sure what to do with the tuft of hair on the top of her head...  All the rest has pretty much fallen out. :)