A Travis Temper Tantrum

When Travis doesn't get his way, he throws himself on the floor face down and cries, it is the funniest thing! Here he is, having a fit...

Eliza Eats Solids

Recently, Eliza has started eating solids. I've only ever given her rice cereal mixed with formula and then, a couple days ago, oatmeal mixed with formula. She seems to like it a lot! In about 1-1/2 weeks, I will start giving her fruit. I've always just used storebought baby food in the past--you know the Gerber 1's and 2's and then added table food, but this time around, I'm considering getting a food processor of some sort and making the baby food. I can't wait to add some flavor to these cereal meals and see how she likes that. Travis wanted a taste of Eliza's food, and wouldn't stop crying until we popped a bite in his mouth, and then he wouldn't stop gagging. It was so funny! Isn't Eliza so cute?

Cute Eliza in the Bumbo

There was a Bumbo at Andy and Lori's house in Utah when we went for Adam and Eve's wedding. Eliza LOVED it, so when I got back, I looked all over for a cheap or free Bumbo I could use. I found some on Craig's list, but then I remembered that my nephew Wyatt used one, so I called Jenny and got the one they used for Wyatt, which happened to be the one that Traci used for Thomas, so I'm using it now and will give it back to Traci when she has another baby. Anyway, Eliza LOVES it, and we use it all the time. Here are some cute pictures of Eliza.

Swimming, Always Swimming

We've been swimming twice now in the backyard pool here in Mesa. These are pictures from the second time. Even Eliza went in this time. Caleb really liked the new car float and so did Travis. Westley practiced holding his breath and diving for toys most of the time. And I even included a picture of Caleb in his new goggles. Travis is completely fearless and LOVES the water, which is why I'm eager to get him into some sort of lessons, before he becomes like Caleb and cries when he goes in the water. I'm glad it's finally starting to warm up again, so we can do this more often.

Corey with Caleb in the car float

Jenna and Eliza

Travis playing on the side of the pool

Corey and Travis

Westley swimming

Caleb and his "magic goggles"

Fish Boys

Westley and Caleb started swimming lessons on May 12. They are taking lessons with my friend Lindsey's two boys, Jeremy and Tyler. Caleb sure had a hard time at first. He did not want to put his face in the water, and wouldn't try anything else because of that. He even cried so hard that he threw up once. I was about to pull him out, when we bought both him and Westley goggles. Corey told Caleb they were "magic goggles" and he has improved 100%. He puts his face in the water and does all the things the teacher asks of him. He still struggles with blowing bubbles out his nose and mouth and prefers to hold his nose with his fingers. His teacher doesn't want him to do that, which kind of annoys me, since I didn't figure out the whole blowing bubbles out my nose until I was 12. Anyway, I think he's doing so much better just because of the goggles. I'm sure he'll be swimming by summer's end.

Westley is doing awesome! He's getting the hang of swimming. It's great! At least two of my kids will be swimming this summer, hopefully. I'm still toying around with the idea of putting Travis in some sort of swimming lessons. We'll see. I'm just glad I got them into lessons before the In-N-Out picnic, which is at a water park again this year. We are leaving Travis and Eliza home with a baby-sitter and taking only the two older boys. I thought it would be more fun for us that way--with all the water, it's easier to have only two kids to watch. It will be even more fun now that they have the basics of swimming down!

Tiger Travis

Corey finally uploaded the pictures from the digital camera from the past few weeks. One day, when Corey was at work, the boys decided to dress up. Westley was Spider-man, Caleb was a pirate, and Travis brought me this tiger suit to put on. It was a little small, but he LOVED it, and now he brings it to me almost every time the boys pull out the costume box. He chased me around growling, it was hard to get a decent picture. Every time I held the camera up to get one, he lunged for me and growled, tackling me to the ground (I was on my knees trying to get pictures closer to the ground). What a cutie!

King Car Wash

These are from about a week ago. Daddy and the boys washed both cars. Mostly, the van needed to be washed after our trip to Utah. Then he washed his car also. They had fun getting wet and playing in the water. All except Travis, that is. he didn't want to get wet, and every time he so much as got a drop of water on him, he would come to me screaming. Amazingly enough, they never targeted me with the hose. I didn't think that taking pictures (and video) would protect me, but it worked! I'll have to remember to be the camera-person for next time also! The best was when Westley put the hose up to his face to see why water wasn't coming out, and Caleb turned the water on right at that moment! He got a face full!