New Things!

"Look, Mom! I'm matching Scarlet!"

Katie is still head hairdresser in the house, and she gets fancy with her work! Dancy loves it.

Katie has been begging me to teach her how to sew since December at least. She's had her eye on a $40 kid's sewing machine at Joann's since Christmas. But then we found one at Salvation Army for $7! Then Scarlet's favorite blanket got ripped in the washing machine and I had Katie help me repair it. She was so happy to finally be learning to sew!

Scarlet loving having her favorite blanket in her cage

Prior to teaching Katie to use the sewing machine, I taught her, Tommy, and Dancy to weave Hopi Eyes. No picture, but they've had loads of fun doing those when they please.

Just a normal April snowstorm!

At the end of April, Shad had an intense week finalizing everything with enrollment and registration at Pike's Peak Community College to get submitted for tuition reimbursement from Harris. I had an intense couple days with kids. I called my mom and asked if she might be able to take the kids for the weekend. She was available Saturday afternoon, so I made arrangements with Logan to babysit the kids Friday night so I could take Shad out to dinner so he wouldn't have to cook. Then Saturday morning Mom asked if I was getting anyone to babysit the kids for the morning so Shad and I could go to the temple. I hadn't thought about it, but quickly called Ruth. She and Coltyn were happy to do so. We hit the road and got the kids to Ruth and Coltyn, went to the temple and had Thai food for lunch. Then picked up the kids and transferred them to Grandma's house.

Shad and I enjoyed a nice weekend to ourselves. We went to Bass Pro Shop, saw Black Panther, ate at Red Robin wayyy to late at night. Sunday morning we slept in and woke up naturally to the sound of...no one crying! We actually got to listen to the talks at stake conference, then came home and got our bikes fixed up to go out for a ride. Watched a movie without falling asleep...can do without watching Legends of the Fall again. Terrible movie.

Then Monday morning I drove up to Denver to help my mom get the kids ready for the museum.

Best astronauts ever!

{Dancy}

{Thora and Sam}

I bought a ladder for the trampoline and Katie assembled it with my assistance.

Dan gave us ice skating as a Christmas gift and we finally found time to do it. I had a friend babysit Thora and Samson so that our parent to kid ratio would be more functional.

{Katie}

Tommy! He got enough practice using the support buckets that he was able to move slowly on his own! This was our first time doing any skating in at least five years. None of the kids have done any skating.

I worked on coaching Dancy to push herself to do more. She started out clinging to Shand and I, terrified and crying. Then got comfortable with the buckets to the point where she was practically running on the ice and making a lap in under two minutes!

"Take a picture for Uncle Dan!"

Look at her go! Towards the end of the video there's a man's voice praising Dancy. He was just a random guy well above proficient on the ice who took to helping coach the kids with me. Dancy really responded to his instruction and praise!

{Dancy, Katie, Shad, me, Tommy}

Chillin' on the couch after ice skating, just playing Mortal Kombat vs DC. No biggie.

Ruth and Coltyn's Visit

Back in March, Ruth and Coltyn came to spend the night with us so they could help Shad help Logan move. Logan and Brittny bought a house a mile away from us.

We had a marshmallow fight...

{Ruth, Thora, Tommy, Coltyn, Katie}

Coltyn and Ruth had a baby!

She's a beautiful black and white furball.

Cute bunny!

Scarlet got big enough that she could jump up on the couch! It was a surprise to look over and suddenly see her there.

She also had fun playing on the kids' pirate ship.

Sam loves Coltyn so much!

Dancy wanted a fancy braid, so I did my best.

Scarlet discovered the window and loved sitting there.

April

In April I took time to sort through a pile of papers that had been on our desk for who knows how long and found the kids' Christmas money from grandparents. It totaled $125, so I told them we should buy a trampoline. Katie was a little uncertain that she wanted to use $25 for that, but I won out. Found a trampoline with enclosure already disassembled and ready for pick up in Castle Rock...for $125! Shad came home from work early so I could go pick it up since I'd need the back seats folded down in the van and wouldn't be able to do so with kids in tow. We set the trampoline up for Family Home Evening.

Building the trampoline.

Dancy, Katie, and Emma, our neighbor

Katie and Emma

I almost forgot to tell about the drama that came with this fun backyard equipment! The day after we set it up, kids tested it out. Even though we have an enclosure, Dancy managed to take a head dive out the opening and hit her head on the cement patio. Then she fell asleep. Then she threw up. Then I took her to the ER and spent a few hours there finding out that she was okay, that falling asleep and throwing up are normal after a head injury and only concerning if the vomiting continues. Now I know! Dancy loved the ER experience, though. She got lots of attention and we watched Independence Day, which she decided might be called "Demon Death Star," or "Demon Death Alien." She said that when the alien skybeam turned on. Anyway, we just had to watch her for a day and then no worries.

Scarlet loves playing with boxes!

I've started employing Tommy, Katie, and Dancy in chopping veggies to have ready to go in the fridge. Samson hijacked one of their chopping stations.

I monitored an exchange student from Austria for the semester and we had him come spend the weekend with us. Everyone loved getting to know Lukas. Tommy shared Minecraft with him.

Shad and Logan took Lukas to a gun show, which was fun for him. We tried going to a park to play frisbee golf, but it turned out to be cold and windy. So we showed him Costco instead. We taught him to play Lords of Waterdeep and he picked it up quickly and loved it. We also drove up to Denver with him to a house warming my sister Becky was holding to celebrate adopting a boy. Lukas and Tommy fell asleep on the drive.

Europeans always want to know what's up with the big red cups Americans have at their parties (as seen on tv and in movies). Lukas got to experience it.

Sam rockin' one of his sister's sunglasses.

Thora

Tommy, Lukas, Thora, Katie, Shad, Samson, Dancy

Tommy, Lukas, Thora, Katie, Megan, Dancy, Sam

Saying goodbye

Easter weekend

Amid the fun of learning to take care of a new animal, we took a break on Good Friday to venture out to Garden of the Gods.

On the way out, we hit Little London Cake Shoppe for some cupcakes. Years ago the owner won on Cupcake Wars, but she sold the shop, so we didn't get to meet her. We bought six different flavors of cupcakes. I don't remember all the flavors, but the vanilla cupcake with lemon filling and lavender frosting was my favorite!

{Katie}

{Dancy}

{Thora}

{Tommy}

Shad and Samson didn't participate in the cupcake party because Shad's body doesn't process butter well, and Samson is allergic to dairy. So they hung out upstairs so Samson wouldn't feel left out.

Since Easter weekend was also General Conference weekend this year, we spent Saturday watching conference and going for walks or to parks in between sessions.

Easter morning the kids enjoyed an egg hunt and some Jelly Bellies before we went to our friends', the Jimenezes, house to have brunch and watch conference.

{Katie, Tommy, Thora}

{Samson and Thora}

{Katie, Dancy, Tommy}

Logan and Brittny gave us toys for Scarlet that they had from their guinea pigs they had to leave behind in Germany. Scarlet enjoys them!