A little SLICE of heaven

Mac in the back row, light blue, peeking at the dough station

Adding toppings of choice

Ruth in the dark pink looking at the pizzas coming out of the oven

This is the first year that I've tried a mommy preschool group with any of my children and it has been wonderful. There are 3 girls and 3 boys in our group which seems to be just about the right size group. Once a month we try to do a field trip with the children and January's excursion was to domino's pizza. They even let each of kids top their very own (free!) personal pizza and watch it bake in the oven. Of course eating the pizza was Mac's favorite part. He wasn't even too ruffled when we walked out of the store and he dropped the box on the sidewalk spilling its contents. What's a little sidewalk dirt when you have pizza at ten in the morning? 

Good Little Witch of the North

Dressing up with older brothers is a favorite pass time of this good little witch. 

Out my Window

I think I'll dedicate part of my blog just to things we see out our window- it seems to be a common theme in my microcosm. That and perhaps I feel a little deprived having lived in a basement for the past 3 years with no view at all. At any rate, I'm sharing with you, in case your view isn't quite as spectacular as mine. 

sunrise in Fort Collins

Lincoln's at 2 months

Lincoln has officially been in our family 2 months.That meant a trip to the doctor's office for his shots and to get measured. It is always fun to see how much they have grown but sad when they get vaccinated. 

Weight: 11.8 lb  38%

Length: 23.3 inches 62%

Head circumference: 15.5 inches 58%

Weight for Length: 22%

I tried to get a smile out of him but he won't do it on command yet or even with a tickle so 'no dice'. Lincoln is a very peaceful baby, snuggley, and easy to take care of. He doesn't even cry very loudly. Last night he slept through the night for the first time. I'm not confident that will be happening all the time yet but it sure was nice. He is giving Ruth a run for her money on TBBE- the best baby ever. Only the rest of the year will tell. 

Lincoln's Baby Blessing

For all of you who weren't able to make it to his blessing, it was a beautiful one. Zach always puts so much thought and love into our baby blessings, just like we do their names. I wish I had had more time to take pictures before hand but when church is at 9 and you have 5 children to get ready AFTER they finish eating breakfast it sometimes ends up a very short photo shoot. One of these days soon I'll snap a shot of Lincoln smiling- it's his new trick. Well, it's his only trick really, besides just being a peaceful baby. 

Our Father which art in heaven, by the authority of the Melchizedek priesthood

which we hold, we come before thee to offer this baby a name and a blessing. And

the name by which he shall be known is Lincoln Moroni Hutchins. Lincoln, we

bless you at this time, that throughout the course of your life you will look to the

example of the men for whom you have been named and that you will emulate the

characteristics and qualities that have enabled them to be participants in the work

of salvation for your Heavenly Father’s children. We bless you that you will be a

leader of men and women, that by your quiet example and conviction that many

will come to know of true principles and desire more earnestly to follow your father

in heaven. We bless you that like the president for whom you have been named

that you might be firm in your convictions and persist in that which is right, even

when it may be unpopular. We bless you that like Captain Moroni, you will seek for

guidance from the words of the prophets when you reach critical junctures in your

life and need to know what your Heavenly Father would want you to do. We bless

you with courage and with the conviction to walk what will be at times a lonely path

of discipleship. We bless you that as you faithfully ponder the example of these men

and the name which you have been given, that like Lehi and Nephi of old, you will

remember the words of their father, of Helaman, and draw courage and strength

and fortitude from those who have gone before and feel more earnestly a desire to

increase your commitment to your Father in Heaven. And these things we bless you

with, in the name of your Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Not Lincoln's best look I know, but the other two matched so well I had to include it. 

Look Who's Talking 2

Hurrah for Ruthie! She's finally two. We've been practicing saying, "I'm two" and holding up 2 fingers this week. I will say that she is our first child who hasn't needed help blowing out the candles or opening their presents on their second birthday.

 Ruth Ann's favorite things to do right now: read books, chew gum, do whatever chore mom is doing, play 'gotch you' with her brothers, color (with markers or with the ipad), hold her dog and pacifier, and cry. The crying has just started in the last few weeks and we're not sure why. It may have to do with the new baby or just being a two year old girl. She also likes to sing the Sunbeam song, go to the playground, and jump on the trampoline when the weather is nice. Ruthie is still working on her colors but has made a lot of progress and can identify the basics pretty regularly. First one she learned to identify with consistency- pink. She can count out loud to 10 but not count 10 objects on a page yet. She will sing you parts of the alphabet but not A-Z. If you double her height she will be 5'8". We shall see.

My favorite things about this sweetie: singing her to before bed time in the rocking chair, hearing her giggle, playing 'gotch you', watching her skip and dance, and hearing her sing pieces of songs. Ruth Anne is a joy. So glad you came to our family two years ago. 

I actually had a rainbow birthday cake for my second birthday too. I cried when Amber blew out the candle for me. 

Experiencing Technical Difficulties

Stop the presses! or at least the laundry. Our dryer went out last Saturday night. We didn't get a repair man out here till Thursday and he said that we needed a part which had to be ordered. Of course. The part should take 3-5 days to come in. We are still waiting for the part and for the repair man to return. In the mean time I do one load at a time and then proceed to decorate the house with all our wet clothing items.