Catching up... Jan-Mar 2012

January

We were able to get free passes to Disney World through a coworker's boyfriend. We had a great time, but man, it was exhausting! 

Roe with his Daddy waiting in line at the haunted mansion. 

Liam thought he liked scary things, but said this was too scary.

The barrel bridge was a big hit. It was really bouncy. I was climbing up hill the entire time when Nate was behind me. We went over it at least four times!

 The boys each got a set amount of money to spend at the gift shops. Liam and Owen picked pirate swords, daggers, and eye patches. Ronan picked a pair of stuffed monkeys. Everyone came home tired but happy.

February

What can I say, Ronan really likes shoes, it doesn't matter what kind.

The boys really liked Moss Park. It had a nice big playground and a lake with a swimming area. I even made a life size (maybe a little smaller) Mermaid in the sand. Yes, I know, she has a fantastic bottom.

Ronan crashed after all the fun. 

March

Not much to say. Just a bunch of cute boys.

More catching up... Oct-Dec 2011

 October

We took the boys to an italian bistro.

 I made Ninja Turtle shells from cardboard for the boys' costumes (Nathan was the fourth turtle).

Then I made weapons from cardboard...

The four of them were a big hit at the ward Halloween party (I was April O'Neil). Liam and I changed costumes to go trick o' treating. He wanted to be Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas (The painted ribcage T-shirt was the best I could do). I was simply a black cat.

November

Around Halloween I had made a soft skeleton at Liam's request. 

It became his favorite toy for several months.

I made cupcakes for my birthday (I didn't want icing, don't judge me!). I also found out I was pregnant!

I experimented with making homemade tortillas. Though not perfect, we all loved them.

Occasionally, the boys still used their turtle shells.

December

The boys wanted to help me make pizza dough.

We flew to Massachusetts to be with Grandma and Grandpa Shirley for Christmas. The boys had fun with there only cousin, Katelyn.

Owen helped Ronan figure out what to do with his presents.

The boys were a little disappointed that there was no snow while we were there.
Liam also had a bike waiting for him at home in Florida so he could ride to the preschool with me. The preschool let us leave his bike in the lobby area while he was in class so I wouldn't have to haul it around. When we got home it turned out the bike was a little small so we kept it for Owen (which made Owen happy!) and got Liam a bigger one.

More catching up... Aug-Sep 2011

August

Ronan kept up with his brothers pretty well.

Liam turned four years old. The big boy got Star Wars action figures and Legos for presents. Everyone enjoyed his cake, especially Ronan.

September

Liam started preschool. Since it was only a mile away, I packed all three of them in a bike trailer And petaled him over to the preschool each morning and came back for him at noon (it was still summer so it got really hot, but it was good exercise).

 Ronan turned a year old. We had glow sticks and zebra cake to celebrate!

We went to Gatorland about a week after Roe's birthday.

The boys loved the splash pad there. 

Nathan got soaked trying to keep up with Ronan.

Owen spent the whole time using the water guns.

Liam just ran all over enjoying the water.

More catching up... Jun-Jul 2011 -Orlando

June

We arrived in Orlando late at night and picked up our rental car. We got an inexpensive hotel room with two beds, one for us, one for the boys (at least that was the idea) and a portacrib for Ronan.  We had been hoping (perhaps foolishly) that we would be able to quickly find a place we liked and a minivan within a week since Nathan would be starting work then. We ended up being in the hotel for two weeks. So the boys and I ended up being holed up in the room while Nate worked. The boys were starting to get cabin fever. Luckily there was a TV in the room and kiddie pool right outside our door otherwise it could have been much worse. It was so hot and initially it smelled like a swamp to me until I got used to it. The tap water tasted like swamp too. Well finally we found our van and then our home. The boys were so happy to have a real home after a few weeks in a single room.               

July

We had given away our couch and a few other pieces of furniture before we moved. So, after a trip to Ikea for a couch and bookcases, our house felt a little more comfortable.  Ronan took his first steps at ten months just like his brothers.

We celebrated the Fourth of July at home with some sparklers.

We also took a trip to Cocoa Beach.

Still catching up... Feb-June 2011

February

March

I got to go on a field trip with some of my illustration class to New York for a week. It was amazing to meet so many artists and see so much art; it was also strange to be without my family. Nathan was amazing! He took care of the boys by himself with occasional help from friends and family when he needed to go to class. It was hard for me (and  Ronan too)  because I was still nursing Ronan who was just about 6 months old. 

April

Owen turned 2 years old! Ronan started sitting up on his own (and discovered that chocolate cake is delicious). The boys also got to meet their first cousin, little Katelyn. 

May

We started packing up for our move to Florida for Nathan's new job with Tupperware. We put almost everything, except for some clothes and a few dishes and pans for camping out, into a Pod to be shipped across the country for us. We planned to spend a week or two with my family in Colorado before flying out of Albuquerque. Right before we left Utah we went to the Hogle Zoo with Brandon, Allyson and Katelyn; Daniel; and Kevin. 

June

We had a great time with my family. The boys had so much fun with their Aunts and Uncles. It was so nice to have a breather from all the stress of moving before it started up again. We sold our car and planned on buying a minivan when we got to Orlando as well as hunting for a home.