April

Sawyer

Since a lot of April was still pretty cold, Sawyer sported a coat for a good portion of the month. One day he told me I needed to leave it unzipped so that he could have a "flying coat". So I left it unzipped not having a clue what he was talking about. Then he showed me how his coat looked like wings when he ran and jumped so that he looked like he was flying. I get it buddy, I get it. 

When I was reading a book to him, he stopped and pointed out the chicken's beak and said, "Look! There's it's sound nose!" and I feel like that description is just perfectly apt.

I signed him up for t-ball at the beginning of the month and picked up his shirt. He fell in love with that thing pretty hard. Games don't start until the end of May, but he asks to wear his t-ball shirt almost every day. 

While at the park one of the days we were pretending it was nice enough weather, a little girl and her parents showed up so my boys were playing a little bit with her. She was probably about exactly between them age wise. They were getting along fine and then I watched Sawyer get suuuuper close to her face, reel his head back, and shout, "I'm gonna be sick!" (Like, what?? Why? Who taught you phrases like that? Please don't scream them after looking at other people's faces). Then he ran right over to me in alarm, "Mom! That girl has snot all OVER her face!" Ha. At least he has a healthy fear of germs? (Sometimes). 

Dawson

We tried round two of potty training with Dawson aaand it went worse than the first time. That kid is a big talker when it comes to using the toilet and has a lot of behaviors that will convince you he's ready but I almost tore my hair out on this attempt. Now I'm just not even going to think about it until after this baby is born and I feel up for some mental strain. I really think that Dawson could do it now, but he is 100% the kid that will do it when he feels like it, and not one second before. 

He's basically morphed into a raging toddler monster who hates everything a good portion of the day and it is pretty darn draining. There's a lot of drama inside that tiny body. He's always run on the side of having a hot temper but things just keep getting worse instead of better as he gets older. There are a lot of "cool down/time outs" happening in his crib throughout the day.

 I had forgotten that last year he had a perpetual runny nose this time of year and it took me a minute to figure out that it was allergies. So when it happened again this year... it took me a minute again ha. His allergy medicine did seem to improve his mood for a bit so that's something at least. 

He likes to take his bat and ball everywhere he goes. To Braden's games, to the park, on a grocery run, everywhere. He thinks that he gets to play t-ball too and I don't have it in me to break his little heart just yet. He could totally keep up but he's still got two years before he reaches the minimum age.

We were watching A Wrinkle in Time (only made it about halfway through) and it got to the part with Zach Galifianakis and Dawson pointed and said, "Look, it's bad Jesus!" Kids brains are so funny. I could see where he made the jump to that character resembling Jesus but I have no idea why he decided he was the bad version of Jesus. 

He got an invitation to a little neighbor boy's birthday party. We weren't able to make it but Dawson carried that invitation around for a good two weeks and let everyone know that it was his very own letter. He was delighted to have gotten something of his own from (he thought) our mail box. 

Dillon

Dillon lived that engineering life but had a small reprieve with his guys trip. They all do whatever it is they do and watch the football draft together. Lots of man things- football, food, video games. He has a good time. And always comes back with a good story or two. He started up his spring softball season with most of the same guys he's been playing with for a few years. He gets so worked up it makes me laugh. I always tell people that if they think Dillon could never be anything but soft spoken and congenial, they just need to watch him play sports.  

DaNae

This month had me closing in on the end of the second trimester and beginning the third. I really appreciate that, though there is definitely discomfort, I'm experiencing the least amount of pregnancy pain up to this same point compared to my other two. Pelvic pain started rolling in as the third trimester started but it's been very manageable. 

My appointments have been run of the mill (which is good). At one appointment, Dawson just happened to bring a tiny tape measure as his chosen toy. When Dr. Gatherum walked in, he talked to Daws and saw the tape measure and asked if we should use it to measure my belly. Dawson's eyes got wide with joy as he fervently nodded yes. So we used his tiny tape measure and he was delighted. Dr. Gatherum told him to bring it back for other appointments and Dawson has not forgotten.

Crazy hair for his April Fool's Day party at school. 

Waddup, awkward smile?

Preschool pictures

I decided to put in some effort and prep activities for conference for the boys, different things for each speaker. I've got to find a way to fine tune it. It worked minimally for Dawson and worked pretty decently for Sawyer but half the time I still missed what was going on because I was busy taking down/setting up activities.

Sticker names. Dawson was too busy being angry to participate. 

He warmed up for the playdoh activity.

But really spent most of his time in this spot when he wasn't busy raging.

Decided to take Dawson to the park while Sawyer was at school. He wanted to bring his bat and ball..

..and this is what he did most of the time instead of playing on the playground ha. 

One of his many fits.

I decided to film him so he could see his angry little self but it definitely just made him more mad.

Dawson: "I Lucky, you Spirit!" and hops on Sawyer's back with no warning. (Lucky is a girl with her own horse named Spirit from one of the shows he watches).

Fun at Staheli Family Farm with early Easter celebrations.

Sawyer telling some story that involved a lot of hand gestures and moving progressively backwards.

Riding the cow train. (Sawyer wanted nothing to do with it).

Finding eggs.

I noticed this look of concern on his face and couldn't figure out what was upsetting him. He had spotted the Easter Bunny and wanted none of it.

Life size characters are really not his thing.

Sawyer finding eggs.

I still wanted a picture and since Sawyer was all about it, I made Dawson pose too because I'm mean like that. He wouldn't stand by his brother though and was adamant about remaining in my arms.

Just taking a break while we waited in line to turn in eggs.

Turning in their eggs so that they could get a prize.

He wanted to sit on every.single.tractor at that farm.

My parents decided to treat all of the grandkids (plus me and Dillon) to Dumbo. It was quite the fiasco. The movie was cute but definitely not an attention keeper for the littler crowd.

Dawson was up and down and all around. Thank goodness we took up an entire row that he could wander through.

Dying Easter eggs.

Sawyer tried his hardest to make the faces of the emoji stickers he chose for each egg.

Winky face.

Crying laugh face.

Tongue out.

We got invited to a fun little play date with a Hungry, Hungry Caterpillar theme. (Thank goodness for fun mom's like Meleese who put stuff like this together and allow the rest of us to simply contribute bits and pieces.)

Making caterpillar headbands.

 

Eating cake.

One of our playdates at the park. "Mom, I'm going to sit here."

Scoots back a section. "Mom, I'm here now." Just testing out his independence.

We went out to Three Peaks with some family for hot dogs and s'mores. 

Dillon and I brought a pack of peeps to roast and the boys thought it was pretty cool.

Dawson especially is all about the "birdies". (All Easter season long, "I want a blue birdy treat? I want a yellow birdy treat? I want a green birdy treat? etc. Safe to say we've passed on the enjoyment of Peeps to him.)

Enjoying his sticky treat.

Ready to hunt eggs at the Hinckley egg hunt.

He was on top of it for sure.  

And, as can be seen, there were PLENTY of eggs to be had in his age group. Grandma Ronna even had to pocket some so that he had room to pick up more.

 

Sawyer ready to hunt eggs. I don't have any pictures of him actually getting eggs because Dillon was with him and that's just how it goes with ol' Dillon, even if I specifically tell him to get some pictures. But at least his sisters got some good before and afters.

He won this Mario backpack with one of his eggs and was so, so happy about it.

Just acting out some of the features in the Mario game.

The boys with Papa Steve.

Can't ever pass up the ten cent horse at the Delta grocery store.

Free ice cream and balloons!

Stopped at Staple's to do some shopping. This kid was caught giving his reflection some affection.

Playing in the stream at the park. Things started out so well with them just dipping their toes and walking around. 

Bu,t inevitably, they ended up being stripped down to the basics because their clothes were so wet. Also, Sawyer attached himself to Jaidyn for a good amount of the time. He really likes his older cousins.

Just enjoying the rest of Allie's frazzle that he talked her out of.

Visiting Uncle Greg at the care center. Papa Steve was nice enough to provide glove balloons as entertainment.

Spoils from the Easter Bunny.

Loving all of his new chapsticks. 

Church with the Jeffery clan.

Baby bump at 27 weeks.

Playing with some orbeez and enjoying the sunshine.

This poor kid has some sensitive skin and these pictures don't really show the extent of it but he had a reaction to the sunscreen I used on him while they played with their orbeez. So far, only the Coppertone baby formula seems to be okay for him (at least on his face).

Playing in the sprinklers. Moments like these are my favorite.

Just downing some watermelon.

If you look at his plate, there is evidence of just how many pieces he consumed.

One of their favorite activities for this year's warm weather season- racing

Some of our ward members took over a drink shack in town so we hit up their grand opening.

It was definitely too bright for the boys to take good pictures haha.

Just being cute.

A book Sawyer brought home from school with a bunch of pictures he'd drawn. I was quite impressed because he never draws pictures at home and shows minimal interest when we pull out coloring materials. This, he said, is a picture of him as a robot with giant robot arms. 

One tulip in the vase started to droop before the others and when Sawyer noticed it he exclaimed, "Poor dear!" Then started to gently pet it and whisper to it. I only caught bits and pieces but essentially heard him tell the flower to not be sad, everything would be okay. Then he perked his head up, smiled, and said, "There, now I made it happy!" So I of course had to find a way to prop it up when he wasn't watching so he wouldn't think his efforts were in vain.