Otterpups

So here's the kid update for the grandmas...

Emma will turn 5 months old on Monday!  She discovered her toes this month.  Best. Toy. Ever.  Too bad it's still a little chilly for her to go without socks & shoes constantly because she would love that!  She also learned how to blow raspberries, roll over and use the johnny jump up.  She's my only baby who has learned to roll from her back to her tummy first, not the reverse.  She is really consistent at rolling over onto her tummy quickly but gets so angry on her tummy and can't get herself out of it.  I'm sure she'll get it one of these days, but it cracks me up.

Jared getting Emma to laugh

Emma's first time in the johnny jump up tired her out completely :)

Emma in her exersaucer

Jared with the girls at Home Depot Kids craft

 Jonas loves superheroes and swords right now.  We found some avengers action figures for him at the dollar store and he LOVES them.  He barely lets them out of his sight.  EVER.  He has been saying "No fair!"  a lot recently when someone gets something and he doesn't, really accentuating the "a" in fair. I don't like hearing him say it, but the way he says does make me smile.  He is such a boy, but so sweet at the same time that he has a special place in my heart and Jared totally eats up the "boy" stuff.

The boys playing angry birds

Jonas with his avengers

4 kids in a car!

We stopped one day at a nearby field because these were blooming all over town!  So fun and spring-y

 Lillian has been teasing non-stop lately and I feel like I've tried the whole spectrum with her again to no avail.  Ignoring to time outs to bribes to flat out begging.  I finally asked her why she's teasing so much and she responded: "Mom, it's just so fun!"  Granted, her brother and sister give her great reactions and are fairly easy targets, but it's about driving me crazy!  She also got her first bee sting the other day when they were playing outside.  She came in frantic and crying and told me: "I just saw a lady bug flying around and wanted to catch it, so I did, and it stung me!  Because it wasn't a ladybug...It was a bumblebee!"  She recovered fairly quickly but was sure she couldn't go outside the next day "because that bee knew me and wanted to sting me again" so I explained how that bee would never be able to sting anyone, ever again...

Lillian in her bed with the changing pad ready!

She is also wetting the bed frequently.  She did so great at the beginning of the year but now it's hopeless.  We limit drinks and then take her potty before bed.  By 9:30 or 10:00 when Jared or I take her on our way to bed she's often already wet the bed (and she goes down about 8!), and then I'll take her again when I get up to feed the baby and she is so dead asleep she has no idea that she's even peed all over.  She'll even tell me (after I've sometimes even bathed her and changed sheets): "Mom! I stayed dry all night! My sheets are dry" because she desperately wants to succeed.  How could a girl sleep through the whole bath and sheet changing experience after wetting herself?  I don't know... She adores Emma and wants to spend as much time with her as possible.  Here she is trying to help Emma be happy on tummy time

Lillian & Emma on Tummy time

Jocelyn reading

 Jocelyn is finally reading!  She was fighting it big time this whole school year. I felt like she had all the tools and skills necessary and she wouldn't use them, just try to guess at words all the time.  She still tries that a little bit, but has finally moved on to really reading. I'm so excited for her and for the world that will open to her.  In one month my little sister Kelsey will return home from her mission!  The kids are sooooo excited (as am I).  Jocelyn remembered that Kelsey likes word search puzzles so she's been brushing up on her skills so that they can do word searches together when Kelsey returns (Jocelyn's idea).  Lillian is also wearing a hair band around her wrist regularly because she thinks that is what aunt Kelsey does and is telling everyone "I am wearing this for a bracelet like my aunt Kelsey."  Jonas has no idea what's happening because he was not even a year old when she left on her mission, but I'm sure he and Emma will love aunt Kelsey too :)
Jocelyn was asked to read a scripture in front of all the other kids at church, and bear her testimony on two separate occasions.  She went up so confidently and did a fabulous job.  I still can't get over how much progress she has made since the last time she was asked to do this about 7 months ago...she was flailing on the ground and Jared had to pick her up and physically place her in front of the podium and coax her into giving her talk. I'm so glad she is comfortable with public speaking now!

Working on Word searches

 Last weekend the city had their annual Easter egg hunt.  We took the kids and they had a fun time seeing the Easter bunny, collecting eggs, getting to see the fire truck and receive fireman hats, and winning prizes at the stations.  My mom made the girls these cute matching skirts.  She also made Jonas a spiderman cape and matching pjs which I keep forgetting to get a picture of, but he wore the cape grocery shopping the other day and everything.  Thanks mom!

The kids at the Easter Egg Hunt

4 kids and a honey by the bunny