March Mayhem

Just cause she's cute:

For some reason, March is always crazy. This year is no exception. Tatym is doing track, and had her piano recital and festival a couple weeks ago. Josh is wrestling, which basically consumes our Tuesday, Thursday, Friday nights, and all day Saturday. Piper is in gymnastics still, and the coaches keep moving her up classes. They want her to try out for the competitive team in May, but I haven't quite decided on that yet.

Cooper is so fun and hilarious. He talks constantly, still loves his Boise State, and his shoes. His burn is healing amazingly well, and I doubt there will be a visible scar...phew.

Marlo just hit 7 months,( insert sniffling noise here) and is learning all sorts of cool stuff, like how to sit up, (still a little tippy), how to crawl, how to eat food, and how to suck on her toes. She is so sweet and fun. She is definitely a bit feisty, but I guess when you are born puny, maybe that is what happens. She loves to grab anything she can, and shove it in her mouth, which keeps me on my toes. She loves to scrunch up her blanket and chew on it when she is tired or trying to fall asleep, and she adores her siblings. She is super social and will give a huge smile to anyone who is talking anywhere in her direction.

Tim took his annual Bandon golf trip a couple weeks ago, and loved every minute of golfing, even in the sideways rain. He is threatening to take up road biking, and I am getting ready for golf league to start again, trying to catch up on 6 months of book keeping, trying to keep everyone fed, clothed, and happy . I keep really busy caring for this big ole family of mine, and it's awesome. Spring is around the corner, and all I can say is Hooray for sunshine and warm weather!

Burn

Poor Coops. He always climbs on our island. He eats there, he watches me fix dinner there, he makes messes up there. But on Saturday, he stuck his hand on a hot griddle there. I had my back turned. I felt/feel horrible. Like really horrible. He cried and cried for a couple hours. I had to hold his hand in ice water, then keep it wrapped in icy cool clothes. Luckily Aunt Susie, the Nurse, was here to help with the wound care through yesterday. Now we are on our own.

He isn't in great pain anymore, but we have to keep it covered, and clean, and trim off the skin as it dies. Ew. He is one tough kid. Now he calls his blister, his egg. He walks around saying, " I hurt. My egg." WHAT??? I guess the blister looks kind of like an egg? Or he says, " My hand sore. Cloth." He likes his wrap to be very clean and new all the time. Rather tricky with a 2 year old. Sigh.

These photos were taken 3 days later. I couldn't bring myself to take pictures the first few days.

Happy Half in Phoenix

We went down to Phoenix on the 10-15th. The weather was positively perfecto. Tonya and Alan let us use their house down there, which is AWESOME! The kids had so much fun just swimming in the pool all day long. Our friends the Taylor's came too, and Jessica, our built in babysitter. We shopped, we ate, we swam, we watched Brandon organize the Val Vista Olympics, and mix us some drinks while we tanned. It was super relaxing and fun!

Marlo celebrated her half birthday there! She rolls over both ways and scoots everywhere. She refuses to eat or drink anything that doesn't come straight from mama. She coos and smiles all the time, and is so sweet. We can't get enough of her. Loving that baby girl!

News

The latest news from the Dudley house:

Piper turned 7...she is very happy that her Disney trip is only 1 year away. She begged for a horse, but got 2 African Dwarf Water Frogs instead. They were a hit. She also got some paper and paints...she loves to paint, and I love that she loves it!

Marlo started scooting, rolling over, sleeping through the night, and just generally being even more adorable, if that's possible. She did however discover that she DOES NOT, ever, under any circumstances, want to drink from a bottle. Great.

Cooper is even more particular about dressing himself. He still loves shoes, preferably his "chuck taylor's", or Josh's wrestling shoes, or my sexiest pair of heels...hee hee. He loves his brother and sisters and rejoices whenever they show up after school.

Josh started wrestling again, and is gonna be a menace to all wrestlers in his weight class this year. He has also suddenly become very polite and helpful around the house...it's kinda freaking me out...but I love it.

Tatym is nearly 12, but actually acts like she's nearly 16...ugg. She is very mature and responsible, and I am loving that she tells me all the funny 6th grade goings on. I remember those myself so clear...crazy. Sometimes boys call here for her, and I try not to freak out.

Tim recently decided that his 21 hour work week was a bit strenuous, and as of February he now works 15 hours a week. Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Seriously...he's gonna drive me nuts. Dr. Weed has begun working for us, and has taken on some of the hours, so maybe Tim can find time to pay the bills, or do yard work now??? YES.

I just finally started working out. I am doing "INSANITY"...that it is. It kills me, and I love it. I figured that now I don't have any excuses...no more bed rest, no more sleepless nights, (generally), although on hindsight, maybe starting a workout program called Insanity, after 2 years of dormancy, might not be the brightest idea.

New Year : New Hair ?

Today I did something I have never done before. I dyed my hair. Okay, technically I didn't do it myself, but anyhow, you get the point. I figured, why not? I have never been dark, and it's the perfect time to try something new. So here it is. As for Marlo, she got a haircut. As in a buzz. Her cute dark hair was falling out in handfuls...so we made way for the new blond fuzz that was under it.

Very Merry Indeed

Christmas was fantastic. The kids must have been really good, cause Santa left a boat load of presents at our house.

Tatym got "mindflex", and a candy making kit, and all the Harry Potter books.

Josh got a remote control helicopter, an actual BSU football players jersey (Iloka), and some Roald Dahl books.

Piper got a doll house, with all the furniture imaginable, and an easy bake oven.
Cooper had a "BOISE STATE" Christmas...jersey, blanket, etc. and a few toy story legos.

Marlo got a blanket and some chew toys...not that she cared. In fact, all the presents were open before she woke up.

My parents were in town for a few days, and we enjoyed spending time with them. We did our usual traditions. Chinese food dinner on Christmas eve, followed by the Nativity and opening Grandma Jammies. Christmas morning was fun, the afternoon was busy with a big family dinner, and lollipop making and easy bake cakes. It's been a great week and a half of playtime.

Unfortunately for Piper, her tonsils had to come out yesterday, so she isn't feeling so hot, but hopefully she will heal up fast and be back to her normal happy self.