In order to simplify my life, I created a new blog that will be linked to my gmail address instead of my yahoo one.  I'll be posting to that blog now, so check it out! I just added a bunch of new posts.

 Also, for those of you with private blogs, can you invite me to view yours with my gmail address?  chelsa.dimond@gmail.com.

Thanks!

Chelsa

Stuff

This post is a bunch of stuff that's been going on lately.

My Aunt and Uncle and their seven children came out to visit.  They were on a road trip across the country and came out of their way to see us.  We had a lot of fun cramming like sardines into our little place and catching up with them before they had to get on the road again.  Such a cute family!

A couple of weeks ago, after a long day filled with too much time in front of the boob tube, I decided to do a TV free summer.  We're more settled in our home now, and are getting more sleep at night, so I'm not quite as dependent upon the TV to entertain my kids.  I knew if I really wanted to make it through the summer we had to have a plan.  I sat down with my girl's and this is what we came up with,

Monday-Cooking Day.  I let my girls choose a bunch of recipes they would like to make throughout the summer.  A lot of them came off this blog.

Tuesday-Library Day.  Our library has a summer reading program going on and we go once a week to get new books and enter into drawings for prizes.  We've also been trying to have story time every day.

Wednesday-Game Day.  This can be whatever we happen to feel like that day.  The park, water games, board games, hide and seek etc.

Thursday-Service Day.  I still don't have much planned for this, but I've really been feeling like I need to teach my children to serve.  Any ideas?

Friday-Craft Day.  We got a few ideas off of this blog post.

We have a lot of fun things going on in our community too that we have plans to attend.  So far we've done pretty good.  There have been a few times when I've really needed a break and I let them watch a movie though.

Violet is 11 weeks old now!  She is smiling more and more, but I have had the hardest time catching it on camera.   I have been able to catch a few happier expressions though.
 

On the 2nd we had our Stake Temple Day.  We haven't been to the Temple since we had Violet, and decided to go.  A long drive, with three children, in a squishy car was crazy, but we're glad we went.

On Sunday, I decided we should have a pedicure party.  Kirk was napping and I needed to fill time.   It was a little stressful, but the girls had fun, so I guess that's what matters.  Even Violet got her toes painted!

Just Cause

I just added a bunch of new blog posts, so be sure to scroll down and read them all!

Before I call it a night though, I have to add a few more pictures.  Just cause :)

Aren't my girls cute?!

And here is the lovely built in bunkbed my Dad made while he was here.  A shout out to my Mom for helping paint it too!

Picture Mystery

 I found some random pictures on my camera the other day.

I thought, "I don't remember taking these pictures."

I kept scrolling through them and a clue emerged

At last, the culprit caught!

It turns out that Clara is quite the pro at taking pictures.  Since I found these pictures, she has taken many more.  We might just have a photographer in the making!

Music Recital

Luci had her first music recital last week.  She was really nervous about playing her bells in front of everyone, but she did it!  I was so proud!  From the audience, Clara sang along to every song.  She's learned a lot watching her big sister practice over the past year.  I think she's ready to advance to the next level too :)

Mother's Day

What made my Mother's day great:

-Clara running in my room first thing in the morning saying "Happy Birthday Mommy!"

-Luci painting my nails, giving me a foot rub, and drawing me tons of pictures.

-Violet giving me a big smile.

-Kirk making me breakfast, lunch, dinner, and chocolate chip cookies.

At breakfast, kirk made a heart shape around my plate with Dove chocolates.  Before I could get downstairs, Clara sneaked and ate two of them.  Luci came to the rescue though and filled in the empty spots with smarties she got at a birthday party yesterday.

For dinner we ate out in our backyard.  So nice being with my cute family.

Happy Mother's Day Mom!  I love you!
Happy Mother's Day Dana, you raised a great son!

Catching Up

Violet is already seven weeks old!  A lot changes in seven weeks:  She's about 12 pounds already, smiling, and even rolling from her belly to her back!  Her eyes are very blue now,  she holds her head up fairly well, and she's already outgrowing size 0-3 months.  Very, very slowly she is starting to sleep longer at night, (we now get 3 hour stretches instead of 1.5-2 hour stretches).
 It feels like she's always been a part of our family!  I love this girl!

Here are a few pictures from the past 7 weeks.

On Easter Sunday, April 8th, we blessed Violet.  She was only two weeks old so the dress was really big on her.

My parents came into town the Friday before her blessing.  They stayed for 2 whole weeks!  It was wonderful!  They worked their booties off and got most of our house painted and a bunk bed built.  They cooked meals and helped entertain Luci and Clara for me.  One of the best parts though was their help with Violet in the night.  On several occasions when she wouldn't go back to sleep I brought her down to my parents and they graciously took care of her so Kirk and I could sleep.  It was a sad day when they left.  My girls and I all cried!

I tried in vain to do a photo shoot with my girls (copying a picture off pinterest).  This is the best we got.

I got this sweet picture of Violet though.

For the first month of her life, Violet always made this cute kissy face.  I loved it!  She doesn't do it very often any more and I miss it. 

2 weeks old

3 weeks old

When I took her to the doctor they said she was gaining about 2 oz a day!  You can tell by the last two pictures how much she changed in just a week.

Violet always wears a bib.  Why?  Because she is constantly barfing and spitting up!  She soaks through several bibs or outfits each day.  When I had Luci I didn't understand why bibs came with outfits.  When I had Clara I started to understand why.  And now I wish they came with multiple bibs!

 I never posted a picture of Grandma Dana with the girls.  It was so great having her come visit too!  Thanks Dana!