Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Picture Overload!

Forgive me for taking so long to update. There are a lot of pictures here! I'm going in reverse chronological order.

Ewan is sticking everything in his mouth! He's rolling over and scooting his body almost everywhere. He can turn himself in circles while lying on his tummy or back. He's a good baby who enjoys attention from anywhere he can find it. He doesn't mind being the horsey sometimes when I'm not fast enough to turn him on his back when the sisters figure out he's on the floor.

They all like to play with the playmat. I have to keep the girls from laying on top of Ewan while he is on it. It's a challenge some days!

Aislee is learning to smile for the camera.

This is Olivia's "Oh, no!" face. She also says, "I dunno" quite frequently. I must not know a whole lot and use dramatic facial expressions when I say "oh, no".

They were twirling on their letter boxes.

These are our latest potato head creations. I think I need to limit my potato head time. Last week I had a dream that I was back in high school trying to impress my crush with my potato heads.

Aislee's tower that Olivia knocked down.

The favorite ball popper!

The girls are starting the "do it myself" stage. AAhh!

So, I had my first race post babies. It was the Catalina State Park 5.25 and 10.35 miler. I ran the 5.25 miler. I've never run a trail run before. I had been training at an 8min pace, and was pretty excited to finish around that time. However, I didn't know that with a trail run, some of the areas are pretty narrow and you can only go as fast as the person in front of you. There were also 104 stair climbs in some of the most narrow areas. The first mile was part stair and part hill. We had just started the race (about a min in) and everybody just started walking up these hills and stairs. When I hit the first mile mark and checked my time, I was somewhat disappointed. I tried to pick up my pace, and would be going along pretty well until I came to another stair climb or narrow hill. Everyone was walking! I tried to pass as many people as I could when I got into a wider part of the trail. I didn't get passed by anybody, and I got 5th in my age group. I didn't finish as fast as I would have liked, but I had a lot of energy left over at the end.

Paul and the kids hung out by the water while I ran. We crossed the wash 5 times during the race. Those were the parts I really sped up and tried to pass people at because I could cross just about anywhere. Paul got quite a few stares and comments as he walked around with the twins in the stroller and Ewan in the front carrier. Before the race we got a lot ofs "You guys are crazy", "Are they triplets?", "You've got your hands full". I think Paul got asked if he was running too.

Aislee

Olivia eating crackers while Ewan lies in the shade of the stroller.

The start of the race. In about thirty seconds, everyone stops and walks.

Prerace. We left the house at 6:15am for a 7:40 race that didn't start until 8am. I was a little frustrated that the race didn't start on time. For any of you who nurse and try to run, it's hard when things like that change when you time your feedings around the run. Fortunately, Ewan fell asleep and wasn't too hungry and my milk didn't come in until the last half-mile.

I really was looking at important things (kids).

On Friday we had 85 degree weather, so we went to the pool.

Olivia has to find a rock to bring home every time we go outside.

This is post-pool. We were trying to diaper as fast as we could. Little swimmers don't hold everything, just the big stuff!

Olivia, Ewan, and Aislee Friday morning in Mom and Dad's bed.

Getting ready for the ward Easter Egg Hunt.

Sleeping baby. He's such a good sleeper. He wakes up around 5 so I can feed him and go run before Paul leaves for work.

Aislee sets this up herself so she can feed her baby doll.

There's actually nothing on the TV. I asked them to sit on the couch after their baths so I could clean up breakfast in the kitchen.

They both wanted to put the baby carrier on.

Happy kid!

We play, a lot!

We read, a lot!

Paul's parents came down for a conference in Mesa. They let us go to the Temple and stay at a hotel while they took the girls down the Tucson for a day. Grandma Stacey did Olivia's hair for church in little curlers. Aislee would have none of that.

Ewan in his Easter outfit.

The girls like to lead the music while we watch October Conference before church. Aislee's the one with the straight hair.

We had visitors for Spring Break. My younger brothers, Rand and Joel came down to spend the week with us. Joel will be leaving on his mission to Tokyo in the middle of May. We wanted to spend some time with him before he left. They hadn't met Ewan yet. Our hometeachers told us that Tucson is famous for Sonoran hotdogs, and we just had to take the boys to try them. So, we went to a restaurant a few minutes from our house to try these things. It's a hotdog wrapped in bacon with spicy salsa, black beans, and jalapenos in a bun. I think we'll stick with Oscar Meyer!

Rand sharing his dog with Olivia. She was not a fan.

It's huge!

Joel and his dog.

They also serve them with a tumble weed. Not my favorite.

Rand served his mission in Singapore, and had many exotic dishes there. On their way down from Cedar City they stopped at this place in Gilbert that gets shipments of the cuisine from over there. They brought us some Durian.


Everything about this "fruit" says, DON'T OPEN ME! DON'T EAT ME! I'M NOT GOOD FOR YOU!

It has spikes and a very hard shell. We took it to the park to try because my parents and others who have tried it warned us about the taste and smell. Paul and I are always up for trying something once. I dare say, we will only be trying this once! Rand loves it...we love him, but why does he love this? Blah!

Olivia became very fond of Uncle Joel (he had an ipod).

Aislee warmed upto the Uncles rather quickly. Ewan will go to anybody!

Just hanging out at the house.

Rand

Joel and Ewan

Rand figuring out his new phone.

Future BYU football player. Go Cougs!

Playing with Joel's ipod. He was a good sharer!

Monday, March 15, 2010

Oh the things we learn...!

I've been a slacker in the blog department. I haven't been a very good picture taker, but I'm trying to take more that show the things that we are learning lately.

The girls are getting quite a vocabulary. I'm probably the only that can really understand all their words, but I'm really the only person during the day that they need to communicate with. So...They've learned to call for each other. I'll ask Olivia to take Aislee her sippy cup and Olivia will yell, "Aislee!" Aislee calls for Olivia for everything! She also says, "Hi baby Ewan". It sounds more like "Hi Baby Elinaoouieie." (just a bunch of vowel sounds...?) They know most all of their animal noises. Lately, we've been reading "The Bear Snores On" before naps and bed. At the end, the bear sneezes. Now the girls think a bear says, "ACHOOOOooooh!" They tell me when they have messy diapers and will lay on the floor and wait for me to change them. It's very helpful. Is that a sign that they're getting ready for the toilet? They like to take their diapers to the Genie. They've learned "I'm sorry". Well, mainly Aislee has learned to say I'm sorry. She get s a little frustrated with Olivia when she's not doing what Aislee would like her to do. She knows to say it and then she has to give a hug and kiss. She's probably going to know her whole name before she's two, Aislee Maureen Burkinshaw!

Ewan is just the happiest, cutest little guy. He's weighing in at about 16lbs. He's now into size 3 diapers, so I only have to buy one size for everybody! Ewan loves to be tickled under his chin, around his armpits, and his legs. He's a sleeper! He likes taking up our whole bed! He's getting used to the girls "patting" him on the tummy, bottom, and head. I think he kinda likes the attention. He hasn't quite rolled over yet, but he doesn't really have the motivation. He loves the bath. He's getting used to tummy-time, so maybe that will give him the motivation to roll over. He doesn't like the vacuum, Daddy laughing to loud or low (bass) music. He's just a happy, cute kid.

The playmat

Flower in Ewan's hair provided by Olivia

Flowers in their hair

Ewan on the couch

Aislee's diaper bag and baby

Olivia's potato head. Elliot's in the background

Olivia's tower

Surfing on daddy

The bathtub hair

My first pizza. The crust was a little thick. I think I'll have the recipe next time.

He discovered his hands

Olivia stole my apple

The pink sippy and Olivia

Patty-cake

Only hugs and kisses

Aislee likes to sit by me or on me while I feed Ewan.

ICE CREAM!

Aislee is nursing her baby doll.

Getting ready for bed

Brushing teeth before bed

After nap hair

Olivia

Ailsee

Paul and I are also learning a lot. We've been doing a lot of things that we've never done before now that we're on our own. I've probably learned a lot more than Paul because I'm a little more naive. I've learned that when people ask, "Are you busy today? Can you do me a favor?" To say, "I'm always busy. What's the favor?" instead of saying that I'm not that busy (I don't feel like I get a whole lot done during the day), and that I'll do whatever it is they need me to do. I've learned that I'm either cheap or very picky. I have a hard time spending the amount of money stores are now asking for clothing for myself. $60 dollars for a white button down blouse!?! Together, Paul and I have learned that taking pictures as a family may be better left to the professionals, which does not include the Picture People at the mall here. It took forever, they didn't get a very good family picture, and when we brought home the disc of pictures, it only had one on it. It was a pretty big hassle for more than what we wanted to pay. Oh, the things we've learned.
Isn't he cute?

The happy kid

Ewan

Flowers

Aislee smelling Olivia's flower

Olivia

Olivia smelling the flower

Ailsee falling off the stool

Aislee and Olivia

The only family picture that didn't look awful!