Just an update with pictures

  We haven't really been that busy, but we've been having fun. We had a visit from three of the Uncles for a few days (Rand, Jace and Court). We've enjoyed July and the fact that Paul has had 4 four-day work weeks this month. It's nice to have Daddy home! We've really enjoyed Monsoon season because it cools things down quite a bit and we're able to go outside in the evenings, jump pm the tramp and swing on the swingset. We'll do an update on everyone. Elin had her two month check. She weighed 11lbs 11oz and was 24 1/2inches. She coos, smiles, laughs (she thinks Ewan is hilarious), and kicks her legs like she's running a race. She's very easy-going, and doesn't mind lying on the floor as long as someone is paying attention to her, but not crushing her tummy. She'll spit up on you if you do that. Sorry Ewan!  We've learned that Elin does not like her carseat. I had to drive up to Tucson for an appointment, and she pretty much screamed the whole time. I felt pretty bad about it, but there was nothing I could do. She took a pretty good nap when we got home, though. When I took Elin in for her check, Ewan came along for his. I drove into Tucson to see our old pediatrician because we just haven't found one we really like. I have to say, it was worth the drive to have a doctor make you feel like you were doing a pretty good job. Ewan didn't get any shots, and was probably pretty relieved, especially after watching Elin get hers. He's doing very well developmentally. He likes to say NO, and he'll let you know if you're getting too close to his personal bubble. He's mimicking almost everything, and tries to repeat words after we say them. We know that Ewan understands a lot, even though he may not say a TON. He nods or shakes his head when asked a question. He really likes having Daddy home, and can't wait to be big enough to help with all the outdoor projects. Ewan had a rough Sunday a few weeks ago, and I'm debating on whether or not I'm gonna let him go back to nursery. I think it was rougher on me than him (after being told that I needed to cut the apron strings with him, and that I need to be tougher with him when he gets upset). I came home feeling like a pretty lousy mommy. It's a good thing Paul gives good hugs and assures me that I'm doing okay. Aislee is doing really well with being a BIG sister to a little sister. She is always eager to help get diapers, pacifiers, or hold Elin for a minute. She's been waking up pretty early lately and wanting to jump and swing. Sometimes Paul is able to distract her by building the "biggest tower ever" in the playroom. Aislee is really good at cleaning up the blocks and play food. Her favorites lately are cheese, crackers and Num-Num cookies (M&M cookies). We're looking forward to her turning three in a month! Olivia is Crazy Horse! She's doing really well being the oldest. She worries when Elin is crying and wants to make it all better. She loves building towers with Aislee and Daddy, but gets kinda bugged when Ewan knocks it over. We have to tell her that if he didn't knock it over, she wouldn't be able to build a better one! She loves the swingset and tramp also. We can't wait for grass and cooler weather! She's also anxious to have a birthday and be a BIG three year old! Paul is busy. He put the swingset together a few weeks ago, and everyone loves it! He's getting ready for his master's by taking a few classes this summer, and getting training in a few new areas. He passed his FE exam that he took a few weeks before Elin was born! He's also looking forward to cooler weather and babies that sleep through the night. I'm doing really well. They split our ward a few Sundays ago, which gives more opportunities to serve and a less crowded Primary and nursery. I've been asked a lot lately just what is it that I do all day. I'll save that for another post. I've been trying to set up play-dates and activities so that we can get some interaction with other people, and so I can talk to an adult every-once-in-a-while. I've been trying to run at least 4 days a week in the mornings to have some "hands-free" time. It's not too hot running by the pecan groves down here, but the bugs are starting to come out a little more. I've learned that if I keep moving, they don't bother me. It's motivation to put one foot in front of the other until I get to the door!

Playing at the pool

They were having races to the Frisbee

My little Cheeser

More races

Aislee bumped her nose and insisted on a bandaid.

Elin's little swimsuit. She hasn't actually gotten in the water, but she wears it when we go to the pool.

Ewan at bedtime. He likes to read for a few minutes before I read stories to him.

Movie night!

Elin in the tub. I have pictures of the twins in the tub, and Ewan in the tub...just because she's gonna be a middle child doesn't mean she can't have pictures of herself, too!

The twins like to workout with me on the mornings I don't go running. Olivia will take a break and ask me how I'm doing. Then she says, "You're doing great! Don't stop!"

Look at those smiles!

Uncle Jace with his stache. After taking this picture and showing it too him, he shaved!

Water Baby Elin.

With the Uncles.

We went to the zoo with the Uncles. It was 105 out, but we brought a lot of water!

We couldn't quite figure out if his horn was supposed to look like that.

Uncle Jace saying CHEESE

Ewan poured most of his down his front. It was dry by the time we got back to the car.

The Uncles and Paul were egging the polar bear on, trying to get him to jump. He did not.

We saw the new lions, or as Olivia likes to call him Ligons.

Court also had a wet head for a few minutes.

We went to Fuddruckers after the zoo

I was trying to distract the girls before our food was ready by telling them to touch their tongues to their noses.

Didn't really do it

Ewan wanted a box drink from our trip to the zoo, and Mommy wouldn't let him carry it around the house.

The thunder starts and then the rains come. It's wonderful!

Reading stories with Daddy before Mommy takes Elin away.

My Mom made Elin's blessing dress. It's beautiful. I didn't get very many pictures that Sunday, so I took them this Sunday.

Giggling

I didn't have one with just her and me that Sunday either.

We were ready a few minutes before our 1:30 church.

We'll have to figure out the timer on the camera so Paul can participate and get Olivia to put her hand down.

Lock Down

I thought I'd better blog about this before I forget the details. We're trying to figure out what we'd like to do with the yard. I called a couple companies to come and give some quotes on a few of the big jobs. I had a guy scheduled to come at noon on Thursday. It was Thursday morning and I had my day all figured out on how I was going to have kids all fed and down for naps before the guy came. The twins have been waking up kind of early lately, so an 11:30 nap time works well. Elin was fed and asleep. The twins had just gone potty before naps. I'm heading Ewan's room to lay home down when the doorbell rang. The guy is at the door a half an hour early! So, I blame this chaotic episode completely on him! In that half an hour, I would have had all four of them asleep and we could have discussed landscape options without little ones.Here goes it. I send the kids into the playroom so we can talk for a few minutes. It wasn't supposed to take very long. I show him the picture of what we want to do and explain in what sequence we're needing things. We then walk outside to look at the grandeur that is our backyard. The little ones follow. It's over 100 degrees already and it's not even noon! Ewan tries to walk out to the backyard, but soon realizes that it's way too hot for his little feet. The guy goes to measure some things, and I put the kids in the nice cool house. I put a Dora on so we wouldn't be distracted. I shut the back door to keep the cold air in and keep the little ones in. I'm standing at the shut door talking to Paul on the phone to get specifics while the guy measures some more. We have a window the length of the door, so I'm looking in at Ewan. He reaches upto the knob and locks the door. He's been doing this a lot lately. Aislee comes over and I try to explain to her how to unlock the door so I can get in. She reaches up and deadbolts the door. Yes, that's right. She deadbolts the door. I tell the guy that we're locked out of the house. He laughs and says, "Seriously?" We walk to the front of the house and find out that I locked the front door behind him as he came in, and the 3rd garage door is also locked. Yes, indeed. We are locked out of the house. We walk back around to the back of the house. He sits in one of our nice lawn chairs while I call Paul and tell him that he needs to come home and let me into the house. He's on his way. I continue in my attempts to explain to two and a half year olds how to unlock the deadbolt and doorknob. The doorknob is unlocked. Ewan is crying because Aislee took the grass samples from him. Olivia is crying because someone pulled her hair and "Mommy needs to come in and talk to them". I can hear all this, but can't do anything about it. I tried to calm the crying children down, and convince the other to reach up like she does every day, and unlock the deadbolt. I'm doing this while trying to convince the nice landscape guy that my life isn't always this chaotic. We were out there for about 40 minutes talking, trying to get them to unlock the door, and then I hear Elin wake up. She has been woken up by the crying of the other two. I'm praying that Paul gets home soon, and feeling extremely helpless with this very nice man who's asking me if we plan on having more kids "'cause you sure make cute ones". I was seriously waiting for Danny Tanner or the Olsen Twins to come around the corner! This doesn't happen to normal people! Paul arrives. My hero! He goes to talk to the guy while I soothe three crying children, and try to convince them that Mommy did not mean to leave and not help them. Lesson that I have learned, carry my keys at all times, you never know when the landscape guy is gonna come over early and you're not gonna be able to get everyone to sleep and a toddler will accidentally lock you and the landscape guy out of the house. We're safe, unscathed, and probably not gonna go with the quote this guy gave us, as nice as he was.

Survival of the Burkinshaws

Well, it's been a while since I posted last. It's not because we're busy, more because I don't really know what to post about. Life with four kids isn't as exciting as it sounds. It's a little busier, and there's always someone who needs something, but as far as excitement...that only comes when the "potty-trained" kids come into the living room when I've just sat down to nurse a baby and say, "Mommy, I need to go potty." That can get kind of exciting. Other than those moments, life is pretty uneventful. We've been a family of six for six weeks, and we're hoping we've gotten into the groove of things. Elin hasn't quite slept through the night consistently, but she only wakes up once. There is light at the end of the tunnel. She likes to be held, but what baby doesn't like to be held? Elin also enjoys tummy time and attention from the others, as long as Ewan isn't laying on her. We had her one week check and she was back upto her birth weight. We won't be going in again until her two month mark. She's a good eater, doesn't spit-up much, and sleeps as long as someone's not bugging her. Ewan pays attention to Elin every once-in-a-while,  but doesn't seem to be jealous or anything. He likes to hold her until she starts to get fussy, and then he'd rather not. Ewan is still our good sleep, eater, and player. He's getting big enough to really hold his own if he wants something from a sister. He went to nursery for the first time a few weeks ago, and seems to do well. We may need to have a few more talks on biting! (sorry nursery leaders!) Ewan loves the trampoline and being outside. He doesn't like being bounced too high, but he'll get there. Aislee is the little mother. She's always wanting to hold Elin, feed Elin, burp Elin, and sit by Elin. It's helpful some of the time. She also loves the trampoline and would probably spend all day on it if Paul would stop telling her that buggies are going to eat her toes. Aislee is doing very well with potty-training, and wakes up dry most of the time. She's showing a little more of her personality. She has to be entertained and doing new things constantly! Most days, I wish I could clone myself just to keep up with her energy! Olivia is our little "Crazy-Horse". Every morning I'm something new, "Mommy Monkey", "Mommy Noodle", "Mommy Doggy". She insists on being "Baby Monkey", "Baby Noodle" or "Baby Doggy" all day. If we tell her she's pretty, she says "NO! I'm Crazy Horse." She holds Elin until she cries, and then tells me to hold her and make her stop. She's doing very well with potty-training. Her personality is also starting to come out more. She'll color, build blocks, make Potato Heads or "read" for hours without moving. She needs me to have her take "potty-breaks" or she just wouldn't go. Paul finished the trampoline! He's going to be doing more backyard projects this summer because I told him if the backyard wasn't functional by the time he started his master's in January, then I'm hiring someone to come and do it. We've ordered or swingset and we've purchased several things to  get the pavers done. Hopefully we'll get it finished long before he starts so that he can enjoy it for a little while. Paul passed his Functional Engineering exam, and will be studying for his Professional Engineering exam in the Fall. He recently got called into the Elders Quorum Presidency which keeps him busy with weeknight visits and meetings. I'm looking forward to the backyard being done, and having a place to send kids! I recently took up sewing and did some much needed hemming of jeans, made a new nursing bib and carseat cover. I'd like to make some pillows for the living room to add some colors to the room. I've learned that sewing is 90-95% preparation and 5-10% actually doing something. I'm looking forward to getting back into running shape and training for some sort of race to keep me motivated. Well, enough of a long-winded update! Onto the pictures!

Elin just hanging out

Ewan just hanging out

Making cookies with Grandma Stacey

Just getting back from the pool (the water hasn't warmed up much yet)

Paul and Elin before bed

The kids with Grandma Stacey when she came out to visit a few weeks ago. Elin wasn't very happy to be in that position.

Anytime the swing is on the floor, Ewan likes to get in it.

Aislee and "her" baby

The trampoline hole completed

Fun! I probably shouldn't have been on it since it was just a few days after baby.

Hours of fun!

The playroom mess. We know the "clean-up" song very well!

There he is again!

Olivia joins in sometimes too....stinkers!

Elin

A smile...oh the smile!

He's so big!

Paul and P. O. P. POP!

Now we need grass!

Ewan on his Hippo

Grandpa Jeff and Grandma Stacey came out for Elin's blessing.

Uncle Coy, Grandma Maureen, Grandpa Tim and Uncle Kett came down for the blessing also.

The men

Grandpa Tim, Paul, Elin, and Grandpa Jeff

Our little family. Aislee, Paul, Ewan, Molly, Elin, and Olivia

Grandpa Jeff and Elin. This happened with both Grandpas a few times over the weekend. I didn't take very many pictures, but we had a lot of fun going to the pool, the park, and just spending time together. Thanks for coming!