...it's about time.

Hello spring. I missed you. We have been playing outside and loving spring break!

Since my last update...

I have lost 20 lbs. and I'm still going. I had a couple of weeks where I didn't stay on track with my meal plans, but I'm back on track and my goal is still Annistyn's birthday.

Danny is still working on a lot of projects and working way too much. He gets home and either goes straight out to his shop or comes inside, takes a short nap, and then goes out to his shop. I would get a little bit more detailed, but I can't keep the years, makes, or models of his projects straight. I know that he has done a frame and a couple engines and some exhaust and fabricated a lot of things...

Kleyn took another STAR test and his reading level is now at a 3.2-4.2 range. He has lost another tooth and he is growing up so fast. In primary we are memorizing the Articles of Faith and Kleyn has memorized 12 of them. He will be the first boy in the senior primary to get them all passed off and the reward is a giant chocolate chip cookie. He's so excited.

Kaleb had a read-a-thon at school and he read 8 books in one hour. I didn't get to be there because Annistyn had a doctors appointment, but he had so much fun. He got to wear jammies to school so that he would be comfortable while reading. I love listening to him read. He always has so much energy and he loves running around. I am excited for the warm weather so I can send him outside to run. He is perfecting his sound effects every day and can't seem to do anything without some kind of accompanying sound effect. He has passed off the first four Articles of Faith in primary and he's working on the fifth. He gets so excited when it is his turn to take something for show and tell.

Dannika had her first real hair cut. It makes her look older and I'm not sure I like that. We cut four inches off so it curls right up to her shoulder blades and we can't tuck it in her pants any more. She is getting ready to be in preschool in the fall. We are really excited, but we need to decide what to do after that. She will miss the deadline for Kindergarten the next year so I can either put her in preschool for a second year or just work with her at home. She is my little performer. She is always ready to sing to people and show them what she is learning. She has memorized the first three Articles of Faith for primary and everyone loves to listen to her.

Annistyn is cruising! She is nine months now. She pulls herself up on anything that she can get a hold of. She follows everyone from room to room and enjoys being able to get to the toys she wants. She is generally a happy little thing and keeps herself entertained. I think she likes the quiet time to explore and play by herself when the brothers are at school and Dannika is taking a nap. The doctor says she is small, but it's normal for my family, so he's not worried. She will eat her baby food, but isn't super interested in it. She would much rather eat whatever is in front of me. She is having a hard time sleeping which is hard for me because the other kids have been good sleepers.

Now for lots of pictures! :)
Annistyn started army crawling to get to her toys.

Within a week she was up on her hands and knees.

Then she decided she didn't like the nails in the floor, so she didn't want to put her knees down.

Now she is pulling herself up on anything she can get a hold of.

 I helped with Kleyn's Valentines Day party at school. I did the craft. I really don't think I'm cut out for any kind of group teaching. What seemed like a really simple craft to me took more than ten minutes and I was stressed out the whole time. There was way too much going on and I was trying to keep track of my younger kids while trying to help 6 or 7 second graders follow directions.

I also found a valentines use for my baby food jars that have been collecting. :)

Sunday naps

Danny got his gun safe. When the guys came to drop it off Danny just wanted them to put it on the doorstep because he didn't want to have to pay the $125 delivery fee. He figured he had enough man power with his friends that they could get it in the house. I was babysitting that day, so I had four extra kids when they showed up. I gave them Danny's directions and they seemed really concerned that he didn't realize how heavy this safe was and how much work it would be to get it in the house. After they got it unloaded they said they were going to help me out a little bit and bring it in the house. They proceeded to cart it to the back of the house where we wanted to put it (for now). I offered to pay them the delivery fee, but I guess seeing a lady with eight kids under the age of eight made an impression because they said not to worry about it and to just come back and shop there again. Danny said they either thought I was cute or they felt really bad for me.

This is the frame Danny has been working on.

 Bath time!

 Spaghetti! Why not? Janae would be cringing right about now.

 Dannika's crazy long hair. I don't know why, but when little girls get hair cuts they look so much older to me.

 My little reader. I am so impressed with him.

The kids got to celebrate their Aunt and Uncle's birthdays. We love birthdays!

We went target shooting,

The kids got their Easter baskets,

We dyed eggs,

And the girls got to try on their new dresses.

Sometimes I can't believe that we have four kids. They are pretty cute, though.