Kelsey Family

Friday, May 24, 2013

Yosemite

Arriving at Yosemite:

Our plan was to eat pizza right when we got to Yosemite. It took a while to figure out parking and then we walked about .25 miles to get something to eat. They didn't have pizza at the place we went to so we just ate some snacks until we got to our camp site. I was really hungry and cranky so it didn't help that we walked all that way for no pizza.

The kids ate sandwiches until our foil dinner was ready.

Then of course we had to make smores.

We had a hard time keeping shoes on both Blair and Dyer. Every time we turned around one or both of them had no shoes on. So gross!

Sleeping arrangements didn't go as planned. We had a full size bed and a bunk bed. We thought Easton and Blair could share the top bunk, Dyer could have the bottom bunk, and Nate and I would have the full bed. The kids were afraid to sleep alone and I was worried that Dyer would wake up in the middle of the night and go exploring. Nathan slept with Easton and Blair on the bottom bunk and Dyer and I shared the full bed. Nathan was supposed to move once the kids were asleep but that didn't end up happening.

Day 2:

Hiking Bridalveil falls. We didn't stay very long because the kids didn't like getting sprayed by the waterfall.

All the kids on the bridge. If you look closely you can see my big belly behind the trees on the left.

Dyer kept making me nervous trying to climb the wall so I had to make sure he didn't fall in.

Easton and Blair

Dyer and I.

Another picture of Bridalveil falls.

Hiking through Mariposa Grove (Sequoias-redwood trees)

Dyer found a walking stick.

Grizzly Giant

Easton was excited to finally get to the big trees. He was complaining a lot of the time about how tired he was walking.

Walking through a Redwood tree.

Easton told Dyer no and this is what happened!

Nate with the kids inside the tree. If you look closely between Dyer and Nate you can see Easton's face!

After the hike and bus ride the kids got Popsicles and we walked around the pioneer section. Easton is pumping water.

After the Redwoods we drove up to Glacier Point. The higher up we drove the colder it got outside. Right when we got there it started thundering. Since Dyer was sleeping and it was cold out I decided to stay in the car. Nathan took Blair with him but returned rather quickly because she was too cold. Nathan went and took a few pictures before it started raining.

Nathan drove to another view point to get some pictures and while he was gone a storm started. It was thundering and lightning with hail and tons of rain. It was crazy! Nathan got back in the car drenched! Once we got back to our campsite our tent was flooded. Luckily the beds are off the ground and the only things we had on the floor were the kids' sandles. Easton had fun digging trenches with Nathan to get all the water out of our tent.

Blair slept with Dyer and I that night in the full bed and Nathan and Easton slept on the bottom bunk.

Day 3:

Hiking Yosemite Falls.

Family picture at lower Yosemite falls. As soon as we got to the falls Nathan's hat blew off and got soaking wet. Luckily he was able to get it!

Upper and lower Yosemite Falls

Dyer and Easton checking out the river.

We rented some bikes and took the kids for a ride. I forgot how much of a workout it is riding a bike. I was definitely very sore the next day.

This was the load I pulled around but boy was it hard work! We had fun though! Dyer was so tired and feel asleep almost instantly. Sad but funny story: Dyer's head is so big and shaped differently that we couldn't find a helmet that would fit him correctly. The poor boy was so miserable with that thing on his head.

It wasn't too long after we started biking that a tire blew on the bike trailer Nathan was pulling. I waited on the side of the road with the kids while Nathan brought his bike and trailer back to exchange them.

Blair chilling while we wait for daddy to return.

We biked to Mirror lake and let the kids play in the sand and water for a while.

Dyer had a blast throwing sand into the water.

Eventually the kids took their shoes and socks off and waded in the water.

Even Nathan joined the kids.

Surprisingly Easton ran and jumped into the water. He was soaking wet. He thought it was fun until he got really cold.

Dyer kept hiding his face when I was trying to take a picture. Silly boy!

Once again our sleeping arrangements changed. The boys slept in the full bed and the girls slept on the bottom bunk. I wish that I would have slept on the bottom bunk the other two nights because it was a lot more comfortable than the full bed.

We had a great time and Nathan is already planning his next trip when the kids are older and can do more things on their own.

Gymnastics

Blair is back in gymnastics! We took a little break because she didn't seem as interested in it anymore but little did I know she would have a break down when she found out she wasn't going and couldn't go back for six weeks! She asked every week when she would be going to gymnastics. I signed her up again and she was so excited for her first day back but half way through the class she went back to her not very interested stage. She was on the balance beam and then after a while she ran over to me. I thought maybe she had to use the bathroom but she said she didn't. I asked what was the matter but she wouldn't say anything to me. She just wanted me to hold her. When I told her to get back out there she really threw a fit. I tried to get her to tell me what was the matter, then I tried convincing her to get back out there. I eventually told her if she wasn't going out with her teacher then she needed to grab her stuff so we could go. I wasn't about to waste my time watching her either just stand there doing nothing or throwing a fit and not telling me what was the matter. Eventually her teacher came over to talk with us and she too had no idea what had happened. She told Blair to come back when she was ready. I got Blair a drink and then took her to the bathroom. When we came out she saw that her class was on the bars and ran over there as if nothing happened!?! So weird! This is exactly what she kept doing the last time she was in gymnastics and that is why I decided to give her a break. Luckily we talked to Blair about what she was doing and the rest of the session went really smooth. In fact she was back to her happy, bubbly, very excited self again! It was great to see that again!

Practicing cartwheels:

high kicks on balance beam:

Before Blair needed some help with keeping her balance on the beam but she is doing it all by herself now!

beam:

I have no idea why she keeps pulling her shorts up so high. I pull them down to her hips and she keeps pulling them up as high as she can. It makes me think of "mommy jeans!" I think we might try without shorts next time!

Working on her mermaid kicks.

Getting ready to run and jump.

Handstand roll.

We have been working really hard on getting Blair to run and jump in a fluid motion but this is usually what it looks like: I'm not sure why but she randomly started that arm thing right before she starts running. I think it is kind of cute!

She stops for whatever reason and then jumps. This is about the time her teacher takes her by the hand to show her what to do. Honestly I think Blair sometimes does it on purpose because she likes the extra attention she gets from her teacher.

Eventually she will do it though!

I wanted to show the other video of Blair climbing the rope but it was too long. She climbed about a foot past the black line all by herself. Her teacher wasn't tall enough to help hold her feet.

It's a.....

GIRL!!!! This post is way over due (about a month!) and I'm sure everyone already knows, but for document purposes here it is...It has been confirmed that we are still having a little girl! Blair couldn't be more excited! She has to tell everyone that she sees (lots of strangers!) that she is getting a baby sister! Easton was a bit upset that its not another boy. I really wish that I would have gotten his reaction on tape. I let Blair spill the beans to Easton since Nathan told her right away. Easton turned to me and said, "You're joking, right?!?" His facial expression was priceless. Easton seems to have come to terms about getting another sister and has even cuddled up to me to try and feel his baby sister move. So cute! Dyer is ridiculously excited for a new baby. He is constantly pulling my shirt up and patting/rubbing my tummy while saying, "Hi, baby sister!" Dyer LOVES babies! Honestly, I think I'm most worried about Blair and Dyer "sharing" the baby with each other.

I had planned on making cupcakes to tell the kids the good news but Blair had to know if she was getting a baby sister, so Nathan broke down and told her the exciting news! Blair and Dyer even got to see their baby sister on the ultrasound screen since the ultrasound tech needed to get a few more pictures for the doctor. I still wanted to do something "creative" even though everyone knew so instead of making a bunch of cupcakes, I made a mini cake instead. Although the kids already knew they were getting a baby sister, they seemed really confused as to why there was pink frosting inside. Silly kids!

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Teeball

Easton is more than half way done with his season now. He seems to be enjoying baseball (at least more so than anything else we have put him in so far). I think it helps that his good friend, Nicholas, is also on his team. Here's some pictures/videos from the last month:

Opening Ceremonies:

Easton and Nicholas

Video of Easton's team:

First Game:

Very first hit:

Game #2:

Game #3:

Game #4:

#1 Fans!

Game #5:

I had to take this picture. Easton is standing next to (I think) the tallest kid in his league. Easton is the smallest on his team though which I'm sure is no surprise.

Friday, April 19, 2013

18 Weeks!

I finally took some pictures of my baby belly!

My 20 week ultrasound is set for April 29th so we should know for sure if baby #4 is definitely a GIRL!

I've updated my blog a lot over the last two days so make sure to check them out!

Easton riding his bike!

We got Easton a bike for his 3rd birthday but for whatever reason he really didn't have much desire to ride his bike. In fact we only got him on his bike a handful of times. I thought if we took the training wheels off that he would get excited about riding a big kid bike. That was short lived and the bike got put away.

One of our neighbors (Dallyn) gave Easton their old bike and he was excited about riding it but Nathan accidentally popped the tire while pumping it up so again the bike got put away.

Another neighbor (Alex) gave Easton his old bike, and although it is a little too big for Easton, it got him really excited to learn to ride it. Nathan took him out right away and they started practicing. I think it helped that two neighbor boys were out riding their bikes too!

Video of Easton riding for the first time with daddy's help:

Another video:

This is what the rest of the crew were doing while Nathan was helping Easton:

The kids love playing in Valerie's truck. Dyer could stay in there all day if we would let him. The kids are constantly climbing in and out of the window to get from the cab to the bed of the truck.

Video of Blair and Dyer in the bed of the truck:

About a week later Easton finally was able to do this...

We put him back on his old bike because he can't start and get off very well by himself (yet) on the bike Alex gave him. Easton's old bike is too small for him but he has better control on it. We just need to fix the tires on the bike that Dallyn gave him and Easton will be set for a while.