Basketball

Easton started basketball the end of January.  He has had five games so far.  He hasn't made a basket (in a game) yet but hopefully he will sometime in the last three games!  They only practice once a week and they actually won't have anymore practices the rest of the season.  We don't have a basketball hoop so it's hard to work on shooting since all the hoops available to us are the standard size and can't be lowered.  Shooting is definitely what Easton needs the most help/practice with.  He dribbles pretty well and actually uses both hands!  He passes well and defends well too!

First Game: Against the Heat

Right before the 1st game got started.

Video: Easton dribbling and passing.

Video: First game shot.

2nd Game: Against the Rockets

Video: Easton dribbling to the basket and taking a shot.

Yes, he traveled but believe it or not Easton dribbles a lot more than most of the kids his age.

Video: Another shot and later rebounds the ball.

Playing defense.  It is so hard to take pictures in a gym.  They turn out blurry a lot of the times.  Anyone have any ideas on how to fix this problem?

Video: A little crazy on the dribbling but he makes a nice pass!

3rd Game: Against the Celtics

Video: Easton taking a shot.

Video: Easton passing

Video: Easton rebounding the ball (sorry it's so blurry)

Easton gets the rebound, loses his shoe, and then ditches the ball to retrieve his shoe!  Haha! 

Defense!

Game 4: Against the Spurs

Notice the boy pushing Easton's back?  Yep, he didn't like how Easton closely guarded him.

Video: Rebounding the ball, dribbling down the court, and trying to take a shot.

Video: Trying to steal the ball.

We told Easton to try and steal the ball if the other player held the ball right in front of him.  This is what we got!  Haha!

Game 5: Against the Bulls

Video: Easton steals the ball and tries to shoot it but gets fouled.

Video: Easton fighting for the ball.

Dyer Starts Gymnastics

Dyer is now doing gymnastics with Blair.  Technically you can't start gymnastics until you are three but I just found out that if you take private or semi private classes it doesn't matter what age you are as long as you are walking.  Dyer has so much energy and needs something to do.  Plus I think he feels a little left out that his brother and sister always get to do something and he doesn't.  I signed them up for a semi private class together.  I thought it would be great since I got to pick the instructor and it would only be the two of them, but the first two weeks were rough!  Dyer just ran around and away from his teacher and Blair (little mommy) ran after him to try and get him to listen.  When I say ran after him it was more like tackling him to the ground and yelling at him.  It was just a nice little game of tag for Dyer.  The third week went a ton better after I had Dyer sit out for about ten minutes and Blair got some one on one.  Dyer finally went back and did exactly what his teacher asked him to do!  It was amazing.  Now I understand why they wait until kids are three!  I should have taped Blair taking Dyer out several times for memory sake but unfortunately I didn't.

Video: First day of class.  Supposed to be warming up by doing frog jumps but Dyer decided to be a dog instead.  I cut the video short as soon as Dyer started to run off but you can imagine what happened next : )

Video of Dyer:

Nice attempt for his first try!

Video:

Such a tease!  It is just one big game for him!

Video: Blair walking backwards on the beam.

Video: Dyer on the beam.  I think the beam and jumping into the foam pit (not off the trampoline) are his favorites!

Sorry some of these videos are really shaky.  I had Blakely attached to me and she wouldn't stop kicking her feet.

Video: Blair working on kicks on the beam.

Video: Blair working on jumps on the beam.  I'm pretty sure this was her first time doing it!

Video: Dyer on the Trampoline.

Video: Blair on the trampoline.

Video: Dyer's 2nd attempt on the trampoline.  This is his preferred way!

 

Video of Blair:

Blakely at 4 1/2 months!

So Blakely is almost 5 months old!  Shame on me!  I took 4 month pictures but just haven't gotten around to writing about her at 4 months yet.  There have been a lot of firsts!  Most right after she turned 4 months!

First of all she finally found her toes!  She hasn't figured out that she can suck on those little piggies like she does with her fingers!  It will only be a matter of time I'm sure.  The funny thing is she really only holds onto her toes/feet when she doesn't have any pants/tights on (diaper changes or getting dressed).

Video: Rolling from tummy to back

Video: Rolling from back to tummy

Blakely has figured out how to turn from her back to her tummy.  She's not really a fan of being on her tummy but she apparently likes to try out her new (about 2 weeks ago) trick.  You would think that she would turn back over to her back (since she knows how to) when she gets tired of being on her tummy but not so much.  She would rather cry and complain until someone rescues her.  Most of the time as soon as you turn her over on her back she flips right back onto her tummy.  It is a vicious cycle!  She is definitely determined to start moving forward.  You can tell she is thinking about it and trying to do it but she just hasn't figured out exactly how to do it yet!  She reaches for things just out of her reach and tries so hard to get them but ends up a very frustrated little girl because she isn't getting any closer.  She can move around in a circle and has even moved backwards a little.  Maybe next month all her hard work will pay off for her.

Blakely found her thumb!  Even though it is really cute (at this age) I really don't want her to get in the habit of sucking her thumb.  If it's not her thumb it is generally a few fingers or better yet a whole fist!  This girl for some reason really just prefers any and all of those over her pacifier.  BOO!

Video: Blakely blowing raspberries (kind of).  She got distracted with the camera in her face.

Last week Blakely figured out how to do raspberries!  She loves to make a game out of it by taking turns with someone else.

My two ballerina princesses!

Blakely is ticklish in the neck area.  If you get close to that area you can generally get a few giggles out of her.

Blakely has become very demanding over the last week.  She used to be content (for the most part) with just being able to see someone but recently that has not been enough.  She wants to be held whenever she is awake.  Getting things done has been challenging to say the least.  She also hates driving in the car for that same reason.  If she is awake, 9 times out of 10 she is screaming/crying until we get to where we are going.  As soon as someone comes to get her out of the car she is all smiles.

Blakely had her 4 month appointment on Feb. 5th.  Technically she was 4 1/2 months.  Anyways her stats were 26 inch long, 15.9 lbs, and 16.9 inch (head).  Still my biggest baby!  She is almost exactly the same weight and height Blair was at 6 months old!  No wonder everyone thinks she is older than what she is!  She is basically wearing 6-9 month pjs now but I still have her in 6 month clothes.  I'm guessing she will be in 6-9 month clothes sometime next month-especially if she continues to grow the way she has.  Blakely was all smiles while the doctor was examining her eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, but as soon as he was examining her body he made the comment, "You sure haven't missed very many meals now have you?"  Blakely's faced turned upside down and she started crying!  I'm sure she had no clue what he was saying to her but I couldn't help from laughing because the timing was so perfect!  Yes, she is very healthy and she LOVES to eat!

Christmas!

We had a great Christmas!  Everyone slept in (except me...I got up early to make cinnamon rolls-Easton's request).

Nathan put the wagon together for Blakely.  It was almost a disaster but it ended up working out just fine!

Game from Valerie!

Princess set from Valerie!

Easton was super excited about this gift!

I'm not sure if Nathan was posing for this picture or not but he seems excited about it!

Dyer LOVES Jake and the Neverland Pirates.  

Anna from Frozen!

Game for his leap pad 2.

Heart rate monitor watch.

Captain Hook!

Barbie movie from Gma!  Thanks!

Power Ranger movie from Gma!  Thanks!

Jake gear!

Dinosaur car that Easton's been wanting for a while now.

Doll from Valerie!

Dinosaur's from Valerie!

Game for Leap pad 2.  She opened this before her leap pad....oops!  She was just excited that it had a princess on it.  She had no clue what it was for.  Haha!

New clippers from Gma!  Awesome!

Movie from Gma!  Thanks!

Cool!  Leap pad!

Blakely wearing one of the hats Grandma Gretch got her.  So Cute!  Thanks!

More Dinosaurs from Valerie.

Tummy Time for Blakely!

Cute,cute!

Thank you for all the wonderful gifts from Grandparents!  Movies, money, treats, clothes, toys, etc.  We all had a great Christmas and were very spoiled!  Thanks!

Christmas Eve

We decided to go to Candy Cane Lane/ Lollipop Lane. I wanted to go earlier in December but it didn't end up happening.  Christmas Eve was about our last chance.

Strolling along to see the lights! Nathan, Easton, Blair, and Dyer

One of me and little Princess (Blakely).  It's a little difficult to get a good picture when you're taking the picture yourself.  I guess I should have had Nathan take a picture of us.

Lollipop Lane

 Another one on Lollipop Lane

We stopped halfway through to drink hot cocoa and Easton wanted his own photo shoot of silly faces....

Did I mention it snowed that night?  

I'm only kidding.  It was actually fairly warm (58 degrees) and I was wearing flip flops.

Easton even made me take silly videos of him but it was too dark to see them.

Drinking hot chocolate!

Christmas Eve also happens to be Easton's teacher's birthday.  Since she lives just one street over from us, Easton and I made her cookies and brought them over to her.  She wasn't home so we left them on the doorstep and called her to wish her a Happy Birthday!  She asked us if we were going to do anything special for Christmas and we told her we were going to Candy Cane Lane.  She said she was going to be there too at her Aunt's house for dinner.  She told us to call her when we got there so she could give Easton a hug.

Easton with Miss Martinez and Malia.  Maila is in Easton's class and also happens to be Miss Martinez's niece.

Miss Martinez was nice enough to take a family picture of us.

Candy Cane Lane

 After the lights we went home and the kids got to open their Christmas pjs.

For whatever reason Easton's pjs look pink here but they are definitely red.

Blakely Ann!