I did another Eli photo shoot last week. Here are some favorites.

(I was trying to capture his eye color in this last one. That's why it's so in-your-face.)

He is consistently sleeping through the night (8-11 hours). Oh, man. It's so nice and makes such a huge difference! He has outgrown his 0-3 month clothes. I can't believe it. Those months really flew by. He is such a sweetheart.

This last Saturday (two days ago) was our ward Easter party. They had a yummy food table, a petting zoo, a station where kids could plant seeds, a craft area, a balloon area, and an egg hunt. It was 34 degrees outside and windy. SOOOO COLD. It was a nice activity, though, and the people in charge put a ton of work into it.

They asked Dan and the other members of the bishopric if they could man the balloon station. Before the activity, I asked Dan if he needed to watch some youtube videos or something to figure out what he was doing. He said he'd just wing it. This guy is some sort of renaissance man because he whipped out those balloon animals/swords/flowers like a boss.

It took forever to find the kids' eggs because you were supposed to only pick up eggs that had a specific sticker on them. Sam and I walked around this field forever and only found 8 (of the 12) eggs.

Since next week is General Conference, I had the kids wear their "Easter" clothes to church yesterday. I was trying to make Afton a dress, but quit halfway through because I don't understand the pattern. It's so confusing! So I made her a seersucker skirt and the boys bowties to match. Not a great picture, but it was the best I could do before running out the door for church.

The other Sunday I made cupcakes with chocolate chip cookie dough frosting. They were pretty yummy.

Dan has since sworn off sweets so I need to be careful what I make since I'll most likely consume most of whatever it is.

Darko Bloodfist and Hicup battling in the snow on their dragons.

Afton takes dance class with 4 friends from church and a few other girls. She loves it and looks so cute in her leotard and tights!

Sam started soccer and has his second practice tonight. His first game in on Saturday. His game last week got canceled due to rain the day before (soggy fields). So we took advantage of the free Saturday and headed to Busch Gardens for member day. It was pretty busy and it was a shock to have to wield a stroller through throngs of people again. People walk right in front of you, stop in front of you, get in your way. We hadn't had to use a stroller in a busy place for a LONG time!

Sunday we went on a family walk.

Sam got his spring pictures back from school. A little less awkward than last year, but awkward nonetheless.

They send the kids home with an entire packet of pictures - even if you didn't order them. They print out 8x10's, all the way down to keychains. Then they expect you to send them back to school if you don't want them. It's such a waste.

A few cute videos. Afton coaching Dan in dancing.

And Eli giving some laughs.

Catching up again

It's been a while. Since last post, we've had a bunch of snow days. Snow days are torture for parents with newborns. I couldn't really go outside because I had to watch Eli, so I get snow blind staring out the window at the big kids while they play. They play outside for about an hour, and then dump all of their dripping wet clothes in a pile by the door. Then they play inside and argue and watch too much TV and make a mess. But I love them still. My kids, not snow days.

Eli went through the baby acne stage and came out unscathed. He's rolled over a few times. But that's because he hates tummy time and he did it on accident.

On another snow day, I tried to get Afton to pose for me, but she wouldn't. This is the best I could get.

Last Thursday, Dan's parents came to town. Friday they played in the snow with Dan and the kids and built a snow family.

We went to Buzz and Ned's for BBQ lunch. I took Eli home while the rest of them went to the Fine Arts Museum.

Saturday we had donuts and then went to Jamestown.

 These pics are all with my phone. I got to sit in the back sandwiched between these two the whole way.

I don't remember ever going to Jamestown before. The visitors center was really nice.

 Lots of exhibits and a cheesy video. Then you go outside and they've got a fort area with lots of different buildings.

 It was there that Sam got attacked by a rooster. He likes to pester animals so he charged the rooster and the rooster flew up and pecked him. Sam learned his lesson.

 It was a really cold day and the snow had turned to a muddy slush, so there weren't many other people there.

Next we went to look at ship replicas.

Did you know that the steering wheels on ships weren't invented until after they came here? I think the lady on the tour said they weren't invented until the 1700s. Next we visited the Indian village. There was only one man brave enough to wear a loincloth in the freezing temperatures. I wanted to take his picture, but couldn't bring myself to do it.

Sunday was the reason the Dursts came. Eli was blessed during church. In the prayer circle were Dan, Dan's dad, my dad, our bishop, Tyson Anderson, and our stake president, Brooks Baltich. Dan said it was hard for him to concentrate on the blessing because Eli was smiling these huge smiles at him the whole time (and had only smiled a few times up to that point). It was really special for Dan and a beautiful blessing.

Love that little chubs!

We had a nice dinner with both sets of parents and then M&D Cheney headed home. Monday morning after Sam went to school, we took Dan's parents to St. John's Church and then to the airport to head home.

On Sunday, Eli marked his two-month birth. I took more pictures a few days earlier. He smiled his very first time for his Grandma Cheney on Feb. 11 (a little over four weeks). Now he smiles a lot more readily and has started to coo, too.

 But usually he looks like this:

This past Saturday we went up to the temple and on the way saw a semi that had spilled grape tomatoes all over the place.

 Sam looks so comfortable, doesn't he?

Afton likes to help me in the kitchen a lot lately.

And here's a funny conversation I had with Sam the other day.

Me: Sam, will you change Eli's diaper?
Sam: No way!
Me: Please? You'd do a great job!
Sam: No. How about if you change Eli's diaper now, I'll change your diapers when you're older.
Me: Deal.
Sam turns to Afton and whispers: Silly Mom, she doesn't even know that grown ups don't wear diapers!
Little does he know. In fifty years I'm going to hold him to it. Just kidding. That would be gross.