Seth 2

I was experimenting with a new light that I bought.  It has 3 different light temperatures.  I'm not a big fan of the white light for inside shoots apparently.  I can change these with lightroom, but right now I'm just trying to get the house cleaned before the girls soccer games.

And this is how he sleeps with them at night....

The cat still likes to see what Seth is doing.  While she's not as possessive of him as she was when he was a baby, she does still like to make sure that I'm kept in line.  She kept sitting between him and me.  It was pretty funny.

Seth

I have been wanting to do a kid photoshoot for each of the kids because it's been a while.  I finally did half of one.  There were a few pictures I wanted to take after Seth was bored and wanting to go off doing something else... (like having a bike race).  But I did manage to get a couple.  I'll put my favorites in this post and the next one will be just because I'm biased and think he's cute.

Seth loves being 4.  It's his favorite number.  He insists that you spell his name S4e.  He is a very BOY boy.  He loves to kick and wrestle.  He loves Isabel and Vivien.  Ada's his favorite because she talks to him like a big kid.  He loves to jump on the trampoline and loves to take Mom on bike rides.  He's very competitive.  If I don't let him win a bike race he gets very mad.  I don't want him to think he can always win, so I win every 3rd or 4th one.  He likes fencing but hates doing the learning part of the class.  He loves computers and phones.  He can sing and identify most of the alphabet.  He can read small words but insists that he can't.  H loves numbers.  I didn't have to teach him to count.... he just started.    He has had two favorite toys in the whole world.  Lala and Doggie.  We bought him the bunny so that he would let Sam have his Dog.... yeah, that didn't work... Sam just gave him the dog and I couldn't be prouder of Sam for sacrificing something that he obviously loved for his brother.  When I told Seth I wanted to take pictures he insisted that these two be in the pictures too.  So we did.

Sam in 30 lb chain mail

I think that Sam weighs about 50 lbs now... the chainmail is 30... Hehehehe.

Birthday party

Emma and Lizzie turned 23 and I think 21 this week.  Their family came down and surprised them at their birthday party at Grandma's house.  It makes me so happy to visit with these nieces.  They've both been through very difficult things, some very recent... some very much in the past.  They've both found very different husbands that fit them very well.  Lizzie got accepted to the nursing program and is working very hard towards her goal.  Emma is trying to prepare herself physically and mentally to be a mom.  I love them both dearly.  

They played pin the flower on the knight.  They had flower magnets that were thrown at Robert in his metal outfit.  I never would have thought of such a fun game and it was a blast!

Ada missed most of the party because of her game and trying to find her some cleats that morning.  Evelyn and Samuel B decided that they would voluntarily share their candy with Ada.  Evelyn's sweet heart never ceases to amaze me.  

Two of the four cousins this age.  Five if you count Millie, who's a year older. They're growing so fast.

Matthew is starting 9th grade next year.  I got to talk to him about some of the classes he gets to take.  He's looking forward to German and mostly to his engineering classes.  He is definitely an inventor at heart.

What get together wouldn't be complete without a long and complicated game?  They had fun and I'm glad they're good friends.  I'm so proud of both of these nephews too.  Jacob has tried for 4 years to be ready to be a full time missionary.  The only thing holding him back is something that is hard to control with his medication... but watching him prepare and become a young adult has made me very proud of him.  He's worked hard at some hard things.  Even if he doesn't get to be a full time missionary, he is 4 years better.  Robert is working hard at his job and on his health.  He's funny and is great for hugs.  I can't believe he's in 11th grade.

These three cuties were all about the legos this Saturday.  Seth, Samuel and Isabel.  Seth and Ellie are good buds.  Seth likes rough and tumble, but you'll always find Ellie trying to convince him that playing house with her is better... and he usually does go and have lots of fun.

Spring soccer 2019

Soccer started.  I was unprepared this year, but the kids are enthusiastic.  Ada wants to sign up for at least one more year.  Her favorite position is defender.  She gets to run around, but gets little breaks in between.  We had to get her new cleats the day of her first game.  She's growing so fast.  We usually get used cleats from Play it Again Sports, but this time we were looking for something that we could put her inserts into without hurting her feet.  We ended up with nice-ish cleats and compression socks.  That seemed to be the best compromise.  Ada is learning how to compromise.  It's coming at a lot of patience from all sides, but it's good to see her grow.  Ada's team won and she was thrilled.  

Seth was super excited about starting soccer.  He runs like a little champ and says that he needs to make a goal.  I'm looking forward to watching him learn how to play.  Their team lost, but he had a blast.

Sam is a little out of shape running wise, but he was so ecstatic that he got to start playing again.  His soccer team is the only group of kids that I've seen him get excited about outside of a couple at school and his cousins.  Sam's team won by a landslide this time.  That's got to feel good coming into your new season.

Evelyn started again too, but she missed her first game.  At practice, I had her put her inserts into her cleats and I've NEVER seen her play that well.  She usually stands by the goal and cheers on her team.  This time she actually played.  I don't know if we'll sign her up ever again, she'd prefer to do ballet and that's better for her feet anyways.  It is good to know that she's going to enjoy this last season though.

Friday night

Friday night, Sam got to come with me, Grandma and Grandpa, and Mary and Jeff to Rachmaninoff's piano concerto 2.  He loves the going out to eat part and the walking around Salt Lake part.  He tolerates the symphony part.  He really liked the modern piece that they played though.  He had a million questions about it.  He told Dad all about it afterwards too.  

Seth's talk

I'm that parent.  I can't remember if this is Seth's first Primary talk or not (Jer says he thinks it is his first), but he gave one today.  I was teaching in YW's today, so Jer took him and helped him with his talk.  He wanted to hold it all through sacrament meeting and was upset when I gave it to Dad towards the end.  Jer said he did a great job and wasn't too silly.  I thought he would be as soon as he got to the microphone. It was a good week to give a talk.  He was supposed to talk about what we were learning in the week's Come Follow Me program.  We talked about a lot of the parables.  Seth didn't listen or understand any of them, so I sat down one on one with him and tried to explain what the parables were and why Jesus taught that way.  It's amazing what you learn when you're trying to simplify for littles.  This is what we ended up with.  (I would ask him some questions and write down his answers).  I loved that it boiled down to Jesus loves us, teaches us and we need to obey.  He was so bouncy all weekend.  Especially during church.  He kept trying to wrestle with Sam and Evelyn.  I ended up having to separate them all.  I love this active kid.  Sometimes his activeness doesn't love me back.

sweetest things

Janelle's St Patrick's Day dinner

And I found a note from one of the kids in the middle of all my practice songs... "You can do it!" I thought that was super sweet, but no one is fessing up.  I loved it.