Silas Turns Five

Posted on March 11, 2017 by Lindsey

It seems like he was just born, but Silas turned five at the beginning of the month. He is such a little ray of sunshine — so cheerful, smiley and expressive — this boy really wears his heart on his sleeve.  Of course he loves anything his big brothers are into, but he really enjoys art, dancing, gymnastics, animals, babies, and TALKING. These qualities make him a notorious ladies man, but he doesn’t let it go to his head (or even seem to notice). I had this to say about him on his birthday:

Five. Our baby boy turns five today. It is so fun watching our sweet, precocious, positive, sunny Si grow up. Today feels a little bittersweet though. Between our three boys I’ve spent the past decade learning about construction vehicles (who knew there were so many), emergency services, trains, superheroes, bugs and dinosaurs. I habitually alert the boys when we see a vehicle of interest while we’re in the car, or if we see policemen, firefighters, or military personnel in uniform. I’ve accumulated hours watching construction zones and waving at garbage men with little boys or chasing them on their bikes with a stroller. Sometimes I get bored to tears reading Tonka books to no end. Now my last little boy is getting older. He will start kindergarten in the fall, learn to read, and soon trade in these sweet little boy things for video games, Pokemon cards, and sports. I look forward to every stage, but can’t help feeling a little sentimental too! We love you Silas Tristan and you’ll always be our baby boy!

 

Silas received Wii Minigolf from his brothers

He invited a few of his nearest and dearest to his party at Kidz Bounce

They didn’t have fun at all

Clare & Layla

The gang

Silas requested angel food cake with berries and “whoop cream”

It took him a while to blow the candles out and the big “5” fell off the cake and onto the platter while he kept blowing the others out. Jonathan and I briefly panicked, but all was okay.

With his gal Charlotte

With Xander

With Charlotte

With Bode & Deacon

With Louis & Emmett

With Ethan

With Caden

The three amigos

Last night as a four-year-old!

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February 2017

Posted on March 10, 2017 by Lindsey

Here’s what we were up to the rest of February. Auntie Ashleigh came for a visit at the beginning of the month. The kids loved seeing her!


Kieron and his buddy Louis

In the tree fort at Swenson Park

A little pre-bedtime madness for Daddy

Avery loves his lil sis

One day Layla was screaming during her nap. I came in and found her like this. Poor thing, but it was kind of cute!

The King and the Maresca boys out for a bike ride. And look! Blue sky!

Kieron at his basketball game

High-fiving his coaches after a fun season

A quiet moment before dinner. It’s like this at our house all the time 😉

Science with Kieron

Silas tried karate with Kieron in February. He was excited to participate with his big brother, but after a month he decided it wasn’t for him just yet.

Kieron has some powerful kicks and punches!

Avery likes to help feed Layla

She likes it too!

“Mmmm, this hat tastes good!”

Silas’ last night as a four-year-old

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Museum of Flight

Posted on March 9, 2017 by Lindsey

We went on a family outing the Museum of Flight one day over mid-winter break. The boys loved checking out all the aircraft. We could have spent a lot more time exploring everything if not for our tired baby girl. There is so much to see and do there, especially on a rainy winter day!

Around the World in 80 Days!

Avery & Kieron loved the flight simulator! It was Kieron’s first time in and we were excited to see what he would think. Avery piloted and Kieron was the gunner. The second they got in they started doing barrel rolls, and continued to do so for pretty much the duration. Despite this they still had three kills and both came out smiling!

  

“Yes, I’d like to order a pizza…”

In front of a B-17 Flying Fortress, the same aircraft their great-grandfather commanded during WWII

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Snow Days

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Lindsey

It’s been quite a winter here! In mid-February we got a surprise 11 inches of snow. The boys were thrilled when school was cancelled. I think they ended up with 2 1/2 days off that week. Then the following week was mid-winter break (where half the population leaves for California or Hawaii). Ironically, we had no wild weather that week. Then the next Monday we were hit with another surprise blizzard that closed the parkway and left many of our neighbors stranded for hours in their cars. I stopped counting, but we’ve had lots of snow days and late starts this year. We make the most of them, but I am ready for spring!





Building snow forts

Deep snow means snow ice cream at our house!

All bundled up!






Little angels!

Avery’s first driveway.

Playdate with Charlotte

Snow bunny!

Warming up




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Salt Lake City

Posted on March 6, 2017 by Lindsey

In early February Jonathan and I flew to Salt Lake City with Layla for his company’s annual spouse dinner. We arrived on a Friday and spent the weekend there. Saturday morning we were having breakfast at a delicious hippie joint when we noticed people passing by with signs we liked. So naturally, we followed them. Pretty soon we were at the Federal Building with a sign in hand marching to the capital in solidarity with refugees.

Jonathan and I have wanted to join in on the protests and marches since, um, November. But when you’re living in the suburbs with a job and four little kids, it is not an easy thing to do. Randomly happening on this march (in a pretty conservative state, no less) was perfect, and incredibly inspiring. There was a huge turnout, everyone was peaceful and civil, there were people of every color and age, and we did not see anger, but fear, love and hope. It was a great experience and we will march again.

We started at the Federal Building

Her first march! After today Layla’s first words may be “No hate, no fear! Refugees are welcome here!”

Descending on the capitol

I liked the Mango Mussolini sign. Another of my favorites was held by a girl of about twelve, which said “if you build a wall my generation will knock it down”

She’s got him wrapped around her finger!

A dinner out with our little girl

Here we are at the spouse dinner. It’s such a fun event and I’m glad Jonathan’s company hosts one each year. It gives me an opportunity to meet and get to know some of the people he works with on a regular basis. I wish Layla’s dress was down, but this was the only picture we got that night, so it will have to do!

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