CA trip.

Couldn't resist taking some photos at my mom's house. She's got the perfect windows for it.

Abigayle enjoyed the windows too.

Peek a Boo!

Cousin Toby wanted in on the action. All we were missing was Annalena to have all the blue eyed grandkids in the picture.

We had 5 or 6 days of rain. I wanted some puddle pictures. This is what happens when a little girl splashes muddy water on her dress.

With Aunty Lyssa.

Morning bed head at Uncle Kyle's.

Think this is my favorite. On the last and most beautiful day Grandma and Toby sat in the open doorway soaking it in.

She fell down the steps at Aunt Genni's house. Only picture of baking baby.

I barely saw my boy all week as is evidenced that this is the only picture I got of him bouncing on a not so warm day with water on the trampoline with his cousins.

Bravery... Or Not...

The monthly Sabbath School socials are a great way to socialize. March's was at the YMCA for a swim party followed by a potluck lunch.
My kids were jazzed about swimming. with daddy ( I acquiesced to avoid trying to squeeze my 6 month pregnant belly into my non- pregnant swim suit).
The older two relished the water. Abrianna attached herself to Celina and Lucas paddled around in his life jacket. Abigayle? Well, Abigayle my previous water baby, came unglued. The noise? The water? Those may have been contributing factors but the clincher was Daddy disappearing under the water for undetermined amounts of time.
The crying was almost non-stop for the whole hour the pool was rented. A few times she sorta calmed down. The ladies looked safer than Daddy after he dunked big sister under the water against her protests.
My girl MUST need more exposure to the pool atmosphere and water. This will be difficult. Planning swimming lessons for the older two in the end of June beginning of July. But I'm not thrilled with the thought of a mom and tot class at 9 months pregnant. Guess we'll see how it all shakes down.

EasterHi

Hiding "Jesus" in the "tomb." Wrap a marshmallow in a crescent roll. Bake 10 min. The marshmallow disappears just like Jesus did from the tomb.

Abigayle's treasures.

Abrianna piling up her stuff.

Lucas' loot.

The Best of Intentions.

After almost 2 weeks, our bathroom remodel was drawing to a close. I needed to buy a couple of light fixtures from Home Depot. But I also wanted to make sure I got a walk in before we went shopping, which we did.
Arriving back at the house, I loaded the girls directly in the van. I turned to head into the house and Lucas brightly handed me my keys and told me he'd locked the house.
My stomach sank and I asked with fear and trepidation, " Did you lock the door handle?" "Uh huh!" he replied.  "Did you really???" I begged hoping against hope that he hadn't. "Yes!" he insisted a bit uncertainly.
I walked to the door and tried the knob. It didn't turn. We walked around the house, trying doors and windows. All locked tight. We tried to jimmy a few open. Didn't work.
I called my ever faithful next door neighbor, Elizabeth to ask to borrow her phone book to call a lock smith. Nobody could come very soon. It was cold. Our food and my purse were inside the house.
The only course of action that made sense for me was to load everybody into the van and drive to Rick's office to get the one and only key that fit the knob.
Walking next door to return the phone book,  Elizabeth came to the rescue again. She loaded us up with pretzels, apples, oranges, and peanut butter for our lunch.
At Energy Solutions, the older two kids got to see daddy's office and use the restroom while I waited for them in the van as Abigayle took a much needed nap.
Then back home. 2 1/2 hour trip round trip and we were back IN the house.
 I flopped on the couch for a couple of hours to muster together enough energy to take my little ones to Home Depot for those light fixtures. We found a wonderful one that fit the bill.
I never did yell at Lucas. He meant to be helpful. But whew! What a day.

Myrtle Spurge...

Yes, the skin was peeling off. It got worse too.

Her blisters remained intact.

The culprit: Myrtle Spurge.

Isolating the rash. Benedryl made one tired little. So tired she took a rare nap.

Thursday afternoon the kids and I went for a walk. We have frequently admired a unique looking plant, Myrtle Spurge. This walk Lucas plucked a couple of plants, stuffing them in the handle of the stroller, taking them home. Oh, the weather was too nice to go into the house. So we walked into the backyard, Lucas carrying his prize plants with him. A few minutes later, he happily told me that he was smearing the plants on his sisters face. Was it make up? Paint? Whatever the idea was I asked him to stop. 

We played a couple of rounds of croquet, then went into the make and eat supper. Fast forward to the next morning.

Abigayle wiggled around in the bed next to me. I glanced at her face, why was it her face was dirty? How did that happen? I was sure it was clean when I put her to bed last night.

I flipped on my light for a better look. What I saw startled me. Her face was a blistered oozing mess. I turned her head to see the other cheek. Not only was it worse it was swollen. About that time Lucas climbed up on my bed.,  vertical red streaks decorating his face. What in the world??? The pieces fell together in my mind as I saw the plant sap episode.  I struggled out of bed to my kids room to look at my still sleeping Abrianna. Yep, she had blisters on her face too.

Not really sure what to do about it, I called my mom who suggested baking soda paste. 

Next I tried aloe vera next. But oddly these rashes were looking worse after treatment instead of better.  I posted some photos of the offending plant on fb. I also started to research. University of WA had a neat sight that helped me match the plants characteristics. Low and behold it was second on the list. Very poisonous, Myrtle Spurge, can cause these awful reactions. The only treatment being cortizone cream and benedryl. Then cover the area. Each blister that popped spread the rash worse. I covered them in big gauze bandages. 

Today they are much improved. Maybe I can take the bandaids off tomorrow. Guess we'll wait and see. Would be nice if the Easter pictures were "normal."

24 weeks and growing.

Spring Sabbath picture.