National Geographic: Backyard Edition

Who has ever witnessed the aggression of male lizards before? Not me!!!! I do not have a particular fear of lizards, but I it has never been on my top 10 list to sit around watching them either. This morning I sent Nic and Kensli out to play in the backyard and in a few minutes they came back in saying there was a big lizard out there. I went to look thinking it might be a snake, but sure enough it was a lizard. Two of them, to be exact, and they were trying to figure out which one of themselves was the dominant male! They were so busy trying to prove their manliness that they didn't even realize we were watching. We watched for awhile and then Kensli got tired and started jumping. This movement and sound brought the lizards back to reality, but they were so tired that they didn't run off. They just tried to hide in plain sight. We left them to their hiding, but Ricky checked back later and they had gone! Here are a few pictures of what we saw....................

Here they are circling each other getting ready to attack.
Trying out a head maneuver!
Lip hold.

The darker green one seemed to be the dominate male. The other lizard was smaller and thinner. Wish I could report the winner, but I can't! Guess if I see the big, dark green lizard sunning peacefully on the deck I can declare him the winner!!!!

Easter Parade

There is nothing like new clothes and shoes for Easter. The kids love picking out their new outfits!!!!! I just had to take a few pictures of them all dressed up!!!

Easter

For Easter this year, we had an egg hunt for the kids! They were so excited!!!!! Guess when you have 4, you have enough kids to make it an official hunt! Can't wait for #5, then we will really be official!!!!

The official egg hiders!

Waiting!!!

Nic finds and egg!

Happy, Silly Kensli

Looking! I thought this was one of the funniest pictures!

Trying to get a good shot of all four!

Sometimes Kensli will not cooperate!
Enjoying the find!!!!!
She loves eggs, but she sure looks tired!

Easter Sunday morning they had chocolate bunnies waiting for them! They were so thrilled!!!! Last year I got them toys instead and was flat out rebuked by my eldest children!!!!!! This year this must have been much better!!!

Tying Out New Names

I am trying out new names for our blog! I would like to get someone to design a new look for our blog and we are trying to decide on a new name.

Conversations with Kensli

Kensli has been really busy lately. I have taken to calling her Miss Tululy after my ever busy Granny! Granny can't ever be still and always has something going on!!!!! Kensli is the same way!

Yesterday, Kensli was quite for too long and I had a feeling she was up to something. Sure enough, I found her in the bathroom, up on the counter with her feet in the sink. She had the water running and the parts of the mirror soaked. She proudly said, "Mommy, I washed the mirrow for you!" How can you fuss at such sweetness? I cleaned her and the bathroom up, while thanking her and telling her that next time she would need to ask before cleaning. This morning I heard the water running! I went to look and this time Nicholas had joined her. Guess my sermon didn't sink in and Nicholas must have thought that she was getting too much praise.

Kensli does not like to sleep in her own bed. She has had problem with this concept since coming home. After we went to the Philippines, she regressed and started the whole night terror problems again. Sleep is important to me and being on the Daniel's fast with no coffee, I regressed and let her start sleeping with us again! Yesterday, she took her nap in her own bed and I gave her a treat! Today when she woke up from her nap, she called me and said, "Mommy, I took a little sleep in my bed, so I need a little treat!" She got her treat!!!!!!

I have never been a stickler about buckling Kensli up in her booster seat at the table. She screamed so much about it at first that I felt there were other battles to be fought! She had gotten to where she wouldn't stay in her seat during meals and worried who ever sat near her. Sunday night Toby put his foot down and made her buckle up! She fussed, but finally realized she was not getting her way! Last night Toby said buckle up and she did without a fuss! That night I asked how he had managed to pull that off and he said, "I do not negotiate with terriorists!" We had a good laugh, because she was truly terrorizing anyone who sat near her! Today, I was telling my mother about the situation and Kensli overheard our conversation. She walked over to me and said, "Mommy, that is SO not funny!" I think she has been picking up a few things from Ricky and Kaitlyn!!!!!!

One of her big things is tattling on her older siblings. One of her constant things to tattle about is words. She will come running to where I am and say, "Mommy, Ricky(or who ever she is currantly mad at) said a wurd!" The word can be anything! Too, funny!!!!!!

Kensli understands breakable things! The other day she was helping me clean out the dishwasher and came across a breakable dish. She said, "OH, MOMMY, THAT IS BREAKABLE AND I DON'T NEED THAT!"

Well, it is official, we have put our house on the market! It is a real experience trying to keep the house clean and chase preschoolers, while homeschooling the two older kids! Can't say that life is ever DULL!!!!!

If we want to adopt again we really need to find a bigger house, and we think we have. I am looking forward to starting our last adoption in the the upcoming months.

I will actually have a classroom/gameroom in the house we have found! The thought of having a room to be creative in and not have to put everything away at the end of the day is wonderful! Also, we will have a pool and the kids are very excited about that part of the move!

I will keep you posted on the developments!

Can You Say, "SICK!"?

This has not been the weekend I was expecting! On Friday morning Toby woke up running fever and feeling horrible, so he went to see the doctor. About an hour later, Toby called and reported that he was on the way home with medicine and would be in bed for the day! The doctor sent him home with bronchitis, start of the flu, and dehydration. OK, sick husband, a little change in routine!

Ricky and Kensli have been under the weather, so after Toby's diagnosis I figured they probably need to see the Dr., too. Then I thought about it being the weekend, so why not get all the kids checked, hopefully diverting a trip to the emergency room! Thank goodness I did! Kailtyn and Nicholas had bronchitis, Ricky had a viral infection, and Kensli a sinus infection.

After swigging on antibiotics and juice, eating soup, using about 1000 Kleenexes, and being generally grouchy they are all doing better today! Actually up and reeking havoc!