Good Eats

Matthew tried his first solids recently...and what do you think he started with?

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Ice Cream of course!
Okay...we only let him try a teensie bit of THAT

His first "real" meal was rice cereal. Since I didn't want to pay for the expensive baby cereals at the store, I threw some rice in my wheat grinder, made rice flour and cooked it with water over low heat. Then I added some rice milk to make it thin. He enjoyed it thoroughly.

Speaking of enjoying good food...

Madelyn made a yummy apple tart for Family Home Evening treat the other day. It was soooo good.

A couple videos to brighten your day...

Love this little guy

Matthew is sure loved by his sisters. Ashlie frequently says "ohhh...he's just so cute!" as she pats his head. Madelyn is happy to see Matt's hair lightening up because that means she gets another blondie in the family. Madelyn is almost always the first one to find out that Matthew has woke up from his nap. She proudly comes downstairs saying "look who woke up." Sometimes he looks really groggy which makes me slightly suspicious that his "awake" was maybe just moving in his sleep, but at least there are always willing girls to hold him and play with him when he is awake.

The girls are so eager to share the wonders of the world with Matthew. When he was about one month old I was upstairs while Alia was holding Matt downstairs. It had snowed that day and the girls were all excited about it. I heard some laughing from the girls, then quiet, then I heard Matt start to cry a bit. When I went downstairs the girls confessed to feeding him "a little snow". They said he liked the first bit, but the second helping made him start to cry. So they "decided not to do that anymore".
Yesterday Alia was so excited to show Matthew the frog she had caught. She was glad the frog croaked for Matthew.

Matt is sure lucky to have such wonderful, adventurous sisters to love and care for him.

What is that?

What is that you ask? Well, I'll tell you.

It's a Duplo Boeing airplane of course.

And this is a cute little teddy bear enjoying his time at the park.

This is Aaron playing the "chocolate game" at his parent's house.

The game is played by a pair of dice being passed around the room in a pie tin. Each person takes one turn rolling the dice. If the person rolls doubles he goes to the middle of the floor and puts on as fast as he can things like an apron, gloves, scarf and a hat. Then he proceeds to eat chocolate pieces using a butter knife for a utensil. The whole time the dice are being passed and rolled. If someone else rolls doubles that person gets to bump the other person out of the chocolate eating spot and he begins the process.
This game was a favorite that Aaron's family played while he was growing up. Lots of fun and laughter.

So now you know.

NEWs

This is our news about new stuff (hence the title: NEWs. see the new in all caps and the small s to make it news...okay anyway)

The girls got new bikes that are really taking them places. Mostly out on our daily walks (I guess they would be rides then, but you get the idea.)

Here is Madelyn coming down the fun hill on the path. Alia and Madelyn love this hill and they have to go up and down it at least three times because its just so fun.

Ashlie is a little bike shy, meaning she really is working on the courage to ride down hills. This is her riding down the slight hill coming into the park. I love the look on her face.

We're hoping this summer will be the successful one to teach her to ride without training wheels. Last year was not so good even trying the "balance bike" effect. Let's just say the desire to ride without training wheels has to be a little stronger in the biker.

Alia on her new bike loving every minute.

We got Matthew a new cell phone so he can connect with all his baby buddies.

Aunt Mandy gave our girls her old but new to us ipod. I caught Alia and Madelyn sharing a cute moment listening to the music together.

Ashlie has a new space in her mouth and has lost her first tooth. Of course this space won't be there long since she already had her permanent tooth growing in the back and its moving into its spot quickly. She told me she was a shark since she had two sets of the two front teeth.

We're learning new art skills together. Here is Alia's apple drawing.

Matthew got his first experience in a swing the other day. That's his new favorite thing to do at the park.