When Melissa comes to my house, she doesn't just come to visit, she comes to live with us for the time that she is here, which really translates to her pitching in. While she was here she helped me clean my house, bathrooms, and do laundry. She helped me make bread and plant flowers. She bathed kids and helped them get ready for church. She even cleaned my microwave for me. Plus she held and smelled my baby the whole weekend. I'm trying to remember if she had anytime to relax the whole time she was here. We did sneak in a game of Ticket to Ride and dinner at Red Robin one night. 
She's the best! Come back soon Melissa! We already miss you!
We have had so much fun with all of our visitors lately. Some of the fun of having a new little somebody is that all of the older somebodys come to visit. My parents came for four days and drove in just hours after we brought Spencer home from the hospital. My mom has been with me that first week home for each of my kids. 
She gives my kiddo's their first bath at home. She sleeps in the recliner next to the cradle while she is here and wakes me up to feed them, then rocks my babies back to sleep for me. She taught Alexia how to write her name when Parker was born. She taught Parker his colors when Elijah was born. She came to read stories and color pictures and help my kids adjust this time around too. She was wonderful! I don't think I changed more than one diaper the entire time she was here. This time she brought my dad, who obliged me and made my two favorite things that he cooks - burritos and Navajo tacos. So yummy!
They came the weekend of conference so while the guys were at the priesthood session, she and I took the kids (and the stash of old bread I'd been collecting for a month) to the pond in a nearby neighborhood. Feeding the ducks was so fun for all of us. 
The huge fish in the nasty water got their fill of bread too. Elijah that close to the edge made me so nervous. I just knew that I'd be jumping into that cess pool to fish him out if we didn't keep an eye (and an hand) on him.
Here is what Spencer was busy doing while we were throwing crumbs. You can tell he took his job (to keep an eye on the new diaper bag that grandma and mom had bought for just a few hours before) very seriously.
Just about a month ago it was like this...
"Come out, come out where ever you are!"
Let's talk about that onsie for a minute okay? When I had my first boy (six years ago) they did not have anything so cute. I was happy to have found a package that had a gray onsie alongside the two white ones. Now look how stinking cute the brown and blue stripe is. Good gravy! I almost don't want to cover it up with clothes.
I love the newborn stage. Last night Darren was holding Spencer and I told him that he has changed so much in two weeks. Darren then said, "Yeah, he's growing up." And then I punched him. 
My camera, Photoshop and I are loving having a baby around.
Darren did bring them to the outdoor Healing Garden tonight and I walked down, after putting Spencer into the nursery, to spend thirty minutes with them. After I got back up to my room, I opened the blinds and held him up to the window for them to see him. When I talked to Darren on the phone later he told me that they could actually see him pretty well.
This one of Elijah was taken a few Saturday's ago. We love a good rain storm around here. Playing in it beats watching Saturday morning cartoons anyday.
Mostly because they are just so stinking cute.
If you noticed the rash under Elijah's mouth, please ignore it. That's that I'm trying to do. Because a rash around here usually means one thing - food allergy. And dang it, I just can't deal with another kid in our family having a food allergy. And if my suspicions are correct it's to that yogurt that is on the spoon he's eating off of. I told you I was trying to ignore it. 
"What did you say? Rash? Food allergy? Who me?"
In other news, Parker wanted to take my picture the other day. And since I had clothes on, my hair done, and makeup to boot I said he could. But the shots he took of my belly are off limits.
The kids helped me put the baby's crib up on Tuesday. Elijah asked if he could sleep in it. It's a little beat up from the three older ones but is still beautiful and putting it up brought back so many memories of setting it up for each little one we have. I still need to get the dresser/changing table out of the garage and into the room, then move the furniture around to see where everything fits best.
I've been trying to stock up on baby supplies as the sales have been around. The baby's side of the closet (the other side still has all of the office stuff in it on shelves that Darren put in for me) is full of what I've gathered so far. I counted up and there are 18 packages of diapers and 7 cans of baby formula in there, all bought on sale with major coupons. Just typing that gives me warm fuzzies. ;)
Now I'm trying to get some fast and easy meals into my freezer for after he gets here. I have a few ideas, but would love some more if any of you have them. Parker's allergies make meals tricky around here so pick out your best non-dairy meal and tell me if it can be frozen. I'd love your help with this. 
There is always a play put on at the community center. Here is Grandma Stewart hanging out with the little ones while Darren and I were at the play. Cousin Olivia's mom and dad were busy with the barbeque that their ward was in charge of this year so she and the boys watched movies with Grandma. Lexi went with us to the play.
They waited not so patiently for it to start.
They both thought the sirens were a little loud. They always are. But that is the start of any good parade.
Here they are waiting on the other side of the road for Parker to throw candy to them.
Here Grandpa is throwing candy and Parker is throwing me a kiss. That's my sweet boy you know. There was so much candy thrown out that the kids filled a gallon ziplock bag to bring home. I'm not sure my kids had been to a parade that they remembered so it was a lot of new fun for them.
The foot races are always fun. They have each age and gender race together and it was fun to watch the kids take their turn. (Lijah with Daddy above, Parker lined up below)
Alexia won her race. No surprise with those legs that go to her armpits.
Really though this was the favorite activity of the kids. The dunking booth was a huge hit! They each got the chance to dunk each other. Lexi was up first. 
Parker cracks me up! He actually hit the target on his second try but not hard enough to release the seat. So after the third try he ran up and hit it himself sending his big sister into the water.
Pretty soon it was Parker's turn up on the hot seat and it turned out to be a repeat of his performance for his sister.
Love that blue snow cone smile ! ;)
So she ended up doing the same thing to bring him down.
After a miniature train ride, trading in tickets for snow cones for everyone and a yummy lunch of navajo tacos and hamburgers for the kids (thanks Grandpa Stewart) we headed home to change and then went to my mom's house to can green beans with her. We ended up with 17 quarts of green beans that day. We've opened a few of them since being home. I totally forgot how much better they taste than those in a can. Yum! My kids love them too. Thanks for your help mom. And thanks Jerry and Teressa for letting us stay with you. While it was a quick trip we had such a good time.
