Hazel Turned 6 months

Hazel turned 6 months the day before we moved so I never wrote down her 6 month update.  I don't know her weight or height at 6 months.  And I never took her pictures for her 6 month milestone because of all the craziness with moving.  But here are a few from my phone demonstrating some new skills.

She can roll over and turn 360* in all and any directions she wants.  She moves all over the house.  She loves her bottle and likes to eat them in peace and quite the best.  She doesn't like her car seat anymore. Started taking a binkie... but then decided it was lame and would rather suck on blankets, shirts, burp rags, sheets, etc.  She only sleeps on her tummy now.  She has also started laughing more and even thinks Gracin is funny now.  She discovered sand at the beach and loved to run her fingers through it and not eat it.  This month she started to get up on her hands and feet, like a push up!  She has lots of fuzzy blond/maybe light red hair.  She also started sucking on her bottom lip and looks so darn cute! 

Ocean World

Before we left Oregon we decided we better take the kids to "Ocean World."  Its not amazing or anything like Sea World or a large Aquarium but they don't care.  Rhylan particularly loved the "tide pool"  she was much braver here to pick up a star fish than she ever was at the ocean.

 

They could spend a while looking into the large shark tank.  There were other fish in there as well, but mostly sharks.

Then we got to go to another area and pet sharks!  Riley, Rhylan and Gracin all pet them.  The sharks were like dogs, they kept coming over to be "pet."

Then at the end of the tour there was a seal/sea lion show.  That white seal is 23 years old!  She didn't move much! 

It was nice to have front row seats.  There was only about 10 people on the tour with us so the kids got to be right up close for the little show.

She's moving

Hazel started scooting/crawling. Nothing and nowhere is safe anymore. Here is a video
Watch "She's scooting!!" on YouTube

When Riley's gone!

Riley had training in Mesa all week so I was on single mom duty.  It pretty much felt like this!!!  I can't wait for him to get home tonight.  I need my adult time, I need help putting the kids to bed, I need him to be with me, I need him to kill the bugs--I killed a black widow and 2 egg sacks, trapped a cockroach, I need him to turn away scary strangers who knock FOREVER at your door at night!!  (Seriously at 7 pm a guy knocked at our door, I don't answer it when I don't know who it is!  He went through at least 7-8 knocking bouts.  He knew we were home too.  I thought he left so I tiptoed up to the peep hole to check. As I was getting close he knocked again... scared me to death and I bumped the door handle when I jumped!  He had a clip board but no FedEx or UPS truck.  I think he was looking for the previous tenent!  I was a little freaked out the rest of the night.)  All in all, I just want him home!!!  Can't wait just a few more hours.

Gracin can read sight words VIDEO

I've been working on sight words with Rhylan. Gracin doesn't like to be left out, plus he LOVES letters. He picked them put really quick. I wouldn't be surprised if he is reading before school!! What a smart boy.

Watch "Gracin reading" on YouTube

New frogs

Riley got two new frogs at a reptile EXPO this month. These are bigger frogs than he has had before. This is a video of then hopping around and eating.

Watch "Frogs eating flies" on YouTube

Hazel laughs while playing ball, VIDEO

Watch "Gracin and hazel play ball" on YouTube

Hazel can play peek-a-boo!! VIDEO

Watch "Peek a boo" on YouTube

A day at the beach

9/8/12
We went to the beach all the time!  We loved it.  I didn't really like to bring my camera because all of the sand.  But this time we had just decided we would be moving in a few weeks and I wanted to get some pictures of how we spent our summer at the beach.  Often Riley and Rhylan would go hunting for some good drift wood to put into his frog aquariums.  Rhylan loves to be a helper.

Gracin liked to explore more close to me.  He also liked to watch the waves crash on the beach.

He loved to play with sticks and sand. 

Hazel liked to just be outside.  She usually was in the front pack (bjorn) or sitting in her carseat.

I know this one is too bright, I intended on fixing it after I took it but... I'm too lazy.  I love the look on her face, and it shows how bright it was on the beach.

Rhylan also liked playing with sticks, digging, throwing them into the water.

We also relaxed sometimes.

Well not Gracin, he would rather stick his head in the sand!

Another move

Well after a few months in BEAUTIFUL Oregon, we were quickly realizing that Rileys job wasn't gonna cut it. It turned out to be different than promiced. After much prayer and fasting, and more praying and crying, we decided to take another job. Riley quickly found a great job in Tucson AZ, passed his test to get AZ licence, found us a house, all within 30 days. It's been stressful and trying. But we made it here to Tucson last night and unloaded this morning.

Our trip started with the van in the shop all week to be fixed. Came down to the wire. It was finally ready as we were picking up the moving truck.  There was an ear infection turned to ruptured ear drum, 2 kids on antibiotics. Dad getting completely lost in San Fransisco at night with out gps. Van ac broke, ticket for useing a cell phone while driving, all three kids wet their pants- some more than others. Attack of thousands of mosquitos, the van broke down and had to be towed the last 93 miles to our new house. And a dead frog. 

There were many blessings as well. We were all safe while driving, because of the spirit and prayer. There were a few scary close calls. My dad magically figured out how to find us after getting totally lost in a BAD part of town- 20 min later. The kids and I were able to all fit in the car to avoid the 105* weather outside when the van ac broke.  We almost used our one free towing from AAA  last week but called to cancel it. We have a one time 100 miles free towing a year and our car broke down 93 miles from our house. All 3 kids were happy moat of the time. And my dad was there to help with all that goes along with 3 day road trips.

I'll add pics of our journey and our last weeks in Oregon when I get home internet.