Kids' updates

Bria

Bria is so full of energy and has been such a great helper.  Every morning she says to me, "Mom, do you know what I am going to do every day?  I am going to clean the house so you don't have to!"  So sweet.  She definitely still has her moments where it is hard to get her to do her chores, but at least once a day she is begging for a job to do.  She loves to help and especially loves to share candy with Erik.  These past couple months, Bria has never eaten something without sharing it with Erik, even if Erik just got done eating the same thing she was eating.  If she is given any candy in primary or at preschool, she saves it until she gets home so she can split it in half and share it with Erik.  She is so considerate of others and is such a good example.  If someone is having a hard time, she goes right to her art table to make a present for them.    I get at least 3 presents or cards a day and I just love it!

Bria's favorite thing to do these days is cook and play with her stuffed animals.  She reminds me of Andy on Toy Story when I catch her playing.  She has quite an imagination.

Bria is quite a little athlete and LOVES sports.  She loves playing basketball and softball and is actually not bad!  Check out this form we caught on camera!

Erik

Erik is such a fun kid.  He makes us laugh constantly!  His laugh is extremely contagious!  He loves to laugh and giggle constantly and I just love it!  He loves to be tickled and will walk right up to Derek, lift up his shirt and say, "Tickle me!"  Erik doesn't understand that there has to be an end to something.  If someone is lifting him in the air and throwing him around, he will keep saying, "Again!  I want to do it... again!"  He is still pausing in all his sentences and we just think it is hilarious!  When he wakes up in the morning, he says, "I need... a treat!"  He is usually found playing with play dough, drawing pictures of Bombora (the new Lagoon ride) or reading books.  Erik loves to dress up and so my mom made him a really cool cape that he can run around in!

Erik is also a big helper.  He loves to sweep and mop the floor.  His favorite chore is washing dishes, but he isn't really cleaning them.  He just likes to dump water all over the place.

Erik is also dressing himself now, thank goodness!  He is starting to finally demand some independence, which is kind of good right now since the baby is needing more attention.  This is a picture of him when he first started to dress himself!  He had a hard time at first, but is doing much better now.

Erik loves his train right now and will spend hours in there playing.  The other day I walked in to find him like this!

Zakery

 Zak is following in his older brother's footsteps and is growing like crazy!  At his 2 month appointment, he weighed 14 pounds!  I just LOVE his chubs!  He is very much fun to hold!  Zak is one sweetie pie and is the best baby ever!  He sleeps so well in the night and even gives me a good break in the morning because he usually doesn't wake up until 8:00.  Zak is so strong and when he is awake, he doesn't like to lie down.  He is constantly trying to sit up and the other day he actually succeeded!  He was lying on my lap and sat up all on his own!  It was really amazing!

Zak is really good at sitting up with a little support from the Bumbo and even the dump truck!

I love this picture, because this is how Zak usually looks, all cuddly and squishy!

 Zak loves sucking on his thumb and I think it is the cutest thing ever!

 Zak loves his brother and sister.  If they even walk by him, he glows with excitement!

Zak especially loves it when Bria reads to him.  He actually looks at the pictures!

 Zak started smiling at 3 weeks and just lights up the room with that sweet smile!

One of my favorite things that Zak does is he twitches his nose when he gets excited.  I have yet to catch it on camera!

I just love these kids and am so grateful to be their mommy!