April 2018

March and April sort of blended together and I almost didn't realize that we had changed months.  Easter/Conference weekend started in March and ended in April. April turned into an extremely crazy month for us.  This is what we did...

Easter morning was a wonderful morning.  We were uplifted as we listened to conference and enjoyed treats and egg hunts in between...

 Then we headed to Grandma and Grandpa Wayment's for another egg hunt and a family dinner...

 And Colette met her Great Grandma and Grandpa Wayment for the first time...

With all the cousins running around everywhere, I was surprised to look over and see Tess sitting with Great Grandpa.  She sat with him for 30 min or more just talking to him and singing him songs.  She would grab his arm and wrap it around herself.  It was the sweetest thing to see.

 Even cousin Landon joined in for a bit...

The older girls had been begging us for awhile to hold Colette standing up.  We finally taught them how and they were thrilled...

This picture of Christ is hanging above the changing table in Colette's room. Every time she looks up at it she smiles and then, at one point, started talking to it even.  I want to remember this always...the veil felt so thin during this time.

 Spring Break was the following week so we decided to take the girls to Temple Square. Grandpa Payne, who has worked at the Church Office Building for 30+ years, would retire this month. So we visited him for the last time at his work and he took us to the top of the building.

 We also took them swimming at the Provo Rec Center.  They had a blast...

April 8th was Colette's Blessing Day.  Devin gave her a beautiful blessing and so many of our family and friends came to support her.  It was such a wonderful day and surreal to think that this would be our last baby blessing.

 The very next day, Devin went in for knee surgery.  He had a torn meniscus and it had been bothering him for quite awhile so we thought it was best that he get it fixed while he was home.

When Tess really wants something this is how she asks for it...

 With Devin healing from his surgery, I suddenly found myself jumping into all the responsibilities that we had been sharing since Coco was born.  Which meant sometimes I was unshowered, overwhelmed, frazzled, and copping a squat on the cement to feed the baby while 1 daughter was at softball practice and the other 2 played in a pile of dirt.

We got a new sectional for the basement and the girls love it so much they ask to sleep on it whenever they can...

Colette likes to walk/run the track while Tess is at gymnastics...

She also started grabbing at toys this month...

And she is starting to hold up her head...

 The Dream Team celebrating the launch of the business Brinq.  Devin has been working on this business for several years.  Every time he would make some headway with it setbacks would follow.  All of the work and all of the setbacks led him to what it has become and to this team who has been working hard to get going.  It is exciting to see it all come together.

Greg, Rick, Devin, and James

Tess got to go to the farm with her BFF Kassidy...

 Addie's birthday fell on a Sunday this year so the night before we took her out for a birthday dinner.  Of course she chose Chuck-A-Rama and loved every minute...

And then... Addie turned 10!!  So hard to believe she is in the double digits now!  Adalyn has been a joy from day 1.  She taught us how to be parents and has grown into a beautiful, smart, kind, helpful, talented little lady.  She loves to read, sing, and play the piano.  She loves to learn and create new things.  She loves helping me take care of Colette, cook, and sometimes even clean.  She is a hard worker with an adventurous soul.  She is still the pickiest eater I have ever met and most nights its a battle to get her to eat dinner.  She has found a love for acting and is working on developing that talent.  Her sisters adore her and others quickly learn what a sweetheart she is.  We are so lucky that she is a part of our family!

Grandma and Grandpa Payne and Natalee and Carson joined us to celebrate her that night and it was a lot of fun. 

 Lately Colette has been holding her arms up like this like she's ready to fight...

A few months back Addie auditioned to be in her school play.  She was thrilled when she was told that she got the lead.  She worked hard and practiced a ton and suddenly it was time to perform.  It was amazing seeing her up on stage.  She didn't seem nervous at all and she never faltered once. We seriously could not have been more proud of her.  She performed 4 times over 3 days.  

Pirates! The Musical

Opening Night: 

Grandpa Payne came to support Addie on opening night...

Our friends Olivia and Nina were also there to support her...

Once Addie had learned to hold Colette standing up she was anxious to hold her the way that Devin and I do.  So once again we taught her how and now at every moment she is asking to hold her.  

Saturday was a busy day full of fun. First, we went to a Mother/Daughter Boot Camp for Activity Days.  It was fun to hang out with the 2 older girls...

  Then we went to Lagoon for the first time this season.  It was a lot of fun but a little bit crazy with so many kids!

Holding Colette is everyone's favorite thing...

Closing Night of Pirates! The Musical

Another great performance and both Grandparents were in the audience which made it so much more fun!  Afterwards, Grandma and Grandpa Wayment treated everyone to ice cream.  It was a great night!

Such a little cutie!

Phew!  That was a lot for just 1 month! And April was the end of Devin's paternity leave as well.  I couldn't be more grateful to eBay for giving us this opportunity.  It was beyond amazing to have Devin home during this time.  Now I have to figure out how to be on my own during the day!