Here Piggy Piggy

When Cash was born Johnny's brother Greg and wife Rebekah thought it only too fitting to get him the cutest baseball themed ceramic pig/piggy bank. For the last almost 2 years Sydney has been putting her money into a converted Lysol wipes container, so for her birthday Cash got her a piggy bank of her own. Then the fun of feeding the piggy the money from her bank began. Cash too wanted to be in on it, so I gave him change since his piggy was hungry too.

Let the fun begin

So with 5 little pancakes- her bedroom and the kitchen filled with streamers, Sydney started off her birthday.

Birthday Girl

It is amazing to me how details of certain days can stick with you-one such day was April 27, 2005- it was the day my OB told me that I would need to be induced that night. As any of my friends would vouch, the mention of labor would cause my knees to lock up as a involountary reflex, I was petrified at the thought of labor, let alone being induced which is why the mention of either things sent my blood pressure up a little-in turn causing the need for the induction. I rembember watching with Johnny our favorite show, Alias and putting off calling the hospital to see if they we ready for me as long as possible. We finally checked it at around 11:45pm and they got the ball rolling. At the end at 4:12pm on the 28th was the most amazing thing- my little girl- Sydney Jay. She has continued to cause me push my comfort levels (dealing wiht throw up for one) and my fears of not being able to protect her from everything! but just like that night five years ago- the joy of being her Mom out weighs all of the concerns/fears. She is so amazing and when she gets this twinlke in her eyes- man it is hard to say no to her. So Happy Birthday my Syd Jay- thank you for 5 amazing years- I love how artisitic you are, how you love help me around the house, how you laugh and just you being you!

Fun on the Escalator

while we were at the Gateway making Leo the kids could not help themselves but enjoy the escaltor as well. Also-it was the first time we let Cash go without being in a stroller and he loved it! I of course was a control freakand do much better with him stapped in!

Tradition

As a family we went to Build a Bear to continue our tradiiton of making a teddy bear for each of our kids. "Leo" is filled with fluff and 4 wishes-one from each of us- he is named is memory of Johnny's late uncle and as you can see is already friends with Joe (Syd's) and Alfred (Cash's)

Saturday on the Parkway

After Johnny helped move his 3rd person (he has only been Elder's Quroum president for a month!) he came home home ansty to get out- so he and Syd made us a picnic and we headed out to the Jordan River Parkway for a walk, picnic and then some fun on the playground at one of the parks along the route. Poor Syd and Rosco were beat, so Johnny went and got the car and picked us up. The highlight for the kids was to see and touch (sorry no pic) a snake (he was little but it was a "Nake" as Cash puts it)

Pudding Man

The other night we had pudding for dessert, but as you can see Cash really had pudding for dessert-it even ended up his nose!

Spring is in the Air

SO while I attacking the dandelions in my backyard (my Dad would have been proud) Sydney was playing on her swingset (Cash was taking a nap) when she made one of her first "Spring" discoveries-
"Mom the box elder bugs (a Utah native bug) are on top of each other"

"They must be hugging"

"No, I think it is a Mommy and a Daddy box elder bug and they just got married"

Sunday Best

With conference and Easter falling on the same Sunday I was excited at the thought of getting away with not buying Easter outfits for the kids, but then I saw this dress at Costco for $15 (and it is big enough she can wear it next year) so I caved-

Pop Rocks Rock

Like most kids in my generation-Pop Rocks were this cool candy so when I aka the Easter Bunny saw some I could not resist but to pick up a pack for Syd's basket-so last night under Johnny's supervision- Sydney and Cash expereinced a little cracklin taste of my childhood.

Happy Problems

So as I rapidly approach my third trimester (I am 27 weeks+) I am in the throws of experiencing the following "happy problems"
1.I now can prepare for less sleep by getting up to pee during the night
2. While most of my pants still fit I am down to only 1 skirt for church
3. My acid reflux/indegestion is in full force
4. I have yet to break out in hives (I did at 26 weeks with BOTH Syd & Cash)
5. I am tired, sore, swollen and moody

but with all of these "happy problems" I am grateful that it means everything is growing like it should- so baby Hollingshead can't wait to meet you in less than 12 weeks!

Easter Morning or Christmas Morning?

I love when Spring finally comes to Utah-unfortunately Easter morning was not going to be the day for when we woke up-this is what we saw. So needless to say the bunny left a trail of poop (milk duds- Syd loves it when Johnny eats the easter bunny's poop)to the baskets and even Rosco was ok with forgoing his usual egg hunt and settled for his egg inside. By the time the afternoon rolled around most of the snow had melted and the kids were able to hunt for eggs outside with some cousins down in Orem.

Easter Eggs

So I often have wondered why I only have one childhood memory of dying Easter eggs-not to make you feel guilty Mom- since moving away for college I have dyed eggs every year and I love it- now this year though I realized why my Mom basically avoided this tradition- with Cash on my lap I was no longer enjoyng this tradition, but starting to stress out about how dirty we were all going to be by the end! I gave Cash some stickers and then a q-tip dipped in the dye so we could paint on his egg- and it actually worked pretty well- he only threw one egg "ball"- Johnny and Sydney had a great time and I even managed to decorate one egg.