Oh Saturday....how we love you

Most of the time our Saturdays are for piddling around the house or yard, checking things off the honey-do list, or just resting. Today we played outside with bubbles and sidewalk chalk while Daddy planted flowers in the front urns and washed my car, which is no easy task.

I put together some fresh flowers inside the house, mainly for Easter, but I would love to have them all the time. They make me so happy. My bank account says- think again. ;)

Since we were having a great day outside as a family I decided not to lay the kids down for naps. They were having fun together, for the most part. Every now and then they would get mad at each other. Late in the afternoon they started to get a little cranky so we went in for showers.

After G was out of the shower and dressed I decided to take her on a little date- to dinner and shopping for an Easter dress. Right before we left, B fell asleep on the couch. He almost made it without a nap!

Fish Fry

One of our best friends lost his Daddy to cancer on March 3rd. He had a short, but difficult fight. He was diagnosed around the beginning of December and in those 3 months our hearts ached for Cody...and still do....that he had to go through this horrible situation and watch his Daddy get sicker with each passing day. Cody had so much respect for his father. They were best friends and prayed together daily. Almost every time we were together, Cody made mention of his Dad. He even talked about his Dad during his best man speech at our wedding. So when we got the phone call Saturday morning, March 3rd saying that Herb had passed away, we were devastated....for Cody. Herb is no longer suffering, and for that we are so thankful.

The following week was the Rosary and Funeral and both services were beautiful and difficult. It is so hard seeing a friend in pain.

On March 30th there was a Fish Fry Benefit and Pie Auction for Cody's family. The turnout was incredible! It was so nice getting to visit with Cody and all our friends. My bff, Dawn, bought a $60 peanut butter pie and we all split it. We always have fun together!



Dawn and I

Kris, Cody, Jason, Ryan, Bristle, Dawn, Me, and Jordan

Cousins!

Kindergarten Physical

We have been preparing our kids for kindergarten since they came out of the womb...beginning with sitting them on our laps and reading books to them every night. Reading to them has instilled in them a love for books and a love for learning and I am so thankful.

Aside from having a deep love for books, G has mastered identifying letters and sounds, counting to 100, colors, shapes, rhyming, etc., etc., etc. She is now reading books to us and is so very excited about attending kindergarten in the Fall. And I am equally excited about having her in my building!

Before I got out for Spring break, I picked up a kindergarten registration packet to fill out and I made G's dr appt to get her k physical. Daddy took her this morning to see Dr. H and she passed her physical with flying colors. She is one healthy little girl!



Now that the physical is behind us, next up is k screening at the end of April! It is all getting very real......how did this happen?!

Museum of Discovery

A few months ago my best friend, Dawn, asked if we would like to go to this museum. She told me a little about it and I told her that sounded great. They just finished building their house and we really haven't found time to go. This week my husband and I are on Spring break and it has been pouring rain the last few days. We decided to take the kids to this museum and since our friends were working we asked my parents to go. Luckily it is something you can take the kids to time and time again and they won't get bored. So we will go again very soon with our friends and their little girl, Khloe.

This was probably B's favorite thing in the Museum of Discovery. It was a big drum and you placed your hands on top of the hands next to the drum and it measured your heartbeat and beat the drum according to the beating of your heart. So neat.
This place was awesome! There were so many interactive things for the kids to have fun with and learn about- they had a blast!

This was an adorable lighthouse the kids had fun climbing up in and looking down at us.


Both of the kids were just fascinated with the reptiles and other animals in the tanks. B was really interested in this big lizard.

This was definitely my favorite thing- so intriguing to watch. It just showed how a tornado forms. The kids loved this little station as well.

G had fun making electricity and turning the lights on by riding this stationary bicycle- such a cutie.

For this station you are suppose to use your upper body strength and pull your little seat up using the rope. Since B is lacking in that department, Papa helped him out a little.

We loved this place! I don't know if it was the teacher in me or just a Mommy that makes learning a priority for our children....this was an awesome place where kids can learn hands-on and discover more about themselves and their world...and have fun while doing it! We will be going back!

Potty Training

We began potty training B on Saturday. This picture really sums up the whole experience thus far:

While it hasn't been FANTASTIC, it hasn't been completely horrible either. He has pottied 3 or 4 times on the commode...and he gets M&M's!


Mommy may or may not have started pottying in the kids' bathroom to be rewarded some M&M's herself.....
It can only get better, right?

Baby Merlin's Magic Sleepsuit

Stephanie at A Blue Eyed Boy Met a Brown Eyed Girl is giving away a Baby Merlin's Magic Sleepsuit. Run to her blog quick and sign up for the free giveaway! If only I knew about these when my kiddos were babes....it will make a great baby shower gift, though!

Happy first day of Spring!

Signs of Spring....

Loving the warmer weather...

Spring has arrived in our neck of the woods and we got out today and thoroughly enjoyed it! The kids, my Mother-in-law, and I drove to a neighboring city that we absolutely LOVE to go to- to shop, eat, and do fun things with the kids. (It's the only place I would actually move to if my husband would move with me!) We met up with my sister-in-law, Carrie, and nephew, Emmett. We enjoyed some shopping at an outdoor mall and had lunch together at a yummy Chinese restaurant. The kids were so well-behaved the entire day. We enjoyed getting to visit with Emmett. He is such a sweet boy with the prettiest eyes and some great hair! He is growing way too fast. And, of course, I love my time with Carrie. She is the closest thing I have to a sister and I enjoy our laughter, as well as sharing Mommy stories and makeup/fashion must-haves. I know one day we will live closer to each other and everything will be better in my world. ;)

The kids enjoyed strolling through the mall in their red fire engine. What a fun day with family!

Ruby

My Mom had G and B today while we worked. They went for a walk around her neighborhood and found a baby bunny that was nestled into the curb and was scared to death. Momma bunny was hit just up the road. I saw it driving into the neighborhood this morning as I was taking them to her house. So when my Mom texted me saying they found a baby it made me so sad.
She got a shoebox from a neighbor and took the bunny home. The kids named her Ruby. Growing up, we took care of baby birds that had fallen from their nests, but never a bunny. Mom really didn't know what to do. They put some lettuce in the box, just incase it wanted to eat. And B put some all over Ruby.
Mom called the vet and found out that because of her size and coloring Ruby still needed milk, so out came the lettuce. I did some researching while at school and found this milk alternative that is recommended for small animals, so my Dad got some after work. He fed her and we all watched. At first, Ruby did not want the bottle in her mouth. She was still scared. After a few minutes, she latched on and wrapped her little hands around the bottle. It was precious.
In the meantime, my Mom found a rehabilitator that was willing to take Ruby and care for her until she was ready to be released. The kids were sad, but thankfully when my parents dropped Ruby off to the lady that evening they found out that J knew her. He said Ruby was in good hands.

Time for Tee-Ball!

The best time of the year! G's first practice is today!

"Horsies", Basketball, and Friends

The guys in our group of friends were planning a one day trip to see our High School Alma Mater's basketball team play in the state championship game. I thought it would be fun to make a weekend of it and wives/kids tag along as well. (Sorry guys.) I rented a house big enough for the 11 of us the day before we left. It was very last minute and I am so thankful that it worked out.

We left Saturday morning for the 2 hour car ride (which means a good chance in having car sick kiddos.) Towels were put under car seats, extra clothes were packed, B was not dressed fully as to avoid many wardrobe changes....Praise the Lord! Both children traveled wonderfully...a miracle in and of itself. The kids watched movies the whole way, Mommy read magazines, and Daddy listened to his music. Aaaahhhh...the inventors of technology rule in our book. ;)

We stopped for lunch half way and then got to the horse races around 1:30. We were first timers there. J did just a little betting and we won our parking fee back, so we quit betting. Ha. ;) I did not get the memo to wear a short dress (or were they long shirts?) and 4" heels. Maybe next time.

We enjoyed watching the horsies. There was more down time than actual race time so that was a little disappointing for the kids.
After the horse races, we went to the house and unpacked and got ready for supper and the basketball game. We waited for an hour to eat and we were in a hurry, so we asked for our checks before we got our food, scarfed down our meal, and hit the road for the game. It was a great ball game! They won the state championship for the 2nd year in a row. The boys were so entertaining to watch. We will be going to more games next year.

We got back to the house around 11:00 and laid the kids down. Then we played Taboo until 2 am! So. Much. Fun. It was a little hard to get up the next morning with going to bed so late. I'm not use to that anymore! It was a fabulous weekend with such great friends.

Accident prone...

My sweet boy....we need a bubble for him. I know it could always be worse, and I hear from family and friends that it will probably just get worse since he is all boy. I dread the day that we will need the E.R. for stitches or a cast....

Today he was running in the playroom and tripped and fell over the rug, hitting his head on the entertainment center. As soon as J picked him up off the floor, his head was dark blue. Kinda scary. I gave him tylenol and kept him awake during afternoon nap time. Surprisingly, the knot and discoloration didn't get any worse after the first day. It went through the stages of all the different colors, but I actually feared a black eye and thank God that didn't happen.

Just a few months ago, B was running and fell, hitting his face on a big toy truck. When I picked him up there was blood all over the floor, his face, and then everywhere I walked with him....I was alone and God just knew that I couldn't handle that. My mother-in-law pulled in the driveway just as it was happening. God is good. She had two boys and was so calm, while Momma's hands were shaking uncontrollably. Maybe I will get a little better with each "boo-boo"......but I highly doubt it.