Happy Easter!

We've been taking with the kids about the reason for the holiday, but like any kids, they has fun this morning looking for eggs and seeing what the Easter Bunny brought!












I was able to snap a couple of pictures before heading to church.




Love these kids!




And a friend took a family shot for us after church, and I returned the favor!




Isaac and his buddies!




The three boys have a sister, so tried to get one of her and Piper, but Piper wasn't cooperating. She did take a picture with N, the youngest of the three brothers.




And I got a picture of those four kids' beautiful mama and me! She is the kind of friend most people dream of having. So grateful to have her, and her family, in our lives!




We headed over to Eddy's parents' house for dinner. Because they live in town, I forget about getting pictures of them. But I remembered today!




Piper took a late nap and about 5 seconds after waking up, she said, "I don't feel good", and puked all over me. Ugh! She was pretty lethargic the rest of the day and puked on me (again) before bed. Eddy and I think she didn't eat enough real food and ate too many treats. Hoping she is better in the morning!

Catching Up

When we visited our friends at a local hotel, Piper had a chance to try out water wings. It took her a couple of minutes, but then she really had fun!


Maybe I'll be able to convince Isaac to try them this summer!


The other family that visited had to leave before I got a picture, but we sure had fun being with friends!


This one was from when Eddy was gone. Isaac was NOT happy about drinking his milk at dinner. And this mama needed a drink.


Apparently he fits in our garbage can.


Not very often we see him sleeping WITHOUT a blanket over his head.


Piper "reading" The Lion King.

Fashion Girl

Piper has been walking around the house lately saying, "I'm a fashion girl", anytime she has sunglasses, a purse, or any other dress up item on. I'm not sure where she heard, or came up with, "fashion girl", but I love it! AND, she likes having her picture taken, so I'm ALL about that!

My Dad found this UMD cheer leading outfit. I thought we might go to a hockey game, but never made it to one. Not to mention she had no interest in putting it on, until recently. And now it's too small.



We were going to be visiting some friends at a local hotel, so wanted her to try on her swim suits. She thinks they fit, but I say 3 of the 4 are getting small. And is 4 really necessary, anyway?!











She picked out her outfit and put the clips in her hair.


She was pushing one of her babies in the stroller, put a bag over her shoulder, and told me she was "going to Target". My kind of girl!


Piper's friend C came over, so of course we had a show!





Piper got a hand me down dress and it's great at twirling, which she loves.





Showing off the new purse I bought.


She is so fun....I'm loving every minute!

Best Part of the Weekend

Even though we were sick, I'm so glad my sister still decided to come. After meds for 24 hours, I got some great pictures of us!


I LOVE this one!





Piper was "reading" to Jason to try to get him to stop crying.


Lindsey snapped a few pictures-- grateful, as I don't seem to be in very many usually!


We were working on a science experiment...


And reading a bed time story.


Paul is Piper's Godfather, and gave her a new book for Easter...


And Lindsey is Isaac's Godmother, and gave him a new book...



I'm so grateful she (and Jason) made the trip!!

Survival

The kids and I survived Eddy's 10-day absence as he was with his team in Arizona. With him being gone all summer last summer (and knowing it's going to happen again this summer), 10 days didn't seem like a big deal. We were doing really well...until half way through and I got sick with upper respiratory stuff. Then Thursday night the perfect storm ensued, and I ended bringing all three of us to urgent care to be tested for strep...and were all negative. So off to work/school/daycare we go on Friday (never occurred to me to keep us all home). Then after a full day, at 4:59pm, I get a message saying that Piper and Isaac's cultures were positive (mine wasn't back yet). Seriously?? I asked a co-worker to write scripts for us (so we didn't have to wait to urgent care to call) and eventually picked meds up at Target. The worst part was calling my sister to tell her--she was on her way up with Jason for the weekend. Luckily, she was still willing to come. We Cloroxed the house and got the hand sanitizer out. After 24 hours of antibiotics, we were able to love up on Jason! I pushed through not feeling well because I wanted to have a good weekend with my sister and nephew. Eddy got home in the early morning hours on Sunday, and after Lindsey left Sunday afternoon, I crashed. As it would turn out, it'd take me most of the week to feel better. Bleck. On the upside, the kids bounced back really quickly.

A Good Weekend

I think we got about 5 inches if snow two nights ago. I'm grateful that my Dad was visiting (for many reasons!), but one in particular was that he used the snowblower on our driveway.





Isaac took advantage of the unplowed road to cross country ski!


Grandma Becky joined us a few hours later. She and Isaac had a rousing game of Ticket To Ride.


And I got some snuggles when Piper woke up from her nap.


The neighbor boy came over and played with the kids outside. They made two snow tunnels!


After the kids came inside, it was story time.


Today after our company was gone, the neighbor boy came over, along with a friend of mine and her son. The kids played outside for 3 hours. It was awesome!

And to round out the day, my (wee bit) Irish kids say Happy St. Patrick 's Day!

Birthday

Today is my 33rd birthday! Looking back on my day, I'd have to say the best parts were Isaac drawing me a picture during "choice time" at school and that Piper WASN'T whiney today! She's been so whiney lately, no matter she is saying, if she's tired or not. Always whiney. It was such a breath of fresh air! I got a lot of wonderful birthday messages via text, phone, Facebook, and cards. So nice to be loved!

I realized I didn't get any pictures today, so decided to take a couple of my most precious gifts sleeping. I am again reminded that birthdays are not only special for the birthday person, but his/her parents. My birthday makes me reflect on how much my childrens' birthdays mean to me.

Fun Things & Imagination

We've had some fun the last few days. Isaac wanted to do a "science experiment", so we mixed flour, water, and food coloring to see what it felt like.


Isaac's been working on an dinosaur excavation kit he got from his Auntie Lindsey and Uncle Paul. He takes it very seriously, wearing gloves and goggles! He FINALLY got all the bones out and put it together.


Piper's imagination has been going crazy lately! She is so much fun to watch! She's been talking about her "other sister" named Ellie and she lives on "the other West Morgan Street". She's been pretty consistent with this story line. She also takes caring for her babies VERY seriously. Today she covered one up with a blanket while it was in a stroller, so I wouldn't "smell the poop". Ha! She also recently found some leotards that I've picked up at garage sales. She's been wearing them pretending she is a ballerina and will dance around on command. In this picture she was all set to "go to the doctor with Grandma Becky".


With Eddy gone so much for baseball (UWS right now and the Chinooks this summer), I was stressed about being able to get to the gym. Even though I have friends, family, and awesome neighbors that would help me, it still takes a lot to coordinate. So, Eddy was pretty set on getting a treadmill. I was nervous about the money, but he reminded me this is an investment in our health. I've run every day since we got it. I'm very grateful to Eddy--it is going to be so much easier. Isaac is also very excited to run and wants me to get his shorts out!


Isaac wanted to play his favorite game, Ticket To Ride. Piper asked to play too. We let her modify the rules, but overall, he did pretty well. I will say though, it was the longest. game. ever.