The Best Day Ever

 In which Emma discovered a bunny in the neighbor's window well.  

 Daddy rescued it and everyone got a chance to hold it, 

 before Emma kindly shoved him back into the rabbit hole under the rock wall. 

The next weekend wasn't quite as magical, when Noah discovered an unmoving bunny in the same window well and came running, 

"Da bunny's in twubble!  Da bunny's in twubble!"  

But it was fun while it lasted. 

Spring Portraits

 Which I refuse to buy, 

but for which my kids still beg,

 then no longer want, 

 when told they can be purchased with their own money. 

But they sure are cute!  And growing up way too fast.  

Only one hand can be slipped in between Leah's head and my chin.  

And Adam has three wiggly teeth now.  Three!  

Pumpkin smile, here he comes.

Noah-isms

Oh, Noah.  My sweet little baby.  I love to hear all of the things that are going on his mind and coming out of his mouth.

M- How old are you?

N- Ewwww!!

M- How old?

N- Ewwww!!!!

M- Do you mean two?

N- Yeah, twooooooo!

*****

I don't want to take a nap.  Actually.... I don't want to take a nap!

*****

M- Noah, why are you so cute?

N- Because!

M- Because why?

N- Because I'm just so cuuuute!

*****

While driving down the street Noah noticed the color of each door as we passed- 

"Orange!  Blue!  Red!"

*****

Noah is obsessed with the bunk beds.  He loves to run and tuck himself under Emma's covers during scriptures and prayer, which always ticks her off.  But tonight he crawled up to Adam's bed and laid next to him while I read them a few chapters from Sideways Stories from Wayside School.  When it was time to turn out the lights Adam asked if he and Noah could please have a sleepover in his bed.  "Not tonight," I said while Adam tucked his arm around Noah.  They laid there like that for a minute and then I scooped Noah out of the bed.  He reached over to give Adam (who seemed to have a rare hard day at kindergarten) a hug, and said "I love you".  "I love you, too." Adam replied, and then my heart melted into a big puddle right there.  Brotherly love is the best. 

*****

While shopping at the store, Noah let out a huge "Ooooooohhh!" and fell over himself as he ran over and declared "I love deese chips!" while hugging the biggest bag of Cheetos I've ever seen.  

It was so cute that I had no choice but to buy them.  

 *****

Noah insisted on wearing this wild shirt because 

"It's Micah's color!  It's Micah's color!"  

Micah is Noah's best friend, and his favorite color is orange.

*****

Of note, Noah slept in until 10:30 yesterday morning!  I could hear him breathing just fine, but finally went into check on him after seeing that he had rolled his entire body and head up tight in his fleece blanket.  He felt a bit on the hot side, but whether from a fever or the lack of fresh air I wasn't sure.  He still took his usual three hour nap that afternoon and was giggly and perky, albeit a bit more mellow and snuggly, all day.  I sure did enjoy that few hours of time to myself though!

Noah gets obsessed with one book at a time, and we read it over and over and over again until he has memorized it and can read it himself.  Smash! Crash! is his absolute favorite book, with Over in the Meadow, Jake and the Pirates, Cookies Week, Old Hat New Hat, Five Little Monkeys, and Dinosaur Roar! close behind.  I wish this video had sound, but my iphone 5 is starting to act it's age!

Noah has some of the best manners in our house.  He always remembers to say "please" and "thank you" and asks permission before he does anything.  "Can I play puzzles?"  "Can I do stampings?"  "Can I paint?"  He is the sweetest little sugar who just makes my heart melt many times each day.

Spring Finally Sprung

I really and truly did not think the winter was ever going to end this year.  It just stayed cold and gray and miserable for so long!  We had a random nice day here and there, but it has just been in the last week that I've stopped wearing my favorite slippers and sweater around the house.  Now we're enjoying wide open windows, bike rides, and sunny days!

The trees are blossoming (the pear tree I worried over so much last year looks like it's going to make it!), the day lilies have sprung right up and we've been spending as much time outside as possible.

We finally filled our sandbox up!  Every child needs access to a sandbox for endless digging, building, and smashing.  

 Everyone loves it!  Including Adam, even though his squinting in the sunlight would suggest otherwise. 

 We went on our first bike ride of the season.  We told Noah to look up!  

Which he did, technically. 

Miss Emma has decided that she's going to be a big girl bike rider this year.  

Me and my two daytime buddies had a great time at the park collecting flowers, sticks, nests, berries and rocks.

We are all so glad that spring is finally here!  Now we're just seven weeks away from summer vacation!

Gwamma!

We had a highly anticipated visitor here in April- Grandma came to visit us for nearly a week!  The weather was horrible while she was here, but we more than made up for it with tons of fun inside.  We ate our way through Iowa!  We went shopping several times (with and without the kids), 

  went to the movies, Jason and I had a date night, we painted nails, 

 and we had a very fancy tea party with fairy princess girls and superhero cop dudes.

 

One of the most exciting things that happened while Grandma was here was the arrival of another fairy in our home!  Leah found her fairy Elfie Crystal Shimmer back in 2011, and Emma found her fairy Sapphire Sparkle Moonbeam (Saffy for short) this week!  

She is beautiful and Emma has had a delightful time corresponding with her.  

The best part of the week for me was remembering how fun it is to take a break from life, even at home!  I didn't have to cook or clean much, and it was so fun to have a shopping/eating/staying up late and chatting partner in crime here for a few days.  We're not sure when we'll see Gwamma again, but we sure did love having her here with us, and are already looking forward to our next visit!

April Fools!

So many holidays... it seems like we've been looking forward to celebrating one day of fun or another since Halloween.  April Fool's Day is one holiday I don't generally put much effort into, but drawing on my kids while they are sleeping never gets old.

 Leah immediately wiped her kitten whiskers off, adamant that she would be mortified if she went to third grade with scribbles on her face (probably true). She did, however, take it upon herself to try out a few pranks this year- snipping holes in Jason's toothpaste tube and taping a flosser down to the bathroom counter then giggling when Adam tried unsuccessfully to pick it up.  April 1st was on a Friday this year, and as the long day (and long week) neared it's end she informed me that there hadn't been enough pranking and that she wasn't too happy about it.

To which I responded that my holiday efforts had been exhausted for the year and if she had a problem with it she could take it up with her father (classic tired mom response, I suppose).

Thank goodness there's another 7 months until the next Halloween.

This magic making mama is pooped!

Easter

I love how traditions take the guesswork out of holidays.  Easter is one of our most tradition-bound holidays, with little room for variation.  We love what we do, and we did it all again this year. 

The Easter egg hunt and breakfast in coats on a cloudy morning with friends and neighbors- 

 Dying more eggs than we can possibly eat- 

 Some cute- 

 Some not so cute- 

Waking up with excitement to look for hidden baskets- 

 Bunny ears are a must- 

 Someone always gets a helmet... 

Resurrection rolls for breakfast (this year shared with the sister missionaries) 

and friends gathered for dinner- 

Pictures of my cuties- 

 (how do they keep getting bigger and bigger?)

and most of all, rejoicing in the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  

Hallelujah!