Pretty Pouty Pink

Oh how I have waited for a girl...

Haley's first pedicure, complete with Pouty Pink nail polish :)

Crazy About Camping

It has rained here for the last two days, non-stop rain, that makes time for lots of imaginative play. The boys decided that they would set up a camping trip in the hallway. All their favorite animals or dolls came along for the trip and they played together, no fighting, wonderful sibling play! I have been dreaming of this day!

Tyler's campsite. (Eyes are closed for pretend sleeping.)

Haley's first camping trip.

Jacob even turned on the nightlight for effect!

An Artist Is Born

Haley's newest adventure has been discovering markers. I know that the boys' never, ever had markers till at least 3 years old (they have an overprotective mother.) But, this big girl just 2 months shy of 2 years old wants whatever her big brothers have and right now, that is markers.

With precision and "washable" markers in hand, Haley creates a masterpiece on a piece of Post-It notes.

Half the fun of playing with markers is trying to get the caps back on. The intense concentration of this task also requires her tongue to come poking out her mouth. :p

Finally Friday

It is a beautiful, beautiful Friday! Sunny, 70 degrees, and daddy comes home tonight! The boys have been off of school on Spring Break this week so we have tried to keep busy. Anyways, we made the most of the day and spent the morning at the zoo. Here are a couple moments....

My three angels.

We took a ride on the carousel, Haley's first. The boys loved it!

Jacob, no teeth, was so excited.

Tyler wants to be a cowboy.

Haley didn't think this thing would actually move! This would be her "I'm not so sure of this spinning 'round and up and down thing" facial expression.

Ok, weeee! I LOVE it! "Ride, ride, ride," were the chants heard all around the carousel as the ride ended and I had to pry her hands off the pole. I believe we will be riding this alot this summer :)

Chip Dippin'

I introduced Haley into the wonderful world of sour cream this evening. Mmmm.

There is just something about the taste of Frito's dipped in sour cream. Haley had to try it.

Funny thing, she never once ate the chip. She just kept scooping that sour cream straight into her mouth, at least for the most part.

Ooohhh yeah, that is good stuff. I call it dinner in my house. ;)

Barrette Bandits Strike Again!

The boys are off this week for spring break and seem to already be bored 3 days into vacation. I was, once again, trying to finish getting ready when I asked the boys to go "entertain" their sister in her crib till I could get there. Here is what I came upon...

I witnessed Haley standing perfectly still while the boys put "pretties" in her hair. She is not one to be shy about looking good!

Even the back was done with care.

Jacob found one more barrette to add to the bunch.

She doesn't get any cuter than this!!!!

Hoppy Easter

A belated Happy Easter to everyone! We had a wonderful Easter day. It started with Haley up at 5am and the boys to follow her lead with rising before the sun could. All our celebration hoop-la Easter egg hunt was over before 6:15am and that also means that eating candy began pretty early as well! We had gone to church the evening before so we had all morning to try out these new, cool, big-kid, bigger than my kids bikes! The boys' bday is in October so come spring we are always finding that they are in need of something for summer so the Easter bunny hops over bringing big presents to the boys.

Jacob (red) and Tyler (yellow) are so very excited about their new bikes! The size of these bikes are a constant reminder to me on how big my boys are and how fast they are growing up. I still remember them riding their Harley Davidson Big Wheels, now Haley will be riding those this summer. Ahhhh a nostalgic moment. :)

So we made the kids dress up in their Sunday Easter best and here is their cutie pics! Jacob is in red and also missing his two front teeth. Tyler is in blue and missing his bottom two teeth. Haley is just putting up with them. ;)

Don't you love their shirts all tucked in!!!! Handsome, aren't they!

Oh yeah, the Easter bonnet has come out!

I have waited a long, long time to have a girl. Pink, pretty dresses, and Easter bonnets.....that's what little girl's are made of.

This pretty princess has also stolen the heart of her daddy :)

Our afternoon was spent with family and of course, baby Isabella.

Haley just loves playing "mommy" to baby Izzy. Her she is gently shoving Izzy's nuk in her mouth whether she wants it or not! These two girls are going to be best friends, I know it.

Is it not so adorable that they have the same dress on! Not planned by my sister or I, just pure coincidence! Too cute!

It was such a looonnngg day but definitely full of fun. All kids were asleep and snoring by 7:30pm.
Brian and I also have been teaching the boys the true meaning of Easter using Bible stories and the Resurrection Eggs. The boys' really, truly get it! They have a child-like faith of God and Jesus. It is so special to hear them talk about Jesus' gift to us was dying on the cross and that someday we will be in heaven with Him.
Thank you God for a wonderful day full of celebration with family and celebrating Jesus has risen from the grave.

Egg-celent Morning

The alarm clock went off at 6am. Ugh. "This is for the kids, this is for the kids, this will make the kids so happy" - this is what we said to ourselves as we dragged our tired bodies out of bed on a Saturday morning. With all the kids up and dressed we told them we had a surprise for them and headed out the door before 7:30. As we pulled into the grocery store they complained, then we told them....an Easter Egg Hunt in the grocery store!! Can you hear the excited screaming!!!

This was Haley's first egg hunt. She wasn't too sure why she was finding chocolate eggs mixed in with the cat food, but she went with it!

She came home with a bag full of candy that we don't need.

Now Tyler is a pro at egg finding. The boy's age group was in the baking aisle and they checked everywhere very carefully and didn't even break anything!

Look behind the flour boys!

Jacob is showing off his loot.

What a great family picture then in front of the cake mixes and cans of frosting!

The morning was filled with lots of fun and smiles, that is until the Easter Rabbit tried to come down by Haley. She clinged onto Daddy for dear life, then with a smile said "Bye-Bye." He is pretty cool, only from a distance. :)

Fond du Lac Fun

We have had an eventful week here, or should I say that the kids have had a week full of excitement and lots of love from Grandma and Grandpa. Either my mom or dad has been here everyday this week to help out with the kids. The kids have certainly been entertained and having lots and lots of fun with G & G.

While daddy took the boys to swimming lessons, Grandpa Andy and Haley had some baby playing time together. She loves to play "night, night" and Grandpa found every baby and lovey in the toy room for her to snuggle. (Also, notice the lack of pants on this child!)

Yesterday we went and visited G & G at their place. The boys were very excited about their Easter surprise pogo sticks. After much practicing, falling, falling, and jumping they figured it out and now are non-stop pogo-sticking champs!

Tyler loves his picture of him mid-air and staying on for over 10 jumps!

Growing up my mom had a pogo stick, the really study metal real deal pogo stick. When I was old enough I would use her pogo stick at my grandma's house. I remember bouncing on it in the driveway, all the time, singing songs, and having fun. There is something addicting about the pogo stick, it's that or it the competitive drive to perfect it. As Jacob is here, in full concentration, working on his skillz!

While the boys practiced on their pogo sticks, Haley enjoyed her time on the swing. She has been perfecting her facial expressions lately.

Her famous silly face :)

And the clutch cheese smile!

Surgery Survival

It seems like forever since I last blogged. Well, as many of you know, I had my gall bladder surgery last Thursday. I am still recovering and still having pain, but I have a wonderful mom and dad who have given up their own lives last week and this week to help take care of us. I also have a wonderful group of woman from our church who have most generously taken their time to make our family meals. What a great relief this has been for me to not worry about the details. Since I have been upstairs, asleep and unconscious for the past few days, here are some of the pictures I found on the camera.....

The boys decorated "Get Well Soon" chocolate chip cookie cakes for me! I still haven't had any to eat, but they sure do love them!

Haley and her chairs seem to have bonded together over the past few days.

Also, her clothing became optional as the week went on. Daddy did his best! :)

Seriously daddy, I just want to read a book to my baby, in my chair, with only a onesie on. Got a problem with it?

Apparently the baby stroller was a big hit too!

My mom read books with all three kids one night. All my kids just love, love, love having books read to them.

Daddy gives out powdered sugar donuts anytime he wants! Daddy your the coolest!

So, you must have been wondering what the boys were doing this whole time? Well, Brian rented them some new Wii games and this is what happened Brian is thanking Mario Kart for all the quiet time it bought him!