Craziness

Spring Break is finally here!!  Hallelujah.  It has been a hectic, crazy few weeks.  It was some of those gotta-get through-the-day-and-then-again-tomorrow kind of days.  I don't really like living life like that, but sometimes you have to.  Between sick kids (stomach bug, croup, bronchiolitis, pink eye), Stephen traveling so much, CRCT preparation, busy weekends, high pollen counts, and a whopping car accident on top of everything...  yes, folks, a break is needed.

We started our break off with a fun, busy Saturday!  Our babysitter came over early to watch the kids while Stephen and I went for a run.  We went to Stephen's work for their Easter Egg Hunt.  The kids got to see the Easter Bunny, get some eggs, eat lunch, do some crafts.  We had a great time until two little ones started to get sleepy... and cranky.

So, home we went.  Taylor and Parker (and Stephen!) went to bed and Sydney and I went to the Grand Opening of our friend's photography studio.  It was fun- she even took some pictures of me and Sydney together.

Then, we played outside and had our neighbors over for dinner.  We ordered sushi, played, and hung out.  Then, I talked on the phone with a good friend for about an hour.  I. was. tired.  But, it was a GREAT day, and I hope to have 7 more just like it.  Today involves church, an outreach event, a BBQ, and then packing.

Here are some pics from yesterday, and also some random pictures from the last couple of weeks.

Taylor talked a big game ahead of time, but wouldn't even get near the big fluffy bunny.  Parker was not into it, either... if you can't tell.

1 out of 3 ain't bad, is it?

Parker's first Easter Egg hunt!

Decorating cookies.

Now, for more random pics:

Guess who cut their hair?  there was way more than this, too.  Luckily, she picked the underneath sections of hair to cut, so it's not so obvious.  Arrgh.  I swear, it's a good thing she's really sweet!

Sydney got her latest report card last week!  I'm very proud of her!

this is how I found Taylor, asleep in my bed.  Dress shoes and a maraca, of course.

Home with a sick Taylor.  Luckily she felt better, so we had a day at home together to play!

18 months!

Parker is 18 months old!!

Accomplishments this month include:

• Parker has entered the new world of hitting!  He has been hitting his little friends at school.  His teachers have had to put him in time out!  We've now taught him so that if he starts to hit, and we say, "No hit!", he will stop and give you a hug instead. 
• He has also bitten a kid in his class.  Arrgh.  Let's hope this habit doesn't stick!
• He can point to his nose, eyes, belly, and occasionally his ears.
• I think Parker is going to be into sports.  He loves to throw balls, hold balls, and he has what appears to be a natural athletic ability (ok... for a toddler!) - quick reflexes, he can one-handedly catch balls, roll them good, etc.
• He's doing a lot of consistent talking this month!  Words he says regularly are: "uh-oh", "mama", "dada", "nana" (banana), "ni-ni" (night night), "bubble", "ba" (ball), "all done", "thank you", "yes", "nono" (no), "kitty", "doggy", "did" (good), "ow", "ew", "oh!".
• Parker has had a SICK month.  Poor baby.  He had croup, a mini-stomach bug, pink-eye, and bronchiolitis.  He's been on steroids, antibiotics, medicated eye drops, and breathing treatments.
• One of his teachers called him the "biggest flirt" at daycare.  Uh oh.  
• He has gotten tall enough to climb up on the chair in his room.  The problem is he won't sit in it for long.  He always wants to stand up.  
• Parker has gotten to play on the trampoline at Raegan's house a couple of times this month.  He loves it!

Big baller.

Earning his keep.

He got sick in his car seat on the way to daycare one day, so I dropped the girls off and had to put him in Taylor's forward-facing seat.  He didn't know what to think!

What is it with boys and dirt?  He loves it!

He doesn't like to just sit in chairs... he always has to stand.  

Reading books at the doctor.

Such a tease!

This weather has been teasing us lately!  It'll be PERFECT some days- sunny and mid-70s.  Then, for a week, it'll be back in the 30s in the morning, 50s in the afternoon.  It's been bad for two reasons.  First, it's just a mean tease.  Second, my allergies, that I never knew I had, have been bothering me for weeks.  Sore throat, runny nose, TIRED beyond anything.  Arrgh.

But, I try to stay positive and think... it has to get warm soon, right?  Come on, it's almost April!

Here are some fun pics of us enjoying time outside.

Parker loved (!!!) the trampoline.

There's something about boys and cars!

We got our house painted!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

The girls (and Parker) were decked out in their green.  Sydney had a special party at school, and her teacher texted me some pictures from that.  It was a good day!

Sydney's class.

Parker was too busy eating to smile!

Silly girls, wearing Parker's PJs.

Adventures with Kit-Cat

Sydney's teacher has a doll named Kit-Cat that gets to go home with a different student every weekend.  Sydney was the chosen one this past weekend!  Not only was Sydney responsible for taking care of and entertaining Kit-Cat, but we had to document the weekend in pictures.  We made pages that went into a big picture album of all of Kit-Cat's adventures with former students.

So, I thought I'd write a post about Kit-Cat's weekend in our household! (PS- She was SO EXCITED (!!) to get to take Kit-Cat home.)

Chick-fil-a Friday night!

Sleepover.

Swim lessons Saturday morning.

Church on Sunday!

Silly girls.  I don't know how they fit in there!

Beautiful day to play outside on Sunday!

Don't try this at home, kids.  Buckle up before swinging!

These are the pages we made for Sydney's section of the book!

Lately

Whew, we've been busy lately!  Stephen is traveling a ton, the girls have started swimming lessons, we have plans every weekend, we started our Sunday School group, work's been busy, and I am just plain exhausted at the end of the day!  I have a little bit of energy tonight, so I've been getting things accomplished... like, uploading pictures from my phone.  Here are some fun ones from the last week or so!

We've had some nice, warm days lately.  Here we're taking a stroll at the park.

Parker got around with his wagon-riding partners.  Here he is with Collin.

Then Taylor.

Then McNair!

Sleepover with Sydney and Raegan.

Enjoying a warm day on the patio.

Swim lessons.

My sweet girls!