It's Beginning to Look a lot like EASTER!

Okay. Adorable.

Happy Easter Morning!!

I had to include this one because it makes me laugh so hard. Evan's is clearly intentional, but I'm 99% sure that Jimmie and Lorelei's "duck face" is completely accidental. And yet, we've captured all 3 kids doing "duck face" at once. 

I really just had to include this because...Lorelei.  I can't handle how cute she is.

Finding eggs with Grandpa!

Found an eggy!

Checking out the gifts from the Easter Bunny!

Lorelei loving it all!

Modeling her new little sun hat!

Who IS this big grown up girl!! All dressed up in her Easter dress.

I can never get this one to sit still...

Just playing some Sunday morning music!

Mommy & Lorelei on Easter morning before church

  

Mommy & Jimmie Easter morning!

Jimmie & Lorelei... There's just not much sweeter in the world.

March Madness

A very happy 12th birthday to this kiddo.  At the end of February and beginning of March our household went thorough a REAL rough bout of sickness.  Everyone got it to some extent. Mom & Dad were basically bedridden for a week. Evan's birthday happened to fall right at the end of that so, despite the crazy sickness all around, I threw together this cake. Definitely a little makeshift, but fun and whimsical like this brother of mine. 

 

March was a month FULL of transitions for Jimmie. We said goodbye to his Wubbanub, which is his binky. We talked about how he was a big boy now and that binks are for babies.  We decided the best way to say goodbye would be to pack him up and send him to some babies that could use a binky. We wrote a little note, Jimmie drew a picture, and we packed him up in a box and put it in the mail. (I later went out and got it from the mailbox because I didn't ACTUALLY want to send it away since I'd like to keep it as a memory. Jimmie is obsessed with the mail truck and it was fun for him to know that binky got to go for a ride on the mail truck.

Jimmie has been sleeping in his toddler bed (which was his crib on the lowest setting & the side removed). In March, he transitioned from this bed to a full size bed that was already in his room. It took a little bit, but it didn't take TOO long for him to catch on and love his new bed. 

We've also started a new bedtime routine which he's become very dependent on.  He's found his love for reading and wants to read about 7 books as well as scriptures each night. It's adorable to watch him grow and know exactly what's going on and what's supposed to be happening. He's the first to remind me if we forget to pray and bless the food or if we forget anything, really.  

Jimmie loves this tricycle.  He goes all around on it.  He doesn't pedal, he walks around pushing off the ground. He calls it his motorcycle. Ha! And I love that it keeps him occupied and exploring ;)

Side note: Have I mentioned how much I love these NJ trees??

Evan has REALLY been wanting to raise some chickens around here.  He was lucky enough to get a Chicken Coop for his birthday. We'll be getting chickens sometime this next month!

February Fun: Fitness, Freezing Rain, Forts, Fevers & Fashion!

In February we...

...finished up our 8 week fitness challenge! 

This is the second time our family has done this, but the first time I was pregnant so I couldn't participate as fully since I had my own restrictions.

It was awesome. Very attainable, though challenging at time, but perfect for someone like me who is not a fitness expert and has a busy schedule. Of course, the monetary incentive didn't hurt ;)

In the end, I was proud of the results. I ended up losing 15 lbs and winning the weight loss portion of our competition.

(Pictured- Left: "Nice"cream- NO artificial sugars! All this is is frozen strawberries, frozen bananas, milk, cocoa powder, and a little bit of vanilla. 

Right-Substituting is fun but EXTRA nice when you can substitute for P.E. teacher and get your exercise in when you work.)

...played outside in ALL kinds of weather!

These kids are rough and tumble... particularly the girl in the purple jacket.

Rain or shine, freezing or sweltering, these kids just want to play outside.

And Jimmie loves to ride his "motorcycle"

Thankfully, they have an awesome Grandma who is nice enough to brave the crumby weather with them! 

...built some awesome blanket forts!

 Because playing in the rain is fun, but sometimes you just need to have some fun, inside time together when it's cold outside.

...dabbled in fashion & managed some fevers

Poor Lorelei had a REAL rough Sunday one week enough that we went home after Sacrament meeting. I'd never heard her scream like that before. She wasn't feeling well, which seems to be becoming more of the norm around here recently. BUT SHE LOOKED DANG CUTE. 

When she woke up from her nap, she was excited to go explore outside.

I'm a little biased since I gave her dress for her first birthday, but I think she rocks it.

It's from Target. 

Loving the swings like always!

Having a girl is fun because you can do all of the accessories and the different styles of clothes available. Jim's mom pointed out this no-sew headband that she saw on Facebook. I thought I'd give it a try using an old tank top that I was getting rid of.  Literally 2 minutes to make. Adorable, yes?

And a few more cute ones for the road... :)

My 1 Year Old Girl with her Best Friend!

Since Lorelei's birthday party was a few days before her ACTUAL birthday, I wanted to make sure to get a few shots on the actual day. Here are a few fun shots of these two kids. By far my favorite thing about being a mom is seeing the love that these two kids have for each other. 

Lorelei wasn't really into the camera I let Jimmie warm it up for her.... :)

Trying to talk her into it...

After spilling water all over herself, she thought she might give it a shot.

I thought this was a funny mid-run shot

They were "flying their rocket ships"

She's not too sure about how much he loves her... :)

Happy Birthday, miss Lorelei Elizabeth!! We love you so much.