1...2..3

Yep, that's right this little stinker went and turned 3 on us. No one asked me if he could 3 already. I'd like to just keep him small. He's my little cuddler. :)

Soaking up the rays at the beach

A day old


1 year pictures

2 year pictures

My little stud

Happy Birthday Mr. T!! We love you!!

Silver Beach

Today we decided to head to the beach. Last year we took the kids to Silver Beach up in Michigan and they seemed to really enjoyed it. I didn't enjoy the bringing home most of the sand with us but the kids had fun and that's what counts.

She had to bring her camera along to capture everything. Here she is checking out the pictures she took.

Here is one cool dude ready for the beach with his shades.

When we first got there it was a little chilly, so we walked along the beach with their clothes. The swimsuits soon came out as the water babies couldn't resist the lake.

This little man didn't make it very far from the beach. We stopped in town at a local ice cream place and he was out. Gretchen was very concerned about him not getting any ice cream, but we saved some just for him. It was a great day!

Kite Flying

This past Easter the Easter Bunny brought the kids kites. They have always enjoyed watching daddy fly his kite so the Easter Bunny thought the kids were ready for their own. Last month one windy Sunday we took the kids to the school where there was plenty of wide open space to try them out.

Toy Story for Mr. T

Princesses, of course, for Miss G

Miss G was really getting the hang-of it and enjoyed it. However, the swing set eventually called her name.

Mr. T liked the sitting down approach better. :)

Rolling, Rolling

Every year in early spring Ray rents a roller. He then spends the entire weekend rolling people's yards. This makes for a long weekend for mom and the kids. However, this year mom and the kids got in a dilly-bar date on Saturday. It was the first dilly-bar for each of them and they were a success. The kids always love it when the roller returns to our house for our yard. This means roller rides for them. :)

Trevor was very curious about everything. He also wanted to make sure no one hit his swing set.

Happy to be steering. Watch out!!

A little too loud for these little ears.


Miss G is taking over the steering wheel.

Happy to be with daddy.

Happy Birthday

Today is Ray's birthday. 28th to be exact. I keep telling him he's one year closer to 30. :)

We love you very much daddy!

The horrible, yucky, no good flu

Yep, that's right the horrible, yucky, no good flu has hit our home. Gretchen brought it home about 2 weeks ago. She complained mostly of a sore throat and headaches. I started with it last Thursday. First it was the horrible sore throat. Then by Sunday afternoon it was a headache and then fever. Yesterday morning it was the runny nose and today it's sneezing and watery eyes. And of course, Mr. T started with the fever last night and cough throughout the night. I must say how absolutely lovely it is to be up for an hour in the middle of the night with a little boy who is completely out of it due to being tired but having a cough that won't allow him to sleep. Fortunately, we have been able to keep it away from Ray. I think that has to do with him not being home much. Work is starting to pick up and he has to do inventory soon. Throughout this whole ordeal there are a few things I have learned. Let me share a few with you.

• Puffs is not softer than Kleenex; don't let them fool you. They haven't fooled my nose. Never again will I buy you.
• Hot chocolate is fabulous at any time of day; water or milk, it doesn't matter to me. Just as long as it's warm, it's good.
• Curious George is a good quality show that I think I could watch all day with the kids. For that matter, PBS is fantastic.
• A VCR is highly underrated. The kids are able to put the videos in without me having to worry about them scratching the daylights out of a DVD.
• My kids amaze me. They may feel the yuckiest but are still able to put a big ole' happy face on their smile. Colored paper, crayons and different shaped cut-outs can keep them entertained for hours.

Play-dough... I have a love-hate relationship with you. I love how you can entertain my children for hours. How in the world can you stick so to my carpet and my kids clothes' after being appreciated by those little hands?

• It's okay for your 5 year old to be walking around the house with disinfecting wipes wiping every thing they see. You can never be too clean.
• I'm done with this snow. Winter I've had enough of you, time to say your goodbye and leave. See ya next year.
• Theraflu, you and I will never be friends. You taste yucky no matter how many times I take you, you make me gage; yet you help me sleep wonderful at night.
• Just because you give your 2 year old honey and lemon to help with his cough, it doesn't give you a right to have it too. Yes, it may taste delicious but it doesn't help. Your 5 year old may look at you funny while eating it too.

Great conversations

Peanut and cracker jack never cease to amaze me with what comes out of their mouths. I've had quite a few great conversations with them lately.

Sunday we were at church downstairs playing in the toddler room. Mr. T was building with blocks.

Me: "Trevor, what are you making?"
T: "A birthday cake."

Me: "Who's birthday cake?"

T: "Mine."

Me: "Honey, your birthday isn't until this summer. I'm not sure it will last that long. Carrie's birthday is coming up soon."

T: "It's my birthday cake but I'll share it with Uncle Carrie and Uncle John."

Me: "You mean Aunt Carrie not uncle."

T: "You know what I mean." :)

On Sundays we go to my parents' for lunch. We were leaving their house and Gretchen was wondering about Nala.

G: "Where's Nala? I didn't see him when we left."

Me: "He probably went into the barn to stay warm."

G: "No, mom. I think dad ran over him and he's hanging on under our car."

At this point, I'm very glad I'm not the one driving. Ray and I laugh quite a bit.

Me: "Gretchen, are you sure he's under there?"

G: "Oh yeah, he's coming home with us."

We get down to the stop sign at the end of the road.

G: "Oh, there I think he jumped off and is going home. He's going back to grandma's house."

I'm happy to report Nala is safe and sound at grandma's.

Tonight as I was getting the kids out of the bathtub and dressed, Mr. T announced that he needed to make a stinky. I jump at the chance to get him out of the tub and onto the potty. He screams, hollers and throw his fit while sitting on the potty. As sure as can be that I will drop him into the potty. I finally get him calmed down and dressed with a diaper on. I then proceed to go potty.

T: "See mom you have big buns so you can sit on the potty. I have small buns, I fall in."

Thanks Trevor.

I just love the stuff they come up with. :)