"He's Mad" (Again!!)

The other day Brady was drawing on his MagnaDoodle like he always does. When he was done drawing, he showed it to me and said, "He's mad!" He just likes to draw "mad" guys I guess! :) He is getting so much detail into his drawings. If you look at his drawing below, you will see that his "mad" guy has eyebrows!!

Anabelle's Trophy

Over a month ago, Anabelle made a lego "trophy," and wanted us to display it above the fireplace. It's pretty funny how it's been up for so long! Time just goes by so fast, and we just don't sweat the small stuff!

Happy Birthday to our ALLYBUG!!

I can't believe that you turned 10 years old today. It seems like just yesterday that I was visiting you in the hospital. I still remember the day...it was a really nice day...about 78 degrees, sunny, and VERY VERY windy. I remember walking into the hospital holding the balloons and gift bag, and the balloons were just blowing in that wind. I could barely keep them under control! We couldn't wait for your arrival...and here we are 10 years later!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!!

We love you!

Aunt Kelli, Uncle Jason, Anabelle and Brady

...and don't worry we didn't forget to get you something!

Happy Easter!

Our little "bunnies" would like to wish everyone a Happy Easter!!

Being a Mom

Before I was a Mom, I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom - I had never been puked on.

Pooped on.

Chewed on.

Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.

I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom - I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.

Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom - I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.

I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom -I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

MY BABIES...the ones who made me such a proud mommy!!

Easter Scramble

Tonight, after having my parent/teacher conference and picking up the kids, we headed off to the Easter Scramble. It is crazy chaos, but this year seemed to flow better than in years past. Upon our arrival, we waited in line for the kids to see the Easter Bunny...for the fourth time this year! :) After waiting in line for about 15 minutes, it was announced that the 0-3 year olds were going to have their "scramble". I quickly had a "green sash girl" hold my spot in line while the kids and I ventured over to the other side of the gym. (great idea this year for the "green sash girls" by the way!!) After the kids heard "Go", it was a mad dash after the Easter eggs that were scattered all over the gym! It was chaos! Kids and parents were everywhere!

See my video clip:

After the kids were done, we made our way back to our spot in line. The kids did much better at collecting eggs this time than they did at the Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday as you can see from their Easter baskets. They did another fine job of smiling for their picture with the Easter Bunny! Last year, at this same event, Brady wanted NOTHING to do with the Easter Bunny...don't even have a picture of him with the Easter Bunny, and Anabelle's picture was of her crying into her Easter basket. Each year it just gets so much easier...and this year I didn't need a stroller. But, there was a trade off...with my son being newly potty trained, I just prayed to god that during this whole 20 minute excursion that I wouldn't hear the words, "Mommy, I have to go potty." He waited until we got back to Krissy's house. Good job Brady!

Brady is Easter Bunnied OUT!!

Anabelle is still on a sugar high I'm sure! :)

Easter Bunny & Easter Egg Hunt

Last weekend, Stacy and I took the kids out for breakfast to see the Easter Bunny, and yesterday, we took the kids to see the Easter Bunny and went to the Easter Egg Hunt in town. It was a really fun time! The kids had a ball! Brady cried while sitting on Easter Bunny's lap last weekend, but yesterday, he was fine! Anabelle was smiling both times! During the Easter Egg Hunt, Brady only got two eggs, and Anabelle picked up five....maybe they will have better luck at the one next weekend! :)

Here are the Pics:

Peanut wasn't so happy to see the Easter Bunny last weekend or yesterday! :)

Anabelle was all smiles last weekend!

Brady was sticking with Peanut...he wasn't too happy last weekend either!

This weekend was much better!

I just had to take this picure. They crack me up when they stand next to each other. It just shows how big Brady is and it explains how I came up with the nickname "Peanut." What cuties!!

Anabelle gathering her eggs in the Preschool-Kindergarten division...

Brady gathering his eggs in the "little ones" divison...although he is not so "little" :)

Anabelle showing off her 5 eggs!

Brady showing off his whole 2 eggs! Maybe better luck next time! :)

After the egg hunt, they went to see the Easter Bunny!

They were BOTH happy to see him!

Anabelle gave the Easter Bunny a high five!

Brady asked for a hug.....awwwww! He is such a little cuddler!

There will be more Easter Bunny/Hunt adventures this coming week! What fun! This was just their "practice run".....

What A Guy!

Last night, I was not feeling so well. I cooked dinner, fed the kids, and I was done! When Jason got home, I layed down on the couch and slept for most of the night. I woke up in the middle of the night to find that Jason was one busy little daddy after I fell into a deep needed sleep after trying to stay up to see who was voted off of American Idol.

He cleaned up after dinner time, washed the dishes, dried them AND put them away, did laundry AND folded some, gave the kids a bath, did Anabelle's hair (this is an involved process that includes brushing, blow drying, brushing again, and putting it up in a ponytail), cleaned up the TORNADO of toys in the living room (before dinner time Brady decided to dump everything out of the toy box in hopes of finding his duck call), put the kids to bed, and then took a shower. I don't think the poor guy even got to eat dinner! When he was done showering, he gave me a kiss as I was still sleeping on the couch to let me know he was going to bed. It was almost 11 o'clock! I need to be sick more often! :) j/k

To top it all off, he had a ROOT CANAL done at noon yesterday! That sure didn't stop him. What a guy! Thanks babe!!

10 Signs That Spring Is FINALLY Here!!

Spring has FINALLY sprung after a very long, cold, and snowy winter!!

10 signs that spring is finally here (that I observed today):

1) Having my peanut butter granola bar melt after sitting in my lunch bag on Jill's dashboard while we were shopping at Kohl's on our lunch hour
2) Going to the gym and seeing a lot of open treadmills
3) The gym having some windows open
4) Hearing a loud motorcycle blare by as I was working out on the treadmill
5) Seeing a group of about 10 kids playing basketball and grilling out on our way home
6) Watching a robin land in the backyard
7) Jason pulling the Jeep out of "storage" (YEH!)
8) Staying lighter out longer
9) My 3 year old telling me that she doesn't need a coat on because it's too hot
10) My car reading the outside temperature in the 60's (haven't seen that in a long time!!)

A little trivia - When I was watching the news tonight, I saw that it was 73 degrees here one year ago today.

Kids Eating Dinner

Tonight, as the kids were eating dinner Brady took some of Anabelle's dinner and ate it. Anabelle said, "Mommy, Brady took my dinner." Then she asked Brady, "Why did you take it?" Brady said, "I didn't take it. I ate it." I just laughed. It's so funny listening to them talk to each other. They just crack me up!

"Mommy, Look...a P"

The other night as we were in the kitchen, Anabelle said, "Mommy, look...a P."

Whenever my kids say or do something new, I always wonder when or where did they learn that?? They never cease to amaze me!

Here is her "P" that she made:

"Mommy, Do You Know How Much I Love You?"

About a month or two ago, Anabelle started asking me, "Mommy, do you know how much I love you?" Then, she would hold out her hands and give me a "10". Then she will say, "Mommy, do you know how much I love your feelings?" Then, she stretches her arms out really wide.

Brady has now picked up on this from Anabelle, and now he says, "Mommy, do you know how much?" and then, he will give me a "10" too!

They just melt my heart!

Anabelle's 80's Pony Tail

As I sit here to write this blog, Brady says, "Catch Mommy" and throws a coaster at me....NICE! :)

Any who...after Jason made Brady's crib into a toddler bed, he brushed and blow dried Anabelle's hair after bath time. He gave her the cutest "80's pony" and did a pretty good job!!

On another funny note...Anabelle told me tonight that in the summer time she wants her hair cut just a little tiny bit.

Here is a picture....

The Front of the Crib is Coming Off!

This past week has just been a "big boy" week for Brady. First with potty training, which is coming along great! Now, Jason is currently taking the front of Brady's crib off to make it into a toddler bed. Jason just found one of Brady's binkies behind the bed, and Brady threw it in the garbage. He was done with that awhile ago...thank goodneess! I thought we would never get rid of that thing! My baby is just growing up so fast!

Here is a picture from last night's poopy time, which ended in success! :)