Mother's Day 2012

 I really do LOVE being a mom...not much makes me happier.  With their sweet personalities and my wonderful supportive husband, I feel very very blessed.  I had a great Mother's Day, beginning with breakfast in bed, gifts, and flowers Hannah picked out of our yard :)  Hannah and Seth came in with the food singing a Mother's Day song Hannah made up, and then proceeded to eat all of my breakfast for me, ha!  After church, we went and took pics of the kids.  It was the best gift Nate, Hannah, and Seth could give me...patience from Nate to take a million pics and hope a few turn out, and smiles from the kids! 

3 Year Old Ballerina

 Our sweet Hannah Joy is 3!!!  This girl LOVES her birthday! She had been looking forward to her birthday for quite awhile, always saying she would do this or that or wanted something "after I'm 3!"  She had very specific ideas about her party...what gifts she wanted to give her cousins, where to take pictures, what to wear, the theme, what to eat, etc...!  Maybe she will be a party planner someday!  I know she had a ton of fun at her ballerina party!

Tutu cake

"Hannah is 3" cookies (My Mom makes these for her birthday each year)

 Hannah with her new fish Finsey

 Family...

Emery and Hannah were singing Happy Birthday to each other

Family pic with the birthday girl

Blowing out the candles

Holding up her 3 fingers

 Opening presents and giving thank you hugs after each gift opened!

 All the cousins (minus baby Silas)...they have a blast together! All the girls have tutus on!

Emery helping Hannah ride her new bike from Papa Jack and Maggie

Ballerina moves

Driving the jeep with Seth

 The night ended so sweetly with Hannah and her favorite people...grandparents.  Papa Jack recapped the moments in these pics in this way...3^rd birthday; getting a picture with grandparents on couch; Hannah, filled with joy, turns and hugs Rick, “I love you PaPa.”  Then sees Marla, “I love you Grandma.”  Then sees Leslie, “Oh, I love you Maggie.”  And with out preconceived plan, seems to suddenly see me, “Oh, I love you PapaJack.”  All as spontaneous as only a 3 year old can.  Then she realizes and points to each of us in turn, 1, 2, 3, 4 and does it again, 1, 2, 3, 4, confirming that we are the four that she loves and we are all there with her and she is filled with joy. 

 We love our sweetheart so so much.  She really does bring so much joy into our lives.  Happy Birthday Hannah Joy! You are a special little girl.

Easter 2012

 I know I'm way late on the Easter pics, but better late than never!  We spent time with both sides of the family and had a great time as always.  We did get to spend Easter morning at our house and go to our church Commonway!  They looked so cute in their Easter outfits!

 I got a book called "My Easter Basket" and basically it uses the gifts and their colors to tell the Easter story.  (ex: green gift represents Palm Sunday,  purple gift represents Last Supper).  We are planning on using this book and the idea behind it each year!

 On Saturday before Easter, we went and spent time with all the Clarks. 

 All the kids with Papa Jack and Maggie above, and Great Grandpa Clark below...

 Easter egg hunt time...

Hannah and Emery eating peeps

 Seth found a basketball.  He liked that better than the hunt.

 Sunday after church we went to the Ringger side...

 Another hunt...

Playing Outside

 We have been trying to play outside as much as possible with the nice spring weather!  We were able to acquire the swingset above (free!!!...thank you neighbors) and the kids have been loving it!

 Hannah and Seth have gotten pretty quick at going up and down the stairs to the slide.  The first day Seth fell off the top of the slide though, ah, so we have to keep a close eye on him and an arm guard out!  Of course, the fall didn't seem to phase him though.  He has the highest pain tolerance! 

 Spotting a butterfly in the grass...

 It is hard to tell in this picture, but Seth loves to shove his face up on the screen.  Hannah thinks it is hilarious. 

 We went to a local cultural center and played. 

Looking at the fish in the pond

 Running around the flower gardens...

 Seth LOVES drinking water in the bath and at the watertable.  About all he wants to do is splash and drink...

 It was a beautiful morning and Hannah asked to eat breakfast outside! Of course I said yes!

A few updates on the kids...

Hannah...
- She has been saying so many funny things. I love my conversations with her. Some examples...
          - When she was getting upset she stopped and said "Let me take a breath"!  (HA!)
         -  One day she let us know she was a queen, I was a princess, Seth was the king, and Nate was a superhero!
          - When I give her choices of clothes to wear, she always determines her choice by the following "This looks like Cinderella" (or some other princess).
          - When driving she wants to know " Whats that building?"
          -  If she thinks we are upset with her, she says "Are you happy or sad?" And proceeds to say "I'm happy"
          -  She has given Seth a nickname...Sethy.  Not sure how we feel about it.
         -  She often asks  "Real or pretend?"
         - She had been asking us where Jesus was, so I told her he was in our hearts.  The next day Seth shoved her in her chest.  Hannah stopped, pointed at her chest, and with all seriousness said to him "Seth, you can't push me there. Jesus is in my heart!"
         - The other morning she was in bed with me, looked over, and said "Sometimes I am tired and I just need a hug" :)


Seth...
-  Likes to share his food with you
-  Loves to use a spoon or fork.  He can't really use one yet, but he wants to hold onto it!
-  He is still a great eater!  He loves pizza, crackers, yogurt,  fruit, eggs, pasta with sauce, cereal in milk...it could go on and on
- Follows simple commands.
-  Still loves loves loves balls
- Can blow bubbles
- Quite the drooler
-  Loves to wash his hands in the sink
-  New words..."Didi"= Hannah,  cracker, sucker, bubbles, water, stickers, baba=paci, up
- He has the one arm run down really well. He is speedy.
- His favorite books right now...How Big is Baby, Where is My Friend, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Animal Encyclopedia
- Doesn't know what gentle means :)