Purina Farms

The day before Easter, we made reservations at Purina Farms to visit their Easter Village.

The weather had been really yucky... TONS of rain, tornadoes on Good Friday, hail... on and on. So, we really weren't sure if we were going to be able to make it to Purina Farms since it was semi outdoors.

It rained the whole morning, and then stopped while we were there. Perfect!

We started out with Jack in the stroller, and then let him out to walk when we got to the Easter Village part. He didn't go back in the whole time. He's a mover and a shaker. He was literally all over the place!

There were baby lambs, chicks, puppies, pigs, bunnies, and goats that you could pet. Jack didn't know what to think!

Kate, of course, was all about it! I think she wants a puppy.

Jack is trying to eat the corn here... that's our Jack!

They played in the hayloft... not their favorite thing.

I think their favorite part was really just running around.

We watched the dog show (which was really fun!), and then saw the Easter bunny.

Both kids totally cooperated!

After Purina Farms, we came home to dye Easter eggs.











We did Easter baskets early since we knew Sunday would be crazy.

Poor Jack got a little cheated in the Easter basket arena. I honestly didn't even realize it until I was putting their baskets together. I knew he wouldn't care (or even know the difference), anyway. Poor guy. Mimi & Papa and Gran more than made up for it, so don't feel too bad for hin!



He was totally thrilled with the soccer ball and basketball, though.



And the Easter grass. ha!





Ok, phew... I feel better now. Easter is completely documented! :)

My Jack

He said Ma-ma the other day... finally!!



He can say da-da (of course!), a loose version of the word cookie, and various versions of "da". "Da" is everything. Jack needs our attention? "Daaaaaaaa". Wants to see something? "Da da da". Drops something on the ground? He only knows the "uh" in uh-oh. So, you'll usually get an "uh" followed by a long "daaaaaaaa".



He is walking now. Everyday, he walks a little further.



He is still wildly obsessed with Daddy.



We think he is going to be a little daredevil. He's a climber. He tries to nose dive off the edge of our bed. He gets himself stuck in small little spaces.



He eats anything he can find on the floor or in the trash (his new favorite hobby). But, if you ask him what's in his mouth, he'll quickly retrieve it for you and just hand it over.



He has eight teeth now. He's still a total thumb sucker, and that's always a clue to know when he's tired.



He still takes two naps a day and NEEDS them both!! He has started to stay up past 7:30 at night (gasp!).



He LOVES music. He dances, shakes his head, and claps his hands.



When asked "how old are you", he can hold up one finger. If we say, "Oh no", he puts both hands over his face. He knows where his belly is. Half the time, he knows where his nose is. :)





He thinks Kate is the funniest person on the planet. Sometimes, her just talking makes him laugh. They have started to play together more often. They take baths together every night. They both love that. Well, except Kate's not really a big fan of the times Jack poops in the tub.





He's in a big boy carseat now. He likes being able to see us and he and Kate sometimes hold hands in the car.



Jack is so fun! He's a little lovebug, but won't sit still for long. He gives kisses freely, but then is quick to push you away when he wants to play.



We love our little man!

Jack's First Haircut

We finally took Jack to get his haircut. I realized we just had to do it when I found myself hairspraying it to the side to keep it out of his face.

The kid could seriously have his hair put in a ponytail. It was a mess.

So, we took him to The Hairy Elephant where Kate got her first haircut. Kate and Maddie went with us.

Jack did so well. He was a little fidgety, but nothing like I expected.

The before:







And... here we go!











We were the crazy parents both snapping pictures with our phones, all while trying to get him to sit still and make sure the three year old was behaving herself.







I love that face!!







And, the after:







We had forgotten what big ears he was hiding under all that hair. ha!!

His hair is so cute now. He looks like such a little boy.

Here are some videos (yes, four of them.. we are a little obsessive).

The Month of March

March was hard on us. One of us was sick I swear every day this month. It started with Mark early in the month. Then, I got it... for TWO weeks. It was miserable! Then, the kids started getting sick, and pretty much just passed it back and forth to each other.

Fevers, colds, coughs. Jack went to Urgent Care. Kate went to the clinic at Walgreens. I called their pediatrician at least three times in March.

Every day was a fog. Mark and I worried about who would take off work to stay home with the kids. Tons of t.v. was watched. The whole house was sanitized and Lysol sprayed a jillion times.

Somewhere in the middle of all of it, we managed to throw in a few memories here and there.

We took Kate to see Disney on Ice with Megan, Greg, and Allie on St. Patrick's Day.

We took Jack to get his first haircut. (Pictures to come.)

And, some exciting (and a little scary) news for our family... I turned in my resignation letter for next year. After a lot of talking, praying, thinking, and number crunching, we've decided that I will stay home with the kids. I'm SOOOO excited! It's something I have wanted for awhile now, but never really thought was going to be possible. It's a huge step of faith for us, and will come with a lot of sacrifices we will have to make, but we both feel it is what is right for our family right now.

It probably means less vacations, less eating out, less shopping, but I know the time I am giving my kids is worth any sacrifice we have to make.

I plan on substitute teaching twice a week, and I have signed up to do a maternity leave in October.

We are really excited about this new journey our family is about to embark on.

Kate talks about it as the time when I will be "just a mommy", not "a mommy AND a teacher."

My decision was totally justified the other day, when I found an eyelash on Kate's cheek. I put it on my fingertip and told her to make a wish, then blow it off. Her first reply was, "Well, that's just weird." After I told her again, she did it. I asked her what she wished for and she said, "For you to be just a mommy."

At any rate, I'm glad March is behind us. We are SOOOO ready for spring!

Father Daughter Banquet

Ok, I'm going all the way back to the end of January for this one. I'm not sure how I missed posting these pictures.

Our church put on a wonderful father daughter banquet. It was so well done and thought out with little girls in mind.

I was able to take portrait pictures at the event, so I got to see it all first hand.

Mark wrote her a sweet invitation and got her some flowers.

Kate looked so stinkin' cute. I curled her hair (and she actually let me!) all over.

She wore pearls, a bracelet, and carried a fancy purse.

Agh... she looks so grown up in these.

They got to drink out of fancy glasses, make bracelets, and eat a yummy dinner.

Curls, pearls, and tights won't stop her from being her goofy self.

There was dancing, too. Although, Kate told Daddy, "Let's just dance by ourselves." She doesn't like to be tied down.