Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

We had a fun little St. Patrick's Day party at our house.  We made green muffins, ate a rainbow of fruit, had rainbow ice cubes, made fruit loop rainbows with marshmellow clouds, made four leaf clover hand print art, read about Saint Patrick, looked at pictures of Leprechauns (H was so interested in Leprechauns, he stared at the pictures of them for at least an hour), and went on a Scavenger Hunt to find a pot of gold hidden by the little men in green.  

We made the trek downtown to see the Saint Patrick's Day Parade.  It was PACKED... So. Many. People!  We are glad we went.  The kids were moderately interested in it and at least we can say we were there!

So Little Snow

We spent most of this winter in Florida, but even if we had been here we would not have had much snow.  It's crazy because our first winter here we had record amounts of snow.  I think there was around 60 inches in January alone.  It did snow a little while we were here, a very little.  The kids rushed out to play in it before it (quickly) melted.  

And a few days later, Maryann had her first experience in a swing.  She loved it and L loved pushing her.

You Are My Sunshine

Hogan, Lauralee, and Maryann... You truly are my sunshine.  You make me smile, and laugh, and fill my life with love.  

I am so busy just trying to keep up with the day to day lately that I haven't been able to write down the cute things the kids do and say. Then when I finally get a chance (like now) I am tired and can't remember all the things I wanted to record.  

BUT I do love these kids!

Maryann is 4 1/2 months old and is so adorable and funny.  She is a chub.  She is sooo lovable and happy.  She smiles all the time and whenever we take her anywhere she just laughs and smiles at everyone and is so laid back.  She is such an easy baby... that is until the night strikes.  Sleep is not something that she feels is a necessary commodity at this stage of her life.  She rolls over from her back to her stomach.  She did it for the first time, completely by herself, on March 19th.  When she realized she could do it she was so proud of herself spent the rest of the day rolling.  Even if she didn't really want to be on her stomach she would roll.  It was so cute.  She holds toys and loves her Jumperoo.  She can sit up for a couple of seconds at a time with out any support.  She is absolutely crazy about Lauralee and Hogan and they are about her.  They both take such good care of her.  She thinks they are SOOOO funny.  She cracks up laughing at them and they can always make her smile.  When ever she wakes up from naps she is all smiles.  As soon as I walk into her room she smiles and me and starts kicking her legs.  I love to hug her and kiss her and hold her and cuddle her.  Writing this makes me want to go wake her up so I can hug and kiss her some more.

Hogan is getting better and better at writing.  He loves for me to read chapter books to him now.  We just finished reading Mouse on a Motorcycle and are starting Runaway Ralph.  He is still really shy but he is getting more and more brave.  He is so sweet and tender hearted.  When he watches a movie he gets so worried about the characters and really can't watch a movie if a child gets separated from his or her parents.  He has never made it through Finding Nemo for that reason.  He and Lauralee are BEST friends.  They are so funny together.  He can't stand it if she takes a nap because he gets bored and wants to play with her.  He has gotten really good at riding his bike and decided to try with out training wheels... which lasted less than a minute.  He informed us that he was going to ride his bike with training wheels for the rest of his life.  He has an imaginary friend named Tom who he talks about all the time.

Lauralee has grown up so much.  She is really independent but at the same time can't stand for me to leave her sight.  She loves Super Heroes and everything boy, but at the same time loves to play Mommy with her babies and play with her doll house.  She is a great eater and tries everything.  She has an imaginary friend named Mary.  Mary does a lot of naughty things.  Lauralee has to keep her in line.  Lauralee is really smart!  She catches on to things very quickly.  Her favorite baby dolls are Josie and Daisy.  She is very "in charge".  She is her own person and doesn't care too much what anyone else thinks.  She is such a tiny little thing that it is pretty hard to find clothes that fit her... hopefully a problem that will follow her into adulthood!  She loves purses and things that go in them.  The last few times that she has gotten to pick a prize from the dollar store she has picked lip gloss and hand sanitizer.

Lauralee, Black Sheep, and a Slide

Reasons We Miss Florida...

• Going to Lowry Park Zoo... Hogan, Lauralee, and I went with Erin and Emmalyn one time and Adam took Hogan and Lauralee another time.
• Playing with Naomi, Elijah, and Emma.  H, L, and MK are so blessed to have such wonderful cousins.
• H, L, and N playing owls at MayMay and PopPop's house.
• Hogan going to AWANA on Wednesday nights with Noni.
• Picking strawberries with Nana and Grandpa.
• Driving Cozy Coupes from Noni's house to MayMay and PopPop's house.
• Hogan getting his hair cut at the barber shop with PopPop
• Trips to the Dollar Store
• Making Treasure Boxes with Noni
• Eating special breakfasts at Nana and Grandpa's house
• Hogan and Lauralee tormenting the dogs at Noni's house
• Going to see the "Secret Hide-Out"
• Spending time with so many people in our family.  We are so blessed to have such a wonderful family.  
• Lots of dinners at MayMay and PopPop's house
• Building Bird Houses with Grandpa

Cousins

Hogan, Lauralee, and Maryann had such a wonderful time playing with Naomi and Elijah while we were in Florida.  We really wish we lived closer to them.  We love those kids so much.