Abby's Observation Day in Dance (April 2013)

Last week, Coley and I were able to attend Abby's dance class to see what she has been learning this year.  It's hard to believe another school/dance year is coming to an end.  Abby enjoys her dance class.  She thinks tap is all right, but she LOVES ballet. 

Her class was really fun to watch.  I can't wait to see all these cute little girls in their cute costumes on stage!

Outdoor fun (FINALLY)!

Yeah!  It has finally been warm enough lately to get outside and play a little bit. (It has been a long winter!)  Abby and Michael are always so excited to play in the backyard.  Michael is working on using the T-ball set he received for Christmas.  He is also mastering the tricycle.  Abby is determined to learn how to ride her bike without training wheels.  She also loves playing with her purple soccer ball.

Spring feels so good! 

Michael's Chocolate

With Michael's allergies, he has been denied many of life's little pleasures.  Chocolate is one of the things that he hasn't been able to have.  Even if the chocolate doesn't have milk in it, it seems to be processed in a plant with nuts.  So... Coley did some research and found chocolate that was allergy free.  We ordered some chocolate bars and chocolate chips for Michael to try.  

It was a happy day when Michael was finally able to eat a square of chocolate.  He kept holding out his hand for more (even before he was done with the square in his mouth).  

Later that night, I mixed up a batch of allergy-free chocolate chip cookies for Michael.  Abby was very interested in the chocolate chips.  Michael took the package, held it out in front of him and said, "My chocolate.  M-M-Y-Y-Y chocolate!  M-M-M-Y-Y-Y CHOCOLATE!"

Just look at that happy little face getting ready to eat his very first chocolate chip cookie.

We had a very happy little boy and a very happy mama that day!

(Even without eggs and butter, the cookies actually look normal.  They don't taste too bad either!)

Michael, the Flirt

One afternoon last week while Abby was at school, I took a walk with Emma and Michael around the neighborhood.  Emma and Michael were enjoying the sun in the double stroller.  As we rounded a corner, Michael spotted a soon-to-be Kindergartener driving her motorized 2 seater Barbie car in the street.  As Michael craned his neck to see the cute little curly-haired girl driving her car behind us, he said, "Mom, go back.  Go back, Mom!  Go back."

Right about that time, the little girl's father called to her and told her to turn around and drive home.  As she came up alongside us, Michael, still leaning out the side of the stroller, said (in his deep little toddler voice), "Hi, I Michael."

I'm still not sure if his attention was more directed to the motorized car (even though it was pink) or the cute little girl.  In any case, we've had a few chuckles thinking about Michael trying to flirt with a girl while sitting in his stroller.

Emma Jane is 6 months old!

Our sweet little Emma is 6 months old already!  She is growing so fast!  At her check-up a couple of weeks ago, she was 27 1/4 inches long (95th percentile) and 16 pounds 12 ounces (75th percentile). 

She has a very endearing smile and a contagious laugh.  She loves watching her big sister and brother play and cannot wait to run around with them!

She has the cutest chubby cheeks and a head full of hair.  She's had her hair trimmed three times already and needs to have it done again!

We are in love with this precious little girl and are so glad she was sent to be a part of our family!  

First day of Spring?????

So.... I am a little behind in posting pictures.  

Winter has been a little rough this year, so we have all been anxiously awaiting Spring.  Our first day of Spring in Rochester looked like this!

Abby was NOT a happy camper when she looked out the window.

Unfortunately, her first three days of Spring Break looked just as lovely! :(

Hopefully Mother Nature will be a little kinder to us now.  Abby is wanting to ride her bike and Michael is ready to use his t-ball set.  (Mommy won't let him use it inside!)

As I listen to the thunder tonight, I am grateful that, at least, it is raining and not snowing outside!

"I not tired!"

A few weeks ago, Michael (and Mommy) went through a horrible period of time where he hardly slept at all.  For nine days, he probably slept for only about four or five hours at night.  He has already decided that he doesn't want (or need) to take naps during the day.  That, combined with the fact that Coley was out of town for seven or eight of the nights and that I am nursing a baby, made for a miserable time!  By the ninth day, I was beside myself.  I called the pediatrician's office to talk to the nurse for ANY help or pointers she might have.  She told me I should bring him in because sometimes children have ear infections or sinus infections that make sleeping difficult, but don't show other symptoms.  I was more than willing to take him!  He didn't have an ear infection or a sinus infection, but his tonsils were very red and swollen with white patches.  He didn't test positive for strep, but they did tell me I could give him ibuprofen at night to help with the inflammation.  The hope was that the ibuprofen would give him enough relief to sleep.  It thankfully did the trick!

Here are a couple of pictures of Michael falling asleep anywhere except his bed because, as he claimed, "I NOT TIRED!"  Yeah right!

Happy Easter 2013

Yesterday was Easter.  After getting ready for Church, Abby and Michael had a little Easter egg hunt in the house.  As we were preparing to dash out the door, we tried to get a good picture of the three little ones.  It was not easy to get all three of them to look at the camera and smile at the same time.  There are some pretty silly expressions in the two pictures, but they were the best pictures of the bunch.  I especially like Michael's expression in the first picture.  I'm not sure what that is about! :)

Emma is ready for the day!  I love those squishy cheeks!

Abby had a great time decorating eggs Easter weekend.

We had a great day.  Abby gave a talk in Primary on the true meaning of Easter and did a fantastic job. After church, we were able to have Easter dinner with the Petruuci family.