Bee Bop, The Bug, and Button Makes 3

With the great weather we have been having, the fun and festivities of Spring are definitely upon us. I guess everyone knows they need to get outside now before we start frying in the summer months.

April started with lots of fun parties: neighborhood get-together at cousins' house, Carter and Reagan on a special field trip with Grandma, playgroup, t-ball, birthday parties, doctor's appointments for everyone, more playgroup, and some fun zoo time (will post more later). The first Thursday of the month was our turn to host our neighborhood playgroup, which pretty much meant we weren't doing much of anything on Friday!

On that note, I decided to try to get some updated pictures of the kids. I had given up on trying to get a 'Christmas' picture, so now for spring. We headed out to a new park with plans to meet up with friends in the area later for lunch. After about 2 hours, I think I ended up maybe 5 or 6 shots I liked. Definitely taking some entertainment with me next time - Grandma or GranJan maybe??? SOMEONE. ANYONE.

Of course everyone had to pee by the time we were leaving. Carter ran over to the bathrooms only to find that you had to be a neighborhood resident to have a key! So, he tinkled outside the bathroom. What could I do?? I do have a picture, but I can't bring myself to post it - just yet!

We met up with Allison and her kiddos and Tiffany and Allie. We had a nice lunch together at CFA (of course!) and headed home for naps. Big night ahead at the zoo. Carter loved playing with Baby Blake. Otherwise, he was the only boy! He and Lindsey are so cute together. They followed each other around like puppy dogs. So sweet!

Of course I didn't get pictures of anything else, but it was definitely a fun week to remember.

C started 3-year old t-ball with the YMCA this February. The first game was... well, let's say horrible. The coach got lost, we didn't have uniforms (until he got there), no one really knew what to do (especially the kids). It was just craziness all around. We have one more game left in the season, and I will say things have GREATLY improved! Our boys are actually really good. We don't have a big team - just 6 boys. I think there were supposed to be more, but we had a lot of no-shows. Turned out better for us! Anyway, I'll post more pictures when the season ends, but Carter had a great game today. He had two great hits (they only play 2 innings) and actually assisted in a couple of outs! Yeah team! Go Giants!!

Laney would stop jumping and run over to Daddy for a kiss!

Attending were:

Laney and Carter

Claire

Ella S.

Hayden and Hailey H.

Logan and Caleb W.

Allie K.

(Feel like I'm forgetting someone... this is where more pictures would help!)

And there were several who couldn't make it (Lindsey/Megan/Blake, Ella K).


Laney's birthday completely snuck up on me this year. I can't believe she is two! (And as I type, several months past two!).

She is quite the chatter box and LOVES to sing. We're very lucky that both of our kids are very affectionate. She loves to hug and snuggle (yeah for me!). Laney definitely did NOT get my eating habits (yeah for her!). She is her daddy's child in soooo many ways, and this is definitely one of them. She will pretty much eat anything - she loves her veggies (usually raw) and can put away food like nothing I've ever seen from someone so little! She is still "average" height and weight - just like she has always been - but that doesn't stop her. She's a tough cookie and can definitely hold her own with the big boys. Literally!

Laney L O V E S Carter. And Joel and I are so glad! They really get along well now. Carter takes good care of her (usually) and they play great together.

She is having a super time at school. I get to hear about her little friends and what they played with after each school day.

I was so scared at the thought of having a little girl, but God certainly gave us the perfect one! I can't imagine our family without her. She is always smiling and happy.

We love, love, love you baby girl. Happy Birthday!

Or should I call it: "Hell-iday in the Park"

Let me back track and discuss the earlier part of the day as many have already seen the end result.

We hosted our Thursday afternoon playgroup at our house that day - which makes for a long day anyway as I am always racing to clean and prepare like a bad 'Trading Spaces' episode. There was a local 'Holiday in the Park' festival going on, so a few of us decided to try it out afterwards. It was probably 6:30 or so before we got there.

The first part of the evening was a lot of fun for the kiddos. Laney was pretty much stuck in the stroller. She's a runner. Carter is too, actually, but I usually know where he's off to! Laney, it's any one's guess. Anyway, Carter got to ride down the snow hill and he and Andrew must have gone through the bounce houses 20 times. Will strolled around a while and checked everything else out, and then... we saw S A N T A. When we first arrived, the line was pretty long. As the evening wore on, we noticed the line was much better, so we got in. And waited. And waited. And waited. For the love of Pete, we waited for probably an hour and half to see stinkin' Santa. The kids were all excited at first. Andrew and Carter kept each other entertained. A little girl from Carter's class at school was behind us, and she and Laney played for a while (thank you, dear, sweet, precious Evin). About half way through, the kids started pulling the 'we want to go home' mess. No way. Sonya and I decided that we had waited this long, we're in it for the long haul now. The kicker was there wasn't anyone moving the groups along when they went for pictures. Some folks were there for 10+ minutes!

I really don't need to say more. The progression of the pictures tells it all.

And finally... the only picture with Santa from the night...

If Laney could have stopped crying long enough to catch her breath... I think she would have said, 'Save yourself, Bro Bro!!' I literally put C on Santa's lap kicking and screaming. Santa must have had a death grip on his arm to not let him escape. At one point while I was getting "situated," Santa looked up at me and asked,' What do you want to do, Mom?'

'HOLD THEM. I am not leaving without a picture.'

HO. HO. HO.