14 months

Madeline is 14 months today! She has become a different child in the last 6 weeks- her own little person. Here is what you have been up to, Madgirl:
-You love to eat- anything! All fruits, yogurt, breads, goldfish, eggs and especially waffles. You go straight to the freezer first thing in the morning and with the help of Jack, open it and pull out your waffle. You then walk it over to the toaster and want me to lift you up to put it in!
-You LOVE books! You will spend countless hours picking a book out, bringing it to me and scooting into my lap to read. It is precious and I love it! If we are not in the same room you will tote the book, no matter how large, around the house until you find me. Your favorites right now are ones with animals and you have started making the sounds. You are very good at the "baa" of the sheep.
-You have learned how to give kisses. You lean in and sometimes even wrap you arms around Daddy's neck. So sweet!
-When I get out of the shower you are always waiting for me with my towel in hand. You have learned that I use 2 so after you hand me the first, you will go pick up the other and bring it to me!
-You say "momma" "daddy" "ack" "ball" "dog" "uck" (duck) and "bye" clearly. You talk alot but those are the words we know.
-You are very busy. At this age, Jack loved to watch Barney but there is no sitting still for you. You love to be outside, exploring the yard and especially the playground.
-You still take two naps and I hope this lasts!! You sleep 12 hours a night but are still an early riser- 5:30am- 6:15am is your wake up time!
-You never took a bottle so we went straight to the sippy cup which you will tolerate but you would rather drink out of a regular cup like Jack.
- You are still tiny (by Jack standards). You wear 12m pants and 18m shirts and dresses. At this age Jack wore a size 5 shoe; you wear a size 2!

You are light in our lives, Madeline! We love you so much!

Virginia Baseball

The Hoos were in town to play so we took Jack to the game. He pretty much just ate his way through the seven innings- popcorn, pretzel, ice cream- but it was a beautiful night and we were with great friends!

Easter pic

I took the kids to a cheesy portrait place b/c I wanted to get a "real" picture of them in their Easter outfits. This was the best one. It was quite the experience but we will cherish this picture for a long time!

Easter in Virginia

We headed to Clay's parents for Easter. Jack was very excited to look for his basket on Sunday morning. My mom always hid ours so I have started this tradition with Jack. He is very into Curious George so that was the theme of his basket this year. Thanks Target Dollar Bin!

Three and Five year old boys are not the best photo subjects!

But this one is! She loved looking for eggs and exploring the farm.

Finding eggs for her basket

Off on her own- she loves to explore!

A big fan of the porch swing!

Neighborhood Egg hunt

We had a neighborhood egg hunt last weekend. It was not well organized but my kids were pleased as punch with their sprinkled munchkins. My little muchkin could not get them in her mouth fast enough!

Easter Egg Hunt

On Saturday we went to the Nietschmanns for an Easter Eg Hunt. It was Jack's 2nd of the week but Madeline's first ever. My two munchkins ready to go!

Jack's strategy was different from most kids. Instead of walking around with his basket to fill, he left his basket in one place and ran around the field getting as many eggs as he could carry and then brought them back to his basket again and again. I thought it was pretty ingenious!

Madgirl cheering on Jack

The Happy Hunter

After the hunt, the kids left their baskets unattended to play some games. I was chatting with some moms and looked up to find Madeline stealing eggs from someone else!

She figured out how to open the eggs and knew there was candy inside!

The kids also got to plant seeds to take home.

Jack loved the playground and especially the sliding pole!

For your Peeps

Jack had his first Easter Egg hunt of the season at school on Wednesday. He was quite excited but this is the only "smile" I could get for the camera!

I saw these adorable treats on a blog last year (thanks Heather Collier!) and couldn't wait to recreate them this year. They are Peep Smore bags. You put a box of peeps, hershey bars and graham crackers in the clear plastic cellophane (I sat it all on green grass) and then attach a note saying "Happy Easter to some of my favorite Peeps!" Jack gave them to all the kids in his class. It was a big hit! Feel free to steal my stolen idea!


Madeline's favorite activity these days is eating. She finally broke 20lbs!

So lady-like

I caught Madeline eating the waffle that she dropped on the floor at breakfast (and I failed to pick up). For a minute, I freaked out, but then I remember that my super fabulous husband had steamcleaned the floors last night so I let her enjoy her waffle. And truthfully, I probably would have let her eat it even if our floor wasn't steamcleaned. She is the second child after all.

Piper and Paige

We had a Girls Night for Emily Sampson and Emily Starritt last night. They are due with baby girls- Piper and Paige- in the coming weeks. It is number three for both ladies so we decided they deserved a night out! Check out the cute cake that Blue Moon in Cary did. It goes with the Penelope bedding from PBK.Do we look excited to be out? Between us we have 20 kids and three on the way!

This week...

In between enjoying the BEAUTIFUL weather with my kiddies, this is what I have been up to this week! Here are a couple of the orders going out today - thank goodness for USPS picking up packages at your door!

Seriously?

Yes, this is how my 13 month old spent the time while I got ready this morning- watching Little Einsteins on my IPhone. Who would have ever thought? She took my phone, climbed into her little space, turned herself around and happily kicked her legs to the music!

*Her seriously cute shoes are courtesy of Mimi! We love Puddlejumpers! Thanks Mimi

Happy St Patricks Day!

These Irish eyes are smiling at you!

Pi Day

We started a tradition of celebrating Pi Day (3/14 or March 14) when we lived in Atlanta. We would have friends over and everyone brought a pie. Last year, I had just had Madeline so entertaining for me. We reinstituted Pi Day this year and it was so fun!. I went to the hospital to visit the Andersons and baby Charlie and came home to this on my garage!

Apparently Clay didn't think my banner (that I made with Shannon's new cricut) was good enough!
The hosts and the pies- we had strawberry, cherry, peach, pecan, chocolate cream, chocolate peanut butter, butterfinger and mint oreo- so yummy!

McKenna checking out the cherry pie!

Leave it to the Smiths to come in "themed" attire. Notice Paige's shirt says "q t pi" and her hair clip is a cherry pie!

If you don't celebrate Pi Day, you need to put it on the calendar for 2011!

Knoxville

Clay had to go to LA for the Annual Store Manager Meeting last week so we headed to Knoxville. We had a blast with Mimi, Shannon, Maeve and Cael. Goose is in Arizona at Spring Training so we were sad to miss him!

These two are getting so big! They have so much fun together!

The best shot of the four grandkids
We kept the kids very busy. Mimi took them to the Discovery Museum and to Patti's house to get eggs from the chickens. One night Maeve taught Jack how to make "scrombolia" (Stromboli).

There were lots of bubble blown. Madeline- who started walking last week- was very intrigued by the bubbles!

Jack and Maeve checking out Cael- please notice the cell phone in Maeve's back pocket. It is Shannon's old one - a teenager in the making!

Cutie pie Cael!

One night Mimi invited Jack and Maeve to have a slumber party- so fun and the kids were very excited! She had a movie, popcorn, whoppers and sprite! They lasted til 9pm and then Maeve wanted to go home :) Shannon and I spent the night playing with her new Cricut!

Like mother, like daughter- Madgirl trying to break into a box of Samoas

Madeline loved the rocking chair in the sunroom. She would climb in and out and rock back and forth. She was so proud of herself! She was a drooling mess all week b/c she was getting all of her molars!

Uncle Ryan was on spring break so he provided lots of entertainment!

Mimi and Goose are having an outdoor fireplace built and the kids called it a "castle."

Ice cream bubbles and goldfish snacks

More bubbles

Ah! Are these two old enough for a kids table?? Mimi thought so and they loved it!

Madeline decided to try it out at breakfast the next morning.

We love going "home!" It is such a treat! Can't wait for Ryan and Julia's party in April when we have another excuse to get back to Knoxvegas!