Happy Anniversary/Birthday

Today is Becca's birthday and yesterday our 7th anniversary. So this post is for you, babe.

Becca has been my best friend for over 12 years now and I am still amazed by her. She is intelligent, witty, funny, and the most beautiful girl that I could ever imagine. Becca is a wonderful mother to our children, always teaching them new things in ways that I don't think of. I remember when Evan was 2 or 3, while visiting a store he pointed to a sign and said, "That's an octagon." The patron who overheard was astounded. She offers me unending love and support as I continually try to work my way through my degree. Believe me, that takes more effort than she'll take credit for.
I think that seven years ago, I recognized that I was fortunate and lucky I was to be blessed by such a wonderful woman, but I did not know the extent of my good fortune and fully understand how much better my life would be after being married to her.

I love you, Becca! You are the best.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

Evan has had some pretty funny comments lately and I wanted to write them down before I forget.

First up....he blew some bubbles and said "these bubbles are lovely, because I blew them with love." I have no idea where he pulled that from, but it made me laugh.

Next while fishing with Grandpa he saw the ever hard to spot "bald headed seagull." I still have yet to see one, but from what I hear it looks just like a Bald Eagle. In his description it kind of sounds like a crow too.

Up next...he is working on reading two digit numbers. While we were out driving he saw a 25 mph sign. He said I could go two five, and when I asked what number that was he said "tootie-five." When you think about it that makes a lot more sense than twenty-five.

Lastly...today on the way home he says "remember when I was with baby Jesus and I was a leopard?" I paused so he followed up with something about us taking pictures. I finally remembered when he was a shepherd and posed with a baby as baby Jesus for a nativity thing at church. I was giggling though picturing my crazy leopard.

I wish I could remember the others, but for now that will have to do.
In Kyle funnies, yesterday Evan asked him to come play and he replied "I too sweepy" and proceeded to crawl up in my bed with his blanket and stuffed Georgie and fell asleep in less than 5 minutes. Why can't every nap be that easy?

Easter Outfits Take 2

I was determined to get a picture of the boys in their Easter outfits, so I had them wear them to church again this week. I don't know what I'm going to do with three kids, because just trying to get a decent picture of these two is nearly impossible. We did okay in the end.

I love the rosy cheeks. It was 70 something degrees and I had poor Kyle was getting a little toasty.

I think he was done at this point...

Happy Easter

We headed over to my parents' this morning for the annual hunt. We have no age limit on who gets to hunt, so it is usually everyone. Brandon and I have taken the past few years off to take pictures. Katie hunted with the boys, but Grandma decided to take the year off to watch.

Evan showing off his loot.

Kyle's prized possession. They both had surprise cars from Cars the movie in their baskets. For all you parent's of boys out their Evan got Wingo and Kyle got The Abominable Snowmobile. Very exciting!

Kyle wasn't too happy with putting on his church clothes so we only have Tay and Evan before church. I think these two look lovely though.

Kyle did get his clothes on, but this was the best I got of the outfit. Maybe we will try these outfits again next week and see if we can't get a photo of the boys together and smiling...that may be too much to ask though.

Hunting at Grammie and Gramps'. Here they were real eggs, and all of the ones in Kyle's basket I think ended up cracked as he kept throwing them in so he could get to the next one.

All in all a great Easter. The boys had a blast which is really all I care about, but we had fun too visiting with family and catching up on what everyone has been up to. Now the boys are thoroughly exhausted and full of candy, so it is off to bed.

Hostage Situation

My little sister, Katie, came home for Easter weekend. Since my parents were gone for Spring Break for the first 24 hours of her visit, we got to have her play with us. I think the boys felt they had a hostage and they thoroughly enjoyed it.

First off on Evan's list of things to do with Aunt Tay....a game of Clue. She won but it was a close match. He was so excited because he learned how to be his own team for Clue recently so he got to play with just her. After Clue he made her play Candy Land, where he redeemed himself with a quick win.

After games they got ready for bed and their slumber party. Evan was glad to hear she remembered jammies and a toothbrush....she came so prepared. They turned on Bolt and all set up camp in the living room. Katie was more into the slumbering, and they were more into the partying, but they had fun.

In the morning we decorated another dozen eggs. You can never have too many Easter eggs I guess. We will be making deviled eggs and who knows what else with eggs this week.

Then off to the hunts. We hit up two local hunts, even in the rain. Kyle was a little nervous about the crowds, but Evan was a champ this year in his new age division where you have to hunt by yourself. At the second hunt he went skipping from egg to egg refusing to pick up anything that wasn't a Spiderman egg. It didn't make for a very full basket, but he was very excited.

Kyle was excited once he realized that all the eggs contained "canny" (when I had them hunt they had crackers and other random snacks). I didn't know a boy this size could put away so much candy, but I think he polished off his haul on the car ride home.

Before we left to get Grandma and Grandpa, Evan showed Tay how to play Wii Fit and helped her get in a good workout. I think they are doing the hula-hoop here.

Thanks for a fun day Tay! We hope we didn't drive you too crazy and that you'll come back for another slumber party soon.

Easter Prep

The week leading up to Easter we did a few things to get ready. The boys had some bonding over how to play Leapster, and I thought it was adorable that Evan was trying to explain how to play, while I set up.....

A practice Easter egg hunt in the backyard (note the sunshine and the fact that we were in shorts). I make my boys do practice hunts their first year so they get the hang of what is going on. It helps with the hunts at the various community events later so they aren't quite as overwhelmed.

Friday we went to Grammie and Gramps' house (my grandparents) to paint eggs for the family gathering on Sunday. The boys painted 3 dozen eggs in record time, and they turned out pretty well. They even had little paintbrushes for the boys to use which they loved.

Kyle showing off one of his masterpieces. The best part were all of the fingerprints on the eggs in various colors from all the paint they had on their hands by the end.

Afterwards Kyle settled in for some story time with Gramps.

Ultrasound Results

First off let me say I love my doctor. My ultrasound was scheduled for next Friday, but when I went in last week she said she knew it must be driving me nuts not knowing, and had me call and tell them she gave permission to move the ultrasound up a week. Again, I love my doctor. The baby was being kind of a pain doing all sorts of gymnastics while the tech was trying to get measurements, and it was driving the tech nuts, but we managed to get some good shots and find out.......

That this cute face is our baby GIRL!!!
I think we were both in shock that it is actually a girl, although we've both thought it all along. Evan told us there was a baby girl in my tummy before we knew we were pregnant, and he has insisted on it since (he talks to the baby and it talks to him apparently). I guess we were all right this time.It is kind of hard to see in the scan, but that is her head with her feet up above it. She was bent completely backward with her knees in her nose and feet kicking her head for a while. Perhaps she is going to be a gymnast. The money shot. Her behind is on the right, legs sticking out to the left. We got multiple pictures and angles, and the tech didn't even say 95% sure or anything, just that this was definitely a girl. After the 3rd or 4th time we came across her rear end I agreed fully.
In other news she is already measuring a bit big for her age (just like the boys) and her head is about a week ahead of schedule. The tech thought they may need to do another ultrasound before delivery to be sure her head isn't too big. I'm not too concerned. Looks like we will be having another early baby.
Now to start buying lots of pink things!!!