Early morning concert

Presenting the rock stars!

and their accompanying sister.

Guitar solo

Break dancing.  Or something.

just being cute.

all before 8 am!

Our newest DIYer

We're working on a mini-office remodel.  The office is mini, but the makeover is major.  So it goes with an old house.  Eden had to get in on the DIY, just like the boys.

Mommy & Me

On Thursday afternoons, Bennett has preschool and Logan has a special class called "Thrilling Thursdays".  Logan's class is a part of the children's ministries at the same church where Benny goes to preschool.  So, in one trip Eden and I drop off the boys and get a couple hours to spend together.  Today we just played in the toy room.  I am noticing how much she is growing up - tackling new skills and accomplishing much of what she sets her mind to.  She is a smarty...and lots of fun to be around!

She climbs everything!  Keeping her off the stairs is my full-time job these days!

Love that smile.  She's a joy!

Evening Storytime

John was away for a meeting last night so we made the most of it by making it a special night!  Logan is taking a field trip on Friday and Bennett has a special date with Dad on Saturday - both are going to see a show at the Children's Theatre: Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse.  We aren't familiar with the story, so tonight we went to a special storytime at the library to hear the book read and see some of the characters.

We also got to have a special dinner beforehand...PURPLE pancakes, what else?!!!  Eden and Bennett were pretty excited about all the purple at dinner.  Logan wasn't so sure.  Then he realized purple pancakes taste pretty good.  :)

Eden was a little weary of the crowd at storytime which included the cast of the play dressed up in their mouse costumes.  She ended up enjoying it!

The brothers stuck together and had a good time.  Although, Bennett didn't understand that we were just hearing the book, not seeing the show.  He kept asking "when is the show going to start?!".

At least now we know all about Lilly and her purple plastic purse.  :)

Take our picture!

The kids wanted their picture taken!  We've been sick all week and its been a loooong week because of it.

Those smiles make me think maybe we're close to feeling better around here!

Come on spring!!

It snowed.

Its April 11th and it snowed.  Blah.  I think its the longest winter I can remember.

Eden was dying to be a part of the snow removal team with Daddy and the boys today.  She got her boots on (with my help) and then hung out at the back door to watch.  But, we stayed in and stayed dry/warm instead.

Artiste

At just one year old, she already loves to color.  She picks up a pen, marker, pencil, or anything she can find and knows just what to do with it.  She goes for the art supplies in the morning, always wants in on a project, and loves to be busy with paper.

 I think I'm going to have some fun crafting the Eden in the future!

Major Bed Head

Sleeping on her own all night is clearly going well!  That hair says is all!

Anniversary Party

I got to help my friend Mollie throw a secret 30th Anniversary/50th Birthday Party for her parents!  She did an awesome job planning and keeping a secret for about 7 months!  I just helped with details when I could and my biggest contribution was this faux chalkboard art like I did for Eden's birthday.

John and I got to enjoy the night out while my parents came to watch the kids!

Mollie did so many fun, crafty things for the party - all on a budget.  It was a hit!

At 13 months

Eden has had quite a month!  Since turning one she has grown leaps and bounds!  We have ALL enjoyed watching her!

Since she started walking at just-shy-of 11 months, she is now pretty much running around!  She is so fast and sturdy.

She LOVES being outside!  With temps even just a bit milder, she loves to wear her new rain boots outside to play around.  Its going to be a fun (and busy!) spring and summer!

She says so many new words!
Mama, Dada, Ducky, Quack, Bun-Bun (her bunny), Ba-ba (bye bye), Ahh Done (all done), Dis (this, as she points to what she wants), Wa-wa (water) are the words I can decipher so far!  Its so much fun!  The boys keep trying to teach her their names.  I'm sure they will be next!  She understands so much, we can talk to her and she responds, follows, or goes to do what we talk about.

She is sleep trained!!  My parents took the boys for three nights the week after they got home from Mexico and I took the opportunity to be diligent about keeping Eden in her crib.  It was easier than I expected!  I shed a few tears, missing her cuddles at night, but we were thrilled at how well she took to sleeping all night in her own crib!  The first night I laid her down for bed awake, she cried for less than 10 minutes.  And that was it!  She is a rockstar and I can tell she was totally ready for this next step.  She now sleeps about 12 hours a night and also naps well in her crib.  Hooray!!

She's a mama.  She loves babies and her Bun-Bun.  She carries them around, strolls with them, or plays with them and its no doubt its a natural instinct because she equally loves sticks, balls, Buzz Lightyear, and anything else the boys are playing with!

Her hair is getting so cute!  She has been growing her hair in like crazy fast!  This week people have been asking if we got her hair cut!  We haven't had a cut yet - but its growing in with a cute little "bob" shape!  Im sure it wont last forever, but its so cute right now.  We almost always try to clip her hair to the side because otherwise its in her eyes.

She's small!  Yep, I said it.  WE have a small-ish child.  Crazy, right?  Everyone comments on how well she walks because she looks so small to be walking around (much less walking in rain boots, carrying a backpack, or doll!).  She's much smaller than the boys at this age.

Joy joy joy!  She is awesome and so much fun!

Spring is coming...someday.

Our friend Reese stayed with us a couple days while her mom was at school.  The boys were on spring break, so it was perfect.  We got the play outside together on a mild day - I'm feeling a little like spring may never come.  It will go from winter to summer with no in-between  :(.

Eden can't get enough of being outside!  She loves to walk and explore!

And she loves to get in the middle of the hockey game that is always going on...yikes!

The pink ladies and future besties: Reese and Eden.  :)

Easter!!

The boys spent three nights before Easter at my parents having fun while I sleep-trained Eden.  Sleep training was a breeze (dare I say it?!) and the boys had a good time!  A highlight was Logan loosing his first tooth!  The tooth had been loose for a while so we were excited it made its way out!  Of course they called right away to share the news!

First tooth lost: March 29, 2013!

Papa got off work early to go have lunch with Nana and the boys at Culver's.  When Logan bit into his corn dog, he chewed on something and said, "what's this?".  Then he said he and Papa looked at it and Papa thought for a minute and then said, "Its your tooth"!  Logan said it was "Amazing" and Benny was equally excited and is pretty sure his teeth are getting loose as we speak.  ;)

He saved his tooth to being home with a cute little pillow that Nana made.  We stuck the tooth in the pocket the night before Easter.  In the morning, Logan had two quarters in place of his tooth.  He immediately decided he would share one of his quarters with Bennett since, "its not really fair for me to have two quarters since Benny's teeth aren't coming out and he can't get any money for them".  I'm not so sure Benny will think the same way in another couple years.  :)

So there was some talk of the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny hanging out together at our house that night.  

Eden woke up happy as usual with her Bunny, Bun-Bun (a gift from Nana last Easter) when she was still a newborn!

The kids were lucky to have presents from both sets of grandparents and some fun baskets and a present from Mom and Dad.

Reading cards.

Fun book from Baggie and BopBop

Chapstick.  Awesome!

Workbooks

And we had a little hunt in our living room from some eggs - color coded this year so no one monopolizes the eggs!  

Fun!  As you can see, Benny chose his own outfit for Easter.  Totally fine - I had some other "nice" clothes picked out that matched Logan and Eden, but he prefers to be in control, and I can respect that.  So Spiderman and jeans with a hole - no problem. 

Hello most adorable girl ever.

Eden was a champ and stayed in the JW Kids wobbler/walkers room the whole time!

Someone even offered to snap a quick pic for us.  Oh - and I didn't even shower - there was no time before church with all the chaos!  I think I am still learning how to do holidays when my husband is a pastor - I am going to have to work on Easter because this year was a little nutty.

Bennett wasn't interested in a photo and even stayed longer at church with John.  So when I got home with Logan and Eden I snapped a quick pic of them.  We had macaroni and cheese for lunch.  It was a casual day which is ok because we talked a lot about the whole reason for Easter is JESUS!!

We played with new toys and Eden was the most entertained!  The boys fought a lot.  Haha.

Happy Easter!  Hope you celebrated with family and friends knowing Christ's amazing love for you!