Can she trap a leprechaun?

The iconic leprechaun trap project hit our house for the first time this year.  Gracie had a few ideas for her trap and we had fun putting this together.  Josh had to make one too, because it looked like too much fun.

What else are you going to do with leftover gold pipe cleaners?

On the morning of the 17th we woke to find this note on the table, an empty trap, and a toilet filled with green water!  Gracie was disappointed--although not surprised--to not have caught the leprechaun, and Daddy was glad that our toilet bowl wasn't stained green by that little prankster!  Gracie said that at school the leprechaun left footprints all over the room, but he was too tricky to catch!  What a fun day!

His Park Shadow

It's finally nice enough to be outside!  Heidi and I took the boys to the park on 5 Mile one blistery Monday, and I realized that my job this spring and summer would be to shadow this very active 1 1/2 year old.  We love the outdoors!  How we've missed outside play...

Oden's "Wear 'em Out" Birthday Party

This boy turned THREE this year!!!

He and his friend, Thatcher, shared a birthday party at a church gym this year.  It was so fun--toys spread around the gym, tables for parents to visit at, and kids wearing themselves out!

Static Hair

I love this boy.

Snow Day for Me and the Kids

The kids and I had a Friday off in March, but Jeff had meetings all day.  So instead of just staying home, I took the kids for an overnight to the farm.  I wanted to see my dad while he was recovering from surgery, and we weren't going to be able to come back down until the March Birthday Party at the end of the month.  So we went.

These two love "G'ma's Feather Bed," and we sing this song as we tuck in for the night in Katie's old room.
It was nine feet high, and six feet wide, soft as a downy chick
It was made from the feathers of forty 'leven geese took a whole bolt of cloth for the tick
It could 8 kids and 4 hound dogs and the piggy we stole from the shed
We didn't get much sleep but we had a lot of fun on Grandma's feather bed!

Stir-crazy kids!  Turns out that this was the day that Papa was cleared to drive and he was able to go help deliver supplies to the workers in the field (aka "manage").  Soooooo, so much for nursing him back to health!  :)

It also turns out that Mom had a hair appt that day and little Lauren had to go to the doctor for her neck rash, SO, I ended up watching little Millie and my three for a good part of the day.  Good, good cousin time!

Micah loves the French press!  :)

So it was a crazy 24 hours--we left Friday afternoon to be home for Oden's party the next day.  Not quite what we planned on doing, but got the blessing of cousin play time and the knowledge that Papa was recovering nicely.  WAY BETTER than making up a snow day at school!

Mom Stay-Home Days

Bribing my child to EAT.  Meet Curly.

Laughing at my son wearing his brother's clothes.

Watching Grace and Josh check out their own books--no stamps anymore!!!

Walking with the fam after dinner.

Sending this picture of a cleaned off table to my husband at work.

Trying to celebrate small victories on a busy day.

Picking up Gracie from school.

Actually, visiting with another mom while Josh stole

my phone and took this cool picture of a tree.

Walking home from pick-up.

And my personal favorite:  Going to FroYo for

a time-killer on a Frazzled Mommy Day.

One March Saturday

Vegging at home in the morning...

...taking a video to send to Auntie Debbie...

...lusting over sugar at Janie's birthday party at Pattison's...

...eating cupcake burgers!...

...shooting baskets with Papa Scott...

...celebrating with Janers as she turns 8???...

...going to Gracie's basketball game...

...and movie night-ing on the couch!  A busy, fun, family day.

Jump-n-Party Almost Done

Aunt Annie has Gracie come over on Friday afternoons when school gets out.  On this particular Friday, the boys and I met Annie at Jump-n-Party to help her use up her punch card before the place closed for good.

 Micah was a wild man and the kids were running from room to room...

And this was taken ONE MOMENT before Micah climbed in on top of Nels.  He LOVES to rock and climb in these baby car seats.  Apparently he doesn't mind if they're already occupied.  Nels didn't seem to mind, either!

Micah and the Mechanics...of Things

That blog title was for my dad.  Now I have "All I Need is a Miracle" running through my head...

What does this TRUNK button do on Linnea's key chain?

Amazing!  What does this PANIC button do...?  Yep.  He found that one too.

Every morning he wants me to get the fan close so that HE can turn it off.

Gracie actually learned this trick...

bottle + couch + morning = Micah snuggles

If one is good, two must be better!

The SALAD SPINNER!!!

It was not acceptable to have that fun toy up on the kitchen counter.

"Please, please, please..." signed on his tummy to get that toy down to his level...

Dr. Suess and Abigail Day

This is our sweet friend, Abigail, who spent a few Mondays with us this winter while her parents went to work.  Our favorite is how she says, "Some? Some?" when she wants a bite.  "Do you want some?"  At almost two, she has won our hearts with her hugs, her baby crouch (when talking to Micah) and her ability to say all of our names!

Preschool and Dr. Seuss' birthday means...

...this CAT in the HAT.