Our Spring Break

Spring break last week wasn't very . . . well . . . spring-y. In fact, it started off with a blizzard, so we spent much of the week just relaxing at home. This little Easter craft project kept everyone busy for quite a while (notice all the un-spring-y snow through the window):


Abby's masterpiece . . .


. . . and Katie's . . .


. . . and Mom's.

(When I was little, I used to spend hours making little creatures out of pom-poms, often with help from my mom. I called them "cucuns." I guess now I'm passing along the fettish to the next generation!)

Katie looking oh-so snuggly in her bed created from couch cushions (building things out of the cushions is a popular pastime around here).

Alex at his train-watching post (you can just barely see the train tracks from this window). He gets so excited when he hears that whistle.

We did venture out to the library, the children's museum, and a playdate with friends . . . but overall, it was a week of sleeping in and laying low. No homework to check, lunches to pack, or buses to meet. Sometimes that's exactly what you need!

Our Tree

I love how our magnolia tree explodes every March, practically overnight. (I just hope the beautiful blossoms survive this snowy cold spell!)

Birthdays!

We've had a lot of birthday celebrations around here lately:

Grandma Nora's (when she and Grandpa came to visit in February),

Luke's birthday #1 (with his parents),

fun at Chuck E. Cheese's for Abby's school friend Zach,

bouncing in the jumping castle at next-door neighbor Owen's party,

and Daddy's birthday--#2 (on the actual day).

Whew!

Good-Bye Winter?

The crocus is definitely one of my favorite flowers, mostly by virtue of its impeccable timing. Just when you think the dreary winter will drag on indefinitely, the crocus pops up its cheerful head as if to say, "Hang in there! Spring is on its way."
(Here are some of the few that Alex hasn't stomped on, that {adorable} little turkey!)

Katie's 4th Birthday

Katie turned 4 years-old last week! Here she is with her best friend, her puppy Rosie.
Never wanting to be predictable, she asked for an "Ariel-zebra cake." So . . . that's what she got!

Katie frosted it by herself (with help from Mom on the lettering.)

For entertainment at her party, we watched a DVD that Abby had compiled showing pictures of Katie set to fun music. (That's right, 6-year-old Abby made it! She's amazing with the computer.)

At age four, Katie is:

spunky . . . she loves to ride her bike, jump up and down, and climb on the treadmill.

responsible . . . she is thrilled to finally have her own chore chart and dutifully checks off each chore as she completes it each day.

opinionated . . . she knows what she likes and doesn't like, and that's that (especially with clothes!).

nurturing . . . she is constantly tending to the needs of her baby dolls, stuffed animals, and Calico Critters. She really misses Jane the Gerbil, who passed away a few weeks ago. Katie took very good care of her.

beautiful . . . those big, blue eyes just melt your heart.

smart . . . she writes all her letters and can spell all of our family members' names.

fun . . . she and Alex can entertain each other for hours by chasing each other around the house giggling.

Happy Birthday, Katie!