Sunday Best: Suit up! edition

What I Did Over My Spring Break

Spring Break.  I am pretty sure teachers look forward to this week more than the students.  My plan for the break was to get everything done that I have been putting off...doctor, dentist, eye doctor, cleaning, organizing, etc., and, of course, to have some fun with the kids.

Right away, my sister and I took our girls to the rodeo and to see Hunter Hayes in concert.  The weather was rainy and miserable, but Ellie and Kinleigh were in heaven.  It made me realize that I need to plan more one-on-one activities with Ellie.  I love that she is older now and we can go do fun things together and have actual conversations.

Ellie also had a day where she went over to her cousins' house for a Harry Potter marathon.  Her 8th grade cousin, Leilani, told Ellie that if she finished the entire series, they would have a movie day.  The girls watched movies from 9-5 and made it through the 1st, 4th, and 6th Harry Potter movie.  I am pretty sure it was the highlight of Ellie's Spring Break...maybe even better than Hunter Hayes.

Ellie wasn't the only one getting special treatment.  We enrolled Jack in swim lessons for the week.  He didn't learn anything new, but he sure had fun.

The weather was beautiful most days so the kids would ride their bikes to the park (while I pushed Sam in the stroller) and we would meet up with friends or cousins to play.

I finished my break by going to Dianna's last night to watch the new Veronica Mars movie with a couple of friends.  I stayed up way too late for someone who had to be up by 5:00am the next day, but it was worth it.

I really enjoyed my time home with the kids, but I know the school year is almost over and soon I will have the entire summer with those munchkins

Looking for something to read?

Y'all!  My brother-in-law wrote a book!  I was one of the first people he showed it to a long, long time ago, but now he has finally published it.  I think it is fantastic...and not just because that is my lil' sis on the cover.  It really is a good read.  Plus, it is only $2.99 for the Kindle.  Check it out!

Dear Sam at 11 months

Dear Sam,

It is difficult for me to accept that you are just a month shy of turning one. This past month has been one of exploration for you. You are so curious about the world around you that you always want to be on the move, touching and mouthing everything.

You are a bit obsessed with doors and cupboards. You will just open and close them repetitively without seeming to get bored. You also love to pull yourself up to the windowsill so you can bang on the window and yell at the dog. You are so tall and you like to pull up on any stable (or unstable) surface so it is difficult to keep things out of your reach. You are forever getting remote controls and coasters from the coffee table and making them disappear.

You still love to eat, but you are lazy. You refuse to hold the bottle on your own and you don't want to mess with a sippy cup. I have always weaned my babies from the bottle by one year, but I have a feeling that you are going to be a challenge. At least you have no problems feeding yourself!

You have discovered the fun in teasing your brother by hitting him and then laughing at his reaction. You also think it is hilarious to give your pacifier away or try to put it in someone else's mouth. I love listening to your little chortle as you interact with others.

Sambo, it is so fun watching your personality emerge. You are feisty, stubborn, funny, and focused. I love how you bring out the sweet, gentle sides of your brother and sister and the more patient side of your parents. You are simply the best, my little man.

Love,
Mama

Sunday Best

I think the reason I like to take pictures of my kids on Sunday is because every other day of the week they look homeless.  Don't worry, Sam looked spiffy, too, but I let him sleep until 5 minutes before we walked out the door.