Happy Easter!

Well the bunnies are all packed away, the Peeps are all consumed, and our family has just finished up the most wonderful Easter holiday. Joined by Grandma Susie, Aunt Coni and Uncle John, we had a great weekend filled with dying Easter eggs, the Annual Easter Egg Hunt, and TONS of candy.  Blessed.

Lauren and Mommy dying Easter Eggs.  No, that's not red wine in my hand people.

The Annual Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt.  

Mommy and Daddy have been hosting this event 

long before Lauren arrived and wondered 

if we'd ever have a child of our own to enjoy it.  

The look on Bryon's face shows how blessed we feel.

Look Daddy. More CANDY!

Lauren has been working on making "good choices" 

to earn a Princess Castle. 

Some days are better than others, but the Easter Bunny

 did indeed deliver! 

"I may not be able to run 

from this Easter outfit but I sure can hide"

St. Patrick's Day 2013

Lauren got to go to her first St. Patrick's Day Parade last weekend and it was a huge success.  

Her favorite parts were...

Skipping her afternoon nap

Green Shamrock Antler Hats

Being with "big kids" who think she's as cute and adorable as we do

Getting to stand in the middle of the street without Mommy and Daddy yelling at me

Dogs, horses, marching bands, dancers and CLOWNS

Candy falling from the sky!

The Week in Review

Dress:  

• Preferred - Diapers and warm clothes for a Midwestern winter
• Actual - Running around naked, wearing big girl panties (un-potty trained) and insisting on only wearing shirts with pockets.

Playtime:  

• Preferred - Baby dolls, coloring, Play-doh and reading books
• Actual -  Eating the Play-doh, coloring the walls, and ripping up and/or eating her books

Diet:

• Preferred - Protein, fruits and vegetables.  
• Actual - Chocolate milk for breakfast, Pink cupcakes for lunch, and Smarshmallows before dinner (yes "marshmallow" now begins with the letter "s").

Sleep:

• Preferred - In bed by 7:30 p.m., asleep by 8:00 p.m., awake at 6:30 a.m.
• Actual - In bed by 7:30 p.m., asleep by 9:00 p.m. (wearing Santa socks), awake at 5:00 a.m.  The time change will not be welcomed!

Verbal:

• "I'm not a baby. I'm a big girl".  Next sentence "Quit calling me a big girl, I'm a baby".
• "Daddy when your hair gets really long then I will put in in braids for you".
• "Momma, can I have your boobs so I can play with Opus?" (NOTE:  Boobs is actually my bra which I've instructed Lauren is NOT a cat toy)

To be continued...

Tiny Dancer

Last week, Lauren attended her very first dance class.  We may not be ready for the "Nutcracker" ballet but we sure are cute!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH3dDqPJcz4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC1XmjaLWx8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XESUfmsCysE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Home Again, Home Again

Once our vacation of a lifetime ended, it was time to get home to baby girl and rescue Grandma Kathy and Pop Pop from their 10 days of boot-camp (aka: baby-sitting).  It was TOUGH to come home!  But what a blessing to know that Lauren was safe, happy and didn't miss her parents one bit.

Bryon and I barely have time to get our laundry done, but the Grandparents managed to create artwork, help Lauren write a book, cook three months of food to put in our freezer, take the cat to the vet, get Lauren to daycare, work a full-time job, and go to Wal-Mart three times in one day.  And that was just on Saturday (ha!)  

Thank you to Grandma Kathy, Pop Pop Jerry, and Grandma Susie for being with L.  And thank you to everyone else who offered to watch her if needed. So loved and so thankful for such a wonderful vacation.

Our Welcome Home Sign..

Our Welcome Home Book...

St. Bart's or Bust - THE TRIP

In January of 2011, Jerris and Michael invited Bryon and I to St. Bart's to celebrate our upcoming 10 year anniversary and to get away from the hustle and bustle of work and parenting. One year of planning later, bags packed, Grandma and Grandpa arrived to watch Lauren and we were on our way!  

Daily Agenda:

Wake up in your 4-poster bed while listening to the sound of crashing waves down the hill below.

Head out to the open air kitchen, and drink a fabulous cup of cappuccino (or four) while enjoying the view of the teal blue ocean in front of you.

Now here is where it got stressful...

• Should we go to the French market and buy baguettes, meat and cheese for lunch? Or should we go out and sit at an ocean-side restaurant with our feet in the sand?  
• Should we lay around the villa pool and read books/play Gin Rummy, or should we hit up one of the fabulous beaches on the island?
• And should we clean up in our outdoor shower or skip it altogether? 

After our afternoon activities, the next decision was weather or not to take a nap, go shopping, or begin Happy Hour (they start earlier on the islands you know).

By day's end, Bryon would make us a fabulous dinner in our open air kitchen or we'd go out for French fair.

Another game of Gin, a shot of St. Bart's Rum, and back to the 4-poster bed and do it all over again the next day.

This was our living room. No better place in the world to stay and play

Who knew even your feet could be happy and relaxed?

This sure beats eating lunch at our desks

Michael shows his enthusiasm for vacation

The most expensive boats that we will likely ever see...

To go with the most expensive/bedazzled pair of shoes that Sydney has ever bought.

The perfect hosts

Look everyone. We actually showered today. Or did we?

Jerris and I headed out for a hard day's work at the beach

Bryon is hard at work too

Too many games of Gin Rummy to count.  Can you say "Competitive"???

Flip on my back or get a cocktail?  That is the question.

Clearly, we are having a miserable time

Jerris...our lady of leisure

We aren't in Kansas anymore baby!

We can honestly say it was the vacation of a lifetime.  Quite possibly the most relaxing vacation, in the most beautiful location, with the funnest people ever.  Thank you to Jerris and Michael for taking us and for everyone that stepped in to make it happen.  Seven days in St. Bart's = HEAVEN!  

Mom and Dad

Let the tears flow. 

The dreaded day is upon us. 

The day most parents must vividly remember (and not fondly) in their memories.

Yes, it's true...We have now officially become known as "Mom and Dad". 

Not Mommy or Daddy. 

But "Mom and Dad". 

What's next?  Borrowing Mom's lipstick and asking for our car keys???

It's going way too fast Lauren.

(Insert more tears here)