April Fun!!

We've had a good month so far!  The weather has said,

 "Yea Spring" 

"Just Kidding" 

"Bundle Up" 

"Yea Spring" 

...over and over again!!

We are making do: layering it up when headed out the door, out in the afternoons on ANY warm days when it isn't pouring down rain, and used to making alternative arrangements when Spring decides to hang back a little longer!

I really can't complain THAT much though... when I look at some of the weather our friends in Minnesota have endured these past few weeks: CRAZY amounts of snow and cold.... YIKES... I'll take a 30 degree day here and there.

Kid Update:

Evelyn is just as busy and nutty as ever!  She LOVES school, her pretend play has taken off, yet her sleeping-through-the-night status has fallen- "Mommy I need to go potty" ...at 2am- WAH!  

{School Cuteness}

She had her first sick day... never seen this kid fall asleep so quickly- let alone sleep outside of her bed... felt terribly for her, but she IS so cute!!

Maggie Lou has had a pretty good month!  

She is saying more and more words!  Amazing how far she has come in a few short months with her communication.  It has been life-changing for all of us and we're so grateful for all the work and teaching her therapists have done for her AND US!!

Spring-time allergies are NOT her friend!!  She's already been down for the count a couple times....

but I DO love the extra cuddle time with her;)!

 

Hippo therapy is BACK!!!

Ms. Codi and her team at Hoffin' It are back in the saddle!  HA... get it: horse... saddle... ya, don't worry, folks- I'm here all day;)!

Anyway, Maggie LOVES it!!  She would prefer they just walk her around on the back of Victor all day long... its so fun to see and amazing to see how much stronger she is from when we first started a year ago!

Potty training is upon us!!!  Ahhhh!!!!!  I'm not sure I'm ready, but Maggie is showing us a few signs that SHE is ready for "big girl stuff".  We got her seat installed last week and are beginning conversations and training with her therapists... 

Potty Training Maggie 2018- HERE WE COOOOOOOME!!!

...but then pics like this show up on my Facebook feed and my heart melts.  Hard to remember Ms. Maggie this little back in the day (all of 4 years ago- ha), but Harper still reads to her just like this- LOVE!

Ms. Harper... rockin' April as a big 7 year old!!  She is growing up before my very eyes!  We had a sweet Muffins with Moms breakfast at her school: it was so sweet to sneak a little extra time with her and of course she wanted to talk all about her mammal project she'd been working on;)....

...and the fun class trips she was taking this spring!  Hobbs State Park did not disappoint!!  She has had the best time with her class and her amazing teacher this year (we love Mrs. Boyles!!!), I cannot BELIEVE this school year is almost over... always so bittersweet!!!

I have spent a lot of time spring cleaning and organizing.  Amidst the purge (ha) I came across our Wii gaming station!  My parents gifted it to us as a wedding shower gift and in those early days- Pete and I used it ALL THE TIME!!  We unpacked it and he taught Harper a few moves... they LOVE it!!!  Crazy that Harper is getting to the age to enjoy stuff like that... I think her Daddy is thoroughly enjoying this stage;)!

...speaking of Daddy, he has been traveling SOOOOO MUCH for work!!!!  We have missed him and we sure soak in the time with him when he IS here.  And I have to say, I appreciate the little notes and texts he sends... helps make us feel special even when we don't get to see him that much.

But, when Daddy's away... the kids play!  HA!!  We met up with friends at Freddy's for burgers, fries, and ice cream... dinner of champions, people!  It was organized chaos at its best, but we had a blast... and I enjoyed the double bonus of wearing the kids out and getting them fed with ZERO mess at the house- HA!

...I even snapped this picture for Pete one morning.  Dressed and ready for school with time to spare... rockin' parenthood solo is TOUGH, had to capture a small win;)

But lately, we've had a little more Daddy time and a little more spring weather....

PERFECT for getting our garden greenhouses ready!!!  Harper gifted the greenhouses and fruit/veggie seeds to Pete for his birthday as she is MORE THAN READY to bring the gardening back to Arkansas!!!  We opted out of doing one in Minnesota last year, knowing we'd be moving, so she's READY!!!  I feel like we may need more garden to plant all of these bad boys... HA! 

Cheers to more sunshine, warmer temps, and HOPEFULLY Spring here to stay!!!!

Birthday Buddies 2018!!!

...and just like that, Harper turns 7 and Pete turns 34!!!

So cool how April 8 has become such a holiday... began with my little brother being born on April 8, then meeting Pete who shared the same birthday, and then our first daughter being born on her Daddy's (and Uncle's;)) special day.  I LOVE IT... and Harper pretty much thinks it's the coolest thing that they're this special trio;)!

So, in true ME fashion, I got a little excited: got it all ready with the birthday lights and some gifts from family....

...and tied balloons to their seats.  

I love the little surprises so when Harper got off the bus, and Pete home from work, they would KNOW Birthday Weekend was upon us (their birthdays fell on a Sunday this year)- HA!

...but the GREATEST surprise: my parents driving down to celebrate with us for the weekend!!!  I say it every time someone comes to visit from out of town, but I LOVE the expressions of pure joy on their faces when they realize who came to see them- NEVER GETS OLD!!!

 

So, yes... there was lots of goofing off, hanging out, hugs, and playing with Nana and Papa throughout their visit!

We had a bit of a busy weekend planned, so I opted to celebrate and open gifts on Friday night:

we did yummy pizzas in the pizza oven (had to show off for Nana and Papa- as they WERE the ones who had gifted us the pizza oven- so delicious!!).  Then Pete and Harper blew out the candles on their ice cream cake... it was so yummy!!!

{Make a wish!!}

 

Gift time!  Harper did well: fun new American Girl Doll stuff, some pool stuff, her first REAL Nerf gun (look at that face as she realized what it was;)- HA), and she became a fishy mama to her beta fish she named Kevin (after the Home Alone 2 movie;))....

...and a stuffed cat that breathes like a real animal.  It's about 75% creepy in my book, but she was BESIDE herself with excitement when she unwrapped it from her Godmother- way to GO, Kessha;).

And Pete got a few surprises as well: a kit to do the 23 and Me genetic and hereditary testing, some new workout gear, some Lowes $$ to help with endless house project dreams, and this cooler: full of dry ice with a double layer.... doughnuts from our fav place in Indiana (Jack's- YUM!!!), and all kinds of meat from our favorite Indiana butcher (Joe's is where it's at!!)  I dubbed the cooler the J&J Cooler of goodness... and Pete was STOKED!!!!  Nothing like mom and dad continuing to bring some Hamilton County love all the way to Arkansas... THE BEST!!!

Birthday Weekend Day 2: began with me running in a one-of-a-kind half-marathon!  For my second-ever half marathon, my friend, Jen, invited me to run it as a relay with her!  I was so excited at the idea and thought: no big deal... I can run half the race, and being April in Bentonville, ARKANSAS I  (we:)) thought the weather would be perfect!  We trained, we gathered our gear, and Jen even made us matching tanks to run in!  We were READY....

 

...or so we thought!  We woke up to 20 degree weather, with ice and snow flurries.  What in the WORLD?!?!  Coldest temps to date for that race, we were all layered up for the run!  Despite the crazy running conditions, WE DID IT!!!  It's amazing how the adrenaline of the crowd, knowing you're running with one of your very best friends, and the nostalgia of running through a town we love so much can do for your mental health- despite the freezing cold.  I was hurting as I met Jen half way, but was so proud of us HOPEFULLY beginning a tradition together... 

No one else I'd rather run that race with, lady... luv ya, Jen!!!

... and then some chill time at home with Nana, Papa, and some house projects!  Somehow pinatas have become a small birthday tradition around here... who knew!?

The girls each took a few good whacks at it... and Maggie burst out laughing with EVERY whack.  So funny!  Eventually, Harper busted it open... and they sat eating sweethearts and chocolate kisses until their hearts content... HA!

...one of the funniest things of family visits, are the certain "projects" that get accomplished.  Both sets of our parents are ROCKSTARS at helping us with stuff around the house when they're here.  They've mentored us through building a deck, setting up garage work spaces, showing us how to build furniture, and the list goes on and on.... but this was a new highlight: Pete and my dad spent 2 HOURS organizing the legos by color.  HAHAHA!  My mom and I stepped in to help them finish, but we sure did get a kick out of it!  And Harper LOVES it as now it makes it SO much easier to find the pieces she needs when working through instruction booklets!!

Thanks, guys!!  Great teamwork on that one!! ;)

Birthday Weekend, Day 3: their actual birthday!!

We all went to church together and then went to Pete's FAV brunch place in our town: Crystal Bridge's Eleven Restaurant.

...I think he enjoyed his Eggs Benedict!

...and then it was PARTY TIME- Descendant's 2 style!!

Harper was dead set on two things: a birthday party at Fast Lanes and that she would like the theme to be Descendants 2 (her favorite Disney channel movie;)).  So, we invited a few of her classmates and friends to join us for laser tag, bumper cars, arcade games, and fun- ha!

...slinkies for everyone;)

Such a fun group!!!!

...bumper car fun!!!!

 

...and laser tag craziness (of course Pete and Harper teamed up to dominate- ha:)).  They seriously love doing it together, and I have to say... they made a pretty good team- each covering the other as they ran around the course- HA!

Arcade fun!!!

So grateful to my parents for being there to share in the fun, take pictures, and help with all things birthday!!

Thank you for being there to surprise the kids on Friday, for pumping me up before the sun was up, and cheering me on for the coldest race ever (ha), and for being there to celebrate with our family... it was THE BEST!!!!!

{The crew... pizza and cake hit the spot}

{blowing out the candles of her white on white on white cake- HA... still can't believe I birthed a child who DOESN'T like chocolate?!?!}

Presents!

The sweetest moments of the party were Harper reading each of the cards her friends gave her with their gifts.  She took the time to go through them one by one, and thank them... kinda made my heart melt.  She may be a crazy person most of the time- highest energy ever- but she has the sweetest heart.

...after the party was over, the gifts unwrapped, the last of the yummy treats eaten, and the goodbye hugs given to Nana and Papa, these two sat down to do what they do best: watch Star Wars!  

Two.  Peas.  In.  A.  Pod.

April 8 Birthday Buddies.

I love these two with everything I have.  Each year, watching them celebrate together... it gets better and better.  They have a special bond- no doubt- they look alike, act alike, and share so many of the same passions.  It is a joy to watch their relationship grow stronger through the years.

...and although my brother was on vacation and we weren't able to see him, I pretty much won the brother lottery with him!  He just adds to the specialness of the day for sure!  Love you, Aaron.

April 8.  It's a good day;).

Love you so much, birthday buddies!!