BIG BOY!!!!

Don't want to jinx it but this big boy has been wearing underwear the past 2 days with no pee accidents (#2 is another story...I've found little nuggets on the floor twice, once he actually tried to blame it on the dog...too bad we don't have a dog!). He is SO beyond proud of himself, as are we! Today he told me, "Mom, my no need diapers anymore." It is pretty fabulous, but there is a little tiny part of me that is sad because it means I really don't have a baby anymore. Ah, who am I kidding, Ben will always be my baby- his future wife is gonna love me:) 

Poor Lo Lo

Poor Lauren always gets the croup. For some reason it always seems to hit when Kevin is out of town too and it always starts around 10 at night completely out of the blue. Last night was her worst night ever. She coughed for about 2 hours and just kept gagging and gagging. I felt so bad for her and so helpless. After trying honey cough syrup, her inhalers, a shower, cold water, a change of scenery (we watched Sprout at midnight just to see if we could distract the coughing). Nothing worked. At 1 am I got online and starting searching for tips. I read that if you rub Vick's Vapor Rub (which I didn't have but I had a peppermint oil headache serum that I used) on feet then put socks on the cough should stop in 5 minutes. At this point I was seriously considering taking her to the ER because the poor kid couldn't catch her breath so I figured I'd try it. I got her out of the shower, rubbed it on her feet, put on socks, then blew her hair dry. By the time I was done drying her hair, her cough had almost completely stopped! I was so amazed. Maybe it was luck, or all the other things we'd already done kicking in, but I don't care- it worked! The poor girl finally passed out and slept until 9. Me on the other hand wasn't so lucky, Ben decided to pay me a visit at 3AM and I was woken up by him hitting me yelling, "Get my man!"...I am assuming he was having a nightmare. Oh the joys of parenthood- but I wouldn't change it for a second. 

Easter Round Two!

Bob & BZ are always so nice and include us in their family Easter Extravaganza! Each year there are more and  more kids and they always have a BLAST! 

The hunt began! There was some good loot to be found this year too, not just eggs but actual toys! The kids were thrilled. 

Hadley Jane in her super cute lady bug sweater! 

Miss Lauren

Ben got the hang of it a little better in the afternoon. He still needed a little help from Nana though. 

He found car stickers and sunglasses- jack pot! 

Carson decided to skip the hunt and just have a bottle. Next year he'll be fighting for eggs too! 

The Easter Bunny made his appearance and was a hit with most, Lauren & Ben liked him but I didn't get any pics.  Poor Carson wasn't feeling too well but he was a good sport. 

The Easter Bunny and his lovely assistant, Megan. 

The Easter Bunny brought Ben a jeep that he LOVES! He hasn't stopped playing with it since we got home and first thing this morning he said, "That was nice of the Easter Bunny to get me this jeep, Can we go see him again please?"

And I don't know how the Easter Bunny did it be he managed to find a fancy Justin Bieber cup that changes color and Justin Bieber sillly bandz. The cup has a special place in Lauren's room and she is amazed at how he knew she loved Justin Bieber. She talked about it all day today, just how in the world could he have known? Magic, pure Magic! 

Thank you so much Bob & BZ for including us and making Easter extra special for all the kids every year! 

Happy Easter!

 We woke up to Ben in Lauren's bed, always makes us smile. I love how much this boy loves to cuddle! 

 The Easter Bunny came- yahoo!!! Ben kept looking all over for him, he thought he'd stay and hang out I guess. 

 Lauren was so excited!

 Can't wait to look through their loot!

 Was was SO thrilled with his new night light. Anything that plugs in is super exciting to Ben!

 Modeling their new slippers and Lauren is holding her new Justin Bieber nail polish- "One less lonely glitter". It is purple and glittery- quite fabulous! 

 The hunt! 

 Ben would find one egg, open it, go around and share a piece of candy with each of us. Meanwhile Lauren was filling her basket. Maybe next year he'll get the hang of it!

 Lauren got very fancy for the occasion! This look lasted all of 10 minutes, then she changed about 4 times. 

 The cousins getting ready to open some fun Easter gifts. 

 And of course Carson was there with his great smile! Happy first Easter Carsie poo! 

 The kids table. 

After everyone left we decided to watch a movie before heading over to Bob & BZ's for Easter part 2. Look who feel asleep? 

It great start to a very fun day! 

Easter has begun...and somehow it seems more like Christmas!

 Oma & Opa came to visit and they brought the kids their Easter treats. I love how they are both covering their eyes waiting for the surprise! 

 They were spoiled rotten! Ben got a fun new truck.

 Lauren some Polly Pockets.

 When Ben opened this outfit he said, "My like these clothes mom." 

 Lauren got a cute dress & sweater, and of course some candy. Then it was time for the big unveil...

 EASTER PILLOW PETS!!!!! Ben looked at Oma and said, "But my already have a pillow pet." He doesn't get the whole idea of having more than one thing I guess...

 Lauren got the super cute rabbit with polka dotted ears. 

 So soft and cozy. I think I may need to get myself a pillow pet! 

Lauren & Ben are pretty darn lucky! Check out Lauren's cute new dress, I think she looks so old in that dress & sweater. She LOVES it. She actually cried when it was time to take it off tonight but it was waiting on her dresser to wear tomorrow. Before she went to bed she said, "I think I'll wait until after I eat my cereal to put it on because I don't want to spill on it." So cute. 

Thank You Oma & Opa!!!!!! 

Picnic Point

 Lauren's class had a field trip to Picnic Point in Edmonds today. It was a great park right on the water, we loved it!

 We were so lucky to have a dry day! No rain, but lots of wind and low temps. We were very bundled up! 

 Lauren collected lots of shells and rocks with barnacles on them, oh such treasures. 

 They were all amazed by the dead crab. I love what impresses them!

 Ben spent a lot of his time sitting on the log. As soon as we got to the beach he asked to go back to the car. It was too cold and too muddy. When I took him to sit on the log he said, "But it's dirty." Oh this boy, not too adventurous! 

 The group minus a few.

 I love group shots of kids, they are always so cute!

 cutest. kids. ever. 

It was such a fun day. While on this field trip I was thinking about how lucky I am that I get to do these fun things with my kids. Really really lucky. I need to remember that more often. 

Randoms from the past few days

 Ben's toddler group hosted a little carnival. We lucked out and had sun! The station I worked at was the "fruit loop necklaces". The kids loved making them. 

 Ben felt very grown up being at his "own" event! 

 Yesterday we dyed Easter Eggs, Lauren has been asking to do this for over a month now. She was thrilled when I finally told her it was time. 

 Everyone in the family has an egg with their name on it, even Rudy. She wanted to make one for Honey too;) 

 It was a sunny 56 degrees yesterday, total convertible weather, right? 

The kids think the "new" car is SO cool and were thrilled to ride in it (Lauren told the lady at Home Depot last night that her dad just got a new convertible, I love how she makes us sound waaaay fancier than we are!). They were a little chilly by the time we got to my parents, but they had fun nonetheless.