Spring is here!!!

Happy April :)

Today and tomorrow it is going to be in the 80's! Record highs for MI :). We are pulling out the shorts and flip flops and quite excited about it!

 It's been fun to get McLleyton outside and show him a new world! Monreau is learning how to peddle a bike and I've been struck at how much more coordinated Shaelyn seems this spring compared to last year. We laughed today as she got into the cozy coupe only to discover she was now to tall to make it go, her legs were much too long! 

6 kids for a weekend...

This past weekend we had the pleasure of watching our two nieces and nephew for the weekend! We had six kids ages 8, 5, 5, 2, 9 months and 9 months! It was a fun, action filled three days! Jacob was just coming off a really bad cold and double ear infection, so I think adding a change of parents/surroundings was a little tough for him. He wasn't so sure he wanted his little cousin sharing his toys either :). But, it was fun to watch the boys interacting and to see the start of a life long friendship beginning. It's a gift to have a built in friend/cousin living right next door! 

The girls were amazing and had SO much fun together! Monreau has "caught up" in many ways and can now keep up with them. They are usually gracious enough to include her. We went for three days without having one fight! It's fun to see these four growing up! 

I had the best of intentions about taking a lot of pictures, but it didn't really seem to happen, but here's a few! :) 

The group... yes, Monreau is naked, she was in the middle of getting her pj's on :) 

Four friends!

Matt's ideal weekend :)... did I mention that my sister is taking our three while we go to Las Vegas next month! It's an even trade! 

We had a few "accidents" (that is marker on his face) over the weekend. A woman at Costco actually told us in an angry way that "we had too many children." I thought of my mom often :). 

Monreau all tuckered out after a few days of no naps :) 

She has three more weeks before we say goodbye to her paci. 

"When I grow up"

When I grow up ...

"I will work at Wendy's" ... Monreau

" I will be a house cleaner. And then a mom" ... Shaelyn 

I told Matt that the good news is, the pressure to save for college is gone :). I actually need to get this on video, because when you ask Monreau she proudly announces that she "wants to work at Wendy's." When you ask her what she will do at Wendy's she says, "I will say welcome to wendys. do you want french fries? I will take your dollar now." I think she could have a job :). Shaelyn is hard at work practicing for her upcoming career. She is actually SO helpful around the house.  About 5x a day she will ask me "mom, what can I do to help you?"  I will usually tell her something and about half the time she'll say, "no thanks, can you think of a different job." :) She definitely has a servants heart ... maybe she'd make a good nurse ... or a house cleaner would be fine too :). We are dreaming big around here!! 

Photo of the week...

There is nothing like the first days of spring ... it is good for the soul!

"Will you be my prince?"

Tonight, it was almost bed time when Monreau came upstairs with her arms full of "princess" clothes. She looked at me and sweetly asked me to get her "dressed for the ball." Most of me was just ready to be done for the day and the idea of changing her into princess clothes for just 5 minutes before getting PJ's on seemed like work, but it was worth it when she walked over to Matt and asked him "daddy, will you be my prince." Before we know it the days she sees her daddy as her prince will be gone ... for now we'll dance ...because all to soon she'll be gone!


She spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders

It's been a long day
And there's still work to do
She's pulling at me
Saying "Dad, I need you

There's a ball at the castle
And I've been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone...

She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of the dress
She says, "Dad, the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

She will be gone

Well, she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us all they had planned
She says, "Dad, the wedding's still six months away
But I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

(one of Shaelyn and Monreau's favorite songs to dance to, Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapmen)

The Circus...

My girls had "the best week ever" last week. After our adventure in Chicago their Grandma and Aunt Emmy took them to the circus! They took them last year and at the time we debated if Monreau was old enough to go (almost two at the time), but she did and she talked and talked about it for months! So, this year she was SO excited. She is talking and talking about it again! Today, she stood up on the kitchen chair and announced "I am like the man in the circus... I just need 10 more chairs and then I would be as tall." At the circus they had stacked 18 chairs and a man had stood on top. I'm glad she just stuck with one :). It is fun to listen to Monreau now replay events through her eyes. She is a creative and fun story teller and continually surprises me with the details that she can remember.

A few pictures of the day...

Grandpa made these cute cards and attached their ticket to them and then attached the card to the most amazing balloons! The girls thought it was a pretty awesome invitation!

Best Grandma and Aunt in the world!

Monreau can tell you all about the camels!

They even got to ride a "real" pony.

Such a fun day! Thank you Grandpa, Grandma and Aunt Emmy!!!

"Mama and No no"

McLleyton has learned two new words! The first one warms my heart and makes me smile every time he says it, "mama" :). The second one, well it might just show how deep our sinful nature is rooted :) ... "no no". He's been saying both of them for a couple days, but today I knew that he understood the meaning. This morning he was calling "mama, mama" from his crib and when I walked in he had the biggest smile on his face! And now each time he begins to touch something he knows he's not supposed to he'll say "no no, no no" and smile at me. I have to admit that it's just so darn cute and fun that he can communicate something, that it's hard to discipline him for it. I guess we have time for that :). He did have us all laughing tonight when I sternly said "no" to Monreau and then McLleyton looked at her and said "no no, no no." :) I love this phase of learning words and it's exciting to begin into it once again! He is a very sweet boy!
A random pic of McLleyton and his cousin Jacob while they were playing the other day! It's fun watching these two grow up together! What an amazing gift! Jacob is such a fun, happy boy! (notice all his teeth ... Mc has some catching up to do ...his first is just in :))

Chicago fun...

My mom and I took Shaelyn and Monreau to Chicago for two fun filled days! It was my mom's gift to the girls for their birthdays. A little late for Shaelyn and a little early for Monreau and it was one of my favorite experiences I've had with the two of them! 

We drove down on Thursday and went right to the Shedd Aquarium. In Monreau's words "it was amazing!" The girls LOVED it and the aquarium itself is really pretty awesome! They have a dolphin show, which includes dolphins, beluga whales, sea lions and penguins. It's very well done and the girls are still talking about it! It was fun to watch the girls learn new things in a very hands on way! It's amazing how close you are to all these beautiful creatures and to see God's creativity and in Shaelyn's words "imagination," it is pretty incredible! We spent over four hours walking, learning and watching! It's fun that Monreau can now go without a nap and do great! It makes the gap in age between the girls seem a lot smaller and they had so much fun together! 

After the aquarium we headed to our hotel. We were SO spoiled and spent the night at the Drake Hotel. It was beautiful! My mom treated us to an amazing dinner at a fancy sea food restaurant. It was by far the nicest restaurant the girls have ever been to. The hostess was kind enough to put us back in a corner and it was fun to teach the girls about edict and watch them experience a new setting. They were great! When we went back up to our room and milk and cookies arrived for the girls. A perfect ending to a awesome day! We tucked the girls in bed about 8:30 and they collapse, right to sleep! 

Friday held more fun! We started off with an amazing breakfast buffet at the hotel. Then we packed up and headed to the American Girl Store!!! :) Every little girls (and maybe mommy's) dream come true! We walked through Chicago and the smiles on their faces when they spotted the store were priceless! For their birthday they were allowed to each pick out a doll and one outfit. They had an idea of who they wanted before we arrived, but after walking all the way through the store and looking at each doll, Shaelyn chose Kit and Monreau chose Emily. To go with them Shaelyn wanted the tennis/golf outfit and Monreau picked pajamas. They truly LOVED just walking around and looking at each display, but when it came time to choose they were both very decisive :). Shaelyn had brought along her other American girl doll, so she had her hair done and much to Shae's delight her doll got her ears pierced to match Shaelyn's! :) We then had lunch in the American girl doll Cafe. They have special seats for their dolls and the decor is so cute! Another amazing experience for the girls! After lunch we took one more walk through the store and then headed back to the hotel and took off to drive home. 

This morning when the girls woke up at home, their energy and excitement to get their dolls ready for the day made me think of Christmas morning. They were SO excited! 

My favorite things about these two days was the chance to have interrupted time with the girls, watching them "be sisters" and for the chance for them to be with my mom! They are so blessed to have a "nannie" who loves them so much and is such an amazing woman! It is my prayer that they will have many, many years to be with and get to know her. For if they do, they will be blessed by her heart for Jesus and her love for her children and grandchildren. 

I had a lot of pictures and it was hard to choose! But, here's my favorite ones...

Just the girls! 

two of our favorites...the HUGE turtle and the penguins

watching the dolphin and beluga whale show...

Fish that were bigger than Monreau!

The girls were amazed by how tall the buildings were!

Out for a great dinner!

We even went for a quick walk outside at night!

nothing like jumping on the beds ... and then having milk and cookies...

Headed out to the American Girl store...

Monreau with her Bitty Baby! Looking so grown up! In 2 months she'll turn 3!!

So excited!!

Monreau and Emily!

doll make over :) before ... and ...

after!

Thank you Nannie!!!

Shaelyn at lunch!

Goodbye Chicago!