24 Hours, People!

In less than 24 hours, we had our new car seats!!

I was bold with my color choices and hope I don't regret it! I worry the seats will get dirty really fast - I guess we'll soon find out!

I really liked this seat because it reclines a little to help with car ride naps. Grace doesn't care much for the reclining feature, but maybe after our next trip to see Grandma Margaret, she'll change her mind!

But, the real fun was that we had two new houses to add to our box town!!
(Or, out houses, according to Daddy!)

With the recent warm weather we were able to get out our Easter outfits for my photo session!

Cooper was none too thrilled to be in a tie.

This was the last one I shot. I think the kids look cute - Tim thinks they look creepy! Something about The Hills Have Eyes or a couple of oppressed religious sect children.... Hee, Hee...

Home Shopping...

ROCKS!!!

I can shop in my jammies, anytime!!

We began the Car Seat Shuffle today as I purchased 2 new car seats for Grace. (One for the Honda and on for the Jetta)

Check them out here...

http://www.overstock.com/search?keywords=safety%201st%20summit%20car%20seat&taxonomy=&SearchType=HP_Header

She chose the orange one for the Honda and the green one for the Jetta.

Cooper is just now 20 pounds, so he will probably ride backwards a little longer. They now recommend they face backwards until they are 2 ! And Grace has outgrown the height requirements on hers. (Shocking!)

So we had to think out the next 6-8 years and try to plan when Grace would need just the booster and when Cooper could have her old ones. We would like to not have to buy extra seats every 2 years! Cooper does not seem to be on the same growth pattern as Grace, so it is hard to predict when he will need bigger seats!

As for a picture for the post, here is our family portrait we had taken for the church directory.

I didn't think about a possible black background... I'm kind of a floating head.

Oh Happy Day!!

The sun came out and it is warm!!!

Some things we have been "up" to...

(Again, I say, Oy.)

Grace loves to swing!

And play in the sand box.

(Please keep the sand in the box... yea, right.)

Cooper loves to find a nice spot in the shade and eat leaves.

Or just wander around.

(Oh, I just can't resist those cheeks peeking out from under that hat!)



I got crazy today and took the kids to Ft. Wayne to get my free Build-a-Bear animal. (I got a coupon in the mail for my birthday. I wanted to get the Colt's cheer leading outfit for my new bunny, Fripple Frap, but decided I would rather have some new clothes for myself, rather than a stuffed animal. I haven't bought anything for myself for about four years!)

(I guess I don't have a picture of her yet...)

It actually turned out to be kind of a relaxing day! We were under no deadlines, Cooper napped on the way, they both did well in the store, ate well at the food court, played in the play area, and napped on the way home! I don't know if it was worth the gas money, but it was a nice change of pace for us and great to be out of the house!

Oh, yuck!

(I wonder what germs we just picked up.)

Time out.

(The worst part of the day was keeping Grace off of Cooper while they played! It would have been the same at home, so it was just nice to be in a new environment!)

Isn't she pitiful?!

When we got home we met up with the twinners, August and Zoe, and had a good time at the park and playing London Bridges- Here's Grace all "locked up"!

Happy Easter!

HAPPY EASTER!!!!

We made it to the Bunny Bash in town last weekend to make some crafts and see the Easter Bunny. Both kids smiled big for the camera... but I missed it! Cooper thought it was funny, and Grace will do anything for a sucker!

There was an organ grinder with a monkey that would shake - Cooper LOVED it!

The Easter Bunny was kind to us!
A mini cooper in an egg! Cool!

Our Easter duds.

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Monica for making sure we are always stylin'!

(It is supposed to be nice this week, so I plan to redress and pose some cute outside pictures then.)

We met the Cooper family for lunch after church. There was coloring...

Cookie decorating....

(Tim: "If I do this bad enough they won't make me do any more...")

And playing outside with our new ribbons!

_________________________________

All the world is my step...

We are all feeling much better and happy to be back to our normal routine. Yesterday was rough, but I think we made some progress towards our "normal". Several times yesterday I found myself in my very own episode of Super Nanny, but I won the battles early on with Grace and she seemed to calm down by the end of the day. Both kids are eating better as well, so I'm looking forward to warm weather so we can get out and enjoy it!

The Road To Recovery

Well, I think we are on the mend here. Grace's cough is sounding much better, and they both are starting to play and act "normal" again. Now we start the process of re-training. No one ever told me that after they are sick is sometimes harder than when they are sick!! The defiance and whining can get on our last nerve! But, I'll take it over sickness any day!

We got out of the house last night and the kids really enjoyed being out. (So did we!!) We went and played at the play area at the mall and ate at Fazolis (99 cent kids meals on Tuesday!) I never realized until I became a parent that that the kid who sneezes snot all over their hands during a full body sneeze is not really cute, but rather the chance for us to catch what they have! I saw that a few times last night, but I suppose other parents were thinking the same thing about my children's coughing. Oh well - it was worth it to be out of the house.

I wanted a new picture to post today, and Cooper finally gave me the perfect opportunity... (Please know that I originally removed him from the situation while I got the camera, and then reposed him for this picture!!)

He was awfully quiet - and now I know why! I have to be careful to check where things are sitting as he will use anything as a step stool! Here it was a tool box and rubbermaid, and below, the ball popper!! Soon he will figure out to move things so he can step up on them, and then we're really in trouble!

Happy @#*&! Spring Break!

What a way to start spring break. The kids began running fevers on Wednesday and Thursday last week. It is always a tough call for me when it hits at the end of the week - Do we go to the doctor or try and wait out the weekend and see what happens. Well, this time I should have gone to the doctor on Friday. (The first time I thought I'd wait it out.) Cooper AND Tim have ear infections and Grace has pneumonia in her lungs!!!!! What the?!?! I just thought it was nasty colds! So, we spent the morning in doctor's offices and CVS waiting areas. Good times.

I made a new med chart to accommodate all the new meds and new people added to the list! (My ear is feeling funny now [psychosomatic?!], so I of course fear I may make the list by the end of the week!)

This kids are downright miserable! Grace just lays around and cries and won't eat. Cooper is finally starting to eat again and show some signs of life, but tires quickly and then just wants to be held. They both sound awful when they cough, so hopefully the new meds kick in soon, as we miss our happy, healthy babies!!!

Anyway... in other news.

The kids like to talk on the phone.

Cooper will talk on anything that fits in his hand.


We've been enjoying our playhouse that Jill saved for us from her new kitchen cabinets! Thanks Jill and Kyle!!

Cooper is trying out utensils.

Cooper can crawl into and out of Grace's bed and Grace can empty all of her toys into her bed.

This is NOT how he is supposed to get out. He knows it but just likes to freak Mommy out.

I had to throw out my favorite sleeper.Obviously is was well worn!

(Cute little toe...)