This Blog is Going to France!

Hooray!  Today was my last day at work and Sunday I'm off to France!  The biggest dilemma was what book to take.  I have to take two just in case one turns out to be disappointing in the middle.  That's always the big fear.  Not that the plane will crash or that my luggage will be lost it's that I'll be stranded without a good book to read.  Horrors!!!!

We will be staying with a friend in Chateauneuf in the Loire Valley, south of Paris.

Here was the winner!

An Inconvenient Wife

See you next week!!!!

Bird Poo Poo

I work hard.  I can't possibly keep the bird poo off EVERYTHING.  Don't worry, she got a very good bath after this.  I'm pretty sure she got germy.

The Roads are No Longer Safe!

Look out! Holly taught Hannah how to drive Cassie's old car. Every time she got it moving she yelled "Go Hannah!" She really liked the idea that Daddy could call her while she was driving, but we need to make a rule to not drive and dial!

It's Finally Spring!

We spent the beautiful day outside.  Cassie learned to rollerblade and Hannah put on her first pair of skates.  She quickly decided that the grass was a little safer although the terrain was more difficult to navigate.

Just look at how her sweet little hand is resting on her leg like she is so grown up!

Egg Hunts are Great But Cousins are Better!!

Photos courtesy of Heather (soon to be Mama of Ezra)

Easter Girls

Hannah and her cousin Gracie had a great time hunting for eggs, eating the jelly beans that were inside, pretending sleep, wearing each other's shoes and jumping off things!  It was so fun watching these two play together!

Here Comes Hannah Cottontail!

Holly and Hannah did some practice hopping for Easter.  While watching this video you are to completely ignore the toys, clothes, books, and children strewn about the floor.  You never saw it.  It is not there.  Natalie is a great housekeeper.  The end.

Hannah and "Hannah Mama"

Hannah has taken to calling me Hannah Mama, and Paul is Hannah Daddy.  Last night as I was rocking her, she told me about her day.  It was her first story.  Here it is, recapped for you, verbatim:

Gramma's house

Hannah Daddy come.  Knock knock.

Hannah Daddy coat on

Hannah Daddy Hannah coat on.  Zip up.

Hannah car seat.  Hannah Daddy buckle.

Get kids school.  Holly. Christian. Cassie.  Play.

There you have it! A day in the life of Hannah.

Happy Birthday to Cassie!!

Cassie turned seven on March 13th.  She got a Barbie Dream House, lots of cool clothes, craft things, some stuffed animals, Heelys and a Webkinz.  Quite the haul!  The Dream House has changed a bit from the one I had in the 70s.  Barbie's toilet flushes, her nightstand light turns on and off, and she has a detachable guest suite which (according to the picture on the box) is where Ken spends the night.

She also got this weird pin thingy that makes pictures!

Trooper

Hannah loves to go visit our horse, Trooper, but she doesn't like to get too close.  Poor guy, he always come to see her thinking that she might have treats like apples or carrots.  Then Zackie came over to play and we DID bring carrots for Trooper.

Spending the Day with Zackie is so Much Fun!

Zackie and Hannah had a great time yesterday!  They picked flowers (or dandelions- whatever), they ate dandelions, they rode on bikes (the helmets were their idea!) then they went down the slide about 100 times.  In between they ate and shared goldfish, and got really dirty!  Both babies were VERY tired  and completely wore themselves (and their mamas) out!

Hugs and Kisses for Everyone!

Demolition is Fun!

Out with the old pool, in with the new!  Paul was pretty excited about driving his backhoe over the top of the old pool house.  I was pretty excited about getting the old pool house out of our front yard.

A Trip to the Emergency Room

Yesterday Hannah fell on the safety gate that protects her from the stairs and sliced open her eyebrow.  She cried and blood dripped from her head.  And because all that is pretty scary, we went to the emergency room.  

Hannah modeled her new bracelet:

And her new band-aid:

Then the doctor glued her head together with super glue and gave her a better band-aid:

She was pretty o.k. with the new look.

Then she fell asleep with her new monkey that Grandma Lisa 

gave her for being such a brave girl. 

Right after we got home I went to a baby shower where I gave a safety kit as part of my gift.

No kidding.

Finally!

I finally climbed the wall in a suitable time that allows me to upload the video.  Just remember that a harness really does nothing to flatter the hiney.

Snow Day- Even More!!

Snow Day!!

After we did some sledding (or being pulled behind a pick-up), we warmed up with toasted marshmallows in the barn.  For some of us the challenge was just staying upright.  

Distorted Reality

I think our next family Christmas picture should look something like this!

This sort of looks like the Teletubbie Sun Baby, but a little creepier.

This is Holly's eye.

This is Holly's latest school picture.

Holly, Hannah and her secret superstar twin Miley

This one is my favorite!!

Andy Warhol would be proud!

Well, It was Bound to Happen

I came home from work today and this is what I found.  I knew it was only a matter of time, but knowing your baby is swinging above a concrete pit is scary.  A little.

Sing it With Feeling

She's singing to Cassie like she really means it!