Spring Break Recap...

Spring break seems like forever ago...and it was in a sense.

We started our week off with Anna's birthday party with her friends.  We also got to the park quite a few times because the weather cooperated.  Even days in the 50's worked for us at the park.  We enjoyed some time with our buddies the Petzolds.  We headed to the park and Drew thought he had died and gone to heaven...he had Will (a 3rd grader) all to himself.  They played some soccer and some basketball...I think Drew was destined to have a big brother - sorry buddy.  Good thing you are an awesome big brother yourself!  We also saw our friends the Dawsons a few different times.  We just love playing with both Brooke and Avery.  The kids run off and we usually don't see them during the play date.  We did meet the Dawsons at Jumpin Jax one day - along with the rest of Johnson County.  The kids still have fun jumping all around and wearing themselves out!

We played outside and had spur of the moment play dates with our neighbors the Beschs.  Got to love spring break, especially when there's a day or two of great weather.  Spring break was quite different for me this year, it is usually my last time off before the last long quarter of the school year.  I enjoyed having my kids at home with me and didn't miss our typical weekly schedule.  It makes me look forward to summer time.  We enjoyed the laid back schedule and the best part when the week was over I wasn't sent straight into a deep depression like most years,  because, guess what... I get to spend most of the day with my kiddos now that I'm staying home!

Now let's hope for some spring weather to stick around.  We've been teased quite a bit lately.  Just when we think spring is officially here, we get quite a few cold days.

 making a necklace 

 Anna and Brooke

 the big kids, Ave and Drew

 all four after hours of jumping

 she's note quite asleep, but boy is she a tired girl after Jumpin Jax

 park!

 spring break!

 check this out, we spent our break on the beach...or maybe just a park in Leawood

love this necklace he made for daddy and I to share!  Sweet boy!

Anna's Princess Tea Birthday Party

This year Anna had her first friend birthday party.  We decided on a princess tea party (after making that decision she wanted to switch it to a Wonder Woman party - but I held my ground).  We invited 4 of her friends (who happen to be my friend's kids) and their siblings.  It really worked out quite well.  I had several crafts planned for the girls and the boys enjoyed playing Play Station for most of the party.  The girls also decorated sugar cookies and got to use Anna's tea sets for cupcakes and lemonade. Anna's only request was to pour her own "tea" (lemonade) from the tea pot.  So that's what we did!  I'm really happy with how the party turned out and thanks to moms who helped out!

decorating princess crowns

time for pizza - here is Anna and her 4 friends, all are 4 except for one who turns 4 next month

the big girls

the big boys (Drew thought this was awesome)

another craft!

Ryan & Drew

time to play

tea party

how cute!

piñata....thanks Christie for being the brave one to hold it!

yeah for candy!

decorating cookies

Anna & Reese

brother of the birthday girl

Anna's Family Birthday Party

We had Anna's party last night.  We surprised her with Jalapeno's for dinner.  We had a taco bar and cheese dip (her favorites).  Then we had a princess cake and chocolate ice cream.  Anna had a great time playing with her cousins and brother.  We lucked out and spent most of the party outside.  We ate dinner and cake outside and even opened presents out there.  It seems like with March you never know what weather you will get, especially since we woke up to cold rain and snow this morning.  Thank goodness for warm weather last night!

Anna's big gift this year was a dollhouse.  The dollhouse was actually mine growing up.  My mom and grandpa put it together piece by piece when  I was 3.5.  I can remember going to my grandparents many days over the course of a month or so while my mom and grandpa worked on some surprise for me.  I would spend time with my grandma.  

Well we've kept this dollhouse for many years and when I got married I brought the dollhouse home to our basement.  The plan was to give it to my future daughter when she was old enough to play with it.  The doll house is very fragile, so hopefully Anna is ready to take good care of it.  It did have quite a few pieces missing so we asked Pa (Mike's dad) to help repair it in time for Anna's birthday.  So this dollhouse is a gift from a couple different generations and both sides of the family, what a very special gift!  

Anna was very exited to see the present and then she got quite a bit of furniture and accessories as a gifts from everyone.  Drew and Anna couldn't wait to get playing!  We have to be a little protective of the house and we had the kids wait until everyone left before we let them play.  They both enjoyed some time playing before bed and I can see many hours of doll house fun in our future.  

 present time!

 Anna & Ma

Peter and Nans

 these two are trouble!

Anna's 4 year stats

It came as so surprise that Anna is on the upper end of the charts in height.  We hear it over and over that she looks so much older than she is.  She also towers over most kids her age.

She was  was in the 75th percentile for weight (38 lbs) and 90-97th percentile for height. (42.5 inches).  She did a great job answering the doctor's questions and didn't act shy like she typically does.  I just can't get over how big she is!

When it came to shots she wasn't the least bit worried.  Drew had tears in his eyes when he heard she had to have 2 shots.  He said, "I don't want her to get any shots."  Anna then said, "Don't worry, I like shots."  So when it was time Anna laid right down and didn't flinch.  She got two stickers since she got two shots and Drew got one sticker for being such .  I love how Drew is such a sweet and sensitive boy!

Happy 4th Birthday Anna!!!

Dear Anna,

You are four years old!  Daddy and I just can't believe you are that OLD!!!  Our little girl is growing up way too fast!  You have been busy growing up this past month.  You have started writing your name in all caps.  I think you could have accomplished this much sooner, but you are a bit stubborn.  It is all about letting it be your idea!  So now you LOVE writing your name and you made sure to tell your teacher right away that you are able to do it!  I love seeing your school work come home with your name written by you!  I'm very proud!

You have taken more of an interest in "school work"  you always ask me to do "school work" with you when I'm working with Drew on his school work.  You seem to want to learn how to write all the letters, so that is my goal for you this summer.

You are also working hard not to have to wear pull ups to bed.  You actually prefer pull ups, but now that there is an incentive to wake up dry you are doing pretty good.  You had been waking up dry most mornings and just wetting your pull up sometime before you got dressed for the day.  No more of that, you little stinker!

You are loving barbies still and you are taking an interest in singing and dancing.  You love singing (or shall we say shouting) all around the house.  You tell us you are a "rock star!"  You like Little Ponies, princesses, dressing up, and just making a mess.  You are not our neat and tidy child.  It is amazing how fast you can rip apart a room or even a house.  Picking up is not your favorite, but with some encouragement you'll get the job done.

Gymnastics is going well for you.  You have passed the first Preschool class, that you actually got to take before you were 4 (the class requires the kids to be 4 before starting the class).  You did so well in Preschool 1 that you are moving up to Preschool 2!  You are also enjoying your ballet class and I can't wait for the performance, let's hope you don't get shy all of a sudden!!!

You got to take birthday treats to school yesterday.  I made sugar cookies in the shape of a flower.  You were so excited to celebrate at school, you even insisted on carrying the cookies into school, luckily you didn't drop them!!!  You got to wear a cute birthday hat at school and a birthday sticker, Ms. Chris made your day very special!

Today, we woke you up before daddy had to head to work and Drew gave you a present to open.  You had gymnastics today and it was the last class of this session so you got to show me all your tricks and I got to walk around with you in the gym.  We then ran to Target to get you a couple of short sleeved shirts, you have grown so much most of your summer/spring stuff from last year is way too small!  We then got Drew and met daddy at Chic Fil A for lunch and then stopped by Ma's and Pa's.

We picked up a pizza for dinner and when daddy got home we FINALLY got to open presents.  You did a pretty good job waiting all day for the presents!  Here you are ready for presents:

 Anna and Lucy got matching nightgowns!

After presents Pa &Toots stopped by to drop off their present and we had cake and ice cream!    It was a fun day!!!  Happy birthday to our sweet and spunky little 4 year old!