Butterfly Time

Spring is here! At least for the moment, as I see snow is the forecast for this weekend. Before we left for Mexico, we decided a family day was is order. We always love seeing the butterflies at Meijer Gardens, and I love the pics I get from there.

Miss Molly

Just love her. She is definitely a two year old and developing quite the will of her own. But I just can't resist those sweet eyes and her adorable little voice...at least when it's not whining at me. She is growing up way too fast. Sleeping in a big bed, using the potty on her own, dressing herself. I just had to take some pictures to remember how she is at this moment...this sweet but fleeting moment.

The Sun Will Come Out

As a Michigander, you get used to these cloudy, dreary winters that we have to endure. But an amazing thing happened this past weekend...the SUN CAME OUT!!! And for like three days in a row. WOW. So as long as it isn't below zero degrees, we have to head out to get some sunshine on our pale faces.

Miss Charley

Because she's beautiful...

...and so happy...

and now...always on the go...

Big Girl Bed

On Monday, we moved Mols into a big girl bed...a BIG girl bed. Since we had a queen mattress, she moved into a Queen bed, and she looks like the littlest princess in it. She looks so tiny...I can't believe she is growing up so fast. We were very firm with her about not getting out of her bed, and she did great! She talked for a long time, but didn't get out, and eventually fell asleep. She was very excited and very proud of herself in the morning. When we left her room that night, I cried. I always cry. I kind of wish I could freeze time right now. Before we know it, she's going to be going off to college. Ugh.

"Cheese" (we're still working on that)

Getting Ready!

Big hugs from mom and dad...

Grant says goodnight!

2 of 8!

Here are 2 of Grant's 8 goals in his last game!

Black Rockets

Grant played indoor soccer again this year with some friends, and we had a great time, even though I think we only won twice. Funny story. When I was growing up, I responded very well in sports to "incentives" from my parents. Grant seemed to have checked out a little bit, so I thought I'd try this approach with him too. We were supposed to go to Chuck E. Cheese after this last game, so I told him if he scored some goals, he would get extra tokens. And the kid scored 7 or 8 goals!! Guess it worked. Too bad we didn't actually go to Chuck E. Cheese. It was packed out and had a line just to get in, so we jetted over to Burger King Playland instead, but I'm sure that we will have to take him to Chuck E. Cheeses soon!

Science Night

A couple weeks back, Grant had Science Night at school. Here are some shots of his Science Project. Grant's Dancing Raisins was the name of it. If you put raisins in 7up, the raisins will dance. CO2 bubbles attach to the raisins causing them to float to the top. After they reach the top, the bubbles pop, making the raisins more dense again, causing them to drop back down. And it continues like this for about an hour or so. Pretty cool project actually...and easy. (Molly enjoyed "helping" out too!)

Can You Tie it in a Bow?

Charley does not have a lot of hair. I feel like Molly had much more at this age. Sometimes I am told...what a cute little boy...so we are trying to get a bow in that hair to make my little girl a little more girly, especially when she's in blue. :)

Baby Girl Walking

Charley has started walking! At 10 months old! It's crazy to see my baby girl walking around the room. It really makes me realize how fast she is growing up. Since we've taken this video, she has really taken off. Walking all over the room. Grant walked at this age as well, but Molly waited until she was 13 months old to walk. My life just got a little crazier. She has also learned to crawl up the stairs...ugh. Can't believe my baby is getting so big!

Little Man on Skates

Check out Grant on skates!

My Worst Enemy

Laundry. Always piling up. Always lurking. Always needing to be washed...dried...folded...put away...and that's the hardest part...putting it away. Always a basket full somewhere. It is amazing how many clothes my family of five goes through in one day. I purposely don't wash my clothes as much because everyone else in the family thinks it funny to wear sometimes two (or more) outfits a day. Laundry...I hate it. I loathe it.

Skating Out Back

Here are some more pics from skating on the pond out back. It was nice to have a sunny day to enjoy being outside. Unfortunately the next few days were a little too warm and the pond was a bit slushy. But I think we are getting back to it being completely frozen.


Daddy with Charley and Grant


Yeah that's safe...


Molly pulling Charley


And she loves it...she just lays there smiling and looking up at the sky.


Mols and I


Happy Girl


Daddy and Binks

Change of Color

I went in nearly blonde...I came out very brown...and a little red. Yikes!

Hair Gone Wild

Molly's hair...love it...hate it. When she is just out of the bath, it is curly ringlets and so super cute and bouncy, love it. When she gets up in the morning, hate it:




I am not kidding when I say it is like this every morning. I am not sure what she does in her sleep, but this is getting to be a real pain. She does not care for me brushing it out every morning, and getting it wet again, but how can I not.



Thinking of cutting it, but not sure that will help any, since the rat's nest is usually in the front on top. :)

Out on the Town

It was so great to have our great friends Ben and Carrie up for a night out downtown. Usually we have all of our kids, and just hang out at the house and talk, and stay up late. And it's great. But we decided it was time for us to take a night out on the town as adults. They did bring Lauren, which I was so excited about, because she is a doll baby, and super adorable. We actually went out, remembered how to be adults, rather than just mommies and daddies, had a yummy dinner, yummy drinks, and had a great time...still talking a lot and staying up too late. We had to get them out on the ice rink though when we got back to the house. Hope we didn't wake our neighbors up with a quick game of boot hockey. Super fun and super cold. So much fun to hang out!


All bundled up


The guys


Little ladies


Doll baby