This made me smile today.

Nothing better than kids’ artwork.  I love this stage.  You know, the one when they are first starting to draw people.  Clare did this one recently.  I just love the three year old interpretation of the human form!

Easter 2011

We had a very busy Easter weekend.  Lots of things to do and people to see, and we are all thoroughly worn out.  We dyed eggs on Saturday evening after spending the late afternoon with an old friend of George’s.  Sunday we woke up, explored our Easter baskets, and had a quick egg hunt in the backyard.  Then, we got dressed and went to Mass.  Afterwards we made a few stops before heading to the bay house.  We spent most of the day there and headed home just in time to relax a little bit before bedtime.

And the pics…

Chalk People

Robot Jacob

Angel Clare

…and we had a Three-Legged Grace that managed to not get captured on camera.  Thanks to Aunt Chelsea and Gibb, Uncle Nels and Aunt Kelly, and Gree Gree for a fun afternoon.

Happy 3rd Birthday Clare!

Today we celebrated Clare’s 3rd birthday.  How on earth did she get to be three?  It seems like just yesterday that I found out I was pregnant with her.  Time is going by way too fast.  The twins were so excited for her to open her presents this morning.  They even wanted to wake her up rather than let her wake up on her own.  When she did finally wake, they made sure we opened presents right away.  Sweet Grace was so proud.  She wanted to use money from her own piggy bank to buy Clare a present, so she and Jake picked out a doll bath and potty set for her.

She also got two kitty cats and a kitty bed from her Gree Gree.

Some Rapunzel sheets from Mommy and Daddy.

And a new pink computer to replace the one worn out from the twins.

Playing with her new toys.

This afternoon we had a small party for her.  She had so much fun and was so lucky to be surrounded by friends and family who love her.

Eating the cookie she decorated.

Ready for cake

Opening presents

Now we have cleaning up to do! 

In the Sprinklers

Monday was a warm, beautiful day, but the kids were bored.  I pulled out a sprinkler and let them play in it for a bit.  Grace loved it, Clare played a little, and Jake didn’t want to get in at all.  Oh well, I tried!

Sleepy Grace

A few days ago, Grace was so worn out that she fell asleep in the floor.  A little while later, I walked back into the room and Jacob was laying right next to her resting his head on her.  It was so cute!  I grabbed the camera and took these photos.

To the Zoo with Daddy

One of my parenting tactics: when we go somewhere often, but I don’t want to do or buy something every time, I tell the kids we can only do it with Daddy.  So at the zoo, I tell them we can only ride the carousel with Daddy.  This is actually true, as I don’t think I could juggle all three safely.  We also only buy treats when Daddy is with us.  Because of these rules and their general excitement with the zoo, the kids have been begging to go to the zoo with Daddy.  We finally had the chance, and after two failed attempts a couple of Saturdays ago due to no parking, we got up the next day and went a few minutes before it opened.  I think we were about the fifth space from the entrance, yay! 

Here we are waiting for the zoo to open:

And on the carousel (Clare wouldn’t sit on an animal after all)

Brushing goats

Playing prairie dog

Crawling through the aquarium tunnel

First, Grace

Then Clare

Then Jake

It was a fun day with Daddy.

Mam’s Ice House

A few weekends ago, we tried to tried to take the kids to the zoo, but due to the beautiful weekend, we couldn’t find a place to park.  In lieu of the zoo, we went to a snow cone stand in the Heights.  It was awesome, and here is the proof:

Grace’s New Trick

…and yes, she goes all the way to the top!

And the less adventurous two have fun rolling in the grass.