We've had lots of fun outings over the past weeks both as a family and as a couple! We continue to live in orderly chaos while our kitchen and floors get done, but things are progressing well and we will hopefully have a functional kitchen in 2ish weeks!
Family snuggle! (in our bed because there's nowhere else to go)
This past weekend we went to our neighborhood spring block party. It was a little cold, but that didn't stop the kids from having fun at the egg hunt! Lots of good food and friends!
Our neighborhood has a lot of young kiddos!
They provided bunny ears (Ben was already prepared)!
Jamie did face painting for the kids
Soccer is back in session this spring. Both girls are staying with their teams, and I'm continuing to help coach Maggie's team.
First game!
Friday was Opening Day for the Tigers! Jamie and I decided to get tickets this year, and we had so much fun! We dropped the kids at school and then headed downtown for brunch with Pat and Donna, then garage beers, then the game, then Founders for their 25th anniversary... it was a rollicking good time (and we paid for it the next day, ha ha)!
Super exciting game with a last-minute win!
Brunch crew!
mmm bloody mary's
We found Jay and Sarah at the stadium!
We had our floors finished last week, and did not realize that the fumes would be so intense! We had to vacate the house, and thankfully my very patient and kind parents housed us for three nights! The kids loved it (mom does not make pancakes in the morning like Grammer and Pops do!). Ben asked to go back when we finally went home!
Getting ready for bed at Grammer's
We went for a walk and Maggie found her peaceful place near a stormwater detention pond
Evie is obsessed with this headband - channeling Carole Baskin?
Aunt Amy took Maggie and Evie to Build-a-Bear for their birthday gifts! They had a blast with their aunt and cousins!
Build-a-Bear
Cuddles back at Grandma's
Jane is such a joyful baby!
Some others:
Maggie felt sick last week, so she went to school with Daddy (he was on break) - made a masterpiece
Lunch at the zoo
The penguins are back!
Dinner with her girlfriend
Went to a free viewing of Sonic the Hedgehog - which had lots of crazy free perks, including sweet face painting
They have a future in pirating
Love this little smush face!
Went to visit Will and Kim at their new house in Michigan!
Um life is crazy, barely keeping up - can't wait for the end of the school year! Kids are great though!
Why stress?
Our big kitchen remodel kicked off earlier this month! Since we were tearing down a wall, we let the kids draw all over it. I have no idea what the story is... something about a cat president, working at city hall, with the planets above? Then we let them "try" to hammer holes in the wall.
Art
We turned our laundry room into a makeshift kitchen, and are trying to function with our front room as a play room, eating area, homework area and pretty much anything else that comes up... it's chaotic and messy, but we're used to our new routines.
Before
After demo, new (unfinished) wood floors placed
Hoping that things will be done by the end of April... but I'm keeping my expectations low!
In other news, Ben sleeps in a big boy bed! He fell out the first night, but seems to have the hang of it now. He still doesn't quite understand that he can get out of bed on his own, and still waits for us in the morning. I'm ok with that! We also had his 3-year checkup this week, and the office staff was just tickled with Ben. He handled everything like a champ, and is super healthy and on-track!
Evie helped him test it out
Ben often likes to finish the fruit bowl at dinner
We had a fun family date night this weekend, did some projects at the art studio and then a yummy dinner. We literally sat down and ate a peaceful dinner with all three kids. In public. This is a milestone.
Painting away!
Ben painted for like 10 minutes, then decided his toy trucks were more interesting
My little perfectionist
Evie was the "Star Swimmer" at school last week, and one day she had to show a talent to the class. She wanted to do piano or hoverboarding, so her teacher suggested we send in a video. I did a video of her playing piano. Then Jamie had to one-up me.
Here's a few others:
Evie's best bud at school - sleepover!
Cuddles after a long day (black eye from soccer, no drama to share)
Our sweet Ben Ben celebrated his 3rd birthday this month! We love this little guy to pieces! His actual birthday was a Tuesday, so it was kind of lame because we all had to be at work/school/daycare and then Jamie had to teach his adult art class that evening. But we still managed to make it special and Ben seem just tickled the whole day.
Happy Birthday, Ben!
Daddy made some special pancakes for Ben
Working on his new Lego set before Jamie's class!
We went through the whole birthday song, Ben surprised me by knowing most of the words!
One of his bigger gifts was an excavator (or "excabator" as Ben calls it), and I had a really hard time prying him away from it. He's really into construction equipment lately, and is getting pretty good at knowing all the names (mom is proud). Still working on the difference between a loader and a dozer though!
Time to dig!
While a bit big, Evie really loves this thing too!
We had the family over for a party on the weekend. The kids got hard hats and went to work constructing toothpick structures. I was just trying to keep them busy for a bit, but they were surprisingly into it! Maggie even made more structures the next day!
Future engineers?
Ben was perhaps the smartest kid, opting to skewer and eat marshmallows rather than build!
They all did a great job!
Maggie and Luke combined their work to make a mega-structure
Violet getting her hard hat ready with Frozen stickers
Will got there late, so he appointed himself judge (and helper)!
It was great to have the family together, and we all took turns stealing baby Jane for some cuddles!
Grandma with her oldest and youngest grandbabies
Jane hanging with my mom
Talking with Grandpa
Lots of gifts for this kiddo!
Let them eat cake!
A construction party requires a dirt cake (with larger than life worms)
Family!
Cousins in a box
Ben's new toybox! Yes!
Stair-Ball! Intense game.
Here's a few other photos:
The girls started piano lessons and are loving it!
Spoiled by Aunt Jody, Grammer and Grandma on V-Day!
