Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Happy Easter!

It's Maggie's favorite holiday - Happy Easter!  We had a lovely Easter with these cute kids.  They loved searching for eggs and their basket, and were very good at church!

Happy Easter from the Donoghues!

He is Risen!

We dyed Easter eggs the day beforehand.  Evie was psyched to try her "volcano" egg dye.  Basically baking soda and vinegar plus dye - it was pretty fun and we got some cool colors!  Ben required a lot of supervision, but seemed to enjoy it!

Group effort

Really does not like anyone helping him - I was a helicopter

Our patient artist

Getting ready for the volcano



The kids were ready to hunt at 6am, but us mean parents made them wait until 7:30am.

Ben has taken ownership of my childhood basket

Checking out the goods

Give me those peeps!

Tried so hard to get a cute photo of my kids...

We had a delicious Easter dinner at the Donoghues!  I think my kids ate half a ham.

Give them chocolate

Hugs with Grandma

April also means Opening Day for the Tigers!  While the game itself was pretty depressing, Jamie and I had a total blast in Detroit... partied a little too hard!

Go Tigers!

Breakfast

This guy...

Found our neighbors!

Miggy's throne

A bunch of other randoms:

Frolick at the zoo

Cute spiders

Maggie got to represent Michelle Obama for her school's
celebration of Women's History Month

Ben built a car wash - his favorite type of building

Bob Ross for spirit week


My April Fool's attempt at making grilled cheese with
pound cake and frosting... they were not fooled

Rob visited and brought this Omnibus tee for Jamie

Making friends at the zoo

This kid is obsessed with suckers at the moment...


...and doesn't want them taken away


Building more Lego

Our Easter Legos!

Went to see Super Mario Bros!  Ben loved
the movie (but loved his slushy the most!)

Friday, March 17, 2023

Quick update

Evie was so excited for her music concert at school earlier this month.  Each grade has their own individual concert throughout the semester, so it only lasts about 30 minutes (these parents are grateful).  It was the first performance we have seen inside the school since the girls started there, and it was a cute little show.  Most of their songs focused on music theory concepts, which I thought was pretty cool.  Evie definitely understands crescendo vs. decrescendo, forte vs. pianissimo, and presto vs. largo.

Third Grade classes

The kids sat down during speaking parts,
great stage faces

Ben and his friend were all about videotaping...
the benches...
but at least it kept him quiet most of the show!


Evie and her buddy after the show!

We've had some nice lazy weekends lately.  We have a few weeks on break from soccer, and are loving the increased freedom in our schedule!  Spring soccer starts at the end of the month, and even Ben is going to play this season!

Grandpa and Uncle Justin came over to help Ben
build his construction Duplo set

Maggie entered an art competition on "where you want to visit
with your school."  I told her everyone would do Disney, so she
opted to paint the Northern Lights - pretty neat idea!

Those are hills, not butts

Lazy Saturday cuddles

In other news, Maggie started "Girls on the Run" at her school this past week, which is a program that works on improving self-confidence, kindness, friendships, etc. while also training for a 5k.  It's only for 3rd-5th graders after school, so hopefully Evie will want to join next year.  There are about 20 girls signed up and I was worried Maggie would hate it because she's not a big fan of running - so far she's really into it!

Building her Lego Thor Hammer with Dad - she did an
amazing job on a really tough set!

Worthy

Evie is getting closer to her First Communion.  We had a nice little outing with Grammer to pick out her veil and other accessories before my parents left for Florida.  She actually fits well in Maggie's dress and was happy to wear it!  We're also a month away from her birthday, so that means we basically hear about it every day.

Waiting her turn at piano lessons, sigh

Post-soccer ice cream treat at Ray's

We are working with Ben on some potty training regression issues, hopefully moving in the right direction with him.  Otherwise he's peachy!

Playing with his Hot Wheels car wash...thought
I would hate this thing, but it's really fun and
the water is contained

Jolly Pumpkin is one of our fave restaurants, and we 
learned the kids can behave themselves there!

Jamie and I are doing pretty well.  It's been a rough month of colds and health complaints, but nothing too major.  I'm so thankful to have him as my partner - life gets so crazy and there's so much to juggle, schedule, fix, etc.  He's an awesome husband and daddy and gets us through it!

Auction fundraiser with our buddies Adam and Sara!




Friday, February 17, 2023

Fun February

It's been a busy and fun month for the Donoghues.  Our baby boy turned 4 years old!

Happy to be 4!

His birthday was a school day, so we woke up a little early to have pancakes and strawberries before rushing him off to school.  Jamie brought donuts for his class treat during his prep; it's so nice that his building is so close to his preschool!  Afterward he came home to open presents, and got his big gift from Mom and Dad... Jamie once again living vicariously through Ben with a Jurassic Park powerwheel!  We had cupcakes as he requested, and quickly learned he only wanted the frosting.  I walked away for a few minutes and came back to find 4 cupcakes with all the frosting licked off!

Birthday boy!

Ben is still a very happy-go-lucky kid who loves car washes, construction equipment and the Ninja Turtles.  His favorite foods are probably yogurt, easy mac and marshmallows.  He's a wonderful speaker and very into timers and schedules (yikes, wonder where that comes from!).  Ben is very much the baby of our family, beloved by all.  Him and Evie like to play a lot, and Maggie is like a second mom to him.

I'll take you for a spin

Confetti cupcakes!

Allllll the frosting

Daddy blew up a bunch of balloons
to Ben's delight

We had the family over on Superbowl Sunday to celebrate!  Ben had a great time playing with his cousins and opening presents! 

Happy Birthday to you!

Make a wish

Getting ready for dessert

Baby Jane isn't such a baby anymore!  Always moving!

Time for the game!

Maggie made the entire cake all by herself - she was awesome!

Evie has been diligently preparing for her First Communion this spring, and took part in her First Reconciliation last week.  The girl was completely chill about the whole thing, not nervous at all!  After she went, she asked if she could go back again.  A bunch of her old classmates from GA were there also, so she was a happy girl!

Forgiven!

Some of her old buddies and Fr. Tony

Jamie took the girls the Daddy Daughter Dance at church.  Maggie had a wonderful time, Evie had a somewhat sassy night (that's putting it nicely), but eventually had fun with her friends.

Date night!


Girls

Two peas in a pod


So thrilled to see her old pals!

Maggie's school had their first dance for 4th and 5th graders, and she was so thrilled to go.  I think she had the best time ever hanging with her girlfriends!  It was sooo hot in the gym, so much body odor!

Dressed to impress


Girl squad!

The girls were invited to a birthday party at the skate rink, and were nervous about going.  Dad to the rescue took them to Great Skate a few days beforehand to practice.  They LOVED it!

Best dad


Hurray for hand rails!



Some other randoms:

Maggie on her field trip to Henry Ford

My little stud muffin after his haircut

We tried making donuts for the first time - delicious!

Sledding fun with Nora!

Tripped and landed on her face - tough kiddo

Enjoying our tortilla blanket from the Rabines

Quick dessert date with Dad

Their scene of snowmen having tea

Scrunchies on scrunchies

Ready for church

Brave boy at the doctor - 5 shots!

Evie with a 100-year old filter
for the 100th day of school!