dirt rocks

one of the boys favorite outdoor activities is throwing "dirt rocks" against the wall.  We are happy when we can go outside!  (and by "we" I mean the kids, and I stay inside watching TV and eating bon bons.  Just kidding....kind of :)

book worms

It looks like Mabel is going to grow up to be a bookworm like her brother.  Ryan is always very good about helping her look at books.

just talkin'

Yep, Spencer is digging ditches again.  He's putting in more sprinklers for our garden this spring and a drip system for trees and bushes and stuff.  When he can, he goes out after dinner and the children all follow.  (I love daylight savings in the spring...the kids play outside all night with dad and they are still sleeping in).  

Mabel follows right beside Dad and moves with him as he goes along the ditches.  It is so cute, she just talks up a storm to him in her fun babble.  As you can tell from the pictures, she is very expressive with her hands.  She'll talk, and then giggle like she said something funny.  And everyone once in awhile she'll pause in her talk and walk up to Spencer and give him a hug on his legs.  And yes, Spencer loves this.

happy 1st day of Spring

This is what it looked like outside when we woke up today...surprising after our week of beautiful weather.  Poor Spencer is out camping with the Scouts right now.  

It's all gone now though and blue skies again!

Crazy hair day

Girls are harder to maintain then boys...at least as far as the hair goes.  I feel like I have to do Mabel's hair a couple times a day to keep it looking under control.  But it makes for some fun bed hair.  She's so happy and cute waking up from naps these days.  I like to listen to her talk in the monitor when she first gets up.  

Andrew was very excited for all of his presents, most of which had to do with Buzz Lightyear.  He loved blowing out the candles all by himself and of course loved his pizza and cake.  

*I love that cheesy grin he gives the camera now when you tell him to say cheese.

now it's andrew's turn...

Happy 3rd Birthday to the sweetest little boy I know!

We love Andrew so much.  He is really always smiling that big Andrew grin.  Even when I am so mad at him for doing all the mischievous things that Andrew does... you can't help smile because that is what he is doing!  Here are some of the things that I will remember about Andrew's 3 year:

-loves Buzz Light year and ANYTHING Toy Story.

-loves to play outside.

-loves loves loves Ryan and wants to do anything he does.

-still wants us to "hold me" and give him lots of hugs and kisses, which we of course love.

-wants to cuddle and sit on your lap

-his personality comes out more and more and we realize he is the exact opposite of Ryan.

-his big hands and feet

-his loud voice

-how much we love this kid

The girl loves cake

Mabel in her new wagon and admiring one of her new "girl toys"

We had some friends over from church to help us celebrate.  They hold Mabel almost every Sunday and love her almost as much as we do! 

The brothers were also excited about this new world of toys.  Here they are playing with the tea set.

Wasn't so sure about the cake at first...

gives it a try,

starts stuffing,

and devours it and starts crying for more.

She tried to walk off some of the cake by taking her baby for a walk in her new stroller.

Now we have to get rid of all this cake before birthday round #2 on Thursday when Andrew turns 3!

Mabel's 1st Year

We can't believe that baby girl is already 1.  It has been such a fun year with our little Miss Mabel and we love watching her grow.  

and I'm sorry, but she is just about the cutest little girl I've ever seen!!!