Happy Birthday Jr!

It's Jr's 62nd birthday today so we met Grandpa & Grandma and Auntie Shelley at Chili's last night for a birthday dinner.

Taylor helped Grandpa eat his ice cream

and posed for some clown pictures, LOL

Posing with Grandma too

One good thing from Ben working so much lately is that we can afford a few things that we've been waiting to buy.. such as Taylor's new car seat that grows with her now until she doesn't need one anymore. She loves it! Especially because it is pink! (I wanted to get the black one but she loved this one so much)

and Hailey wanted her picture taken in her car seat too :)

Milwaukee County Zoo in the rain!

The girls and I went down to stay in Milwaukee for the weekend since Ben had to stay down there all weekend to work again and this week.. possibly next weekend and the following week! We had fun swimming at the hotel and checking out the big mall on Moorland but the best part of the weekend was picking up Auntie Kristin at the airport and bringing her to the zoo with us and Grandpa & Grandma in the rain! :) There was hardly anyone there and a couple things were closed like pony rides and the farm animals because they were all cozied up in their little houses, but it was still a lot of fun!

The girls loved the lions and the mama lion was in their faces quite a bit. She was looking for the zookeeper who had her empty food dish.

Taylor & Auntie Kristin

The girls loved the jaguars who were bathing eachother :)

A couple of very cute giraffes!

The girls and Auntie Kristin checking out the real giraffes inside their house while it was raining outside.

Grandpa & Hailey with their matching sweatshirts. Mommy & Hailey by the pretty flamingos.

These peacocks were squawking all over the place. Usually we just see them by the flamingos but today they were loose everywhere.

The girls in their swim coverups back at the hotel. Hailey loves her "pretty dress" and would have worn it all weekend!

Not sure what we'll do down in Milwaukee next weekend if Ben ends up having to stay another week... but we'll figure something out. I hope he doesn't, since I'm excited for some neighborhood garage sales around here!

Spring!

Wow, it's been awhile since I've posted. Sorry! Here's a whole bunch into one!

This is an everyday sight at our house. The kids love to play dress-up and are always looking for new costumes! Hailey must be getting bored with her dress-up clothes because now she's changing into her sister's clothes 5 times a day!



A couple weeks ago we went down to Rockford, IL for my cousin's wedding reception and stayed at a hotel/waterpark with both Gma's and Gpa's and Tim & Mel & kids.

Tim's family got sick and had to go home before the reception and Gma's & Gpa's ending up getting sick Sunday night but we somehow avoided the bug! (Fingers crossed-knock on wood!)

My mom, Auntie Mary and Taylor

Mar & Jr


Mom & Dad

A family pic by the pond

My cousin Lisa's son Bennett & Hailey

My 3 favorite people

This is my only tulip that blossomed late last week and is still thriving!

Taylor is such a little gardener. She helped me plant morning glories, waiting to plant the rest of our flowers until maybe next week.

The boys I watch most weekdays

and the cute little 1 yr old girl

Hailey was exhausted after a long day of playing outside, couldn't finish her snack!

Last Sunday in matching dresses from great grandma Wilson

Hailey's crown/headband :)

The end, I'll try to post sooner next time! Ben's working in Milwaukee for at least 2 weeks including the weekends, so we are going down to stay with him in a hotel at least this weekend. We're excited to spend Saturday afternoon with Auntie Kristin, since she's flying into Milwaukee Sat. to stay at her Grandma's house for 1.5 weeks! Uncle Jon is at deployment training in CA for the month. Wish we could see him too!

Update on the hole in Hailey's heart & Easter Pics

Hailey had another heart echo done today (it's been a year) and it went really well. She was the most well-behaved little girl! They said they wished all 2 year olds laid that still while they did that, not something to be expected at that age. The hole in her heart got very slightly smaller, the blood was flowing through it faster, and they couldn't hear it through her back anymore! All good things! Dr said 99.9% that she'll never have any problems or have to be on any kind of medication. Also, he said that she is way ahead for talking and abilites that 2 year olds should know how to do. I was so happy to hear all of this but already knew she talked too much already for her own good! :P I asked him if there was some way he could slow that down, LOL. Just kidding! She goes in to get checked again in a year then probably every other year. Dr said they just want to keep an eye on it until it's completely closed just in case something happens that causes the heart to enlarge, .1% chance of happening.. still a little nerve-racking.

Here are some pics from the past couple weeks. We've been enjoying nice Spring weather until the past couple cooler, rainy days. Oh well, can't complain too much. We need some rain too.



Playing in the backyard and lounging with Dad.



Easter Egg Hunt!

Digging in the dirt. No, pretty dresses are not just for going out anymore! She has too many to reserve for just that!

Making play-doh cars

Reading books