Happy Leap Day!

 The kids wanted to wish you a Happy Leap Day!

Now here's a question we have been asking one another.....if you were born on Feb. 29th would you celebrate your birthday the regular years on Feb. 28th or March 1st? Or would you only celebrate it on the authentic day?

ETA: I would want a big party only on the authentic days. Mark said he wants his cake early and would celebrate on Feb. 28th.  Lulu said she likes her birthday in April....lol.

 We were very blessed by our dear friend Kathy who gave us her grandsons train table that he grew out off.  The kids are having so much fun and it works great in our new play room.  Kathy is Mark's mom's best friend.  She also is so sweet and sends me her Value Village coupons in the mail when she gets them.  Isn't that so thoughtful?  Also her husband Steve and her won the longest married couple at our wedding back in 2005.

And here is the train table.  Thank you Kathy! The kids LOVE it. 

Random Post

The other day it snowed!  It wasn't much and didn't last but it sure was surprising to wake up and see snow.

Mark's grandparents came to visit.  They are Grandpa Linvel and Grandma Teddy.  Levi calls them Grandpa Linda and Grandma Teddy Bear...lol. 

Ila loves her walker.  She is getting around really well.

The other day we went to Costco.  Usually Mark goes with us but this day it was just me with the 3 kids.  Lulu helped me push Ila May.  She did really well.  This was her first time pushing a stroller that long.

Yesterday we played with a box of scarves that my mom gave to Lulu a few Christmas' ago.  We put one on Ila's head.  She looked so cute!  She would not look at me though.  I think she was being shy.

 Then Lulu had me tie each scarf together and she played Rapunzel. 

 Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!

Arthur 2001-2012

 Today we said goodbye to my parents dog Arthur.  He has been very sick and today they decided to put him down.  Before they took him to the vet they brought Arthur over to say goodbye.  We had a party for him.  The kids made it special for Arthur.  Lulu made a nice bed in the living room with a special pillow for him.  We made a banner and the kids decorated it.  We got balloons that we all got to write on and then let them go up to heaven, so when Arthur gets there his balloons will be waiting for him.

 Lulu drew Arthur a picture.  I asked her one of her favorite memories of Arthur and she said it was when Papa (my dad) and Lulu took Arthur for a walk and my dad let Lulu hold the leash.  So her picture is of her walking Arthur.

 Here my mom is holding a very sick Arthur.  The kids were very sweet and excited to see him.

This morning we told Lulu and Levi that we needed to say goodbye to Arthur.  Lulu cried but got excited to make our goodbye a special one.  Levi looked at us sort of sad and said "he's my buddy." Ila has enjoyed watching Arthur from our arms.  She would get so excited to see my parents dogs walk around.

After spending some time talking about Arthur we all wrote on a balloon.

 My brother Todd was able to say goodbye too.

 Here is my mom's post on Arthur.

And HERE is another post my mom did about Arthur.

Girls Day Out

 Today my mom, Lulu, Ila and I went to a paint your own pottery place.  My mom is on mid-winter break so we wanted to do something fun.

 Lulu knew exactly what she wanted to paint, even with the large selection she went in wanting to paint a plate and she found a darling heart shaped one.

Here it is, the before picture.

 Then she picked out her colors.

 Here is my mom holding Ila and Lulu is watching the older girl across from us paint.  Lulu knows what she likes and is not easily persuaded.  She makes up her mind very easily and quickly. I love that about her.  There is no guessing with Lulu, she knows what she likes and doesn't like. 

 Working hard!

 Ila took a great nap in my moms arms. 

 Lulu was very pleased with her plate.

 I painted a cute vase.  I love color so I tried to make it as colorful and eclectic as possible.

These colors go on muted but after they are fired and glazed they will be much brighter. 

 After we finished painting we met my dad at Starbucks for a treat.

 The other thing about Lulu that I love is that she loves to share and is always thinking of others.  On our way to Starbucks she was thinking about what she should get for Levi who was at home.  She wanted to surprise him.  She was more concerned about what he would want then what she was going to get herself.  Also while we were painting she kept talking about all the things Levi would love to paint. 

Here is Levi eating his chocolate glazed doughnut that Lulu picked out for him. 

Valentines Day 2012

 This morning we woke up to some fun Valentines gifts.  Mark's mom was here and she had little gifts for the kids. 

 My mom dropped off chocolate cake and candy for the kids and left it at the front door early this morning before we were even up.  The kids LOVE when my mom leaves them surprises at the front door. 

 Levi had chocolate cake for breakfast.  Thank you Grammie-goo!

Mark got Lulu some chocolates.  She was very excited.

 Levi gave Ila May a kiss for Valentines Day.  She loves the attention she gets from him.

 This evening we thought we would give the kids a special dinner and then have a later dinner while the kids watched a movie. 

 Toasting!

 So, our dinner was very funny.  Levi was not interested in the movie so he sat with us and had a second dinner.  I gave him my camera and he took some really good pictures!

 He loved snapping pictures of us.  I have about 6 others.  They all are really good. 

Later after the kids were in bed my brother and his wife Stephanie Skyped with us and gave us a wonderful Valentines gift!  They told us they are expecting!!!!!  I cried and they showed us their 13 week ultrasound picture.  Congratulations Todd and Stephanie!