March 2014

March.  In like a lion, out like a lamb.  Or something like that.

March McDonald's time with Auntie Sheila and Griffie!

In order to register for Kindergarten, Elena needed to have an eye exam, physical, and dental exam.  She passed the eye and physical with flying colors.  More on the dental exam later!

Eli's in Tremont.  I love this mural.  And the chubbers in front of it!

I can't get over pics of the girls with their Zoey.

For Annika's birthday we decided to use up Nate's Hilton points and stay a night in a hotel with a swimming pool!  Lucky us, we found one in Lincoln, IL, a place we had not recently visited.

We walked the square, ate at a local restaurant (gag!), and did a bit of thrifting.  Then it was back to the hotel for swimming and movies.  And in the middle of the night, Annika throwing up.  Oh joy!

Zoey and I have really grown to love our romps in the woods.

Listening to these two pretend to read is always entertaining!

So... March 10th arrived.  The date of Miss Annika Salome's actual birthday!

We started off the day by going to Monkey Joe's, a giant warehouse full of bouncy equipment.

Slides!

Sheila, Mary, and the kiddos joined us!

Wheeeeee!

And Papa came to surprise Anni at lunch time.  

That evening she got to open her presents from us.  Toys for her railroad.

and from Elena, a birthday cake!

It's brownie time!

Even Auntie Sara called to wish Anni all the best!

I just love Elena's sweet smile in this pic.

Anni's tummy took a very long time to heal.  She puked on and off for what felt like weeks.

We tried to stay positive.

Even when it was hard.

Daddy tried defending us from the germs.

And thankfully, only Anni got the bug.

Annika's first day of Sunday School!!!!!

On St. Patrick's day Elena drank her first Shamrock Shake from McDonalds.  Since then, she has requested that everything be minty.

Fort building.

Enjoying Anni's birthday gift from Oma!

A fun Saturday where we got free entry to the Wildlife Prairie Park (because we are members of the Peoria Zoo).

Anni was tired and a grouch, but we still had fun!

Old-time school house.

My scary family.

The next day we got free entry to the Peoria Riverfront Museum!!!!

So very unsanitary.

But really fun!

The girls have started to build 'bouncy houses' out of couch cushions.  How very much I wish this past-time would be over (as I write this in May)!

One day I came into the bedroom to find Zoey snuggling up in our bed.  I'm sure Nate enjoyed his pillow smelling like dog!

A walk down to play in the (still) cold lake.

Elena's last preschool open house!  Sniff!!!!!

She and I went together and had a most wonderful time.

We went up to visit Oma, too!!!

Starbucks.  Of course.

I even got to snuggle with baby Maleki.  I wonder if we'll still be calling him that when he's 16?

I brought Zoey with me on the trip to Madison, and after a slightly hairy start, she and Macy became best buds.  It warmed my heart to see her have a playmate!