Easter and other fun stuff

We had a very nice Easter Sunday. The weather was beautiful, so we had an easter egg hunt outside for the kids, took a walk, and enjoyed lots of good food!

Our friend Tracie made this bunny cheese ball... wow!

Last week was Spring Break, and on Thursday my mom took Hannah for the day (and night) so Brian and I could spend a fun day with just the "big kids." We had a marathon day... started at the Children's Museum, then lunch at Spaghetti Factory, then a walk at Butler University, then a visit to the Indianapolis Museum of Art... then as if that weren't enough... BOWLING! It was the kids first bowling experience, and lots of fun. All four of us were exhausted at the end of the day. But, it was fun to do all that without worrying about diapers or strollers or naps!

Here are Jacob and Mary on a Lego throne at the Children's Museum (special Lego exhibit):

Mary loves the carousel... Jacob, not so much.

Lunch on the trolley car at the Spaghetti Factory (a kid favorite):

The bell tower at Butler University:

Mary in a funny chair at the Art Museum:

More artsy chairs:

And, finally, bowling (with lots of help from gutter bumpers and mom and dad):

If you know Jacob very well, you would understand that it took a lot of explaining and convincing to get him to wear those shoes!

At long last... Hannah is Walking!

Hannah is doing exciting things these days... she is taking steps all on her own! She can also do a lot of fun "tricks:" blow kisses, wave bye-bye, imitate singing sounds, meow at the cat, and say "Amen!"

She had a visit to the cardiologist yesterday, where she (mostly) patiently sat through a heart echo and was pretty cooperative with the doctor. Everything looks as it should for her right now, so we just continue on as usual. She doesn't have to go back for another visit until August.

Here's a video of the girls:

Lost teeth

Jacob lost his first two teeth this week! The two middle teeth on the bottom have been loose for quite awhile, and the permanent teeth were already coming in, so the dentist wanted to pull them. But, since that would have cost us up to $130 per tooth (!?!) we decided we could pull them ourselves! Jacob was a great sport... laid on the couch while I put orajel on his gums and Brian yanked them out. Jacob didn't feel a thing, and we all celebrated! That night I went into his room and took the teeth out of the tooth fairy pillow, but left them on his desk accidentally. So, in the morning, he said excitedly, "the tooth fairy gave me money AND left the teeth!" Oops.

Here's a cute picture of Jacob and Mary from today (a rare moment when they're being sweet and not fighting!)

In older news...on Super Bowl Sunday we went down to my parent's house, and it was warmer so the snow was melting and very packable. We (mostly Brian and I) made a pretty big snowman. My dad went to get items for the face, and all he could come up with was cans in the recycle bin, so there you go.

I wanted to take a picture of the kids with the snowman, but they were being completely uncooperative, so all I could get was a picture of my dad:

Glamor Girl

The kids have been out in the snow every day. It was very sunny today, so I put sunblock on their faces, and Mary wanted her sunglasses. Here she is... I don't think she's wearing enough pink.

Snow Day!

A foot of snow fell in Indianapolis over the last 24 hours, so we're enjoying a snow day with the whole family today!

I was in a video frenzy today!! Hannah loves talking to Sadie, following her around, and rubbing her head against Sadie's fur...

More with Hannah and Sadie, in Jacob's room:

Lately Hannah will go into the music room all on her own, and start playing the piano... very sweet.

Here's Hannah bouncing on her new Rody, and Mary getting in on the picture. The kids are watching "The Wizard of Oz," their new favorite movie. No matter how many times you've seen the movie, it's really fun watching it with kids for the first time. Mary is infatuated with Glinda, the Good Witch, and Jacob is just trying to put it all together in his brain (like, how can the farmhands become the tin man, scarecrow, and lion? And, how do the ruby slippers magically appear on Dorothy's feet? And, why do those monkeys have wings?).

Here's Hannah playing with me around the corner. She's starting to play more games with us and is just generally being really cute! Of course, Mary spotted the camera and wanted to play, too!

Mary turns 4!

I posted Christmas pictures just before this post, but I thought Mary deserved her own post for her birthday, so be sure to scroll down to see the Christmas ones.

Since Mary is such an angel (well...) I made her an angel cake for her fourth birthday. We had a nice party on Sunday with all 6 grandparents and Mary's friend, Maryn, from church. Mary and Maryn got to wear halos just like the cake!

Mary in a beautiful cape made by Grandma Chris:

Time for cake!
Mary becomes suddenly shy as we all sing "Happy Birthday:"

Jacob was on hand, of course, to help Mary blow out the candles.

Today Brian and I both worked, and Jacob was back at school, but I was able to take Mary out for a birthday lunch, and I think she had a pretty good day.