Double Trouble

The times that I enjoy with my two little ones far outweigh those trying times that were particularly prevalent as I was trying to balance the newness of two little people who were always in need of me.  I found myself thinking, "ahhh" one day as I was finishing up some chores downstairs while Cam and Maeve were playing peacefully upstairs without me.  (Now, I don't know if it was neatly or safely, but they were having a great time together without me in the mix!)  They so enjoy each other's company, most of the time.  I hope they can always be as close as they are now.  Sweet little loves!

Being silly for one of Mama's pictures



Usually relaxing in the red chair/ Not usually quite so snuggled



Their cousins just add to the fun! 

Springtime picnic (trying to avoid eating too much pollen!)

Jumping beans!  (Maeve tries to do exactly what Cam does)



A pile of fun!

Posing after church

Play Ball!

This new season of baseball has brought with it a little boy who is fired up about baseball!  Gone are the days of crying and refusing to practice or having to have Daddy with him in the dugout.  This little guy is for "real" about every little detail of the game.  I wonder where he gets this?  ;~)

Looking foward to lots more hits and stops throughout the season!  Cam, you are our #1 Rocky! 

Terrific Two

Maeve has officially turned into a toddler with the arrival of her second birthday.  We are hoping two will be terrific and not turbulent!  She started her birthday with a trip outside since it was such a beautiful day.  This was the first birthday without snow, so we made the most of the pretty weather.  Then we headed out for a treat for both of us - pedicures!  Of course Maeve picked out pink for our polish!  We went to get balloons.  At Maeve's request we got pink and orange!  With the balloons and birthday shirt, she attracted quite a bit of attention.  Everyone had to ooh and ahh over the birthday girl.  She would pop her two fingers out of her mouth and hold them up so everyone would know she was "two." 

After not taking a nap like I had anticipated her to do, I was a desperate mother and took her to Moo's house while I finished up birthday preparations.  All of the family joined us for a dinner celebration in honor of the birthday girl.  We had pink cake, candles, and presents!  She loved blowing out the candles and keep recounting it.  Then her expressions when opening presents were priceless!  Even the clothes got held up and modeled in true little girly girl fashion!  I wanted to bottle up all the love that surrounded her that night.  I don't know if she will ever know how much she is a blessing to all of us...our favorite little girl! 

The Saturday after her birthday, we had a playdate party for all of her little girl friends.  The theme was pink and brown and it was all concocted by Aunt Laura, who is enjoying all things little girl through Maeve since she only has the boys.  In no time the play stations I had set up, including blocks, dress-up, books, puzzles, and babies, were strewn across the floor in a sea of fun and discovery.  The girls feasted on fruit, nuggets, and cupcakes.  My favorite part of the party was monogrammed hairbows for party favors! It was a day I will always cherish with my sweet girl. 

We look forward to another year full of talking, singing, dancing , pretending, peforming and all things Maeve! 

Early Spring

Well, it appears that ol' groundhog was correct this year when predicting an early spring.  We have had a couple of weeks now of genuine springlike temperatures.  Just perfect days!  Can't put away all the winter attire yet because we know this is just too good to be true.  I think we all had forgotten how closed in winter can make you feel and just how lively springtime truly is!

Taking advantage of this gorgeous day: 

Checking out the flowers on her playhouse

Testing out his jumping skills

"I on top of turtle!"

Excited to find the first dandelion of the year

Having their own parade

Winding down...looks like somebody is ready for a nap

Love Bugs

Although our original schedule called for a mini break where we would have Monday and Tuesday off, the snow days caused school to be in session on the day of love.  That meant I had to spend the day away from those love bugs of mine.  At the end of the day I was surprised me with my favorite....multicolored tulips!  One bonus to working is flowers could be delivered!  I LOVED on my valentines upon returning home. 

Sporting their shirts from Aunt Laura

I hope they can feel atleast a tiny bit of how much I really love them.  When I first became a mother, I realized then how much my parents loved me.  In the little things they do on a day to day basis that make my heart leap with love, the deep kind that reaches down to the depths of your my very being, it reminds me, our heavenly Father loves us that much, too. 

Maeve loves her "Ty" (what she is calling Cam these days)

Loved their gourmet supper of mini waffles, fruit, and heart-shaped cheese! 

Don't you love these silly five-year old faces? 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails ... I Corinthians 13:4-8

Love this Girl



Enjoying chicken and fruit at the party



DJ Daddy and his girl

Maeve had a big day.    It started at school with her "Jesus Loves Me" party.  Then later that night, she got to be a guest at the Daddy/Daughter Dance at my school.  What a big day! What a big girl!

Loved dancing with mama's students

Cut the rug with Becca too (notice the fingers)

Moo and Doo came to get Maeve early,
but not before a Daddy/Daughter/Granddaughter Dance

Goodness Sakes Alive, Our Cam is Five!

I have literally said this all day, but it is so hard for me to believe that Cam is five years old!  I mean, I can almost remember every detail of the day he was born just like it was a moment ago.  Better even than the actual moments ago on many days!  That sweet black-headed baby whose first tiny cry threw me into a whole new realm of myself...the realm of motherhood.  And as daunting as some of the tasks may seem at the time (from picking out just the right outfit that is not too handsome in any way to laying down beside him when he finally calls it a day), each one encompasses my heart.  I cannot separate who I am from who he is and who he is becoming.

We started the day with a "Happy Birthday" serenade from me.  Scratchy throat and all.  I'm sure he loved that!  We put 5 candles in his breakfast banana bread, and we all sang to him again, with Maeve singing the loudest.  At preschool, I joined him for lunch and came bearing Spongebob and Patrick cupcakes.  His class sang to him.  He came back to school with me so that he would not have to endure the dreaded resttime.  My class was thrilled to entertain him and insisted on singing for him (and writing him birthday cards).  We hurried away from there and stole an icecream date at Scoops.  He said he was going to get chocolate, but is just like his mama and always goes for his same thing...superman!  He watched his beloved T & J on the way home then a little SB while waiting on his supper entourage to arrive.  After feasting on baked spaghetti and cleaning his plate, he waited patiently for presents.  We sang one more "Happy Birthday," making that five rounds...perfect for the fifth birthday!  Now he is tucked in tight with his SuperMario pajamas on, enjoying his first night of five year old dreams!  As he put it several times today, "I'll never be four again!" 

Cam, you've heard me read these words over and over:  I love you for all that you are and all that you will ever be!