Visit to the Easter Bunny

Our local bank was hosting a "meet the Easter Bunny" event. So off we went last weekend to start off our Easter festivities... in the SNOW (note the snow boots and big sweaters instead of cute springy-Easter clothes.)

Growing Tree

Now that Austin is one, we got to put his first line on our family "growing tree". Yeah Austin!
He is 30 inches tall at one year (50%). He weighs 19 lb, 7 oz (which is 5 - 10%). My little peanut!

Mirrors!

I have been saving all my Christmas and Birthday money for quite a while...until I could afford to buy something nice for the house. I recently saw these mirrors in Ballard Designs and loved them. It was well worth the wait. I cashed in my savings and ordered them. I love them! I get to enjoy them everytime I walk down the stairs...and that's much better than buying a new outfit! (And the pictures are pretty poor..they look much better in person.)

Ballet...

It was parent watch week at Caroline's ballet school, so I got a sneak peek at her class! So fun!
Is there anything sweeter than a bunch of 4 year old ballerinas in their light pink leotards ?
I am SO looking forward to her first recital in late spring.

In action...

And Clayton doing gymnastics...

Austin turns one!

One year ago, on March 19th, Austin Michael was born at 6:00 PM. What a year it's been! We love you SO much and can't imagine our family without you. We just can't get enough of that sweet, toothy grin. You "complete" us!

Look how our family has grown in just one year!

For Austin's birthday, we all ate pizza (including Austin. He loves it!)

...And, of course, birthday cupcakes!

Then, Austin opened presents...trucks galore! Unlike his vacuum-loving brother, Austin loves trucks and cars!

"Thanks BB and Papa! Now I have a sweater with MY name on it too!"

Austin's 1st Birthday Party

For Austin's 1st birthday, we had a party with a "letter A" theme.

"And for my last trick, I will rub food all over my hair, head, ears, and everything else within reach of my grubby hands..."

"Do you think it makes my hair look bad?"

"Okay. That looks much better!"

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

A Leprechaun came while the kids were sleeping and hid little shamrocks all over the living room.


After going on a quick hunt, they also found the treasures he left...green shamrock necklaces (or as Caroline keeps calling them, "rock-shams"), and a shamrock cake.

Irish Dancing!

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I took Caroline and Clayton to their first Irish Dancing show. It was at Glenview Community Church and featured the famous Sheila Tully Irish Dancers. Caroline LOVED it! (Clayton did pretty well, but after about 45 minutes, was more interested in walking up and down the church hallway than in sitting through the rest of the show.)

With cousins, Sarah and Alyssa

At the end, they let the kids get up on stage and taught them a few steps. So cute!