April Events and Happenings

April 1: Hannah and I went to surprise LJ with McDonald's after gymnastics.

 April 2: Luke's spring party at school--I was in charge of the craft (decorating eggs with wet chalk).  The highlight was the egg hunt though.

 LJ's friends Aubrey and Hunter

 April 3: We went to KC for a long Easter weekend.  Our first morning went to an art store where you can choose between several crafts.  LJ picked sand art and Hannah painted a wooden container.

 In the afternoon we went to the park although it was a little chilly.

April 4: The next morning we went to the zoo.  The highlights were the polar bear and most definitely the penguins--we watched the penguins for at least a half an hour.

 April 5: Easter Day--we spent the day at the Boetcher's with the Masonbrinks (our tradition to spend Easter with them continues).

 Crashing hard on the way home

 April 8: H still loves gymnastics especially swinging!

 April 10: Luke's "Bunnies" Program at school.  It was super cute!

 Back row in the center

 April 10: Daisy loves to lay in the sun by the back door.

 April 10: We love, love, love our Japanese maple out our kitchen window.  It's constantly changing colors during the different seasons.

 April 13-18: Troy and I went on a last minute trip to Jamaica.  Dad and Frankie stayed with the kids while we were gone.  Our trip was extended a day when we missed our connection into Jamaica on our way there (not a good day but we made it the next).  We had a great time just enjoying each other's company and relaxing for 4 days.  It was a nice break for us both!

 April 19: We went back to our old neighborhood to play with friends and Luke really had fun helping build this fort.

 April 21: The "dinosaur" park after school--this is the kids' favorite park in the spring because in the summer it gets too hot.

 We came home and then they colored the curb on the driveway with sidewalk chalk.

 April 22: More gymnastics

 April 24: Friday morning snuggles with H

 April 24:  OCA has an annual auction and each class is supposed to have a project that each student participates in.  I volunteered (sort of) to be in charge of Luke's class project and putting together the items from his class for the auction.  Each student used one color and they filled in OK with their fingerprints.  I was hugely surprised at the auction.  Two moms were going back and forth on the silent auction paper for this and so the auctioneer made it a live auction item.  Would you believe that the bidding got as high as $1800?  I was standing with LJ's teacher and she suggested that we make another one.  So I interrupted the auctioneer and said if both moms would pay $1500 I would have the kids make a second one.  So the kids and I made another one.  Whoa!

 April 25: Watching LJ's team

 April 25:  Our first baseball game of the summer

 April 28: Luke attempting no training wheels.

 April 28: Sweet Magger Moo

 April 29: More gymnastics

 And another lunch with LJ after gymnastics

 April 29: The "duck" park after school to see all the ducklings.

March Events and Happenings

March 1: Cozy snuggle time on the couch

March 4: Hangin out with Dad in the office with some super cute pigtails

March 5: Reading the Lego Club magazine on his own

March 8: I went on a scrapbook retreat weekend.  This is a wonderful group of ladies and we always have a great time together!

March 9: Snuggles with mom

March 10: Troy was out of town.  Luke had soccer practice and we'd just had a ton of rain.  In a effort to maintain clean shoes and provide entertain I brought Hannah's bike to practice.  She rode around on the sidewalks for almost an hour.  

March 11: Some swingset time after school

March 12: Luke had a birthday party at Chuck E Cheese and Hannah came along for the ride.  Both kids had such an awesome time!

March 13: Watching Mary Poppins along with some more snuggle time

March 14: LJ's soccer game

 March 15: One of many dance parties we have

 March 15: Looking very grown up and wanting to play soccer just like Luke

 March 15: Kids helped me make chocolate chip muffins

 March 15 (it was a busy day): Snuggles and tickles with dad

 Another March 15: Cutest hard-hat wearer I've ever seen

 March 17: During Spring Break, we did numerous Pinterest crafts.  The kids made tissue paper rainbows with pots of gold for St. Patrick's Day. I love Luke's tongue--it's what he does when he's concentrating.

 March 18: My friend Leslie and I went to Paint Your Art Out to paint some water lilies.  I think they turned out well.

 March 19: Painting the fabric batik project (again the tongue)

 March 21: Celebrating Grandpa's birthday

 March 22: Both kids helped me get some seeds planted to get our garden growing early inside.  Well, we had no luck with any of our seeds.  

 March 24: Driveway time

 March 25: Swinging after school at the park

 March 26: She basically put the puzzle together all by herself.  She was super proud!

 March 28: Maggie really enjoys driveway time too.  Big girl on her big bike.

 March 29: Finally getting to the finishing touches on the swing set.

 March 30:  Hannah and I went to the park and had no idea all of the tulips were blooming.  She let me get a few pictures before she had to swing (still her absolute favorite!).

3 1/2 Year Old Questionnaire and More

Hannah's half birthday was a little over a week ago.  I just remembered that I wanted to get her answers to this questionnaire.

How old are you? 3 said like free

How tall are you? 49

How much do you weigh? not taller

What is your favorite toy? i don't know and then when prompted again she said baby doll

Favorite book? my owl

Favorite movie? Cinderella

Favorite TV show? Daniel (Tiger)

Favorite food? macaroni n cheese

Favorite fruit? strawberries

Favorite snack? mix up (trail mix)

Favorite drink? kool aid

Favorite activity? play games

Favorite color? pink

Favorite sport? in there (pointing to the playroom downstairs)

Favorite song? Frozen (Let It Go)

Favorite animal? baby (I said that wasn't an animal and she said penguin)

Favorite game? I don't know (then she said uffalo which LJ interpretted as Hungry, Hungry Hippos)

Favorite outfit? my dress

Favorite holiday? Halloween

What do you need in bed when it's time to go to sleep? baby
Best Friend? baby

When I grow up I want to be? play

Nicknames? HannahBean, Sugar Bean, Beanie, Hannah Banana

Thing I am really good at? I keep whining.  (No joke this was her answer without pause or hesitation of any kind.  More than a little telling :/  )

Some other stats:

Clothing size: 5 (not the toddler 5 but a regular 5!)

Shoe size: 10

Height: 41 1/2"

Weight: 39.5 lbs

Some other info I want to remember:
Sayings:
  zert=dessert
  squito bugs=mosquito bites
  clip clops=flip flops
  sumscreen=sunscreen
  mommy, hold her=pick me up
  my brush teeth=her toothbrush
  no eyes in soap=no soap in her eyes during bath time
  globbles=goggles
  sumscreen=sunscreeen
  Lukie=Luke
  mato=tomato
  dance on mommy's puter=mom play songs from your computer so I can dance to them

Hannah has a fairly regular schedule these days.  She is up anywhere from 7-8:30.  She is still taking a nap after lunch.  Most days it's about 2 hours long but there are some where it's much shorter and maybe 1 or 2 times a week it's closer to 3 hours.  Luke gave up his nap between 3 1/2 and 4 without warning so I'm curious to see how long Hannah will nap.  Bedtime is very dependent on the days activities and nap length.  She has lights out no later than 8:30 but sometimes as early as 7:15.

When school starts in the fall, she will go three mornings a week, Tuesday through Thursday, with an option to stay for the afternoon.  I'm anticipating doing one afternoon a week to see how she does since there won't be a nap on those days.  

One of our biggest struggles right now is whining and tantrums.  I know this is a trait of most 3 year olds but man it is a big struggle for us--above the norm for sure!  This phase has lasted since about Christmas and there are days when Troy and I just want to pull out our hair.  It's hard for Luke as well because he misses out on some things because of her behavior.  It is unpredictable what will set her off and meltdowns have ruined plans and shifted entire days.  It took us a while to figure out a consequence that has meaning for her as well.  It's going to her room until she calms down (I think it's being alone more than being stuck in her room).  I hesitated on this one because I thought she would destroy her room while in there but so far that hasn't happened.  I am so ready for her to transition out of this stage.  

Hannah is also now sleeping in a big girl bed.  She never really tried too much to climb out of her crib like Luke did and it was easier just to have her contained in her crib when it was time to sleep.  She transitioned well with about 2 weeks of getting out of bed to play but once we started taking away any TV time for the next day she figured out that staying in bed was a good thing.

Hannah is full of life!  

She loves her brother, her baby dolls and being outside.  

She loves to color, draw and be "artsy."  

She holds writing utensils correctly and loves to use scissors.  

We are working on counting, letters and writing her name.

She sings ALL the time and loves to dance.

She would rather wear a dress than shorts and a shirt.

She has gained some independence in playing upstairs alone and with her dollhouse in her room.  Games are starting to be more fun for her; we have a Disney princess cupcake game she really likes.  She is very confident in the swimming pool with her floatie on but wants no part of learning to swim without it.  

Swinging is still her favorite at the playground although she's adding twisting the chains to the fun now.  

She can be super snuggly or want absolutely nothing to do with you.  

She insists on kissing your hand and you kissing hers before bed and putting said hand to your cheek.  About two weeks ago, I tried to incorporate some new "be-be's" (comfort item: cloth diapers) into her collection but she has yet to really even acknowledge they are there.  The old ones are so gross and discolored.  

Eating is usually not a problem for Hannah.  Her favorites include: cheese, mac n cheese, strawberries, tomatoes, corn on the cob, chocolate milk, scrambled eggs, chips when she can have them, and her favorite meat is chicken.  She's still not a huge fan of eating a lot of meat though.