Beach Day!

Ahh. Yesterday was, well, the only word I can think of is AMAZING, or perhaps FABULOUS. 85 degrees in Milwaukee (I wore my winter coat the day before) had everyone out in capris and short sleeves. I noticed that, with 2 exceptions, everybody had pasty white skin. Myself included. So we headed to the beach for a picnic and met the Hansons there. Audrey didn't know how to crawl around in the sand so she just sat there and every so often whimpered to be held or to get food. Jane knew exactly what to do. Thanks for the cute suit, Mom! The water was still frigid but it felt great to be in summer weather, soaking in some Vitamin D.

That is not a beer bottle. It's Sprecher's 10 calorie Root Beer. I didn't even see it in the picture until I showed Adam and he thinks it looks like the kids are passed out from drinking. NOT SO! They are just cold!

Is is safe to take a shower?

I honestly have to ask myself that question when I get out of my shower to find Audrey's face looking like this, thanks to Jane.

I'm not 100% sure...just kidding, I am.

I was going to say "I don't know where Jane came up with this!" But the truth is that I do.

Every once in a while I'll be sitting here at the computer and turn to Jane and say, "Oh! We've got to get downstairs FAST! Hurry, hurry!" And without missing a single syncopated beat she'll exclaim, "Oh! Hurry! It's burning!"

Now where would she get that idea?

Easter Eve

We had our egg hunt with the Mitchells on Saturday, Easter Eve. Jane and I colored eggs, which she loved. Then I told her I saw the Easter Bunny--I think we'll change his name to Spring Bunny next year--come inside and take our eggs away! (It helps to have bunnies all over the neighborhoods here.) She was really excited to see where he hid them.

One skill Jane has been excelling at is "matching." She can match colors, shapes, and things-of-a-kind. She got distracted during the hunt by the chocolate soccer ball.


Winfield, Jack, and Jane

I couldn't decide which picture of Audrey I liked best. She loved her PEEP.

Queen Jane

Unabashedly, I have purposely helped Jane develop a love for all things ballet, princess, and pink. Remember the "girlie house" post? We are reaching a new level, however, as Jane is getting better at imagining scenarios and learning how to take on a character. I set up a little Ikea tent for her which she refuses to acknowledge as anything but her "castle," and Adam suggested the idea of him being the King and Mommy being the Queen if Jane was going to be the Princess. He also showed her how to kiss my royal fingers. I was loving that for about a week until today she switched things up on me and now I'm the Princess and SHE'S the Queen.

How can I be surprised about this after Stake Conference yesterday? I took her out to have a chat about being reverent. She pretty much seemed to be ignoring me until she put her hands on my cheeks and said, "Ok, sweetie. Ubuh dub hertie QUIET mah nanabittie SHHH. Okay? Be nice. Okay, Sweetie?" What else could I do but comply after that lecture? With her royal permission, we did a little bit better for the rest of conference.

Workin the brows

This first picture show Audrey's normal eyebrows, as well as the joy she finds in her dexterity at the dinner table. And here she is displaying her new ability to raise her eyebrows. She lowers and raises them several times while arranging her next bite. It is so precious!