One Little, Two Little, Three Little Indians....

Grandma and Grandpa Maas came to visit.  Grandma Maas had a picture with Mitchell.

 Another picture with Mitchell and Ben...Two Little Indians!

 Then Annie jumped in...Three Little Indians!

 Emily was not to be forgotten...Four Little Indians!

Crazy Hat Day

Really, the joy of special days at school...!  In order for the kids to take advantage of these days, they are supposed to bring a dollar to donate to a charity.  On Thursday night, after bedtime because of softball practice, Ben reminded me it was crazy hat day.  So, the three of us stayed up late creating special masterpieces!  Ben's was a multi-eyed frog with a fly caught in it's tongue.  Annie's was the crazy fish from Nemo when Marlin and Dory are down so far in the ocean that it is dark.  She had a 'light' hanging in from to attach fish.  Such creative kiddos!

 Emily needed a cute picture also!  She's such a trooper to still enjoy what Ben and Annie are doing, with the hope that one day her turn will come.

First Eats

Mitchell had a week without living up to his nickname: the poopenator!  The kids and I decided we needed to give him a little prunes to help him move things along.  Despite the picture below, he loved them! 

 I had to hold his hands down as he wanted to help.  We just did about 2 teaspoons full.  Sadly, he hasn't needed it lately, but it's about time for solids.  We are now back to nursing about every two hours, and it's cramping my style...as if I had one!

 Yes, a family event!  Everyone cheered for him with each bite he took! 

St. Paddy's Day

I admit, I don't get my kids new Easter outfits and they only get holiday clothes if I find them on clearance for the next year, but I just couldn't resist this little outfit...

 He is such a charmer!  'Mommy's Little Charmer'  We just all love him to pieces!!!  Pictures don't do Mitchell justice!

Emily is FOUR!

This was Emily's 'off' year to just have a family party.  She was NOT thrilled about the idea since she has gone to so many parties lately.  So, I tried really hard to make it special for her - complete with a tablecloth in her pattern of choice!

 We had chocolate chip pancakes for dinner (Ben's idea that she loved!)  It was a very busy day starting with the doctor's office for both she and Mitchell to get shots, on to playgroup.  Hurry home to meet Dad (with Chipotle for lunch - YUMMY).  He took Emily to Annie's school field trip while I went to my RS meeting.  Then we met back at home to decorate her cake and quickly make dinner because everyone was so hungry!

 After dinner, we played outside for awhile - it was actually a nice day!!!  Annie and Emily explored a downed pine tree while Andy, Ben and I threw a baseball (and I tried not to get my head taken off!).

 Her Hello Kitty Ballerina cake - happy fourth birthday, Ems!  Andy outlined the cake for me and then I worked my mommy-magic!

 We went to Family Night at the local Roller Skating Rink!  Granted, Emily had a great time, even though her face looks a bit put-out here.  She was exhausted by the end of the night!  After a few minutes on roller skates, Andy and I wondered if we were crazy to do this!  We were both 'awesome' in our younger days, but the ankles don't work the same now!  Each time around became more and more comfortable...for all of us!

 There was a 3-some skate that was the best part of the night.  Andy and I took each of the kids around; after, they were all more stable on their feet.  It was so much fun!

 Emily tried the limbo!!!  She didn't know exactly what she was doing but just had fun!

 Such a fun night!  Definitely something we would love to do again!  The best part was we each HAD to take breaks to sit with Mitchell so he wasn't alone.  It was good for tired kiddos and tired parents!  Happy Birthday, Emily!  We love you sooooo much!!!



Sledding!

We had a freak snowstorm that dumped about 9 inches of very wet snow.  We went early the next day (Saturday) to sled down our favorite hill.  Mitchell was kept VERY warm, especially when the rest of us got hot and starting piling our coats and hats on top of him!

 The group run...

 Emily found that her sled wouldn't stay with the other two, so she just jumped on Ben's back instead!

 It was getting warm and the snow at the bottom of the sledding path was quickly melting and turning into slush, so we spent a good 30 minutes making a HUGE snowman!  For our second ball, 5 guys from the neighboring Ultimate Frisbee game had to help Andy lift it!  The finished product was a good 8 feet tall!

 Mitchell woke up just in time to watch a last run or two before we headed to our new favorite ice cream place, Taggart's, where we ate The Kitchen Sink!



The Boob Tube

We have a special chair to watch shows in.  One day the girls were taking care of Mitchell while I was doing a craft.  I looked over to see both Annie and Emily playing absent-mindedly with Mitchell's hand.  Seeing the 3 hands together was just more than I could take, so I put down my stuff and ran upstairs to get the camera.  By the time I came back down, they weren't doing it anymore, but I still got some cute ones!

 He just loves the camera...see the drool!  ;)

 Love these two cuties!!!  They can be the best of friends or the whinest, teasingest sisters!



Baby Mitchell - 3 Weeks

I was just looking back through and realized I never posted the promised pictures of my little guy.  A friend came to take these one afternoon, and she really didn't know what to make of Mitchell.  He just kept following her camera with his eyes and was so incredibly behaved.  He stayed where she put him and would turn his head to the camera.  He wouldn't fuss, he wouldn't look happy, just a basic expression on his wee little face.

 Love the newborn reflexes!  Helps you to realize how little they really are.  Maybe, he was just kind of ticked at me because I had him undressed in December in our very drafty house...

 His two basic hairstyles...after his first haircut!

Star Performer

The Second Graders had a performance a few weeks ago.  A great friend had won 6 - 2nd row tickets and asked if we would like to join she and her son for the performance.  Heck yes!  It was a mostly filled high school auditorium.  It was delightful to have so many people whispering about us as the kids and I sat in the RESERVED chairs!  Finally (after whispering with the principal), the Music Teacher came over to tell me that these seats were reserved.  Yes, I know - for me!  I told her who I was with and all was right in the world!

 Ben did absolutely fabulous!  He came home from school, did his homework, took an hour bath (he asked for the sweet smelling shampoo), and got ready in his suit.  Such a stud!

 The kids got to choose if they wanted to play an instrument.  Ben picked this big drum (that I can no longer remember the name of).  He also chose to participate in the dance they performed a little bit later.  He did a great job staying on beat and with his footwork!

 I love how he is sitting while they wait for the girls to sing.  All of the songs centered around America and the States.  I really wanted to cheer when one of the kids said, "Texas," but I restrained myself, as I was in the RESERVED seats in the second row!

 The Jackson Polar Bears!  Can I just tell you how much we love our school?!?  They really go over and beyond for the kids!  You'll notice Mitchell screaming - just as he did through the entire performance.  My sweet friend, Cindy (who won the RESERVED seats), took Mitchell out and walked the halls with him while he cried for 25 minutes.  Her kiddo is in 3rd grade, so she didn't miss him perform.  She is a Saint and deserves an award!!!  (The show started at 7 and that's when this little guy goes to bed, so I knew it was going to be rough, but I didn't expect it to be that bad; although, he slept A.W.E.S.O.M.E. when we got home!)

Great job, Ben!  We all love supporting you!

It's the Little Things

One night I was just done.  I needed to clean the kitchen and have some type of order more than I needed to sit on the sofa and have kids on my lap.  I asked Ben if he would read books that night instead.  He doesn't love to read to the girls; I think he runs out of patience.  He doesn't have the drive to finish books like I have.  Anyway, it was a HUGE energy booster for me to hear the story, as I've read it at least 27 times!

 Mitchell is trying to roll over - sometimes I have to tempt him!  He's rolled a few times but doesn't know how he did it.  He did sit up for about 20 seconds today.  The other kids were all sitting and rolling by now.  However, Mitchell doesn't get as much tummy time because he spits up SO much and SO often.  I feel bad when he spits up and before I can get to him to clean it up and turn him, his little head will drop down and he comes up with a white face.  Probably too much information, huh?

 These two have so much fun together.  I really just wanted a picture of Emily, but she wouldn't pose without her little brother!

 Oh, the silliness that can come out at bedtime!  Yes, Annie is in a trash bag.  I don't know what they were playing, I just came out from changing the clothes in the dryer to find lots of laughter and fun!

 We had a late-March snow storm which gave us ANOTHER snow day.  The storm ended up not being as horrific as predicted, and the snow was B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L!!!  I didn't mind doing dishes all day long!

More Proof!!!

We had a huge snow storm a few weeks ago.  Typically the father in this house plays in the snow.  I've done a great job this season because, "Someone needs to stay in the house with Mitchell!"  This Sunday afternoon, Andy stayed in while the kids and I made our little snow family.

 Emily and I working together to make part of it.  Typically we get fluffy snow here, but this was wet and compacted really well.  We had such a fun time rolling all the snowmen - I was really surprised at how easy it was!

 The family is coming together..we only had baby carrots to decorate the noses and just made do...

 The sad, but sometimes typical Annie.  Ben helped Emily make her snowman bigger, so Annie's wasn't as big.  This caused major drama and falling to the ground in tears.  Thankfully (I'm sure the neighbors agreed), it didn't last long and then she was back to work.  She just has to get some emotions out before she can put herself to a task and then excel (speaking of, so fun to hear her read!!!).  Those beginning moments of doubt and "I can't do it!!!" are hard for all of us to deal with!

 What's gonna work?  TEAMWORK!  That snow was H.E.A.V.Y!!!

Fun afternoon!  I'm so glad I got coaxed into going outside.  After making our snowmen, we played snow baseball.  All the kids got to bat and run the bases (while I tried to get them out with snowballs) and then it shifted into a little snowball fight with snow angels after little bodies collapsed!  Fun afternoon!!!

Let's Go Zips!!!

Andy is such a stud!  He stays up on fun *free* opportunities for our family and for others!  The University of Akron had a family-night.  You reserved and paid for your tickets 6 weeks in advance, only knowing the date of the basketball game, that you would have seats, that you would be served dinner, and that your money would be returned to you when you showed up to the game.  (No catch - there was a disclaimer that the game might be televised - we think they were trying to guarantee a larger audience.)

 So, we got together with a bunch of Zips LDS fans and went to a basketball game!  It was a blast having so many friends together; one family is was their first college sporting event!  This picture is most of our group, minus Andy and the guy in the red on the far left - I think we bought 32 tickets.  Below are the kids with Zippy - between him and the Chick-fil-a cow, the little ones were very entertained!

 One of the new law students this year has twin girls that are 4 months older than Emily - they are so darn cute together!!!  (They have an older sister Annie's age named Emily and their dad is Ben; it's a little bit confusing!)  Ring-around-the-rosie over and over!!!

 Halftime downstairs with pizza and salad - although not just any pizza - Papa John's!!!  We've only had it once since we've lived here because it's kind of far away, so we've learned to love Hungry Howie's, but this night brought back memories of home!  They ran out of plates and waters, but it was a fabulous night!

 Another group of friends.  Each family had a little baby with Mitchell the youngest at 3 months and Gwen the oldest at 9 months - except for the newly wedded Summers!

Such a fun night - especially when the Zips won!  Thanks, Andy, for paying attention to the fliers on campus!  Thanks to UofA for realizing some students have families!!!  So fun to attend a college game - makes me long for the BYU days!  Speaking of....go Jimmer!!!