no more rain please!

It's been a long couple of weeks.  We got hit with some terrible storms and LOTS of rain that caused bad flooding.  We spent days cleaning up, vacuuming water and replacing pumps.  Unfortunately, our basement had a couple of inches of water but thankfully, the carpet is the only thing we have to replace.  It could have been much worse!  

We have all been going a little crazy from being stuck inside!  It's the end of April and the weather is just now starting to warm up!

Here's the field behind our house that turned into a lake for a few days.  

Even the street in front of our house was flooded!

I didn't realize how bad it was until I drove to work the next day.  There were roads closed, abandoned cars left floating in flooded streets and many lakes where they had never been before!  Way more water than I ever remember seeing!  This is a picture of a car on a street close to our house!  

Andrew had fun helping us clean up!

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Today we were able to forget about all the water and just relax and enjoy the beautiful weather!

They were soooo excited to be OUTSIDE!!!

We played outside for over 3 hours!  Andrew looked for bugs, collected rocks and loved playing in the dirt. 

Alexis also collected rocks in her shirt pocket, rode her bike and ran laps around the back yard.

She was so happy she didn't have to wear a coat!

It was a little windy and her hair was constantly in her face so she finally let me put clips in her hair!!  She looked so cute... and grown up!

cool dude

I'm not sure if you can tell, but his pockets we so packed full of rocks that his pants would not stay up.  There were so many rocks when I took them out, I had to count.  There were 38 rocks in there!  What a goofball.  I can't wait for all the fun this summer is going to bring! 

We're all going to sleep good tonight!!

another rainy day....

Lovely day at Lola's

Yesterday we spent the day at Lola's house!

The weather was beautiful and the kids enjoyed playing in the backyard and walking around the neighborhood.  

After enjoying all the sun, we went to Lola's retirement party!!  

Her work threw her a very nice party and the kids had fun meeting all her friends.

They couldn't wait for the CAKE!

Andrew ~ 20 months

Andrew is 20 months old today!  

I think he is back to eating like he used to!  For a few months, he decided to be picky and not eat much at meals, but I think he's back to loving food!  He was so into his chicken nuggets he didn't care that there was a huge cow behind him!!

Last week he peed on the potty twice in one day!  We had no intentions on potty training but he was running around naked so I thought I would sit him down quick before putting on his diaper and as soon as I did, he went!!  On the same night before bed he went again!  No such luck since then...

He is talking so much more just in the last couple of months.

He's really into playing with cars, trucks and motorcycles.... but I caught him dancing like a ballerina earlier today with Alexis.  He copies everything she does!

He fell asleep for his nap today sucking on his toes.

When he gets frustrated, he hits violently and throws everything in sight!
It doesn't happen often but he can make a scene, for sure.

On the other hand, he is usually a very happy boy!  And this is what he is like... most of the time!

Alexis and I took a trip to Target this afternoon while Andrew took a nap.  She had a fun time trying on shoes, looking at movies and helping me pick out flower seeds.  She picked out this little gnome for the garden.  She calls him Santa!

She wanted to get a big puzzle like her friend Brayden has!  She wanted a princess one but we finally decided on one that her and Andrew would both like.  

She found a Cinderella undershirt and underwear to match!  She picked out Spiderman for Andrew and he loved them!

Rain Rain Go Away!!!

After having a couple of warm days playing outside, the kids want to everyday!  And I don't blame them!  It's back to cold, windy and rainy and we're stuck inside again.  I can't wait until we can ride our bikes to the park and go to the pool and the zoo!

We stopped by Trader Joe's for a couple of things this morning.  This is their favorite grocery store because they have little carts just for kids!  They both loved putting walking around the store filling up their carts!

You can't really tell in the pictures but they both got hair cuts this morning too.  And they both did amazing!  Alexis got up on the chair all by herself and I didn't even have to stand by her.  This was Andrew's first real cut and I wasn't sure how he would do.  He hung onto me like a monkey when I tried to put him in the chair so he sat on my lap and sat really still, just moving his eyes around to look.  It was funny but he did so good.

The wind must have blown his hair because it really doesn't look as bad as it does in the picture ;)

at least she was sharing?

I was busy fixing dinner tonight and out of the corner of my eye, I saw this.....

they were sneaking cake!!

lots of sun & grandma's birthday

Today was the warmest day so far this year!  It was almost 60 degrees!  We set out to the park this morning with coffee in hand :)  We have been on a hunt for parks nearby.  I think the one today will work out great for Albert because it also has tennis courts!  The kids both had fun running around, sliding and swinging.  When we came home, Alexis rode up and down the sidewalk on her bike while Andrew napped.  When he woke up, we played out in the back yard.  They loved watering the plants and flowers... that were barely poking out of the ground.  I can't wait to plant some veggies in the garden!!  I know Alexis will love to help me!  

taking a break with some flavor-ice!

did you catch those blue nails?  she found the polish and had to have her nails painted!  and toes!

soaking in the sun!

I asked her to smile and she turned around like this!

(she's probably laughing to herself because I had no idea that she didn't have a shirt on under her coat until we came inside!)

Although he likes to play with dolls and wear dresses, he definitely has a LOT of boy in him!  He loves playing in the dirt.... and eating it too!  I wanted to get a picture of his mouth full of it but I was too grossed out I had to take him in right away to wash him up!  

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It was a beautiful day......... for a birthday!  Today is Grandma's birthday!  After dinner we skyped with her and surprised her with a cake, fully lit with candles and started singing Happy Birthday!!

Alexis loved helping me make the cake and, of course, had to put pink frosting and sprinkles on top!!

Easter

On Sunday we went to Metamora to spend Easter with the family!  The weather was beautiful and the kids had a blast playing with their cousins!