Spring

We’ve been busy lately, but I wanted to take a minute to update the blog.

We had some pictures taken of the girls last month (Audrey 3 years, Emily 18 months), and I think this one is my favorite. 

Audrey is 3 and full of life!

And Emily is now 20 months and is just coming into her personality.  She’s coy, cuddly, and sweet but she can also be loud and playful.

Logan is playing tee-ball this spring and seems to like it so far.  He also enjoys going to the driving range with Luke.

As a family, we also enjoy a Family Kindermusik class every Tuesday night.  Here are the kids playing some coffee can drums.

Logan is finishing up his Kindergarten year this month.  I was able to go on his field trip to the zoo last week and loved it that he wanted to sit next to me on the bus on the way home.  I know it’s only a matter of time before he requests that I not come on the field trip with his class!

I had a group of 4 kids from Logan’s class to keep with me for the day.  They kept me running!

See the tiger?  We heard him roar! (Or maybe he was purring, but it was pretty loud.)

The giraffe is behind the kids.  See him between the trees?

All this activity along with a trip to Michigan, a Breuker family reunion, visits from grandparents and great-grandparents, Grandparents’ Day at school, MOPs, a few playdates, an enjoyable dinner date with friends, some family game nights, and a lot of time spent outside, and you have our spring so far. 

Easter Sunday!

 

We had a great Easter Sunday! As Audrey says, “Jesus rosed from the dead!” It was even more special this year because the kids were able to grasp a little more about the explanation of Good Friday and the miracle of Easter. He has risen!

We went to church and then went to my parents’ house for lunch. Then the kids did an Easter egg hunt all around Papa and Nanny’s front yard. Logan wanted to help hide the eggs this year…. but then he also wanted to help find them. Hmmm, I think someone’s a bit smarter that we think! Anyway, we came home with quite the stash of candy.

     

We took a video toward the end of the egg hunt. You can watch it if you want (or maybe you’d rather skip the surprise ending…).

 

Annnnd…. we have the first skinned knees in the Darling household. Somehow I’m not surprised that Audrey would be first.

Audrey’s Birthday Celebration

I’m slowly catching up… :)

We had a fun time celebrating Audrey turning three!  Here’s a glimpse of our time celebrating with her.  It was simple, but she loved it!

The week before her birthday, we brought her to a store she’s been eyeing every day on our way to Logan’s school.  It’s called “Tiny Toes Ribbons and Bows” and has pretty toddler dresses, skirts, and headbands in the window displays.  She was excited to try a few things on.

On her actual birthday, Audrey got to use the “birthday plate” all day, and that made her feel special already at breakfast (waffles and bananas).  Then I put her hair in a ponytail at her request, painted her fingernails pink, and we called a neighbor girl to come over and play for a few hours.

At lunch time, I let her open one present, a sing-a-long DVD with Disney princess songs.  It’s the first time she’s seen these princesses on the screen.

   

Watching Disney with her siblings and sucking her thumb in the living room for the last time (we restricted Lambie and her thumb to the bedroom starting the day after her birthday).

We had a special birthday dinner with her favorite meal: pizza casserole, corn, applesauce, and pink lemonade to drink.  Papa and Nanny came over too.

Gifts… she couldn’t wait to open them!

A personalized beach towel, sunglasses, and flip-flops from Papa and Nanny.

Logan picked out a gift at Dollar Tree for Audrey and wanted to write the gift tag by himself.  This warms my heart on so many levels!

Her new outfit from mom and dad (the one she picked from Tiny Toes Ribbons and Bows).

New rain boots and a new silver backpack!

     

Audrey didn’t want to wear her new outfit at first, so Emily put it on instead. ;)

Then Audrey decided she wanted it back.  :)

The cake.  Audrey LOVES cake.  She requested one with Ariel, flowers, and pink sprinkles.  I think the local bakery did a great job!

Audrey approved.

We sang the birthday song to her twice, because once just isn’t enough.  :)

The second time through, Logan tried to beat her to blowing out the candles, but she was quick to blow as well!

After the party, Audrey gave complimentary “hair cuts” to anyone who would sit on the steps for her.

We love you so much, Audrey Pearl!  You add so much energy, hugs, laughter, drama, and sheer volume to our family.   xoxo

Our winter, in brief

Hello!  I can’t believe it’s been 3 months since I last posted.  I hope you’ve all had a wonderful January, February, and March.  So, a lot has happened since I last posted here.  In an attempt to play catch up, let me share a few photos of our winter and what we were up to.

This was by far the mildest winter I can remember while living here in the Midwest.  We only had a handful of days with snow and I think the kids only used their sleds once, but when we did have snow, they were outside to enjoy it.

Poor Emily wanted to join in too!

Emily has changed the most this winter.  She’s been teething and popped out her first tooth at 16 months and two more followed shortly.

Emily enjoys playing dolls with Audrey.  She rocks, hushes, and feeds her babies just like her Audrey does.

Emily got her first haircut…

 

And, she started walking!

Look how big she is, my baby.  (sigh)

 

We remembered Brianna’s 4th heavenly birthday on Valentine’s Day. So much has changed in the past four years.  Life goes on, kids continue to grow, we get older, friendships change, but the way I remember Brianna, that always stays the same.

Every year we remember Brianna’s birthday with a cupcake at Designer Desserts in Valparaiso.  Here are my three kiddos at the colorful bakery.  I often wonder what it would be like with another child in the picture.  I do miss her.

 

And here’s my oldest, my birthday boy, who turned 6 this year!

He had a party with two friends from his Kindergarten class and an inflatable Mickey Mouse.  They had a blast!

 

(Audrey wanted a picture with Mickey too.)

Logan said he didn’t want me to plan any games or activities for his party this time (what?!), so the boys just had a lot of fun playing with Logan’s toys, games, and the old nintendo in the basement.  This is also the first year Logan has been able to play outside on his February birthday!

 

February was a busy month for us and took us on a couple trips.  We drove to Des Moines to see my newest niece, Lydia, get baptized.  What a beautiful service.  I also love it that the pastor gave my brother Mark a letter for Lydia to be opened on her 14th birthday.  I just think that’s so cool.

All the cousins and Mark and Hanna in front of church.

 

The next weekend, Emily travelled on an airplane for the first time on her “girls’ trip” to Ripon, CA with my mom and me.  We had so much fun!

(This picture was on our little hopper plane from San Francisco to Modesto and it was snapped before take off.  Emily rode on my lap the whole way.)

 

Oh, how I love and miss the almond blossoms!

While Emily and I were in CA, Luke took the older two kids to his parents’ house in Michigan.  Logan and Audrey love to help Grandma make pancakes in the mornings. 

 

Even if no one is checking this blog, I like to keep it up because it’s a good way for me to document this season of our life.  It’s busy, and often it feels like I spend my days settling arguments, sweeping up crumbs, and answering questions, but it’s good and I’m thankful. 

Happy Spring to all of you, and hopefully I’ll be updating a little more regularly again.  Audrey’s 3rd birthday is right around the corner.  She’s super excited about it, so I’m sure I’ll have plenty of pictures to share soon.