just what we need

With all this nice weather, it seems like we're getting a whole extra month or 2 of summer!  The kids have been busy outside the past few weeks.  I think all the toys and whatnot have all been dragged out at least once.  We're going to top off the sandbox and put all the sand toys and trucks back in.  Logan even had his first sit in the sandbox.  He wasn't too sure about it yet!  He kept trying to keep his legs up and off the sand.  He'll be digging to China with the rest of them come summers end.  I've sold both the kids old 16" bikes so now we all have ONE bike and ONE only.  (Let's keep it that way Daddy...)  We're trying to figure something out for the yard, possibly gating off the back run area behind the house for Stella so we can fix the grass.  Big dog + warm winter = no grass :/  Logan loves walking around the block, picking up whatever he finds, saying "Yuuuck."  Luke calls me to the kitchen window this afternoon and says "Look what I bringed home!"

celebrity sighting

 Recognize anyone?  Good thing for neighbor Carol and her newspaper or I would have never known!

Happy Birthday Jellybean!

 Stella turned 2 on the 20th!  We didn't do much for celebrating.  Dave did get her some new leads in 3 different sizes and a new collar from Mendota.  He also got her a rubber chicken that she runs around with and squeaks really loud.  I'm guessing people go by and laugh at her.  Now we just need to figure out how that dog year thing works....is she 8 like Emily (1 reg. year + 1 equal to 7 years) or is she 14 (2 reg. years at 7 dog years each)?  Or is she just 2?  I'll have to Google it.  I don't have any cute recent pictures of Stella so I'll use these that Luke took of her yesterday when he hijacked the camera.

Guess who....

 figured out how to climb onto the couch?!  He loves it when you sneak up on him and say "Loooogan!" like you are going to scold him.  He laughs so hard!  At least he seems to be safely getting himself down.  Little stinker!

{March}ing to the park

Usually in March, we are trudging through the snow over to Sinclair Park to make a snowman.  Not this year!  Logan had his first real taste of the park.  He enjoyed swinging for a little bit and then had fun walking around, picking up sticks and whatnot.  Unfortunately, he still can't be trusted to not put a handful of rocks in his mouth!

without a doubt...

 spring is here!  It looks like "spring break" can be taken more than one way this year.  We've had the furnace off and windows open for almost a week now and I'm about to sell outgrown and unwanted winter gear....so no turning back!  Luke spent the week at Nana and Papa's.  They were going to attempt some ice fishing being there was still snow up there, but it seemed the warm weather nixed that idea, ice was wet and crunchy.  He went to see The Lorax, had lunch with Gavin at school, helped wash Papa's truck, had root beer floats and played his helicopter with Grant and Gavin, went to the library and he is at the Wabasha Eagle Center as I type!  Can't wait to see him.  It's amazing how cute he sounds on the phone!

loves

 Logan loves to "give loves" to all things cute and furry.  Or baby dolls.  Here he is spotting a kitty and a puppy.  He's pretty generous with his loves to us too!

Finally 5?!

 I think now that Luke has had his official birthday with a Hotwheels cake, he now truly believes he is 5!  Deeda, Uncle Mark and the girls came down last Friday to have one more celebration.

 We are darn lucky to have college professor Uncle Mark around to help the kids with math.  I know I won't be much help....I barely passed out of Geometry in high school!  He also showed Emily some planets in the sky as they were leaving that night and she's been on the look out for them ever since.

 My sister in law Josey made this incredible 5 cake for Luke.  Many many thanks to her, it was the best!  Now that she's made a 5 cake for both Em and Luke for their golden birthdays, I expect I'll be putting in a request for a 3 for Logan :)

 Is she cute or what?  I got lots of baby snuggle time in.

 Logan the cake monster....

Luke was so darn excited to get his birthday present from Deeda, a remote control helicopter.  He screamed so loud.  Unfortunately the picture turned out extremely overexposed, but I tried to tweak it as best I could to show his delight.  He was so happy.  Thanks for coming down guys!

Humane Society

 Emily had a fun spring break too!  She went to a birthday party of an old Central friend and got to see some girls she used to go to school with.  Her main request was to visit the Humane Society, so we did that yesterday.  In the morning I had went to La Crosse and stopped at Sam's Club to get some bleach and hand sanitizer for them.  It's always fun to show up with donations and since we didn't do it at Christmas, we were due.  She got her fill of kitty love!  Dave took her to the theater to see The Lorax too. I'm not an animated movie fan, so I'm glad both the kids got to go and I didn't have to!  On Wednesday I brought her over to work with her llama.  Between now and county fair time in July, I'll bring her over every few weeks to work with him.  She really enjoys it and Lorraine says she's a natural!  Of course I brought the camera, but after taking a few pictures and wanting to go back and look at them, I see...No CF Card.  Maybe next time!