A snapshot of April 2016

So, April blew right by. Here's what we were up to...

Eloise took a music class. She initially was not into it but eventually warmed up to the idea.

Natalie continued to learn new things, like how to play Hangman, at school.

Eloise continued to like to sit on the potty.

Natalie went to the dentist.

Eloise began studying Chemistry while also working on standing up and learned how to lay face first on the kitchen floor while mommy is trying to make dinner.

 Natalie found the dress Katie wore at our wedding and was able to squeeze into it, just barely.

Whitney's friend from high school came to visit and everyone loved her (duh).

Natalie took her big sister job seriously and began showing Eloise how to use the potty and reading to her while doing so.

Eloise began doing more climbing and was finally able to climb up into her chair by herself and then down out of it by herself also.

The weather was unseasonably nice and we began stopping at parks on the way home from school just to enjoy the weather.

 
Eloise continued her training for strongest baby contest.

Mommy began going to Farmer's Markets

Random silly things happened...

 

 The girls continued to LOVE books.

Natalie and Daddy began to build circuits.

Natalie's Birthday Party

We gave Natalie the option of having her party at a fancy party place (like Bounce U) and only being able to invite 10 of her friends or having a party at the park and inviting all her friends. She chose to play games, decorate cookies and play with all her friends at the park. So, that's what we did...

She was surrounded by so many fun people: friends from school, neighbor friends and friends she's grown up with because they are the kids of our long time friends. Daddy organized some fun games (relay races, Red Light/Green Light, sack races, etc.) to get the kids playing all together and burning off some energy.

When the kids got restless, he got the parents involved in the sack races... thanks to all the parents who participated in the silly races. The kids loved it.

 

 After all the races, it was time to decorate cookies...

The kids played on the playground for a while and then they ate more cookies. It was a beautiful day for an exhausting party.

Eloise rode in the backpack most of the morning and finally fell asleep during the cookie cutting. She managed to stay asleep until we had the car all packed up.

Happy 5th Birthday Natalie!

Mommy and Daddy decorated the kitchen night before Natalie's birthday.  At the last minute, mommy thought it would be pretty funny to set the table for breakfast but hide it under the mysterious red cake cover. Natalie didn't think it was quite as funny as mommy.

This was the first year she was interested in trying to and successfully able to read some of the cards/notes she received.

A pink cake with sprinkled frosting for this birthday girl.