Catching up

Just thought I would share some of the pictures over the last couple of weeks. We have been outside enjoying the nice weather and spending time with family. We have celebrated Dixie and Belle's 7th and 6th birthdays, had multiple Easter egg hunts and explained to Kate that she is Irish!

We had our first cousin slumber party and Josie and I are proud to report that all 4 kids were asleep by 8:30. Madeline slept in her new sleeping bag in Kate's room and both girls slept until morning. Claire and Stephen both did very well and did not join us in the bed until about 4:30 am. Josie and I got to watch a movie together, one that was not produced by Disney or any Wiggly characters.

I am amazed at how aware Stephen has become in the last week. It all started the night that we had the slumber party with the red cup at bath time. (If you notice in the top picture he was still holding it after the bath.) I took it away from him to rinse off someone and he was mad! That is what he wanted and how dare I take it away from him! Now when he wants something inparticular, he lets you know. Today, he wanted a piece of the puzzle Kate and I were putting together, then he wanted the same cracker she was eating at lunch, and at dinner he wanted a muffin wrapper as he watched her put them in the tin. He really wants to participate in whatever we are doing. I seeing a strong personality emerging... but he is still sweet as ever.

Kate says funny things all the time, but lately she has been saying "I love you" a lot. I eat it up. Today she looked at me and said, "Momma, I love you.... because because because... Well, because I love you." I was just one of the sweetest things she has ever said.

One more Kate-ism.... We dyed Easter eggs last night and Kate was so proud of her Easter eggs that she wanted to take an egg to bed with her. It was late, why not, so we taped it to a spoon and she put it on her bedside table. It also made its way into our room this morning and somehow the dog found it and ate it. LOL... (Good thing we dyed a lot of yellow eggs, she will never know!)