Soccer Stars in the Making

Or not. The first week of soccer was freezing. This did not please Kate at all. She spent what little part of the game she was actually on the field like this:

Annie didn't let the frigid temps stop her. She said it was fun :)

We'll see if there's any improvement in attitude over the next few weeks. The forecast, for both the weather and Kate, is grim.



More Cute Baby

We just love our sweet Evie.

Cousins

Our Parke cousins came to visit on their spring break, and we had a great time! The kids wore themselves out at the Treehouse during the day, and then stayed up way too late at night. The perfect thing to do with cousins!

Watching a movie.

How cute are these four girls asleep in their matching sleeping bags?

They had a little dance party before Annie had to go to school and the Parkes had to return to Ohio.

Maddee and Kate. Trouble? I think so.

Thanks for coming to visit! We had so much fun!

Nostalgia

I took the girls to the zoo a few weeks ago while Annie was on spring break. We went to our old hood in Toledo. Annie insisted, and I do mean insisted, that we get pictures with this butterfly setup.

She really, really wanted me to be in the picture, too. We had to wait around until someone walked by who could take the picture.

After the zoo, we went to Walbridge Park. The park is right outside the back zoo entrance, and it also happens to be just blocks from our old house. It was sort of weird being there with this version of Annie:

When I spent so many hours there with this version of her:

And  just for fun, here's Evie in the same spot. (They updated the swings. But not the people of questionable morals in the parking lot.)

Oh Toledo, how we will always love thee!

Just For Fun

The girls and I find ourselves wandering down to our little neighborhood park very often around 4 p.m. Anyone with kids understands why. It works out really nicely usually. The other day I got some adorable pictures of the kids.

Kate refused all pictures after the first one of her except this. Crazy child.

Happy Easter

Ella, Annie and Mallory at Easter lunch at the Ralls'

This is so cute of Adam, Great Grandpa Ralls and Mallory.

All eight of them with Great Grandpa Ralls.

Grandma Ralls in her new room with all of her grandkids. I'd say it was a pretty good day!

My sweet girls.

Evie wore these ears for a long time running around my parents' house.

And Easter surprise for Kate! Maggie gave her a haircut! Thanks Maggie! I forgot to take an after picture with you, but she looks adorable!

Easter Eggs

Easter Egg Hunt Extravaganza

The girls and I hit the Easter Egg Hunt circuit pretty hard last weekend. We hit two in two days, much to the delight of the kids.

Annie, Kate and Steve with the Ester Bunny.

Kate and Annie. Evie didn't make it to the bunny this year. She was at home taking a nap. I sort of felt bad, but really I think that was a decision for all parties - me, Evie and the bunny. Kate was wary enough of him.

Sydney

I feel like I have to blog about our dog, Sydney. Matt and I got Sydney when she was a tiny and very adorable puppy nearly exactly a year before Annie was born. She was a great dog, and we had to put her down last week rather unexpectedly.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I will never be described as an animal lover. I complained about Sydney and her constant shedding and basic survival needs pretty much every day since Kate was born, I think. However, I did love her. She was my first little being that I took care of, and she protected me at home many a night that Matt spent at the hospital. When I was training for a marathon, she used to run with me at the park. I think people thought I was cruel, but that dog would run forever if you let her. She was amazing with the kids. Annie told me yesterday that she had a memory of Sydney, and it was of her pulling Sydney's tail. Which she did on a constant basis.

So basically, I've gone from mocking people who cry about their dogs to not only being one, but also dedicating a whole blog post to her. :) She started having seizures last week, and she had five in about 30 hours. She started acting really strange, and she was getting pretty aggressive with Matt and my mom. With the recommendation of the vet and worrying about the safety of the kids around her, we put her down. We are sad. Annie is matter of fact--she will give you all the details very plainly if you ask. And the older girls have already asked if we could get a new dog. Also to be named Sydney, according to them.

Daddy Day at Preschool

A few weeks ago, it was Dad's Day at Annie's preschool. Annie was so excited for this. She asked every day for two weeks if it was the right day. She also was very committed to the Hawaiian theme. She kept reminding me to find Matt a Hawaiian shirt (we borrowed one from our neighbor luckily!) and that she would need a grass skirt (thank you very much Party City).

Can you tell she's excited?!

Doing a Hawaiian dance

I told her today that there is a Mom's Day in May. She hasn't expressed quite the same excitement....