Fun and Great

To quote Elliott, "It was fun and great!!!" Here is just one picture from our spring break getaway to Wisconsin Dells. When I have some 'free time' maybe I'll get to sorting through the rest of them!

flat stanley

My kids were very excited to recieve a letter in the mail earlier this week. Inside, they discovered "Flat Stanley" sent to them from cousin Kennedy. Stanley has been enjoying his time in our home, reading lots of books, playing Polly Pockets, hanging out with the letters on the magnetic bulletin board, and venturing out and about in Buffalo. Here are a few snapshots from his time here. We'll keep him for one more day, so he can channel his inner cheerleader with Delaney and his inner ballerina with Jillian!

Flat Stanley is the best patron at the library - extremely quiet at a fantastic listener!

Buffalo has many, many painted bison throughout the town. Here are two of our favorites - one painted with the businesses of downtown welcoming guests to our community, and one painted like a fish to represent the two lakes within our town. We have plans to visit a few more of Buffalo's landmarks before Stanley returns to Moorhead!

Hair today, gone tomorrow

Just when you thought he couldn't get any cuter!

must read

One of my favorite times with my kids is story time. I always made an effort to read with them for 1/2 an hour a day before naptime. This looks a little different with Elliott than it did with the girls. He's not so much into the actual reading of the words, but prefers to open flaps, put together puzzles or place magnets on the pages of books. We have a lot of "active books" that allow him to be involved while I essentially read the story to myself. Delaney and Jillian love for me to read to them, but are now proud to read to me at bedtime instead. They've even begun reading on their own in their beds (with flashlights, of course!). It's a time that I miss, snuggled up with my girls and being transported away into a fantasy world. I am proud of the love for reading that has developed in each them!

Delaney couldn't put down her book at breakfast this morning -- check it out, the fork is even still in her hand! (and yes, that's a toaster waffle she's eating - just call me mother of the year!)

my little cowpokes

Elliott spends his entire morning asking "Jillian home from school now?" They have the best time together - setting up a zoo with the blocks and animals, playing with every toy in the basement, bowling on the wii. . . She even put him down for his nap yesterday - complete with stories, lullably and somehow getting him into his crib (glad I wasn't in there to witness it!). She's like the cream in the middle of the oreo cookie - stuck a little bit to both of her siblings. She definitely looks up to her big sister, wants to be like her and craves her approval. They enjoy playing make-believe together - barbies, petshops, school. Delaney is sometimes too grown up (and quite bossy) for the silly side of Jillian. It's a good thing she has such a goofy little brother!

me, too!

How do 3 kids spend a day off from school? Begging mommy to do lots and lots of activities! We baked cookies, played Wii bowling, made Valentines for kids at the Children's Hospital, and painted fingernails and toenails. Not to be left out, Mr. Elliott needed his nails to sparkle, too! Delaney's fingernails are green and toenails are pink - topped with purple glitter polish, of course. Jillian's nails are a pattern - bright pink and aqua blue. What did Elliott go for? A pattern on his fingernails (green and blue - finished with a coat of purple glitter) and his toenails are a "beautiful pink!" Daddy said he's scarred for life. . .

tonight. . .

my dear Delaney informed me that I have a 'giant snout' and my belly is so big I look like I'm having a baby. I think I'll skip the ice cream Ryan is enjoying tonight and google make-up tips for shadowing a big nose.