Pretend Birthday Surprise

A couple weeks ago, Katelyn was going to bed and had an idea.  "Let's throw a surprise birthday party tomorrow for daddy! For his pretend birthday!"  Devin's birthday is in July, but she was so excited, that we did it.  We made a cake while he was at school, drew him presents and got everything cleaned up and ready for a party.
He called when he was leaving the school.  Katelyn heard he was on his way home and assigned everyone a hiding spot.  She and Elyse hid under the table, and I hid behind the front door.  When daddy walked in, Elyse ran to him, saying, "We are hiding under the table!"  Then Katelyn hopped out and yelled, "Happy pretend birthday!"
Devin was so surprised (who wouldn't be with a 3 month early birthday party!).  We sang to him, he blew out pretend birthday candles and we each had a delicious piece of pretend birthday cake!  It was an absolutely perfect party.
And to top it off, we told the girls our exciting news.
Baby #3 is due November 4th.  
Katelyn was so excited!  She turned to Elyse and said, "Did you hear that 'Lyse.  We are going to have a new baby, and it is not going to be you!"  Then she asked excitedly if we could have a boy kind this time.
We'll see Katelyn, we'll see.

Capturing Cuteness

I may not be the best at taking pictures of my kids, but I wanted to take a few minute to capture the cute things they say and do.  

The girls got a fish for Easter.  It is a male Beta fish.  On Easter morning, I told Katelyn he was a boy and asked what she wanted to name him.  She said, "Nick" without hesitation.  So we now have a fish named Nick. 

Each morning the girls come downstairs and sit to breakfast, turn to the fishbowl and say, "How ya doin' Nick?"

Whenever one to the girls say, "Me too!" the other will say, "Me three!" They continue to count every other number until they reach 20. It really struck me as funny the other day when 21 month old Elyse yelled, "Me 14!"

When Elyse gets upset at Daddy, she lowers her brow, gives him the stink eye and says, "No, Devin!" 

Katelyn got sick and threw up a few times.  After the second time, she said, "Oh no. Not AGAIN!" 

That same day, Devin got home and Elyse's hair was hanging in her face.  He started asking her where Elyse had gone and when we got a sheep dog.  He then told Katelyn she looked as white as a sheet.  Elyse then pointed at Katelyn and said, "Sheet dog."

At dinner, Elyse asked randomly, "What are you doing, buddies?"

When Katelyn suggest something for us to do, she'll ask, "Is that a good idea?" while nodding her head the whole time.  It is like if she nods, I'll say yes for sure. 

Elyse refers to herself as "Elyser Lou!"

Katelyn is always being a princess.  She chooses one princess and we can't call her by her name for the rest of the day.  If we do, she corrects us, "No, I am Snow White."  But when we ask the princess to do something  she is very obedient.  

Katelyn started a conversation with me the other day with, "Do you know the story of Jonah?" She then told me the whole story with all the details.  When she told about Jonah being spit out by the whale, she even made a throwing up noise/face.

Both of the girls scream "Chick-a-lay" when we drive past Chick-fil-a.

When Elyse sings "I am a Child of God" it sounds like she was blessed with "pirates kind and dear." 

Katelyn tells me stories at night before we go to bed.  They always have her as a princess, some boy in her primary as the prince, a dragon and happily ever after.  I love them the most when they begin, "Once upon a time...except it wasn't once upon a time.  Long ago in an ancient village...."  Then she add phrases like, "And you were there, too!"  I love story time.  My stories are never as good as Katelyn's. 

Easter Egg Hunt

Our friends put together an Easter Egg hunt for the kids.  The girls had such a fun time.  Here they all are ready for the hunt.  

Katelyn is such a poser. 

Doesn't this remind you of the farmer's wife picture with the pitchfork?  

At the Egg hunt.  

Hilton Head

We went to Hilton Head, South Carolina for Spring Break.  We had a really fun time.  We played on the beach, at the pool and rented bikes to ride around the island.  Mostly we just enjoyed spending time as a family without the pressures of school.  I am so grateful for my little family, and look forward to many family vacations to come. 

The girls were pretty goods sports for the long car ride.  

We had a lot of fun at this park in the island. Katelyn in the tree house.

Elyse came down each stair with her tongue out!

Teeter-totter 

 Swinging.

 Katelyn riding the frog. 

An alligator statue. We also saw some real alligators in a marsh while we were on our bike ride.    

Burritos

Devin showed the girls how we used to put Katelyn to sleep when she was a baby.  She liked to be wrapped like a burrito with a fuzzy animal by her face.  They thought it was so funny. 

 I can't believe is how big these little burritos are.