April Showers

We're clearly MONTHS behind making sure the world knows about all the fun we have. So let's wrap up April before the middle of June is here and gone. Prep yourself for too many pictures. On my mark...go.

Broke out the water table. Keeps them happy and busy and not TOO messy and cool when it's warm. Good toy.

Maria, Sarah's youngest sister turned 18. Celebrated by babysitting her nieces. She knows how to live it up.

Baby Catherine make a visit from Canada and the girls all dressed in their coordinating butterfly outfits that Grandma bought them. Grandma loves to shop for little girls and now that she's got four to beautify you know she couldn't be happier.

We met our new friend Benjamin. This is the first tiny baby the girls have been around since they learned we're expecting. SO they were begging to hold him and observe his every movement. They were mostly surprised by how much he cries. Oh girls. You haven't heard anything yet. 

Best event of April: the zoo opened its doors for the season. We took a family trip. 

 We only do rides when Daddy is with us, so the girls chose the train.

Nope, can't get all three to look at the same time.

And the Australia exhibit has been overhauled in the past year to include a stingray "petting" area and a splash pad. Both are fan favorites now.

Tim got a set of pictures during this trip that so perfectly show real sibling love...at least the kind that lives in our house.

And then they got over it and are best friends again.

Until the next time they made each other nuts because "she's breathing too close to me." 

Felicity and Vivian graduated from storytime. {Hashtag all the milestones.} But it's hard to believe Vivian is already this old and starts Kindergarten in just a few short months.

Right after the water table made an appearance, we brought the power wheels up from the basement. The girls aren't the best operators, but no one's died or been run over yet. They get their driving skills from their Mama.

Aunt Bridget, Felicity's godmother, got her a magazine for her birthday. The first issue came at the end of April and was the envy of every little girl in the house. It was all about horses and she poured over every page - it was truly a disappointment when she turned the last page. And immediately asked, "When is the next one in the mail box?"

All in good time, my pretty.

Farewell, Stella

Uncle Michael's dear Stella passed away in April. Is was sudden and sad for everyone near to them.

She is buried in our woods and still very deeply missed. She was good - Michael's companion and friend. Loyal to and protective of him. The best version of a dog. One that has been around the world with him and back again. One that can probably never be truly replaced.

The girls made her headstones and still wander out to the woods to see how she's doing. 

Farewell, Stella.

Felicity Turns Three

Felicity is THREE. She had a birthday party with her grandparents to celebrate - and some Daniel Tiger decorations. Even a Daniel Tiger hair bow. She's big fan of Daniel Tiger. 

Felicity really never suffered from the Terrible Twos. She's just a good-hearted, sweet-natured girl. Her favorite part of the day is waking up, getting a sippy cup of milk and cuddling with her Daddy. Mommy doesn't make a good substitute and if Daddy has to leave before this morning routine, Felicity is in a funk for an hour. She's a great talker, but says some funny things. She calls puddles, cuddles. For a long time we thought she was saying Be Simple when she was really saying Free Samples...and asking to take a trip to Costco. Yellow is llellllow. She'd like to skip breakfast every morning, but her mom insists she take a few bites of something. Her life is mostly a race to keep up with her sisters or take advantage of the time they're distracted by begging Mommy to read her a book on the couch. She loves to help bake and play Playdoh. Babysitters are enemy number one...until they show up and start playing...then she'll barely look up to tell Mommy goodbye. Aunt Bridget and Sarah's cousin Lily are her super-rock-star-idols. She just loves them.

For her birthday she got some fun gifts; her favorite was the new Anna (Frozen) pjs. She wears them ANYTIME they're clean.

She also received some Daniel Tiger toys which made for hours of fun.

And a Melissa and Doug reusable sticker set. All Melissa and Doug toys are great, but apparently this one can entertain children of all ages.

On her actual birthday, we celebrated with our little family at home. The birthday hat, more singing, more sweets. She clearly loved it.

And, best of all, Felicity had her first birthday date with Daddy! She still points out the local restaurant they ate at and tells about how they sang to her and the smiley fries she ate and the brownie sundae with a candle. This time with her Daddy made her feel so special and loved. Each of the girls really enjoys the one-on-one attention they get during Birthday Dates and count down to their next ones!

So many happy wishes and prayers for our sweet little Felicity. Watching you grow has truly been our pleasure.