Alyson's Birthday Party

Alyson had a friend's birthday party this Saturday. She had a great time celebrating with her friends, and we are grateful for all who came. Thanks!

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It began to rain almost as instantly as her party began, so we moved everyone inside and played games as best as we could. Rylie, a friend from church, made Alyson's cake (very cute), and we let the kids bust open the ladybug pinata. The rain moved on soon after eating cake and opening presents so the children went outside and played water balloon toss and bubbles.

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Again, thank you all who came to Alyson's party. We appreciated you being there!

Michigan Turns

I've been wondering if I should post this or not, and I have decided to due so for several reasons. First, I need to get it off my chest. And secondly, I want to warn anyone who may be visiting Michigan so you can drive safely.

I noticed pretty much right away, as soon as we moved to Michigan, that most drivers DO NOT know how to turn into the correct lane! I learned, and remember very clearly being on the Colorado driving exam, that you turn into the lane closest to you. Many motorists in Michigan are unaware of this law, or Michigan must have different driving standards. For what ever reasons, it makes for some scary driving!

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So many streets that I drive on any given day are four lanes streets. So, if I take a right hand turn, I pull into the lane on the far right side. Well, many motorists just don't do that. They pull into the left lane and try to zoom around me. I am not so slow that anyone has ever called me a granny driver, so I don't think it is my problem.

Then take for instance that I am taking a left hand turn onto a street with four lanes, two of which are flowing the direction I plan to be going, I should pull into the lane closest to me, the one next to the yellow dividing line. Well, many motorists pull into the far right hand lane. It prevents you from merging over into the right hand lane if you have to make a right hand turn a block later or so later. You have to take the turn fast and then almost gun it or take it slowly so you can get into the far right lane soon after making the left turn. Don't you dare try to take a right hand turn when the on coming traffic has a green light to turn left. You may just find yourselves in a head on collision!

It also makes it scary when there are two lanes turning left and you are in one of them. You never know if the person next to you is going to turn into the correct lane! So, there is your warning. I know it has been a frustrating experience for me, and maybe this tid-bit of information will aid you in driving safely when you are here!

Ellary is 1 year old today!

Ellary turned 1 year old today. Wow-what a big girl she is becoming! She's brought so much happiness to our family, and we are especially grateful for her on this day. Unfortunately our digital camera was on the fritz (we didn't know it had problems until after viewing the pictures), so here is one of the only ones that really turned out. Luckily Kris got out the video camera and was able to document Ellary's birthday more fully.

We had a small gathering of friends who helped us celebrate this special occasion. When it was time for cake and ice cream, Ellary didn't know what to think about her cake. However, after getting a taste of it from a spoon, she tore into the thing. She ate a little more than half the piece that was given to her first by carving it away with the handle end of the spoon and then hand feeding it to herself.

Thank you to all who thought of Ellary on her special day! It means a lot to us!

Ellary's Ecard

Mom and Dad sent some ecards for Easter. The girls realy enjoyed looking at them, and Ellary got a kick out of the music that played with her card. Here she is dancing with Alyson, Kourtney and Ellary as they watch the ecard play.

Alyson's First Soccer Practice

Alyson had her first soccer practice on Thursday night. She had a fun time which was so great because it was her first time playing...with a real soccer ball, in soccer cleats and wearing shin guards. Her friend Lizzy is playing too, so Alyson is especially excited to get the chance to play over the next month.

Campfire Smoke and S'mores

We spent some time making a fire pit out of pavers Saturday afternoon. Then we sat around the camp fire and ate s'mores. It's a little touch of Colorado that we've been looking forward to recreating ever since we moved into our new home. Mom and Dad have a fire pit made of old bricks that my niece, nephew and I made when I was about 13 years old, and Kris, Alyson, Kourtney and I had a wonderful time lighting it up and camping out by it last summer.

Kourtney has repeatedly asked if we can go camping outside, referring to setting the fire pit ablaze. But Alyson is sick and it's been raining for almost two days straight.

I am so thankful for daughters who enjoy going outside, getting a little dirty, but can go back inside and want to play dress-up and wear ballerina tu-tu's and dance all around the house. They are so versatile and fun...I only hope it lasts into their teenage years!

Easter Pictures

Alyson, Kourtney and Ellary had a lot of fun searching for Easter eggs on Saturday. Perfect weather for some outdoor fun!

The Truth About the Easter Bunny

Kris and I have been talking about buying a treadmill ever since cold weather and time constraints have kept us from exercising as much as we should. So we went to the mall and purchased a treadmill and an elliptical on Saturday. Now instead of sitting our lazy buns on the couch to watch TV at night, we will be able to exercise, watch our favorite programs and still spend time together.

While Kris bought the exercise equipment, I took the girls to see the Easter Bunny in the center of the mall. Kourtney kept exclaimed "I'm going to tell the Easter Bunny that I love him very much!"

When I asked Alyson what she was going to say to the Easter Bunny, she just made her embarrassed face, the one where she pierces her lips together, the corners creeping upward desperately wanting to smile, and bends her head slightly downward. I could tell she thought is was a rather silly questions.

But it was while we were standing in line waiting to see the infamous rabbit that the reality that Alyson is beginning to grow up really hit me. She was staring the Easter Bunny down when she stood on her tippy toes, leaned into me and asked, "Is that just a man in a suit?"

Wow-what was I suppose to say? I hate to lie to the girls. What parent likes to? But hey, we're talking about the Easter Bunny here! Now the question for me was how long was I going to keep lieing about rabbit ears?

I knew the truth couldn't be revealed just yet. Kourtney heard Alyson's inquiry and I couldn't bust her bubble. She would be devastated! So, I did what any parent would have probably done. I lied.

"No. Of course not. That's the Easter Bunny."

But her questions didnt' stop there. "Why doesn't he talk?"

"Do you know of a bunny that talks?"

To my relief, that satisfied the curiosity brewing inside of Alyson. And it was finally our turn to see the bunny. But to my surprise, Kourtney nearly chickened out. I encouraged her to sit on the Easter Bunny's knee and I asked her, "What did you want to tell the Easter Bunny?" She didn't say a word. Ellary waved to the Easter Bunny from my arms, and Alyson just stood on the other side of him as if to say, "Mom, I am too old for this."

It was a rather disappointing experience overall...to discover that your oldest child is decoding the difference between fantasy and reality and will soon know the truth about the "man in the suit."

I can't remember how old I was when I discovered the truth, but after I did, I got to help my older sisters hide the eggs for their children. That was a fun secret that they and I shared. I guess that will be the next step for Aly and then Koco when they discover the truth too...they'll be my little helpers and we'll share an Easter tradition secret!

BIG NEWS!!!

We've kept our secret long enough (about 6 1/2 weeks) and now it is time to start telling the truth...


WE ARE PREGNANT!


Sorry if we've told a few white lies to avoid giving away secret, but we wanted to wait until we were at least 10 weeks before we told everyone.


So to answer some basic questions most people ask a pregnant woman:



1.)I am 10 weeks 4 days along.


2.)The baby's due date is October 31st! How crazy would that be to have the baby on his/her due date!


3.)We love our three little girls and that's all we know-little girls that is. It would, however, be great to have to get to know the ups and downs of little boys too. We are just happy to be pregnant!


4.)Kris was with me when I took the pregnancy test, and Ellary was the first person we told. We knew she could keep a secret! Good job, Ellary! Way to not blow it!


5.)I've had some nausea (occurs throughout the day), but I am fairing well enough not to have puked. Cravings are crazy, I'm a little tireder than usual, but I'm feeling quite well for still being in my first trimester!


6.)We are known for having names already picked out, but we have used up our three favorite girls names and are reconsidering the boys names we had originally picked out.


7.)Alyson and Kourtney hope we have a boy. Ellary, well, she's a little too young to really know what we have got her into. She'll be about 18 months old when the new baby is born.


8.)We like to tell our parents we are pregnant in exciting ways. Kris came up with how to tell our mom's...It's really good. We called the bowling ally where they have their bowling league today and asked them to announce it over the loud speaker. They should know very shortly! Hopefully everyone there will be celebrating the news with them!


9.)DAD-CONGRATULATIONS! You are expecting your 19th grandchild (counting great-grandchildren too).


10.) One other tid-bit of information. Last fall Kris was complaining that he didn't have a birthday buddy. Alyson and Ellary's birthdays are 8 days apart, and Kourtney and I have our birthdays 2 days apart. So, with the birth of this baby, Kris should have the birthday buddy he was asking for!

So that's our big news!

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Alyson is off this week for spring break, but with the snow falling off and on, and the temperature dipping to below freezing at times, we are left with not a whole lot of things to do. We planned to go to the MSU Dairy and Farm, and to the 4-H Gardens, but those two things are definitely out of the question. So, we are finding other things to occupy our time such as making pinatas, going to the library and seeing friends. One pinata is for Alyson's birthday party in a few weeks. The others are the size of water balloons and look like Easter eggs. The girls also played with a friend from church today. And we plan to ride the CATA bus to campus on Friday to have lunch with Kris. Let's hope the weather is better for it then!

Kris was at the game to see the Spartans lose to UNC yesterday. What a bummer. It was as if MSU just fell apart and couldn't recover. Oh, well. It was a rare occasion to see them play in the championship game, and we're all glad he took the opportunity to go. Kris would probably like me to mention that he got to meet Greg Anthony, a former NBA player, and he has the pic to prove it. Here are some some shots he took while at the game. Ellary meanwhile is getting around very well now. She manages to stay on her feet from one room to the next. She knows how to wave and give kisses too. Ellary also has a fascination with throwing balls and retrieving them. Her laugh is getting stronger and longer, and she curiously watches her sisters more intently than ever. I keep reminding Alyson and Kourtney that she is watching them and that they need to be good examples for her. They are most of the time...

It's hard to believe that Ellary will be a year old on April 22nd. Wow-I remember the day she was born so well it feels like it just happened. I have to say that I cherish those first two days with her while in the hospital. Some women absolutely dislike the hospital and can't wait to get home. I say cherish it...once you are home, there are so many other things to occupy your time and as a new mother it's easy to overdue it. I look forward to the stay in the hospital the next time we have a baby. The quietness, the relaxation, and the moments to bond without too many interruptions are priceless!

Here are a few updates to look forward to. Easter of course! The Easter Bunny is making a surprise visit on Saturday. Ellary's birthday is on the 22nd. We're having a few friends come over to celebrate with us. Then Alyson's birthday is on the 30th, but her friends' party will be on the the 25th. We are also going to see the theatrical version of "James and the Giant Peach" as a family on May 1st. So, we will keep you posted!

Go Sparties!

The MSU Spartans are playing the University of North Carolina tonight for the Men's NCAA Basketball Championships. And although there is a wintery wonderland brewing outside, a lot of fans from East Lansing are driving to Detroit to see the game-including Kris. Hope you have a great time, Babe. We love you. Drive safely, and we will see you back tonight-hopefully after a successful win against one of the nations best!

It's beginning to look a lot like....Oh, wait. It's suppose to be Spring!

It seems like most of the country is getting some surprise wintery snow storms, and Michigan isn't being excluded from the madness. Look at what our back yard was like last night when we spotted the fox. Then take a look at all the snow that's fallen here since last night!