Pre-school Easter Celebrations

This week both Eloise and Lucie had their Easter Party/ Egg Hunt! First was Lucie's. It was so cute watching the little ones "hunt" for eggs. The eggs weren't really hidden at all, more scattered on the floor in an open room. Anyway, Lucie had a good time!

Lucie and I during the egg hunt! MMMM... the plastic eggs taste yummy!
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Wednesday was Eloise's party. She got all dressed up in her Easter dress for the celebration! Eloise got a great collection of eggs, however, Lucie and I had doctors appointments, so we couldn't stay for her egg hunt.

Doesn't she look angelic?? (Ahem... more like on a photo protest.)

Eloise with her dear teachers Ms Lisa and Ms. Debbie

Little bunny Lu-Lu. Each girl had stick on earrings, painted finger nails (El picked silver!) Each kid had a painted bunny face and bunny ears!

Eloise's Easter bunny basket filled with treats from her friends

Kelly, Master Blogger...

Holly, one of my blogger friends has awarded me a "Master Blogger Award." This honor comes with an assignment: Name 6 things I am a master of. Then tag 6 more people as "Masters" to play along (if they wish...) SO-- HERE WE GO!

1. Party Planner: I LOVE planning any kind of party! Wedding showers, baby showers, birthday parties-- You name it.. and I love it. Coming up with a theme, invitations, menu, activities... I eat it up!

2. Creative projects: I go in spurts on this one, but I still consider myself to be fairly talented in the creative department. Whether it's quilting, baking, knitting, sewing, scrap booking, etc. I like it all and can pick up on it fairly easy.

3. Remembering faces and names: I can usually remember people I have met easily. I think it is similar to a photographic memory. I see a persons face, and instantly picture where we were when we met. About 80% of the time I can recall a name but it takes a few extra minutes (sometimes a few minutes too late!)

4. Patience with kids: And I mean any ones kids. I think I took this away from my teaching days, but I refuse to let a child ruffle my feathers. I am good at talking to them on their level and diverting problems before they occur. If they want to throw a fit, that's fine... but I will not join them.

5. Multi-tasking: Holly, I am copying this from you. I can be doing a number of things at one time: talking on the phone, while preparing lunch for the girls and jotting down a grocery list all at the same time. It's an adaptation that all women acquire when they become a mother... It's inevitable.

6. Baby maker..... LOL (I crack myself up.): OK, so this is no. 6 and I am all out of ideas! But, how many other people do you know that have or will have 3 kids, all 3 and under?! There has to be a reward out there for people who can (and I will) pull it off!

OK, so there you have it. It wasn't as easy as I thought but I accomplished the challenge set before me!

I award these 6 blogger friends the "Master Blogger Award" and challenge them to pass this post along:

Brooke W.

Heidi

Alisha

Erin

Katy

Vandi

Lucie Lunch Date

Ever since Eloise started preschool in December, Lucie and I have had "mommy and me" time every Wednesday! We go to the Y to work for a few hours and then before we head up to church to get Eloise we usually enjoy some lunch together! I cherish my Lucie lunch dates because it gives me the opportunity to give her my undivided attention!

Today's lunch: Pizza, Raisins and milk at Market Street!

A-DORA-ble Eloise Turns Three!

I can't believe Eloise is three!! It seems like just yesterday we were in the hospital with that "new parent glow!" We have been so blessed to have Eloise in our lives. God knew what he was doing when he gave me Eloise; she is exactly what I needed in a first child! Thank heaven for my beautiful, kind, sensitive, and opinionated Eloise!

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On Saturday, Eloise officially turned 3! We had quite a day planned. As soon as she woke up she was treated to a chocolate chip muffin! We put a candle in it and sang to her! Unfortunately the photos of that somehow got deleted! After the Birthday Girl finished her breakfast, Patrick and I gave her our gift, a new dollhouse! OH MY GOSH... I think it might be her most favorite gift EVER! As soon as she wakes up in the morning, she asks to play with her dollhouse... and it provides hours of entertainment for her! We have to pry her away from it at bedtime.

Eloise enjoying her new gift. A lot of the parts actually work (i.e. the phone rings, the piano plays, the refrigerator light comes on when you open the door, etc....) It is the COOLEST!

This is how she found it that morning. It is folded up. The whole house opens like a book to reveal the inside!

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That afternoon it was off to the YMCA for a "Dora the Explorer" birthday party (per Eloise's request!) We had half of the gym set up for the party. It included "a build your own trail mix" station with Chex cereal, raisins, marshmallows, pretzels and M&M's. We also played games, had coloring pages, and a bounce house. Of course, the festivities included CAKE! The party turned out to be SO fun, and I couldn't have been happier with the celebration!

As the kids arrived we had Dora the Explorer coloring pages, stickers and snack mix to enjoy.

Eloise and her friends playing and dancing!

Is this not the CUTEST bounce house you have ever seen? I thought I might be able to call it Swiper (I know... Sttrreching my imagination!) Anyway, it was adorable!

Some of Eloise's friends on the way out of the bounce house.

Bounce house fun!

Here Eloise is playing a game of "Dora, Dora, Swiper" (Duck, Duck, Goose- only we changed the words.)
The hysterical part was when someone was tagged "Swiper" the WHOLE group got up and ran instead of just the one child! We were rolling on the floor laughing!

Our party had it's very own "Swiper" (more commonly known as Lucie) Anytime someone left their snacks unattended, Lucie was there scavenging. Here I caught her in action.

We brought out some of the gymnastics mats as a last minute addition and it turned out to be a popular activity!

After all of that bouncing and playing, it was time to fuel up on some cupcakes!

Eloise was very serious about blowing out her Dora candle!

Enjoying cupcakes with her friends

"Backpack, backpack... Backpack, backpack..." Each child took home a "backpack" filled with party treats including bubbles, Dora stickers and temporary tattoos and "estrella" (star) treats!

Unfortunately the party had to come to an end! Here we are saying our goodbyes!

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The night of Eloise's birthday it snowed! So when we woke up on Sunday the ground was COVERED! I am pretty sure Eloise thought that it was her birthday all over again! This snow was very powdery and not very sticky, so it wasn't perfect for snow man building, but we tried anyways! Coco and Grandpa were still in town and got excited to play in the snow (since they RARELY see any in Houston.)


Lucie has become quite the ham... she now says "cheeeeeeese!" every time she sees the camera.


Eloise and Coco with their mini snowman!

Fun at the Party Store

We've been feeling better so we decided to head out and run some errands. Along the way was U.S. Toys, a party store in Plano. Oh MY, that place has everything. It was FUN!

We just HAD to try some things on!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Do you know why we celebrate St. Patrick's Day? I didn't until I looked into it this morning. It isn't about wearing green, pinching people, or drinking Irish beer...

As history tells it, St. Patrick was held captive in England for his Christian beliefs. After 6 years of captivity, he escaped by walking over 200 miles to Ireland. This is where he became a minister and priest to the Irish people. Many believe that St. Patrick is single handedly responsible to bringing Christianity to Ireland's then pagan people. After his death on March 17th, the Catholic Church made him a Saint. That is the reason for St. Patrick's Day! Now THAT is worth some celebrating!

Here are my cuties wearing their St. Patty's Day green!

Momma is tired!

Notice the time stamp on this one............ It is EARLY! Seems like no matter what, no one can be healthy at my house (at least for now!) Last week Lucie had a stomach virus that lasted 2 days. Soon after, Eloise got an ear infection and the beginning of what looked like pink eye! And now, me (Momma,) have bronchitis and can hardly BREATH, let alone sleep. Lucie still wont sleep, eat, or produce normal dirty/wet diapers so that leaves me with a LOT of worry, too. So far, Daddy has been OK (he must be exhausted from dodging all of these bullets!)

Please pray for health in my house. I am ready to SLEEP normally and move on with daily life (not to mention, have a successful 3rd Birthday party for Miss El on Saturday!)

Lovin' on my Lucie

Although we officially have 1 week until my little Lucie turns 15 months, I wanted to post a blog just about HER! Sometimes I find my heart aching when I realize she only gets to be the baby for a teeny-weeny bit longer. She is such a sweet, snugly little girl. And, even though she is small, she's feisty little thing with a personality twice her size!

"One thing I LOVE to do is climb on things! Here I am scaling up the couch. Mommy tells everyone I am going to be her extreme sports girl. I don't know... how about rock climbing or cliff jumping? Anyway, I am FEARLESS!!"

"Mmmmm... If my momma would let me, I would drink milk ALL DAY!" "I adore my big sister! Sometimes it annoys her that I follow her around everywhere!! OH WELL! Here we are snuggling in the princess tent!"

"Staring out the window is also one of my favorite past times. Mommy and Daddy have learned to just leave the blinds up, because if they don't I will tear them apart just trying to sneak a peak!"

"One thing that is very different about me and my sister is that I will eat almost ANYTHING! One of my favorite treats are clementines and Mandarin oranges!"

Baby Name Buzz...

YEP!! You guessed it! This is yet another thing you will have to wait to hear. We have decided not to share baby names until Peanut is born.

I know, I am doing every ANNOYING thing I swore I would never do. First, not finding out the gender, and second not telling name choices. However, Patrick and I don't see the point in telling everyone the names, if we don't know what we are having. Plus, leaving the names a mystery carries on with our "surprise" theme!

SURPRISE pregnancy... SURPRISE gender... SURPRISE NAME!!

I know its tough people but, hang tight... May will be here before you know it!