Matt and His Merry Men

I've got to record this conversation that Laurel and I had at dinner tonight before I forget it.

Laurel fell down on the way to the dinner table and started crying that she hurt her knees. Matt kissed them and Laurel said she was all better. We began eating dinner and Laurel started rehashing how she fell and got hurt and how, "Daddy made it all better!" I said that Daddy must be a superhero if he could heal her with a kiss. I then said, "Is Daddy like Superman? How about Super Grover?" Laurel said, "No, Daddy is Robin Hood!"

For those of you who don't know Matt likes to shoot a bow for fun. He used to do it a lot when we were first married and just recently set up a target out back and started again. Laurel loves to watch him shoot from the window.

I thought it was so cute and smart for her to make the connection from Robin Hood in the Disney movie (which she loves) to Daddy in real life.

Strawberry Picking and the Terrible Twos!

One of our favorite Spring activities is going to pick strawberries and then get yummy strawberry ice cream afterwards. We went this year with some friends of ours. Laurel was so excited about the trip for days and asked everyday if it was time to go pick strawberries yet.

We arrived and the girls ran right to the playground. They were having lots of fun and then Laurel threw a monster fit. It was seriously the worst temper tantrum she has ever had. It all started because her friend didn't want to do what Laurel told her to do at the playground. Laurel started screaming and then threw herself down on the ground. People were staring and I was feeling like the worst mom in the world. Finally I went and put her in the car and sat with her until she calmed down.

After that she was the sweetest little girl and had a great time picking strawberries!

After awhile she got tired of picking them and just ate them straight out of her basket.

Finally, enjoying some tasty strawberry ice cream.

I'm glad the trip ended well. I guess I have to get used to the terrible twos and be ready for when it rears it's ugly head!

We Love Spring!

We have been having a great spring. Laurel loves being outdoors so we have been spending a lot of time outside doing all sorts of fun activities. Here are a LOT of pictures from the past month, enjoy!

Laurel fishing with her Daddy on her first fishing trip. She had a great time watching Matt catch fish and she only fell in once!

You've got to have a nice pair of sunglasses for spring!

Laurel enjoying some swing time with her friend Cale.

Laurel and her best friend, Emily, at the zoo. They had a great time but it sure was hot for April!

First swimming of the season, the water was a little cold but Laurel did not care.

Feeding the ducks at a birthday party.

We love to go to the playground and swing and slide!

Laurel likes swinging on a "big girl" swing!

Laurel taking her babydoll for a walk to get the mail.

First ice cream cone!

I love all the cute spring clothes I finally got to break out of the closet!

And throwing pennies in the fountain at the mall.

I hope everyone is having a great Spring. Summer is right around the corner!

Easter Fun!

Holidays are so much fun and Easter was no exception. Laurel had a ball with everything. She loved all the Easter egg hunts and dying and decorating Easter eggs. She had so much fun making Easter crafts (although she still asks to make Valentines all the time too). She was so excited for the Easter Bunny to come and bring her Easter basket. She wanted a jump rope so bad (ever since she saw some at the circus) so we got her one even though she is too little to use it right. She jumps and swings the rope around crazily and is happy!

Her favorite thing about Easter was all the candy though. She is still asking for chocolate all the time. Last year she could have cared less and Matt and I ate almost all of her candy but not this year.

We tried to teach her about the real meaning of Easter but she didn't really seem to "get" it. She did so great with Christmas and could understand the whole Santa thing and that we were celebrating Jesus's birth also. She was all about the Easter bunny this year though. I did teach a lesson in Nursery about the real meaning of Easter and when I asked what Easter was about she said Jesus, but that was the only time. Every other time it was the Easter Bunny. She still talks about him (and Santa too).

I took way too many pictures and here are a few of my favorites. Like I said holidays are fun!

The first picture and the two below are pictures of Laurel in her Easter dresses. I don't know how but she ended up with three this year. The first one my mom bought for her.

This one I got for her. I love smocked dresses. They look so sweet on little girls! :)

My Mother-in-law got this one for Laurel. The bunnies are so cute.

Laurel at the church Easter egg hunt.

Making a craft with Daddy.

She found the golden egg!

Showing off her eggs.

Her Easter basket with her eggs and crafts.

Eating a cupcake. I think she liked it!

Laurel had a blast dying eggs. We did it outside so I wouldn't be stressed about the mess. Laurel was covered in dye and it took me a long time to get it all off.

Laurel's Easter basket. The jump rope was a big hit. She really wanted these princess pjs that she saw the other day. We got her a kite (that we have tried to fly twice but can't get it up!). She also got some bubbles, bathtub paint, a book, a mother and baby stuffed duck, bucket and shovel, and lots of candy of course.

Laurel when she saw her basket. She said, "I don't see my jump rope!"

Then she saw it and started to jump. So funny! We really need to get a video of it; pictures do not do it justice.

Then we had an Easter egg hunt with the dyed eggs. Matt hid them in a bunch of funny places and Laurel was loving it.

Finally we went to Matt's parents for a great Easter dinner and Laurel had another Easter egg hunt.

What a fun Easter!

Cherry Blossom Festival

We had so much fun this year at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. When I think about how Laurel was just a little thing last year it makes me a little sad though. She couldn't do much. This year she was full on big girl and wanted to do everything! She rode all the rides by herself, stayed up late to see the hot air balloons, and even ate her first fair food.

Here is Laurel at the Hot Air Balloon Glow on the first weekend of the festival. She was running around having a great time while we waited for the hot air balloons to go up.

She got to go through this jumpy house a few times and had a ball.

Finally, the hot air balloons went up. It was beautiful and Laurel loved it.

Watching two balloons near us go up. Laurel kept saying, "they are kissing!"

Trying to get a picture of Laurel...she is trying to escape as always!

Watching the hot air balloons light up. She was amazed.

Later in the week we went down the park to see the seal show and ride the rides with my dad. We all had a blast!

Here is Laurel sitting on her Papa's shoulders watching the seal show. If you can't tell, she liked it!

First ride she has ever been on by herself. She loved it as you can tell from this picture!

More rides. She called this one Nemo, as in "I want to ride Nemo again!"

Riding a pony with her Papa.

This was her favorite part of the day. Laurel kept asking to go on this and "jump like in nastics (gymnastics)!" I thought she was too little, but my dad thought she would like it. She LOVED it and the guy running it was so nice and let Laurel say on for about 20 minutes. Thanks dad!

Laurel eating her first funnel cake. She was not interested in posing for a picture and wanted to dig in. She really liked it and so did I!

We had such a great time and it was so fun to see Laurel enjoy herself so much. That girl loves life! :)

Playgrounds, Playgrounds,and More Playgrounds!

I'm so glad the weather has turned nice and it is not freezing outside anymore. Winter and toddler does not mix well. We have been going to playgrounds like crazy lately since we have been a little stir crazy from being cooped up in the house all winter. You can tell how much Laurel loves to swing and slide from these pictures!

Wheeeee!!!

My little baby on a big girl swing...tear, she is all grown up!

We are trying to go to the playground lots before it gets burning up. We love spring! Thank you for finally coming; I thought you would never get here!