No Front Teeth

Evan is always trying to hide the empty space in his mouth if anyone draws attention to it.





Not because he's shy, but because he can, and you can't make him show you.

So he won't.






But, if you happen to just be hanging out together.....

talking about his favorite things...






he forgets how fascinating that big space is and just shows it off freely...








and I make sure to pay attention to his words


and not stare at his mouth


or imagine what his grown-up teeth will look like...






and he just chatters on and smiles freely without realizing.....



This 'toothless' phase doesn't last long, so I am savoring it.






because I am going to miss that cute smile!

Outside Time

We had two really warm days in a row this week so there were quite a few hours of outside time logged for us. The sun was beautiful and the wind was warm :-)

The front yard is still a mess and it is the kids' favorite place to play. Chloe had brought out two small horses and ended up losing track of one in the mud. We did find him but she was pretty upset. I think she might go back to just playing trucks.
There was a lot of rain that came with the warmer air here so we ended up on the deck quite often. The wind, which was sort of annoying, actually helped me get pictures of Evan's face.

The horses go with Chloe everywhere. They are so real to her.


One night we were out back as a family and Evan wanted to practice some baseball.

This guy is a slugger. Let me tell ya -- you do NOT want to be the pitcher unless you have fast reflexes. Thank goodness the ball is made of plastic.

He, obviously, thinks all pitcher injuries are hilarious.



It was warm enough here one day that we had the hose out. Evan could play with the hose all day every day (you know, if we didn't have winter...).


Chloe was so excited to get wet that she changed into her bathing suit, but she got too cold and had to go snuggle up. (We've been skipping naps on purpose lately to get her to be done with them and I think her tiredness contributed to her coldness this day.)


She has been so cooperative for photos lately. I think it's a manipulative little sister thing though, to do the opposite of Evan so that she will appear better in my eyes.... either way, I like it.


She and Evan set up a very elaborate horse washing area for most of a day. I think she and Evan had used thirteen different containers and passed in and out of the door refilling cups about 300 times.


Ajay even joined us for a bit. He cleaned up some of the containers. Ha!!


Warmer weather means way less fighting. Such a monumental difference in behavior.

It seems the winter blahs have finally lifted!

Since Sunday

We've been visiting with the kids' Gramma and enjoying family time outside (since it is finally warm!!) so I haven't been online much.


Here are a few pics from Easter.






We hid a small Easter basket with a few candies and some surprises for the kids to hunt for after breakfast that morning. We gave Evan some new Legos


and we gave Chloe this pretty sparkly Pegasus (that she swiftly put a saddle and rider on :-)


Then Chloe ate about 40 of her jellybeans (oops.) and we went to church.

After that there was HAM for Todd -- which we were able to find at a local organic farm -- yay!!

Like Calvin

Evan read a Calvin & Hobbes comic strip recently that showed Calvin's mom trying to take pictures of him. Every time she snapped a picture, he changed his face to a goofy one and then laughed while she got madder and madder....



So quite often he likes to practice being like Calvin:







I don't get mad though.



I laugh (which only makes it worse) but my laughing makes him laugh so between every funny face I snap again and get a smile.



He doesn't know my secret.

Cuddly Girl

Chloe likes to be cozy and cuddly and snuggle up in nests she builds herself.




Aunt Bryce totally gets that and helps her make perfect little beds. They have collaborated for years now.




Even Ajay wanted Chloe to be tucked in just right. He shared his kitty with her for awhile :-)




She really didn't want her picture taken, so even though she looks cranky, she was actually in her element and beaming with smiles (until I pointed the camera at her).


She is such a cuddly girl.

Stolen

I try to sneak in and steal a picture when these two are being so completely perfect (these are rare moments indeed). But aside from that, my heart was so full just looking at them and seeing the bond growing between them as Evan read a story to his little sister.




He reads, she laughs, he lets her turn the page, he points out funny things, she giggles, he smiles.... for a moment they love each other.





But, as luck would have it, I did not steal a picture, I stole the moment. It was over after that. Oh well.

Moonlight

All dressed up for church on Sunday, Chloe was searching for toys to bring along. She popped around the corner with Moonlight the lizard, her most favorite stuffed animal.

Maybe you can't see him there since he's wearing his blanket ... and he's upside down. He gets cold quite often and Chloe thinks that the sparkling moon and stars printed on his purple back might wear off if they aren't protected.

He has slept on her bed every night since her birthday (when he first popped out of a little purse from Granny and made her laugh out loud!)

She loves him!

Random Monday

*They put their shoes on and climb out the window to go play*

*Evan finally overcame his fear of touching the bread dough*

*Chloe still loves helping with everything in the kitchen*

*Just this week she wanted to learn how to crack eggs*

*Walking the dogs with Papa*

*Todd is better than any playground*

*Although eventually he does get worn out!*

*The three hyacinths in our flower bed are peeking out*
(Chloe kissed each one)

*Queen Ruby*

Contrast

I am always saying how different these two kids are but on this day it was so strikingly evident just looking at their choice of outfits:

Evan was camo green from head to toe (it's even on the pocket flaps of his jeans) and Chloe was the rainbow girl (including her striped socks).
Such contrast!

Big Boxes

Boxes make the best toys.



Todd brought these home from the bathroom remodeling job he has been on recently. After spending about a week in the basement for the kids to use as hiding places and caves we brought them upstairs to make houses.

Surprisingly (or maybe not) the kids still manage to fight even though they each have their own space.
Anytime we've done boxes like this, Chloe's house is always decorated inside and out and packed full of all her favorite toys and blankets and pillows and stuffed animals and books.

Evan's is pretty much empty. A cushion for the floor. Sometimes a blanket. He even replaces his skylight cover when he's done looking through it.

Big box houses could be our little sneak peek into their futures :-)

To the Park