Beach Bums

We just got back from a week at the beach.  We are officially raising beach addicts!  They loved the sun, the sand and the ocean.  I think their favorite part was spending time with family and friends.  It was a very laid back, relaxing week and the kids are already talking about when we go back next year!

 Never too early to try a Christmas card picture, right?

Jack feeding Claire lunch on the beach

Memorial Day

Papa, Meredith and Jack got to ride on the ladder truck this morning in the Memorial Day parade.  It was a cold morning, but the kids still had a blast.  Happy Memorial Day!!

One!

 

We had Claire's first birthday party last weekend.  She had a blast at her ladybug party!!  It's been an eventful few weeks for Miss Claire.  She is now an official walker and has enough hair for respectable pigtails.  She now has 12 words and has mastered pointing and making her opinions known.  I can't believe she's already a year old!!  Some pictures from the party:

 



This one was a holdover from Easter that snuck it's way on to my camera.  Guess that's what happens when you don't empty the memory card for a while :)

 

With Mere and Jack eating cupcakes on her actual birthday

And a random St. Patrick's Day picture, just for good measure!

Catching Up

I really do have good intentions on staying more up to date on this blog.  Life keeps getting in the way!  We've had a very busy few months.  Some of the highlights:

*Claire is now 10 months old and crawling everywhere!  She is so much happier now that she's mobile and can chase after her brother and sister.  She eats everything in sight and has developed quite a personality.  No one takes advantage of Miss Claire!  This is a good trait to have when you're the youngest of three kids :)

*Jack decided last week that he was finally ready to pee on the potty.  He asks us at least once or twice a day now to sit on the potty and so far, he's been right about when he needs to go.  We've been working on pooping, but no success just yet.  I've learned yet again about parenting Jack-things are so much easier when I am patient and let him guide me.  When you force Jack, it doesn't work!

*Meredith is into her third month of ballet and loves it!  We just ordered her recital costume for her dance recital in May.  A purple leotard and tutu--with sparkles!  She and Jack are still taking swimming lessons and love to get in the pool.   

*After yet another ear infection, Jack and I went back to the ENT.  He did some testing and, long story short, Jack is scheduled for surgery on April 9th :(  Hopefully, another set of tubes and getting rid of his adenoids will do the trick.

*The biggest event of the last few months was a sad one.  We had to say goodbye to Mia, our beloved greyhound.  She was diagnosed with bone cancer in mid January and lasted until February 22nd.  We were able to spend those last few weeks spoiling her and getting lots of good pictures of her with the kids.  Meredith has taken it really hard but seems to be getting better.  She talks about Mia all the time and knows she's in heaven with Philly.  It's prompted some interesting questions, as you can imagine.

With April right around the corner, we're looking forward to warmer weather and getting outside!  My seedlings are growing and getting ready for the garden.  Now if it would just stop snowing...