While We Wait

While we continue to wait for baby Sally's arrival...  The big sisters to be have continued to grow older each day:

We are all getting anxious to meet our baby!

Making Our Own Fun

We have finally been having some warmer days to melt off a bunch of the snow around here.  It seems we've barely made it outside to play this winter because of the cold, so when the sun comes out and we see temps in the 40's and even 50's as we have the past week, we spend hours outside.  Over the winter, our neighbor Barney has helped control some of the snow build up by plowing it into big piles between our yards.  One of these mountains of snow is a draw for the girls, especially Ezri, who loves to climb and try to sled down them.  Barney watched her do this one day and the next we found he had taken his tractor and groomed the hill into a nice sledding path for the girls!  They have truly enjoyed this!!!

On days when it has not been so nice, we've found ways to stay entertained.  Giant forts in the living room, small baking and cleaning projects as we wind down our preparations for Sally's arrival, family movie nights and crafts and projects have filled our days.  I am enjoying this time with the girls, as I have finished my pre-baby goals, and now find myself able to truly just focus on them.  We've had a lot of fun together :)

 We have been involved in a small group the past few weeks as part of a service project message series at church.  We have enjoyed getting to know new friends and the girls have enjoyed having the friends to play with on Sunday afternoons.  Last Saturday, we all met at a local laundromat to pay for others' washes as well as hand out coffee and donuts.  Despite Alora falling into a box and cutting her head open moments after we set up for the afternoon, we enjoyed the time together.

As we look forward, we see Spring and Easter approaching us, which prompted me to pull out the Easter garden again.  With help from Ezri, we planted some Lupin seeds and watered the garden, hoping to begin seeing things grow soon.  In the mean time, as we await the new life in the garden, the girls are truly enjoying playing with this and telling the Easter story together.  It is so precious to watch and listen to!

We are wrapping up our bathroom project as well.  With just a bit of trim work to do yet, we have a room that is nearly finished.  It has sure been a blessing to have this extra bathroom in the house, and I am so pleased with how it has turned out!

Happy 4th Birthday Ezri!!!

Running behind on posts again, this week finds us reminiscing on a week of birthday celebration for Ezri.  On February 26th, Ezri turned 4 years old!  As her birthday fell on a Wednesday, we had a couple of celebrations - one on her birthday with Daddy, Mommy and Alora, and one on the weekend with family and friends.

When Ezri woke to balloons throughout the house.  She spent some time searching out bows that were hidden around the house, each with a piece of money taped to the bottom.  This was very exciting for her!  After all had been found, she shared some with Alora for her piggy bank, unprompted, making this Mommy very proud.  Both girls had their Well Child visits on this day as well, and we found Ezri to be 32 pounds and 41 inches, Alora to be 30 pounds and 36 inches.  

Ezri helped me make some special cupcakes on her birthday.  She has been determined since her third birthday that she wanted a dog cake this year, so we started with dog cupcakes.  She got new Thomas the Train dishes and silverware, and was thrilled to use them on her special day. 

 After super, Ezri opened her gifts from Daddy, Mommy and Alora.  It was a very Thomas birthday for her, with most of her gifts having Thomas the Train on them - she was thrilled.

 Saturday night, we celebrated with Andy, Jay and Becci by going bowling with the girls.  Ezri had a great time!  Alora also enjoyed being a part of the fun, rolling her ball down the ramp and knocking over pins.

Sunday, we celebrated with Uncle Andy, Great Grandma, Grandpa, Grandma, Opa and Oma.  After a lunch of pizza and fruit (at Ezri's insistence), she opened more gifts.  She was very excited about the xylophone from Grandpa and Grandma (she had"always wanted one")!

 She got more Thomas the Train items, including puzzles and trains for her track.

 Then, a very excited little girl wanted her special cake!

 A pink and purple dog cake with pink and purple frosting.  The colors changed several times as I was baking and frosting the cake, but she finally settled on those colors and we made it work.

 Apparently, it was "the best birthday ever!"

 Alora, of course, thoroughly enjoyed the feasting and sweets as well :)

 We squeezed in a 3 generation photo with Great Grandma, Grandma, Mommy, Ezri and Alora...

 Last week, after coming off the birthday fun, we had our home visit with our midwife.  We are nearing the end, getting ready to meet "Sally" soon.  With the help of my Mom over the past month or so, the nesting is nearly complete, with the bedroom painted, walls cleaned, baby clothes sorted and washed and food in the freezer.  Ezri got to help Grandma do a little painting in the bathroom last Wednesday, as we finished up some wall patch work.  She was thrilled to be able to help paint!

We now have a nearly complete bathroom, with walls painted, functioning tub, toilet and sink,lighting hung, floor installed and cabinet in place.  A little trim work to finish up and we will be done!  It has been wonderful to have the extra working bathroom in the house and we are thrilled with how it has turned out :)