Painting with Grace!

Grace invited Reece over for some painting FUN!

Elle wanted in on the action!

As usual, Reece was asking to, "Push the button!" on the camera.  We suggested he push his belly button instead.  It worked!

Distracted by the cones...

I guess painting on the paper was getting a little boring.  After playing with the cones Reece decided to go dig in the dirt, and Grace decided to start painting herself!

Reece liked the idea of body painting too!

And then they decided to paint each other!

 

 

Bath time was just as fun!

Strollerless...

Coronado is so small that we have access to everything on foot.  I can run errands to the grocery store, post office, bank, and cleaners all in less than an hour with the kids in the stroller.  This includes a stop at Starbucks to grab a coffee for me and a vanilla milk for Reece.  We always top off the trip with some time at the park before heading home.  It makes for a great morning as we are all happy to be outside, and I get all of my errands accomplished.  We also stroll to the doctor, dentist, library, restaurants, other local parks, friends' houses, and the Ferry Landing to watch the boats and helicopters.

All that walking wore our stroller tires to the tread!  We ordered new tires and before we could change them, the tread wore through to one of the tubes and it popped.  Bummer for us!  We have been stroller-less for over a week now waiting for the new tubes to arrive.

Running errands in the car has NOT been fun as Reece and Elle are not happy with being placed in their car seats over and over again.  Yesterday, I even strategically planned our trip to the bank so that Reece's lollipop (he always gets one there) would get us home smoothly... even though it was only 9am!

Thankfully the new tires are to arrive today... my fingers are crossed!

Elle's Eighth Month

Dear ElleBelle,
At eight months your personality is beginning to shine through.  You are sweet, observant, happy, and funny!  You love to interact with anyone willing to be your audience and are easily entertained.  Everyone who meets you says you are a typical second child... calm, easy going, and sweet spirited.  Yep, that's you!  However, you are also beginning to show your feisty side more often.  If you don't get what you want you take a deep breath and very seriously blow the biggest raspberry possible.  It was funny until you started doing it with a mouth full of food.  This was the first time you've heard us say "no" and thinking our reaction was pretty funny you kept doing it... and you continue to do it now.  Hopefully you'll learn the meaning of "no" soon!  When Reece tackles you, you either squeal with joy or yell at him and swing your arms to tell him that it's not okay.  The best part of this month is that your are now sleeping through the night consistently.  You still need an occasional back rub or lullaby, but you are no longer taking a bottle in the middle of the night.
Also this month...
-Your bottom left tooth finally came in on March 20, almost a month after your first.  Your upper right lateral incisor came in on April 16.  It looks a little silly there all alone without your two middle teeth.  Hopefully they will come in soon!
-You caught another cold and it was much worse than your first.  You no longer allow me to suction your nose without protesting first.
-You love to interact with yourself in the mirror by smiling, laughing, and waving your arms.
-You are starting to roll from your tummy to your back in the crib at night.  This flexibility probably helps you to sleep better.
-You started this month clapping with your hands closed and can now clap with them open.  The clapping sound you make excites you and makes you laugh!
-Yogurt is your new favorite food.  If you aren't eating your meal, I can add a little yogurt and you'll gobble it up!
-You love to bounce around when you are sitting and will lunge forward into a crawling position, but once on your knees you only rock back and forth.  You will have the strength to crawl soon!

Happy girl with Dad and Mom

At the Station Tavern with Greyson

Reece always requests that you join him in his crib in the morning... along with all of your stuffed animals!

Costco trips are more fun now that you can sit in the cart with Reece.

Reece also requests that he join you in your crib after your morning nap.  You love his attention!

Nudie Cutie at eight months old!

Easter Sunday

We woke Easter morning and first got ready for church.  Before leaving, the kids found their baskets waiting for them.  They were filled with lots of goodies from us, Papa and Nana, and Grandpa and Grandma.

Reece was so excited about his cars.  Little did he know that there was candy waiting for him too!  We decided to give him his candy-filled eggs after church.  

After church we headed over to the Hentschels for brunch and an Easter egg hunt.  Kayla's parents, Mark and Holly, were in town so they joined us too.

Kayla and I filled the eggs on Saturday with crackers, stickers, money, and cookies.  We made sure to fill two of each egg and then we labeled the eggs with an R and a G.  That way Reece and Grace got to practice finding their letter and there were no comparison issues.  Elle even had a few with her initial!  They were filled with hair clips and Puffs.

 Aaron and Evan hid the eggs while we distracted the kids inside.

Waiting patiently...

Grace found the first egg.  It had an R on it, so she handed it to Reece and set off to find a G.

Ta da!

 Elle spent most of the time watching Reece and Grace run around the yard.  She didn't nap at church and was so tired.  She was a trooper and stayed awake the entire morning!

 

 

Grace fed Reece cookies and loved on him with kisses.  So SWEET!

 

Reece's expression!

 

Mark found a lucky lacrosse ball!

After the hunt we enjoyed a delicious brunch of egg casserole, french toast casserole, and fruit salad.  Yum!

Sweet Elle is always so happy!

Family pictures don't come easy.  Thank you to Evan and Grace for the entertainment while Kayla shot away... it worked!

Happy Easter!