April Roundup!

Here's our April in a nutshell:

We kept busy at a few birthday parties...

Ella's little buddy Cara had a scooter/bike/pool party! The girls had a blast and I wish I took pics of Madeline trying to open up all of Cara's presents. Too funny. 

Then Ella's friend Casey, had a birthday party at Jungle Bounce. (her first BOY birthday party) Let me tell you I was EXHAUSTED by the end of this party. I had to climb that enormous slide more times than I ever thought I'd have to with Madeline. But in the end, I think I might have had more fun than any of the kids;)

Cara, Ava, Ella and Madeline 

I took Ella to her first concert! She loves the Fresh Beat Band and has been waiting since Christmas morning when she opened up the tickets in her stocking to get to see them! She had a blast at the show and even though she wasn't like one of those crazy kids, flailing their arms (the girl next to me probably should have been in a straight jacket), she quietly bopped and smiled to the music. And kept leaning over to me, whispering "This is so cool mama!" Is it sad that I knew every word to every song? 

Madeline just had to have a ticket as well so we gave her a BBB coupon. My mom said she held onto it all night. 

I managed to get pigtails in Madeline's hair. Lasted about 2 seconds.

We took tons of trips to the park. 

Lots of time in the pool...and around the pool...

And we even had time for some gymnastics with our friends Liam and Ally (although I didn't get any photos of them. I am obviously obsessed with my own kids!)

Not the best pictures, but you get the idea. These kids were on the move and pictures were hard to capture!

Thanks for reading! Looking forward to MAY and the fact that this deployment is 4/5 complete!

Me & Mine

Some days, we all wake up in good moods. And the result is a happy loving little family.

A Day at the Museum

Recently, we spent a day at the Glazer's Children's Museum in Tampa. I knew Ella would love it after the time we took her to the science museum in Oklahoma for her 3rd birthday. She couldn't get enough of that place and she was the same with this museum. Madeline loved it as well. I am sure that has something to do with the fact she is allowed to touch everything there. It was fun to sit back and watch them explore, their curious minds getting the best of them. Ella took on the big sister role and would lead Madeline to the next exhibit and show her how to do something. She never wanted to leave her behind. Such a change of pace from when they are beating each other up at home. Ahhh sisterly love. It comes and goes, I guess.

I'm on a boat...I'm on a boat. 

Showing lil Phil how to color on the screen!

That girl in front of Monica did not want to be taken out of the weather girl spotlight.

We are clearly made to be newscasters.

The gang. I love that Ella has her hand on lil Phil's head. haha

After the museum, we had a picnic outside at the park and played in the spray area. I love busy days, but I love them even more when we spend it with family. Not too many months left of being spoiled with them!!

Easter Sunday

(My titles have become so witty. I shock myself sometimes!)

The girls loved waking up to the trail of little plastic Easter eggs leading them to a room full of more hidden eggs and their Easter baskets. Madeline shocked me at how well she found the eggs. I am sure the Easter Bunny put in her best effort to hide them pretty well for Ella, but surprisingly enough, Madeline was an awesome little seeker. I'm pretty positive it was because the eggs were filled with jelly beans and Madeline wanted every.single.filled.egg. Who can blame her? As they were collecting eggs, I had a flashback to Riley following Ella around watching her open eggs and the jelly beans falling to the ground...only to be gobbled up so fast by Riley that Ella never knew they even fell on the floor.

I put the girls in their sweet Easter dresses provided by their awesome Aunt Bunny (ironic that she bought them the dresses!) and we headed to Mass and then later to Granny P's for dinner. It was a quiet, beautiful day...until the sugar rush started.

Ella gets a book in her basket and Madeline gets new shoes. Who's the diva? (oh and for the parents who are judging me because I actually put candy in their baskets...don't. They really only ate the chocolate bunnies. I ate the rest. Minus the Peeps..I hate those things.)

She never naps on me! Ella took that photo too. And she LOVED her new Strawberry Shortcake lip glosses and nail polish.

Nice Madeline. Real nice.

My new favorite picture of Ella

Happy Easter everyone! 

Easter Saturday

We have been taking it pretty easy around here since our man returned to the desert last week. The day after he left, I had all four of my wisdom teeth removed. Luckily, I don't remember any of it and the pain meds were niiiice. Thank goodness for my awesome family who helped take care of the girls and me as well. I am certainly blessed!

The day before Easter we took a trip to Honeymoon Island. I usually love that place, but what happened to the beach? It has seriously disappeared. Made me sad. The coastline is diminishing before my eyes. Thank God Ella and Madeline are getting plenty of beach time now;)  The girls had fun with their aunties and uncles and Granny P and although no one was really ready to leave the beach, we had a date with some eggs and dye that couldn't be missed.

Ella body surfing with Uncle Matt

I am keeping up with the tradition of dyeing Easter eggs the night before the bunny comes. I feel it's important to maintain some kind of normalcy for the girls and Ella expects it now every year. Although this year she did not appreciate Madeline's rough treatment of the eggs and every time she cracked another one, you could see Ella shaking her head in disbelief. I really wish I had taken a picture of the final product because they were the sorriest batch of dyed eggs. Ever.