Happy birthday, little man.

I think that this is my new favorite picture of JR. I can't believe that just two years ago, we were blessed with such a beautiful little boy.

I know, I know - it's tomorrow. We decided to go ahead and celebrate it today as tomorrow we have Ms. Desiree's party.

He had a wonderful day with banana muffins, pizza, cantaloupe, and (of course) birthday cake. Oh, and the gifts. Well. Lets just say this little guy doesn't want for much :) We had a small birthday at home. We meant to have a larger party for the little guy, but the date just snuck up on us too fast.

After nap time, we did gifts. I was actually pretty proud of Janna. I expected her to be opening gifts for JR, but instead she dutifully handed them to him. Now, she kind of drove us crazy the rest of the day. She sure did have a hard time with not being the center of attention. I managed to squeeze in a haircut for her today during JR's nap. Note she's sporting a new bob.

Thanks to the Aunt and Uncle who got JR this book. He just LOVES it!

Exploring the mammoth truck that is already dirty outside. While some might be upset at such a notion for a new gift, I know my sister will be thrilled.

After gifts was pizza on the grill. JR didn't go for that today (he sure is TWO), but Janna was all about it.

What's a birthday without CAKE. This is a very important picture: this is the very last cake I will ever purchase. No more am I paying $26 for some flour and sugar. Janel promised me that she would teach me how to decorate, so from now on that is what I am going to do!

I just love how toddlers raspberry at the candles to blow them out. Too cute.

These birthday things are COOL!

Happy Easter

Well, sure enough Janna was sick (see last post). She woke up feverish and her ear had crustiness around the canal. Just like when JR's eardrum ruptured - I was glad I called the pediatrician last night.

We kept her pretty well dosed with Motrin/Tylenol to keep the fever and pain away. It's not like she's sick, so treating the fever and discomfort is enough. She was much more herself today - eating everything in sight and running around as usual.

It was a little hectic - getting four out of the house and to church EARLY. Jeff is an usher this month, and anyone who knows anything about church on Easter would understand why this was one Sunday we couldn't run late. Janna always gets out early, as she has Sunday School. I have to get her to church around 9:30 AM, then I run home and get Jeff and J.R.

J.R. went and played with Ms. Nadine in the nursery while Janna sat with me in church. She did really well, and church went surprisingly quick considering the doubled crowd. These are some pictures from before. As I said - the kids get ready in stages so they got their outfits photographed separately. I would have gotten them photographed together -but wouldn't you know that AFTER church they were filthy. No worries! They get their pictures taken at Penny's in two weeks - and the clothes washed up beautifully so they will be reusable!

I can't get over the ARMS on this girl.

We got SO many compliments on her dress and headband.
JR's not quite to posing age. His pictures are always harder to get.

After nap time, we did an Easter Egg hunt. This was one of the only pictures I got of Janna. She - quite literally - hunted for eggs at a DEAD RUN. Poor JR took his time, eating as he went, while Janna swept the yard.

'Twas the Night Before Easter.

I have decided that Easter is my second most favorite time of year.

Jeff and I have abandoned much of the commercial Easter traditions. Our children do not get Easter baskets - I rebelled there starting last year. I told Jeff that I wanted to spend more time on the family and religion, and less on the Easter bunny and her counterparts. Besides, our kids have more than enough STUFF!

I DO still participate in buying the children beautiful new outfits. Because, come on, any reason to dress them up and make them more adorable than they already are, is a beautiful reason indeed. They also get a little bit of candy - because it's abundant this time of year. I carefully filled their eggs with exactly three candy corns or 4 jelly beans each. They will hunt and discover tomorrow after nap time. Bet your bottom dollar that half that stuff will end up in the trash, though. With these kids three-quarters of the fun is finding the candy. Not eating it.

The holiday started yesterday. Janna and JR made wonderful crafts at their daycare, and Janna came home with the fabulous story about "the soldiers" that were "mean to Jesus." She knows all about how "Jesus died on the cross." She also knows that the soldiers "put sticks in his hands." Clearly, she doesn't totally grasp the ramifications of all this history - and quite frankly I am glad. I'm really not ready to get into the brutal murder of Christ. Suffice to say she has "memorized" the story and will be able to fall back on the knowledge when she is ready to internalize its meaning.

So, since she knew the words that pertained to the crucifixion, I decided to take her to the Good Friday Service. To me, Good Friday is equally as important as Easter itself. I mean, with no crucifixion how could there have been a Resurrection? Besides, the somber nature of Good Friday makes the glory of Easter that much more glorious.

Janna did as well as could be expected at a 7:30 PM service. I actually didn't need to take her into the cry room at all - although I did have to bust out my "mommy look" a couple of times. By the end, when I had a sneezing fit, she was telling ME to be quiet.

This morning, we got up and headed off to church for round two. I went early to help set up for our church's Easter Outreach. I came home to find (drum roll) 1/2 an inch of water in my laundry room! Hooray

So, Jeff and I scrambled to clean the water up (don't buy a KitchenAid washer - this is flood number 4 in as many years), while Janna was dressing herself and getting VERY irritated that we were cleaning when we were supposed to be going to church. HELLLLLLLLOOOO!

So, we finally got there. I was so busy chasing my three year old around that we got no pictures of Janna. Oops. Here are a couple of JR.

Forever trying to be my big boy.

Playing ring toss.

So, then we went home and got the little one to bed and gave the bigger little one "quiet time" - sound familiar Mom and Dad?

When JR woke up, we fed the natives, and colored EASTER EGGS! Thank you Paas who accidentally included two kits for Easter Eggs! We had an argument free time!

I just adore these last two pictures.

Anyhow. Tomorrow is Easter morn. I will get the kids all dressed up, Janna will go to Sunday School, and JR will come with his Dad and I to service. Jeff has to usher tomorrow, so it will be just Janna and I in church. I am tempted to try JR - we'll see who wakes up tomorrow to assess. Janna seems to have a little ear infection (unconfirmed, but based on the symptoms Dr. prescribed an antibiotic anyway, which is unlike them so I think they were concerned). She may or may not be crankified.

After nap(s) will be the Easter Egg Hunt, then dinner. In our new-found vegetarianism, we have planned Quiche, Cheesy Potatoes, Deviled Eggs, Bread, Spinach Salad and Carrot Cake!

I will try to post the rest of the pictures tomorrow.

First "Swim" of the Season.