Future bikers

A beautiful day for some outdoor play this morning.  Timothy is working hard at learning to balance on a two wheel bike.  We don't have the fancy balance bike, but he is scooting around the driveway and sidewalk and trying to lift his feet up and ride!  He has improved greatly on his balance in even one week.  He also has a training wheel bike that he rides for long rides around the block.

Teresa took a spin or two on her trike, but her feet don't reach the pedals or the ground so she is at a disadvantage.  She gave up on riding and gave the Thomas the Train bubble machine a ride instead.  Thomas is her favorite toy outside, she often carts it around with her.

Easter

Our Easter is never a big family affair, and this year it was even smaller.  Our one guest, Troy's mom, wasn't feeling well and could not make it.  At first we were a little sad about this...even one guest makes it feel more like a holiday, but it was a very nice family day in the end.

Troy preached in traditional, so the kids and I went to the 9am service.  I knew I was in for some trouble when Teresa started fussing the minute we walked into the sanctuary.  But thanks to some extra snacks, understanding people and loud & lively Easter music, we all made it through the service.  (Teresa did spend a good share of it fussing on the floor.  And still someone complimented me on how well I handle my two kids.  That comment was a true blessing!) 

We saved our Easter egg hunt until after Teresa's nap time, so that Troy could join us.  Timothy was asking if Teresa was up about two minutes after her nap started.  Somehow he managed to wait the hour and a half and both he and Teresa had fun finding their eggs and baskets.  Teresa was quite pleased with her eggs filled with Vanilla Cupcake fish crackers!

We spent the afternoon playing outside as a family (just like on Christmas day) and had a nice dinner of Polynesian beef roast (breaking the tradition of ham this year!)

Coloring Easter eggs. 

Plotting to stop mommy from taking more pictures!

Hugging a cute little bunny and Lightning McQueen?  Can you tell she has a big brother?

Checking out her yummy treat!

Smiles with Mommy

Excited about candy surprises.

This and that

We just returned from a quick trip to the cities and a visit with my family.  While we were there we had a March and April family birthday celebration complete with a pinata.  (I don't have pictures of the pinata--I was video taping!)  The kids all loved it, and even Teresa took a few whacks.

Timothy and Teresa watch some of the gift opening with their Grandma Rebecca.

I was happy to receive this bag of goodies from Dan and Krista...ingredients for running cookies.  Troy and I were able to sample them after an early morning workout at Dan and Krista's gym.  We joined their running class for a 5-6 mile run.  Good training for the 10k I have coming up, but I was sore all day.  But running 5.5 or so miles is worth it when cookies are waiting at the end! 

I missed out on celebrating April Fool's day, but I had to try this cute snack I saw in Family Fun.  Timothy is always up for Mommy's fun snacks.  It is a miniature lunch...complete with a sandwich, carrots, raisins, apples and mini doughnuts (Cheerios with frosting and sprinkles). 

On Thursday we celebrated Timothy's first communion.  (He actually took communion on Ash Wednesday, but I wanted to celebrate the event a bit more.)  Troy's mom was able to join us for dinner and be at the worship service too.  This is actually one of the few pictures we have of Troy "on duty" as pastor!

Music to my ears

Yesterday Teresa truly called me 'Mama!'  She has been able to say mama for awhile, but this was the first time I really felt she meant it for me.  And I know that in a year or two she will be saying Mama way to much, but there is something so beautiful about that first time.  It made my day.

It also happened to come on the very day she had tubes put in her ears to drain fluid.  Fluid that had ironically drained itself in the two weeks since we saw the ENT doctor.  So perhaps the tubes were not needed, but it seems the fluid was messing with her speech.  She is suddenly willing to repeat words and I was amazed at what she tired to say yesterday in addition to Mama.  Up, down, more, nose, bird, out, milk, moo, baa, oink...none of the words were perfect, but she was trying.  Despite the feelings I experienced due to unnecessary procedures, I do find her new found speech is music to may ears!