They have found their love of chalk again. Spring brings a new box and this is the first year Daniel has been able to really join in the fun. Ellie is starting to find a playmate in Daniel. It is giving Dillan some of his own time and space. It is also teaching Daniel more cooperative play. Ellie is seeing her power in trying to tell/teach him. She may have used the excuse this week that "Daniel told her too" , when she was caught jumping on her bed recklessly. Daniel just smiled and kept jumping and giggling. They are joining forces already!

 Where's Daniel?

Easter came and went... This is about all I caught of it! Everyone on facebook was posting their beautiful family photos and I was knee deep in blurry, pjs, chocolate covered faces. they were all blurry and I am not sure that we made it out of pjs... I had a good giggle. We weren't even going to try. Maybe next year :)

 Dillan is working hard to master money. Something has really clicked this month for him. He choose this out of a box that he hand picked items for. I told him to choose anything he wanted to put in the box and we would work on it the next week. He also has in his box- an exercise band, a tape measure, a sharks flashcards and an emotions robot "to teach Daniel emotion signs". We are working on sad, mad and happy. Dillan has taken this on as his job to teach them to Daniel. It's a pretty big boy thing to do and I am very proud of him and admire his confidence.

 I am finding little spots to add color and welcome Spring! I need to get outside -with the camera and take a picture of the Fairy Garden the kids made. They did a great job and while I need to fix the water feature, are making new things for it every week with stuff they find exploring. If only I could figure out a way to stop Daniel from throwing things off the Balcony.... That boy.....

Daniel Turned 2!!! And Dillan lost 2 Teeth!
 Joe and the kids did their traditional- everyone makes a cake for the birthday kid. They decorated it with frosting and edible bees. Ellie and Dillan picked them out for Daniel's cake at the store.
 He is thinking "How should I eat this"?

 Oh yah, that's how!

 Yum1
 Presents came in the mail from relatives. He is a loved little boy and has had quite the roller coaster of 2 years!

 We went out to eat, to a new to us, Mexican restaurant. It was fantastic. I didn't have to clean it up OR make it. That rates it a meal well loved.

 I set Daniel up a nature table. He has been so interested in tinkering with rocks and sticks. The other kids are enjoying it too. But Daniel is just beyond excited and mixing up all kinds of things.

 Happy 2nd Birthday big boy. We are so glad to hear your giggles and see your smiles.

We took a walk under the big Texas skies and notice signs that Spring was coming! I still haven't gotten used to the blues and bright clouds. Its an amazing sight.

 We spotted some deer tracks another day when we explored a new park area. The kids are doing a Wild Adventures club and have a great time. We are doing them some weeks as a group and other weeks on our own. Nature has so much to offer.

 This is how you can find Dillan most days. We made a list of all the things he wants to learn about. It is 20 items deep and includes things like sharks, human body, dragons, why the sky is blue and are all fish scales sharp?

 We have been taking weekly trips to the library and are fortunate that ours has an empty large patio and tables. We sat and had a picnic and then ventured onto water coloring our surroundings.

 Dillan worked really hard at saving up enough money for this Ozobot robot. It took him 2 months and he can not be parted with it... unless it is charging. He is learning so many skills with it. I kicked in half the cost and wrote it down for homeschool :

 Ellie is interested in doing school and now on top of wanting to write, she wants to read. It is a fine line between interest, ability and strong will. I started her on a writing and reading program that she can do as she wants too. It seems to be keeping the peace and she is really picking up on it. Her favorite pass time is writing everyone letters and putting them in our "mailbox".

We eased back into homeschooling after Daniel was sick. We tried making magic solid slime. It was pretty gross.. which means the kids thought it was pretty cool!

They choose some book marks at the Target dollar spot. It's like a magnet drawing us in. Its awful and wonderful.

 We are discovering the power of games. Now that Ellie is interested in learning some rules for games and Dillan is trying to master games, they have found a fun way to play together. I jump in when I can and on the days Joe is home can actually partake in a round of Old Maid. Although, today we gave Daniel his own cards and that was good enough for him :)

When you don't have pockets... Just stick your hands in your pants.... Daniel is starting to feel better and my arms are too...

  Look out for the ghosts....

 We went for a walk on Saturday. Ellie picked out these leggings for her dress. She is becoming her own little fashionista. I wouldn't have thought to pair them- but look how cute they match her shoes. Nice job sweet girl.

I received a lovely handwritten note from my grandma, on beautiful paper, that is just so very her. The surprise mail from mom and grandma keep my spirits up on long weeks and months. I really cherish the handwritten notes. I wish I was better at mailing things. It is my weakness for sure. So if I tell you I will mail something... have a lot of patience and grace for me.

This week we started with a trip to the Japanese Tea garden and the Zoo. The weather was lovely and it could literally feel the Vitamin D soaking in and lifting my spirits.

 Dillan pulled out an old favorite. Making a role play adventure so fun. The traveled the globe in cars and planes and fixed stuffed animals. Daniel is now old enough to really join in the fun. It was great to watch and of course I had to pilot the plane. The bed was the plane. lol.

 We took a trip to the Zoo with our local moms home school group. The kids found a nice spot and decided to nature journal the Hippo habitat. They shared paper and pens with friends and had a snack.

 We set up a little area on one of our shelves to encourage nature journaling and it has been fantastic!

 Daniel is really enjoying the reusable sticker pack this week. Trying our new animal names and sounds!

Tomorrow we have OT and Joe is on a different schedule the last 2 weeks. It has really thrown us, but it has been okay. A coworker had a baby, so we certainly understand that :) We are going to hang out this weekend and just enjoy some sunshine!

Family snuggles

 Quilt progress

 Original Creations

Lazy Afternoons

Sunshine Evenings

Trips with Mom to the Library

Library Card clipped to kids library bags- sanity savers and learning responsibility

Snuggles reading books

We are really enjoying ourselves and digging deeper. It's been a lovely month!

This was a great historical fiction book about the Netherlands :) We made blueberry muffins and had blueberry parfaits. Yum!

 The kids said the walk was exhausting and stopped under this tree for a "nap".... They make me laugh.

 More valentines fun, they had a great time making bookmarks fro family and then used some quick ones for friends. Daniel was so big writing his own cards up!

 Dillan will soon be the master/stand in bagel maker. He is getting so big and enjoys making bread items and warming things in the microwave on his own.

 Brother photobomb!

 We went as a family to the rodeo. Joe had a big time telling the kids all about the animals and the farm life. They each picked out a valentines necklace from a vendor who makes them out of pewter.

 She looks right at home in the midst of horses/farm life.

 We finished the week with new play dough. The kids picked their colors and I used a new recipe that was fantastic. It made smaller batches and I think that helped keep the play dough from getting too grainy.