Pint-Sized Picassos

We went to Pint-Sized Picassos this morning!  It's only on Thursdays and Jack normally has preschool, so spring break was our chance.  Crafts and painting...what a morning, and the best part...no mess for me to clean up!

Then to the mall for lunch...Julia on her date with Isaac!  She just loves him, probably because he is so much nicer to her than her big brother!

Opposites Day One: Old

Our first assignment for the month long photography class from beth v photography (there's still time to join the class!) - to photograph something old...that would be the yellow chair that came from my Grandma's house that used to be my Dad's when he was a child...love it!  It's a wet dreary day in Michigan and I feel that it's always challenging to take good pictures indoors.  It's difficult to get good lighting (I even moved the chair so that it was closer to the window) and no shadows indoors.  I cheated a bit and did use the flash on some of my pictures...these are the best of the 150+ photos that Jack and Julia humored me with this morning...

ISO 1600, f/6.3, 1/20, no flash

I get really excited when they both look at the camera at the same time! 

ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/60, flash

A bit overexposed (I probably should have moved the ISO down!), but I still love it and can probably fix it up a bit in Aperture!

ISO 400, f/5, 1/60, flash

These monkeys were easier to photograph than the two monkeys in the pictures above...

ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/15, no flash

This picture does not fit the theme of the day; however, while I was taking Jack's picture I turned around and found little Miss sitting in the middle of the airport on the train table...

ISO 400, f/4.5, 1/60, flash

Runway Ready?

We had really early baths today (like right after naps) so I thought they might as well put on their pj's (it makes evenings easier when we have had a LONG day). Julia just HAD to put on her boots (not the first time today!), but then it got even better...

...she found Jack's baseball hat to add a little extra flair to the outfit!

The Lord's Prayer

Jack's been saying The Lord's Prayer for a few months now (we are still working on a few of the words to get it just right) and my favorite part is the AMEN at the end!  I always want to chuckle in church during The Lord's Prayer  as I am waiting for the AMEN, but nobody does it quite like Jack!   Don't mind the video camera reference...

The Super Big Bowl!

Here is just one of the many things you can do with the big Kellogg's bowl...

Crazy Cute Pants...

...need I say more!

All that fun for $2

Who knew that $2 worth of pop up laundry bags could provide an afternoon of entertainment!  They sat in them, walked around with them on their heads and ate their snack in them!

Enjoying their snack...

Party at Chuck E!

We celebrated Daddy's birthday at Chuck E Cheese (our favorite place to play games and Mom didn't have to clean up a big mess at home!).  I think Jason may have thought I was crazy, but I thought the idea was genius!  Jason loves to play games as much as the next kid...does it really matter that he's thirty something (for another year anyway ;)!

Miss Julia - 18 Months

Little Miss Julia you are 18 months old today!  At your 18 month doctor's appointment last week you weighed 23 pounds 12 oz. (43%) and were 32 3/8 inches tall (69%)!  You gained two pounds and grew two inches since your 15 month appointment!

You are such a fun little girl and always so happy!  Your favorite words are sit down, hi, ma ma ma (you yell it when you want something!), Elmo, Jack, drink.  We love it when you answer "yes" by nodding your head, but the funny part is that you get your entire body moving when you do it!  

You love shoes and clothes, but honestly what girl doesn't....does Daddy realize what trouble he's in...it's already starting at 18 months!

You love to do the Hot Dog Dance with Mickey Mouse and you start dancing whenever you hear music.

You love to eat, but you also love to pretend to eat!  You even say mmm mmm...when you are pretending! 

Your favorite book is Elmo & Friends and you like to show us where Elmo is on every page.  You also love any book that has a picture of a duck in it, you love to yell DUCK!  You love to look at books, you are a speed reader...I have never seen anyone turn pages so fast!  You love to sit in the chair in your room (or Jack's) and read books.

Sometimes the only way to get you to look at the camera is to ask where Mommy is and of course you  must point...so we have lots of pictures with you pointing your finger, but at least you are looking at the camera!

Another favorite book - Good Enough to Eat

Big cheese and pushing around your shoes....crazy little gal...

...then a few minutes later it's on to the boots!  The girl LOVES her shoes!

Happy Birthday to Daddy too!

Happy Baptism & Happy Spring!

Julia celebrated her baptism on the first day of spring!  It was quite exciting for Jack as he watched and asked many questions during the service (what are they going to do with those bells?, who is reading the Bible story?, what are we going to do next?...) and very entertaining for the congregation as Jack attempted to climb the stairs to the pulpit during Julia's baptism!  Julia loved the bell choir and she thought it was funny as Pastor O'Neill sprinkled the water on her head!

Julia & Jack

Julia & Grandpa

Miss Julia

Julia snacking in front of the baptismal font, obviously after the worship service!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

We went to a special Eric Carle story time at Barnes & Noble ...Jack LOVES The Very Hungry Caterpillar!  

This girl has CHEESE down to an art!

More Green!

A few rare pictures from Grandma and Grandpa's on St. Patrick's Day with all eyes on the camera!