Planting, Glitter, and Batman

Ahh, so happy to be starting my pots for the year. I love this time of year. I love flowers, and I love making the house look cheery. Today I bought these pretty flowers for my pots by the front door.

And updated a few of my house plants that were looking pretty pathetic from this sun-less weather. Kylie insisted on wearing her sparkly glitter shoes today. Didn't really match her outfit, but she absolutely insisted, so glitter shoes it is! I love that she is starting to make her own choices and statements about her likes and dislikes.

Every year, we have a tradition of buying fuschia starts at Fred Meyers and making our own fuschia baskets to hang on the front of the house. Fuschia baskets are so expensive, so I prefer to spend about $3 a pot and nurture them myself. We've done this every year since we bought this house, and I'm sure we'll continue the tradition.

The kids just absolutely love helping. I think they did a pretty good job! Can't wait to watch these grow!!

I love my Easter decor at the front door. 3 bunnies and an egg wreath, and now pretty flowers.

Kylie hasn't quite figured out the proper helmet-wearing technique.

The neighbors gave us a huge box for the boys to play in and build a fort with. Its funny how long a box can entertain little ones! This week, Matthew decided to help them make a Bat Cave. The boys are totally into Batman now (thanks to Mike) so we have lots of 'Batman and Robin' themes in the house right now.

Zachary got a Sharpie (yah, I didn't realize it for about 20 minutes...I promptly took away the Sharpie but at least he only wrote on the box!) and wrote his and Tyler's names on the box. I thought he did pretty good! He's never written Tyler before. We need to add the 'E' still. : )

Matthew helped with the cutting of the door and window and wrote everything else. Don't you love the 'No Girls Allowed' part? Luckily they exempted Kylie from that rule. So its basically just Kathryn and I that are excluded. On that note, I am so thankful that Matthew loves the boys so much. He always plays with them and helps them make cool things. Yesterday, I picked up him and his friend after Track and I had to shuffle around carseats to make room. His friend said, 'Geez, how many siblings do you have?' Matthew said "5, and four of them are under the age of 4." His friend said, 'Does that suck?" I thought for sure he would say YES! But he said 'Nope, not really." Love that.

Zachary got ahold of my camera and wanted to take pictures of his new Batman shirt. I found them at Walmart today for $1 on clearance so the boys each have a new Batman shirt to wear tomorrow.

Mike is working 9 days straight, so I feel like all I am is a line chef and a taxi service. I am sorely outnumbered 5 to 1. But, as exhausted and tired as I am, I am so grateful for my family. So, so grateful.

Spring, Maybe...

Today was the warmest day we've had all year. It was almost 60. We set a record for the coldest March so far. Gotta love Oregon. We were finally able to get outside for a few hours tonight and PLAY!!!

Kylie has figured out that there are airplanes in the sky and when she hears the noise, she needs to look up for them.

The boys found at least a dozen lady bugs, and 5 or 6 potato bugs. Also a few worms and snails under some rocks and in our garden.

Can't WAIT for this summer!!!!

Finally...Orange and Black

Matthew finally got a letter of interest today from the OSU football program. He has been waiting and hoping to get something from them soon! So far he has letters of interest from OSU, U of O, and Notre Dame, and has had some interest from some other smaller schools across the nation. My Beaver family and friends are very excited!!

Spring Break Coast Trip

Whew, Spring Break of 2011 was busy!! There was definitely not much resting going on, that's for sure. I feel like now I need to take a break once the 'normal routine' starts on Monday!

Mike and Matthew went hunting (rats...yes, rats...) for a couple of days and took our trailer out on its first trip. Then we were all off to the coast for 3 days with Grandma. It was Grandma's birthday on the 19th, so we had to have cake, of course. The boys picked this one out, obviously. The obsession with lady bugs continues.

What more could any girl want...chocolate cake and a telephone.

We swam for 3 days straight, and finally had to drag the kiddos out of the pool to go see something else. Went to the Mark Hatfield Marine Science Center and a lighthouse.

It was a pretty typical March coast weekend...windy...rainy...sun breaks...too wet to do too much outside.

We did get a decent hour in on the beach before we froze and had to come in.

Matthew and Mike spent that entire hour trying to build a fire, but with no dry wood, it was pretty difficult and unsuccessful.

I just love this picture and her sweet little face.

Kylie is obsessed with purses. Anytime she sees someone's purse, she has to drag it to them, whether they want it or not. So here she comes with Grandma's purse, through the sand.

The boys and Kylie especially missed their Papa. They didn't understand why Grandma got to come but Papa had to work. Kylie kept 'calling' papa on this phone and any cell phone she could get her hands on. This little girl is pretty much crazy about her Papa, and I'm pretty sure he feels the same about her.

Re-purposed Underwear

This is Kylie's new favorite thing to do with her brothers' underwear. At least she usually takes them from the clean laundry while I am folding clothes.