Easter!

Saturday we did some Easter crafts, and dyed some eggs! 

Sunday the Easter bunny visited our house.  

He left quite the loot for the kids and scattered plastic eggs filled with candy all over the house for Ayla to find and collect all morning. 

Ayla helped me make these raspberry cream cheese filled bunny danishes. 

The rest of the day was spent watching conference and being together as a family. 

9 days!

Chris went out of town for 9 days!  Usually when he goes out of town I am at my wits end by the time he returns.  There were difficult moments for sure and we all missed him terribly, but we stayed busy doing something fun with friends everyday.  And the time went by fairly quickly. 

He left on a Thursday.  We went to target.  Which is quite an adventure with these two kiddos.   

Friday we went to swimming lessons and then hit up the farmers market on Flamingo road for shakes and giant cookies! (this farmers market has become my new favorite place!) 

Saturday was a full day!  We got up and went to a baptism.  Then we went to the Young At Art museum (aka play place) with the Ashby's.  After that we went to the farmers market (again) and got smoothies and bbq for lunch and met the Easter Bunny. 

 (Ayla and James)

That night Kimberly Flack's husband Derek watched my kids so I could go run the 5K Color Buzz run in Miami.  (so nice of him!)  It was lots of fun!

  Sunday was church and naps and walking Zuri!

Monday we went swimming with friends and went to Costco.  (no pictures)

Tuesday we went to the splash pad park with friends!  

We have been having the best weather lately!  Warm enough for the beach or pool but also cool enough for the park,  Loving it!!

Wednesday we had a big Easter Egg hunt with our friends in playgroup.  

That night Kirsten's husband Dallas watched my kids so I could go to book club.  I seriously have the best friends! 

Thursday we went to Gumbo Limbo, a turtle conservatory in Boca. 

It's about a 40 min drive so we picked up Daxton and his mom Kirsten to ride down with us and met a few more friends there!

We found a turtle named Reef!  So of course they needed their picture together.

 After Gumbo Limbo we went to Red Reef beach for a picnic lunch and fun in the sun and sand.

We didn't get home till after 5pm.  It was a super fun but tiring day. 

Friday we went to swimming lessons and then the farmers markets for smoothies. 

That night I watched the kids for our babysitting swap and then picked Chris up from the airport at  10pm. 

Whoop whoop!! 

5 months

I can't believe my hunky chunk is 5 months old!  He is getting so big.  Reef is now rolling over like a champ.  He loves his tummy time.  He has started blowing bubbles with his spit and makes this raspberry sound (also sounds like passing gas). I recently started him on solids.  First he tried rice cereal and applesuace but he didn't seem to really care for either.  Then I gave him sweet potatoes and he eats them all gone.  He is super ticklish!  He puts out the best giggles when we tickle him.  He loves to watch his big sister and she loves to do anything she can to help him and hates it when he cries.  Reef really enjoys our daily walks and loves to be outside.  He is starting to do a gorilla sit on his own now.  As long as he uses his arms for support he can kind of sit up by himself momentarily.    He continues to be the best baby.  So happy and smiley all the time.  The only time he really gets upset is if he is hungry or poopy.   He is such a joy to have in our home and I am thankful everyday that he chose me to be his mommy!

Papa Ko visits

Papa Ko came to visit last weekend!  We picked him up from the airport and headed straight to the beach!

After the beach Chris and Papa Ko went golfing while the kids napped.

  

Friday morning we all went to watch Ayla's swim lesson.  She completed her first session of swim lessons so they each got a medal for there hard work and dedication.  She is getting much more comfortable in the water and really good at holding her breath under water now.  We are going to put her in another session of lessons so she will continue to progress. 

   That night we went to Hollywood beach. 

This beach is right on the board walk so afterwards we got ice cream and dinner at one of our favorite places, The Taco Spot. 

-+

Saturday we went to the Zoo!

That evening I took the kids to the pool while Chris and Papa Ko played golf. 

Sunday was church and lunch and then Papa Ko had to go home.   

Thanks for coming to visit!  We had tons of fun!  Its always so fun for us when visitors come!

Grandma Chele's Valentine to Ayla

 After all this talk about Grandma's it reminded me of the little Valentine Grandma Chele wrote for Ayla.  It is just too cute.  I want to document it for her to have when she gets older.

"When God was making Ayla, He thought,  What can I do to create a perfect little girl, to make a grandma's dream come true?
He starts with cute and healthy. Then added extra smarts.
Then threw in lots of giggles to lighten up our hearts.
He made her eyes a great big blue and put in extra twinkles there.
Then stroked her hair with angel dust to make it soft and fair.
It's been three years since God sent you. And I'm thankful everyday,
that he heard the prayer from Grandma and sent the perfect little girl our way."

Grandma Dove

My dear Grandma Dove passed away on 28th, which was her 94th birthday.  Six of her seven living children were all with her when she died. She lived a long full life and left it peacefully.   She was a remarkable woman.  An amazing example to all those who knew her.  She was a small petite woman but she was strong.  I learned a few new things about her and her history during her funeral which I loved.  But mostly I loved hashing up all the wonderful memories I have of her, especially from my childhood and spending time in her home.  

Although I will miss her terribly along with all her loved ones.  Her funeral was a happy one, full of stories of her life and character, beautiful music, and lots of family.  It was a really nice day and I think it was just the way she would want it to be. 

It was great to get to see my family!  And get these to babes together again. Aren't they just precious!  I really am just so grateful I was able to be there. 

I also visited Grandma BB while I was home.   Hard to believe she is my last living grandparent.   Her short term memory is not the best and she really can't hear.  So our visit consisted of her sharing the same 3 stories numerous times and asking me the same few questions multiple times.  But she was is great spirits.  So happy and cheerful.  And she is such a great story teller I enjoyed listening to her tell me those same 3 stories each and every time.  And when it was time to go she held me close looked me straight in the eye and told me how very proud of me she was and how much she loved me and made me feel like the most important and loved grand daughter there ever was!

Grandma's really are so special!   

The past few weeks!

I can't believe Ayla turned 3 over a month ago.   Time just goes by too fast!

(one of these things is not like the others)

 We celebrated Valentines day!  I got my bake on!

 Chis had flowers delivered!  (isnt he the sweetest!) And I made this Chocolate cake with Ganache sauce completely from scratch!  Woot!

 We also went to Cheesecake factory!  A mutual favorite place. 

(this is the flower girl dress Ayla wore to Haley's wedding TWO years ago, it still fits her!)

 (Belle dress-up!  Thanks Aunt Courtney!) 

This girl had the birthday that never ended.  She continued to get cards and packages in the mail for a full week after her birthday. 

Take a look at this handsome 4 month old!  

Reef continues to GROW!  He weighted just over 17lbs and was 25inches at his four month check up.  He is still the happiest baby and continues to bless our lives daily with that big smile of his!  He is getting so close to rolling over.  He will roll to his side and then to his back over and over again till he  turns his body in a complete circle.  I will lay him on the floor and the next time I check on him his feet are where his head used to be.   He is the sweetest boy in all the land.  I am so lucky he chose me to be his momma.

 Ayla thought Reef needed a baby to snuggle. 

Reef got bronchitis.  Poor Baby!  We had to give him breathing treatments with the nebulizer to help him open up those airways.  Actually Chris, Ayla and Reef were all pretty darn sick for  a little over solid week!  I was the only one who magically seemed to escape the sick bug.  (knock on wood)

This was a couple weeks ago and now it sounds like his cough is back so I just started giving breathing treatments again yesterday. (sad face)

 

 I curled Ayla's hair with a flat iron for the first time!  Eeek! So fun!  

I love having a girl!