1. Fred's here! Fred is our Floridian friend that has come for the week to visit. He and Jeremy went to Kansas for the weekend while Jeremy's band played a show there. You can catch a ridiculous video of them here. He's become like family to us, and we all love having him here.
2. On Saturday, my mom and I took the kids to Bass Pro Shop in Altoona (because we obviously love fishing & hunting). I had heard that they have an aquarium there with a fish feeding & live presentation that I thought Jack might like. He loved it! He sat in front of the tank for a long time talking nonstop about the fish, and then he asked where Jonah was. Gotta love that kid.
3. The kids and I went to Minnesota to help my grandpa celebrate his 90th birthday a couple of weeks ago. It was a short 24 hour trip, but it was great to spend the time with someone very special to us. Jack loves to go to Great Papa's house, and he'll be excited to learn that we get to go again next week during spring break. He is a great traveler, and I'd take him anywhere. Brooklyn is...well, not so great in the car these days, but we make the best of it.
4. We're getting a nephew!! Seth and Sonya are adopting a baby boy, due in June, from a woman that is currently serving time in prison. It's all kind of crazy and unbelievable, considering that it was only 6.5 months ago that they lost their own baby boy, but we're oh-so-excited to meet this sweet gift! I'll definitely keep you posted on this unfolding story!!
5. Brooklyn's had a bit of a rough month, with teething and being sick, but she's been much more cheerful lately, so I'm hoping we're moving forward. She wants to do everything that Jack's doing. If I ask Jack if he needs to go potty, she's in the bathroom ready and waiting before he is. When I tell him it's time to put his shoes on, she quickly brings them to me. Taking baths, reading books, building forts, playing cars, coloring....you name it, she wants to follow in her brother's footsteps. She imitates a lot of words and says a few consistently, like Mama, Dada, Jack, baby, and blankie. She likes music of any kind, but especially likes to dance to "The Wheels on the Bus."
6. I cannot wait for spring. Must. get. here. soon. This winter has not been nearly as bad as last winter for us, but I'm still dying to play outside for hours, leave coats hanging up inside, go for bike rides, and plant our garden. Speaking of our garden, I'm going to do better with it this year. But for real this time.
7. And finally, some Jack quotes:
"I just have to put this pillow over your face until Dad gets back." -last night as I laid in bed with him.
"I want to put my head in there," pointing to the toilet.
"I have a big rocketship on my face."
"I can't take a nap right now 'cause my back is really old and grouchy and has owies on it."
