trick-or-treat

The girls all dressed up like Disney characters this year for trick-or-treating!  Miriam was Tinkerbell, Abbie was Sleeping Beauty and Ella was Lady from "Lady and the Tramp."  We started out our evening by having dinner at Culver's because they were giving away free kids' meals for kids wearing costumes.  Then for trick-or-treating, we went to the mall again this year.  It was quite crowded because of the drizzly and foggy weather.  The girls didn't get a lot of candy because of that, but they still had fun.  Plus, no one came to our house...so we have a ton of candy left over!  

three beauties on Easter (and my birthday!) morning

the kidlets

Lately I've been calling our kiddos "the kidlets."  Not sure why, but it's stuck.  Here we are lately...  

We were shopping at Menard's and the girls were hugging in the cart.  Priceless.

When we play outside, we put this little one in her stroller and she usually will happily sit there for quite sometime.  She's such a content little girl!

Matt took the girls to a park the other day.  Abbie loves to swing (especially like how she is in the picture above).  She jumps on with her stomach and flies away.

Here are the girls sitting with Matt at his work computer in our basement.  I love Miriam's face in this one!

peas in a pod

These two sure have become two peas in a pod lately.  It makes me so happy to hear Abbie shout, "Mi-am, Mi-am!" all day and to watch Miriam go give Abbie a hug when she falls down.  I love watching them grow up together and can't wait for their baby sister to join in on their playtimes, too.

life...

...is busy!  Who would've thought having 3 kids under age 4 would be a bit challenging at times?!?!?  We're managing, though!  I'm so thankful for a husband who has flexible hours and can work at home along with grandparents and aunts and uncles who love to come help when we need.  With that being said, here are a few snapshots of life as of late:

Ella has been enjoying spending some time outside with her big sisters.  She still isn't quite sure what to do about the sun, though.  It sure is bright!

After Ella was born, we finished a bedroom in the basement so that Miriam and Abbie could share a room down there and the room upstairs could be Ella's.  We have found that sometimes it helps to have the girls nap in different spots...so that was Miriam on the couch one afternoon.  She is going on five at the end of this summer and still loves her naps!  I know when she starts Kindergarten she won't have one anymore, but we'll hang on until then (often at her request!).

This babe loves to smile!

And...here was a {slightly unsuccessful} nap in which Miriam thought she'd crawl in bed with Abbie.  Abbie was so tired out she fell asleep while Miriam was still happily awake.  Miriam's tried it a few times at night, too, but it usually results in Abbie waking up grumpily and moving them back to their own beds.  

Nice warm weather has brought lots of fun times to play outside at parks!

How I do love my girls (and my hubby)!

our babes

a wagon ride full of color

...and smiles!

wordless wednesday

and suddenly it's the last day of May...

Wow, where did this month go?  It has completely slipped away from me (as is seen from my complete lack of blogging lately).  In an effort to once again keep you all updated, I will post a random assortment of our life in pictures (again).  Someday (maybe), I will be more of a consistent blogger.  I keep saying that, though, and it doesn't happen.  We'll see!

playing at a school park

swimming in our backyard

spending time inside on rainy days

back at the sports center

visiting Grandpa and Grandma

reading with great-Grandma

dressing alike (don't they look thrilled?)

eating outside

playing outside

And that was May!

life; an update in pictures

It has been much too long since I've updated, so I'll give a quick rundown with some pictures over the past few weeks.

We went to the Minnesota Zoo on Mother's Day weekend with Matt's mom because moms got to go free!  We had a great time.  The weather was fantastic and the girls really enjoyed it.  Here we were on the car ride over:

We didn't get a lot of pictures of the animals, but we laughed when all the camels were lined up like they were ready for a family picture: 

Before the weather started improving, we spend a few days at the Indoor Sports Center in town.  The girls really enjoy just running and playing there.  We're glad we have someplace to go and run when the weather isn't the greatest.

Miriam also likes putting on the costumes at the sports center.  I think this one is a salamander:

We've been continuing to wear matching outfits.  No surprise there.  I can't help myself.

Matt gave me these fabulous flowers (that are still looking fabulous!) for Mother's Day.  Thanks honey!

Other than that, we've been spending a lot of time outside enjoying this wonderful spring/summer weather!

the face, take two

After I posted the picture of Abbie earlier today, I was reminded of a picture I had of Miriam doing something similar at around the same age.  So, I did some digging tonight and found it:

Sisters, sisters...