Funny Faces

 

Pictures from dinner tonight- food in their mouths and everything! 

Mid March (feels like Mid July!)

Lucia and I at Nonna's house the night before she left for Italy.  Have fun Nonna- we will see you soon!

Aunt Cecca's Famous!  She's on the cover six-pack of Founder's All Day IPA. 

At dinner the other night- I was trying to get a picture of Lucia's curls with all the humidity we have had.  Ethan wanted to join the fun. 

We went to Meijer Gardens tonight.  It was great walking around in the warm weather.  They had some of the water features turned on- Lucia loved walking through a waterfall sculpture. 

Ethan had tons of fun digging and building with Oma in the big sand box.

Grandpa trying to show Lucia how to use the digger!

Up North

Jim and I went up North at the end of February for a weekend away (no kids!).  It was a great time.  We drove up to Old Mission Point and walked around for a bit- it was freezing!  Here's the lighthouse at Old Mission Point.

We stayed the night at a little Inn in Frankfort.  This was the sunset in Frankfort. 

Jim and I on the beach at Old Mission Point- burrr!

There were some trails so we went for a little hike- the woods were pretty with all the snow. 
It was a fun weekend- we did miss the kids a little!

How to Roll Down a Hill- by Ethan

Ethan hasn't quite got the hang of rolling down a hill yet.  He will start off, but then veer sideways and kind of make himself roll along horizontally.  It's something else to see!

Sunday Outing

Jim and I took the kids to Meijer Gardens today.  We had a good time- some of the butterflies are starting to make their appearance- that was fun to see!

Ethan running down the hill by the big horse. 

Lucia running laps around the big horse.  She was riding in her stroller when we were approaching the big horse, as soon as she saw it she starts freaking out "horsie, horsie!" 

"Oh Jim, you worry too much . . ."

The other day Nonna came over to watch the kids for a few minutes while Jim went to the dentist.  Francesca and Nonna were chatting and Lucia walks in the room with a blue battery powered car.  Jim takes the car away from Lucia and Francesca and Nonna question Jim's reasoning.  Jim explains that he doesn't want the car to accidentally get stuck in Lucia's hair.  Nonna and Francesca give Jim a little bit of grief, Jim leaves for the dentist.  Jim comes home from the dentist an hour later and finds this . . . the blue battery powered car is stuck in Nonna's hair- power on- headlights on.  "Don't tell me I told you so!"  Nonna says to Jim- apparently Nonna was having Ethan run the car up and down her arms because "it felt good."  Next thing she knew, Ethan had run the car up onto her head and it promptly became tangled in her hair.  Luckily we were able to remove it without cutting Nonna's hair!  

Sledding

Jim and I took the kids sledding this weekend- we went to Richmond.  Richmond makes me nervous because there are trees on the sides of the hill, a pond at the bottom of the hill, and a road.  Jim assured me that it was perfectly safe- reminding me that he went sledding at Richmond all the time as a kid- and besides- they wrap tires around the trees for safety- oh boy!  I am used to Union- no trees, no road, no pond!
We had fun- here's Ethan and I trucking up the hill- I went down once with Lucia- she loved it!  I didn't love carrying her up the hill though!

Ethan worked up the nerve to go down the hill in his new sled he got for Christmas.  He went down so fast and straight in that sled- it was incredible!  When his sled finally came to a stop- he got off and started jumping up and down with excitement- which lead to rolling on the ground, screaming and kicking his legs- see picture above.  It must have been quite the adrenalin rush!  Jim and I were watching from the top of the hill- it was pretty darn cute!

Lucia wanting to go down by herself in the orange sled- I don't think so!

What a handsome guy!

Grumpy Lucia

Aunt Cecca took this picture of Lucia after waking up from her nap- she's not too happy!

Children's Museum

A few weeks ago we took the kids to the Grand Rapids Children's Museum.  I had bought a Groupon almost a year ago for 4 tickets and never used them.  We went on a Tuesday night around 5:00pm- the place was practically empty!  That's the time to go!  Lucia loved the sand box- can't you tell?. 

This was a giant bubble maker- it was pretty cool!

Lucia sure did love the ball pit!

New Bike

Ethan got a new bike for his Birthday- he has been able to practice riding it because of the warm winter we have had.  He is still trying to get the hang of braking- right now he just rides it into the lawn and tips off of it!  Hopefully once the weather is warmer he will learn how to ride without the training wheels!

I never posted any pictures from his birthday party- this is my favorite- I wonder what he's thinking about!

Bath Night

Ethan and Lucia enjoying a bath together.  I thought it would be easier to bathe them together- but Ethan just annoyed his sister the whole time!

Doesn't she just look like she was caught in the act!

Snow Days

Chiara, Norah and Luca came up to visit a few weeks ago.  We actually had a little bit of snow!  Here's a group shot- from left: Norah, Lucia, Bree, Luca, and Ethan.  Ethan spent the majority of his time outside eating snow off his mittens, the ground, etc.  

Lucia wasn't quite sure what to make of all the snow- she stuck to the path most of the time. 

We plopped Lucia and Luca down in a snow bank on a sled for a quick picture.  They sure are cute!

New Hair Do

Lucia's hair is long enough now (and has been for awhile) that it is always in her face.  She will not keep barrettes in and is constantly pulling them out (and then I can't find them . . . and then I worry that she ate it and I'll find the barrettes in her diaper).  So, I finally tried rubber bands and they sort of work!  I have to keep her distracted while I'm doing her hair and for a few moments afterwards, otherwise she will pull the hair tie out!
She's also starting to say "cheese" when I pull the camera out and will actually turn towards me and smile!

Watching Daddy

Ethan and Lucia watching daddy shovel- Lucia can almost see out the window when she stands on her tippy toes!

3 was a Great year!

Some of my favorite Ethan shots from his 3rd year!  What a cutie!