in my case...girls are harder than boys...

I think I have mentioned before that Brielle has quite a will to her, and Brett and I both know we are going to have a tough "terrible 2's and 3's" ahead of us. well...tonight she showed her color....We were at a friends house, one we are at quite often, and Brielle kept hitting Ben (he is 3 mos younger than her) and after countless attempts to say "no no".....she finally gave him a hard whack, and I promptly picked her up, took her to another room, sat her down and stated "you are in a time out"....she gave me that look like, "oh no you did not just say that mom" and maintained that look until I left the room. When i returned 1 minute later, I caught her standing up and playing with something, that was until she saw me....she RAN back to her time out spot, and started "the look" again. I told her we do not hit our friends, she nodded and then gave me a hug. Everytime after that that she would come close to doing something that would require a time out, she would give me the look and then return to "the spot"......OH...WE ARE IN FOR SO MUCH TROUBLE WITH THIS ONE>..... and just think, she does not even turn 18 mos until the 20th of April....

Happy Easter!

We had a great day...despite the slightly chilly weather 45 degrees (although i know our friends and family in Michigan were digging themselves out from a snowstorm today...brrrr). We woke up here, and then headed to Virginia to have dinner with Jeff and Sage, and Jecen. We had a great time, and Braydon enjoyed spending the day with a "big" kid (10yrs old) and following his every move. I have pics of the easter egg hunt that i will post as soon as i upload them. I head back to Virginia next weekend for Sage's baby shower (they are due with their first, a boy, in June).

Now...we start another week...hope it warms up soon, as we are ready for some more outside time.

looks like the easter bunny came to our house...
look mom....he was here, is he hiding in our backyard?
"mine" (one of her new words)
the night before..dying easter eggs...
of course, she wanted to be part of the action also..
oh so gentle (with some help from mommy)
is it the color we want?
finished product! (even with a little dyed coconut to look like grass)

cold day for swinging..she has decided that she likes the "big" girl swing much better than the baby swing..gives mom a nervous stomach but she loves it...
braydon thought it was hilarious that i layed down under him swinging....

March.....

Not much new to report.....
we have enjoyed a few really warm and nice days here though......but that did not help us yesterday for the Spring Social in the neighborhood along with the Easter Egg hunt...it was a bit chilly at 45 degrees (i know you Michiganders would love 45 degrees)....but,t he kids still had fun and managed to come home with more candy than I thought they would.

We will be spending Easter with Jeff and Sage and Jecen in Virginia, and then enjoying some weeks of getting ourselves prepared for spring. Not many trips planned, but we are looking forward to a getaway to Michigan in early May!

The kids have been playing together a lot more, and Braydon has finally realized that his sister will mimic everything (and I do mean everything) that he does...and he does think that is pretty cool! Scary for me as a mom, as I find them my jacuzzi tub in my bathroom with water running, or jumping from couch to bean bag, or climbing any type of step stool up onto the counter...but...they are playing together, right?

enjoy the pics!

The neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt....(it was a little chilly) :)
in search of some eggs!
walking our way over to the egg hunt!
looking for eggs!
"over there daddy"
okay..so he took prize with how many eggs he did find!

trying to learn how to ride his bike
playing in the driveway
and of course...she has to try to ride the bike as well...
basketball!

a friendly hug ....
quiet time on the couch
"cheese"....i think that is what this is?

Grandpa and Grandma Kidder Visit

It was a breakthrough visit....Brielle was all about her grandparents! (this also happened with Grandma and Grandpa Bolt visited last month)....and she went right to them, with time. She asked Grandma to pick her up, she played with Grandpa, she teased, joked around..etc...it was a breakthrough! for those of you who do not know....her whole first year of life...Brielle would not even let a grandma or grandpa hold her. :)

Grandpa and Grandma Kidder Visit

enjoying a 60+ degree day in March
just a walkin in the backyard
and now running!
hmm....always a ton of fun to play with sticks
he wore this hat all day on Monday...
time for baseball season

loving her hat made for her by her Great Grandma Garde
sitting on a stool, eating cereal...just like daddy used to do
and..of course, has to be like big brother...but, she has gotten really good at eating her cereal with a spoon...

Change....always change...

it is amazing how fast a month can go by...I can't believe March starts tomorrow and we are already looking at the possiblity of spring weather here in a couple weeks. We are looking forward to spending some time at the park, zoo, and our backyard! I think both kids are sick of being couped up inside and having to get all bundled up to go anywhere...I know I am.

Braydon started swimming lessons this week....the kind where we as parents sit on the sidelines, still with our clothes on...no more mommy and me classes! Brett and I both could not believe how strange it felt to have a child who is of that age already. Braydon was hesistant at first, but thanks to a good teacher...I think things will be fine.

Brielle is into EVERYTHING! and climbing EVERYTHING! she has now figured out ways to use other things to get onto the sofa, the chairs, etc...and she has taken to JUMPING! not just jumping while standing in place (which she loves) but jumping from the ottoman into her bean bag....oh she loves it!

We are starting to turn a corner, and I have noticed...with the persistence of both kids..they are starting to play together...she follows him around, wants to be just like him and I think he has finally started to think that this is a really cool thing....as a parent, it is so much fun to watch.

just hanging out together...
both doing the spider man impression...braydon taking it much more seriously..
a peaceful moment between cat and dog
i am all set for swim lessons mom!
hey there....
she loves her brother....and is constantly laughing with him..

who knows what is going on here...
repeat
repeat

climbing on the dome climber...
both jumping away in the moon bounce..
watching the Daytona 500 (brielle)
Brielle pretending she is driving in the Daytona 500