Happy Birthday, Mimi/Mom!

Happy Birthday, Mom! We enjoyed celebrating with you all day long...first lunch (a visit to your work with ChicFilA), then dinner (on the patio at Moosehead Saloon) and finally cake (strawberry casada). We are so thankful for you and all you do for our family. We love you!

Opening your gift with Kiera's help

A new Lands End swimsuit...Hello Myrtle Beach!

Cheers!

Monkey see, monkey do...Kiera wants to "Cheers!" too!

Yum...Cake!

Science Center

This week is my Spring Break. It's been a great break so far... and it's only Tuesday night. Today we went to the Great Lakes Science Center with two of my teaching friends and their kids. The kids all played so well together. Though we decided that next time, we'll meet up at the playground, as that was their favorite part of the Science Center...The Polymer Playground!

Easter

We had a FABULOUS Easter weekend in Chicago...well, except for the fact that Dave wasn't able to go (the joys of owning your own business). Here are some highlights from our weekend (in random order).

Hanging out outside Cheesecake Factory

Emily and Paul or as Kiera says "Emmy a Paul"

We met Paul's parents for lunch

Everyone was thrilled that I was taking so many pics on this bench
(this could be the Bockrath Christmas Card pic!)

The girls

Kiera loves her Emmy

Stowaway on the luggage cart

Kiera found her Easter basket in the hotel crib
(Because Dave didn't go, Kiera slept with me and the crib was empty)

Coloring eggs

Emmy givin' Kiera some sugar...and later some deviled eggs!

Showing off her favorite color egg...Purple!

Swimming with Papa in the hotel pool

Em told Kiera to close her eyes and hold out her hands for a surprise...
jumbo size sidewalk chalk! (Love her fountain-like hair in this one!)

Goofing around at dinner...Vietnamese, yum!

You've got mail

Kiera got mail today from The Mormiles. It was an Easter card with stickers inside. Kiera was so excited! Any time she gets stickers, she puts them right on her face!

Kiera says, "nank you" for the mail Aunt Cheryl, Uncle Dan, Michelle, Nicole and Christina!

They call this a smile?

Today the was a special mass for the St. Ignatius Baseball Teams. Only the guys went because as you good Catholics know, mass is looong and 2 year old's abilities to sit still and be quiet are NOT! I wanted a pic before they left, and this is the best smile they could muster......but I love 'em anyway!

Like Mother, Like Daughter

My mom and Don came over for dinner. We had scalloped potatoes and ham. Then we had a good laugh...

This is my two year old picture next to Kiera's two year old picture!

Don't you just love my bangs? And the floating head picture? I love how we are both wearing smocked dresses and we both have the same chubby arms.

Happy Birthday, Karson!

We celebrated our cousin Karson's second birthday this weekend. He is 3 days older than Kiera. We had a great time at his party! He had the cutest animal cake (too bad my picture of it didn't turn out!).

The birthday boy eating his cake...Yum!
They bought Kiera a birthday cake too! How nice was that?
Here's Kiera Jean and Great-Grandma Jean enjoying the cake.

The "K" Cousins...

...are so "kute"...

...even if they aren't "koncentrating"on the camera!
I love the bright colors of their shirts.

AJ shared his trucks so nicely!
He can name all of the types of trucks.

Kiera loved the sandbox. She sat right in it...

...bare feet and all.

This one cracks me up. They both have such silly, posed smiles.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Karson!
Thanks for sharing your special day with Kiera!
We love you!