Colored fingernails

Nathan is in the bathroom washing off his fingernails. He colored them black and green with markers. We just finished reading some Curious George books while Mark is napping and the laundry is drying and the dishwasher is running.

This morning we played at the park for a nice long time. The kids dug around in the volleyball court sand most of the time. Mark tried to sneak off into the woods by himself a few times, but I caught him before he got too far. He has been a bit on the wild side lately, climbing onto tables and counters and diving off of couches.

Nathan seems to be feeling really well post-surgery. He's had a few whiny moments and has complained of a sore throat a few times, but mostly he's been happy to run and play and talk and eat and sleep. It is so good to have him laughing and healthy!

Well, I have a special request to read "I'm a Big Brother," so I am going to hop on the couch for that. Speaking of brotherhood, the boys have been doing better than ever at playing together and enjoying each other. I think Nathan is beginning to see the humor in Mark's many antics, and Mark is demonstrating quite a sweet ability to share and console his big brother as necessary.

A little bit of this, a little bit of that

I have very few pictures to prove it, but we have been pleasantly active the past few days. With the weather having been so beautiful, we have been outside a lot...meeting friends at the park, taking walks, playing with our balls in the backyard. It has been nice to have the kids well enough to be able to meet up with friends to do things again!


Last week I finally found the time to pull of the couch cover and throw it in the washing machine. It had survived a very snotty winter and needed a hot bath. My apologies for anyone who was grossed out by it when you visited over the past few months. Nathan found out about the sofa bed while the cover was off.



Yesterday we spent the morning running errands. We took care of some shoe shopping for Nathan, picked up some ant bait to address our current kitchen "invasion," and then did a quick tour of Sam's for diapers and the like. We had a picnic in the front yard when we got home. It was kind of thrown together, with the huge box of goldfish crackers we bought at Sam's opened on the picnic blanket, but it was fun to be outside together.

I am afraid Nathan has another ear infection, maybe in both ears. He's been running a low fever and complaining about his ears hurting for a few days. I am going to call the doctor to see about getting him in today. Only one week until the tubes go in and the adenoids come out, and this is just confirmation that it needs to happen! Poor thing has had almost a perpetual ear infection since Christmas.

Mama's Mark

I had the best time with Mark over the past few days while Nathan was visiting Nanny and PopPop. I was amazed at how Mark's personality came out in a different way when he was all by himself. He was so affectionate, and there was very little whining or mischief-making.


He loves to laugh and cuddle and run and play. I just enjoyed my second baby - chasing him around the house, tossing balls, reading books, running errands, doing household chores, taking walks, and talking about Da-Da, balls, dogs and shoes.

It was a very special time for me and my sweet Mark Sparkle.

Palm Sunday until now

Gram and Gramp came to visit on Palm Sunday weekend. We had a wonderful, joyful, fun-filled time with them and just loved every minute. (Gram and Gramp, I will email you all the pictures soon but these are some of my favorites.)

We played outside a lot! Mark wanted to try out the tricycle.

And the swing (Nathan did, too.)



On Monday afternoon, we had an Easter egg hunt in the front yard. It started with me hiding the eggs and the boys hunting for them.

Nathan was a skillful egg hunter and found quite a bunch down in the daffodils.


Mark was fascinated by the possibility that something was inside the eggs, and proceeded to open each one.



Next, Nathan wanted to hide eggs for Gram and Gramp.


Then, Gram and Gramp had to hide them again for Nathan, who was really into hunting this year! The weekend went by all too quickly and we look forward to the next time we are together.

Let's see...the next photos are from Easter weekend. My family came up Saturday afternoon for dinner. Then we were together again Easter Sunday after church for a while.

Mark says, "Let's get this party started!"

Easter basket time with Nanny


A cuddly moment with Mark and the bunny


The boys have LOVED all of this grandparent attention! They also love their Daddy very, very much, and I love all three of my boys.