Let's see here. What's new... I am 29 weeks pregnant. The snow is all melted. The kids are enjoying the beginning of spring and wondering when we can plant our garden. Not sure how to explain to preschoolers that we live in zone 5 and that means that we have well over a month and closer to 2 months before we can plant anything. Maddy tied her own shoes today for the first time, and she started a gymnastics class last night. Randy is a little over a week away from defending his thesis in Champaign...eeek. That about sums it up:o)

This is our first park outing of the spring, the girls were oh so happy to get out, even if there was so much water everywhere that they could only play on half the equipment.

This is a drawing of Maddy's that she drew and colored all on her own. Then told me that is was a peregrine falcon and asked if I could spell it for her so she could write it on the picture. Let's just say that as a mother I was very impressed with her picture, let alone the fact that she knew what a peregrine falcon was and decided to draw one.
I wish I had some pictures of Maddy's gymnastics class but we will have to wait 4 more weeks for that. We don't get to watch the class, but the kids put on a show at the final class and I am really looking forward to that.
Gracie has been up to her usual antics of keeping us on our toes. Let's just say I have been listening to Dr. Dobson's "The New Strong Willed Child" on cd and it has really given me some insight into what makes her tick. So we are on our way to shaping her will without breaking her spirit:o) Oh and just in case you have the same pet peeve I do, you'll be happy to know that she is growing her bangs out and has actually gotten quite good at wearing barrettes, most of the time, to keep her hair out of her eyes. Now all I have to do is make it another year or so without her bangs having an unfortunate run in with scissors and we are all set:o)