Mid-March updates

Greetings from our new breakfast bar!

After a month long project cutting a hole into the wall, putting up trim, getting a counter top installed, bar stools ordered from Target's website, and some patching up, I'm so excited that it's almost done!  I could have waited until we did paint touch ups, caulk, and some decor around the sides to "reveal" it, but what fun would that be?!  We'll put the finishing touches on it during spring break.

As mentioned in a previous post, we were desperately seeking additional lighting in the kitchen and a more "open" floor plan.  I hated cooking dinner in the kitchen not able to see the rest of the family while the kids were in the living room playing.  Or that I couldn't see the driveway or walkway to our front door from the kitchen.  Thanks to Bailey, we definitely knew when someone was coming up to the house, but still...I wanted to be able to see for myself.  Thus, we embarked on a month long project to cut a portion of the wall out.  Since it's a support wall we couldn't knock the entire thing down, so we improvised.  And I'm loving how it turned out!

I'm looking forward to our first breakfast at the bar on Saturday morning!

In other news, Sean has been a busy bee at school and at swim class.  After returning from mid-winter break his class celebrated the 100th day of school, Dr. Seuss' birthday, and reading month complete with "mystery readers" and bringing books home from school to read.  He's officially registered for kindergarten next fall and once again, I am so happy with the progress he's made this year in Young 5's.  Best decision ever!

He was nominated for "Green Student of the Month" by his teacher in January and had his picture up on a bulletin board at school for the whole month.  ::Insert my proud mommy smile::  And apparently, he draws pictures for me when he misses me at school!  Oh my goodness, he is such a love bug!  Now that the weather is warming up I've been able to watch him play on the playground at school right before pick-up.  I love that he doesn't realize I'm there and just does his thing.  Watching him interact with friends, run circles with the trucks, and not have a care in the world does amazing things to my heart!

He's been working his butt off in level 5 at swim and never ceases to amaze me!  His front stroke is getting so much stronger, but he dominates on his back.  Chicken, star, rocket!  He absolutely detests the side stroke and it's caused a few tears over the past two weeks, but he'll get there.  Scuba Steve is encouraging and positive - that's all he needs!

Evan, my little bug, has been keeping us on our toes.  This kid has quite the personality.  Stubborn as all get-out, but he can turn the charm on when he needs to.  And I soak in those charming moments when they come around.  I will absolutely miss when he grows out of some of his current phrases.  Like calling McDonalds, "Old McDonalds" or when he asks me to sing "A rock-a-my baby" to him.

I swear he can survive off of milk, fruit, and breakfast foods.

He's doing well in preschool, going to Spanish one day a week and music one day a week.  While I'd love to say that he's coming home trying out some Spanish, I'm lucky if he tells me "Hola" or talks to me about "chocolate".  I guess my $9 a week towards Spanish has taught him two very important words.  But, I can't complain, he's my musical guy...always singing, always wanting to play instruments like the piano, the drums, or a guitar.  I can't wait to get him in some music lessons.

He, too, is rocking swimming in level 4.  He's got quite a ways to go in level 4, but he can swim about 15 feet on his own with help.  His kicks are amazing, but trying to coordinate arms and legs is quite the task at 3.5 years old!  He cracks his teacher up and I love watching him smile as he jumps in.

The boys have had some fun events on the weekends over the past month.  Between celebrating Scott's birthday with the extended family and cousins to their annual "guys' night out" at Monster Trucks, I know they've been having a blast with family!

And as the weather has been warming up, we've really enjoyed being able to go outside and get some fresh air!  Bike rides, trips to the park in the neighborhood, playing on the play structure in the backyard, cleaning out the garage, and going to the Nature Center to learn about maple syrup, we're ready and willing to welcome in Spring!

Even spring cleaning...

We are ready for St. Patrick's Day this week!  Sean and Scott worked on a leprechaun trap.  I'm not really sure what is supposed to "happen" with this trap, but we're ready...

Spring break is only a week and a half away with Easter right around the corner.  I feel totally unprepared for Easter since it's so early this year.  Their baskets are about done, but that's all I've thought about.  I don't know if they'll see the Easter bunny this year or if we'll do a marshmallow drop or the Bunnyville at the zoo, but we'll definitely enjoy Easter together with our families and a week and a half off of school together.

And I'm okay with that.  The Easter bunnies at the mall kind of creep me out...