Cottage for Grandad's Birthday and Easter

We visited the Natural History Museum in Ann Arbor earlier this week per Liesl's request and she had her usual good time although it was quite stressful with the crazy Ann Arbor driving and little people who refuse to go to the potty when there is a potty available. Both kids enjoyed the dinosaurs and Liesl gave daddy a tour, telling him all about the dinosaurs and what their names were

Went up to the cottage to do spring cleaning and finish up our winter reno jobs. We got quite a bit done including the toilet in the one bathroom, the whole other bath which doesnt "fit" the cottage at all and my dad describes as luxurious, and mom's bedroom which looks great now. Cant wait to see the rest of the cottage transform....but I am done with reno for now except our guilty pleasure of watching HGTV renovations. The kids did amazing up there. Liesl and I colored some eggs which I left there accidentally of course. They were awesome looking too. Jeannie took more steps this weekend 6 in a row but she was nekked of course. I almost finished a painting last week. I am doing some last minute changes soon, hope I dont blow it. Celebrated Grandad's birthday up at the cottage. We managed to pull together chocolate cupcakes and come strawberry cream cheese frosting with what was edible from the fridge and visited the China Buffet for dinner which came back to haunt me. The kids had a good time there, both ate well.

We got back last night and I had to make some more glow in the dark colored eggs. They are currenly lying in wait for Liesl and a dark egg hunt.

Easter festivities

Melisa and Scott invited the girls and I to spend the night friday after a family fun night at their church. There was a bounce house and all kinds of mini games, miniature golf and a super cool maze. Very carnivaly. The next morning we all went on an Easter egg hunt at their community center. See ven Jeannie got to participate. She walked around with Oma and picked up eggs and put them in her basket. after the egg hunt Liesl and Melisa's niece Adeline played all afternoon. They had a great time together. I let her grandma know she could play anytime she was in town.  Liesl also got a playdate/tea party with colton at omas this week. Jeanniw played with robbie. They were all very tired out at the end of the day and so were we from yoga which was amazing. I got zero sleep quite a few nights this past week but it seems to be getting better. jim and i took the kids to the natural history museum in Ann arbor to see the dinosaurs. Liesl loves it there and jeannie seemed to appreciate it too.Jeannie walked up to 5 steps this week at a time and the teeth seem to have calmed down.

First tooth

Jeannie caught a cold her sister had earlier in the week and had a fever and was very congested all night so I got zero sleep. She made me hold her in the rocker all night and squirmed like crazy. In the morning I just so happened to stick my finger in her mouth and a tooth had sprouted overnight. It is really in and there was nothing yesterday. We now know why she was so fussy yesterday. Here is hoping I can snag a nap today.

More st party's pics

Mom took some more pics I just couldn't pass up. Love those kids

The sheep says baa baa baaa

Jeannie at breakfast friday was playing with her animal crackers and i said to her " the cow says moo moo moo" and she responded "moo moo moo" when she grabbed the cow. Mom didnt believe it so i grabbed a sheep and said "the sheep says baa baa baa" and Jeannie said "baa baa baa". She has been doing it sporadically since but loves to say baa baa baa to all animals now.
Today we had an excellent St Patricks day party with Shepherds pie amd Scott brought a mini keg. Mom some horsdevours and i made a few other odds and ends. There was something weird going on with my green jello and it never set. So sad but i got green sprinkles on my brownies. No green deviled eggs though but they had green peppers in them. The girls looked so cute with Robbie too. They all had outfits. I made the girls leggins to go with thiers. We even managed to sneak in some games and a fire in the fireplace, probably the last of the season.
We also snuck in a few fun playdate with Colton and Kayla this week. One at rochester play, jeannie wven went up and played in the tunnels

Cruising girl

Jeannies is reqlly cruising around the room now. She hangs on and walks all over and is getting pretty fast at it now. Whe says momma all the time now when sbe wants me. She can eat cheerios with no issues now and loves trying things from my plate. She really liked my fish and chips last night. Yesterday we all went into Rochester to go shopping/browsing and had an awesome time out in the lights with Mom. We stopped for some Dublin Fish n Chips, Rochester Bakery and hot cocoa. Then dad met up with us for gaming. What a fun day. Jeannie still has her cold and cough. Its been so long with it that i took her in. They aswured me it is not in her lungs and not to worry. We finished most of the christmas shopping yesterday and today at Inge's sbop. How fun is that. The trees are all up thanks to mom. Love my bulbs. Liesl gor her new glasees. They are super cute.

Swim grades

First steps

Jeannie took her first steps Tuesday. She did it once for me and daddy and then when Oma came by she did it for her too. It was quite exciting.

Liesl had her swim class last night. She has almost graduated to the next level but she needs to work on her stroke skills. She has really learned a lot from those HS students I have to commend them and their patience, not for her but there are some really challenging moments for them.

Looking forward to a play date with Colton today and another with him and his sister tomorrow.

February was tough for being sick

Last month was pretty rough being sick. Since Valentines, all 4 of us got the flu...and bad. First it was Liesl in the middle of a play date. Kayla and Colton came over to play and we thought at first that she was car sick because she just got home from Oma Ronnie's house but we soon found out different. It was horrible stomach flu and she sat on the couch most of the day watching TV. I was next, about 36 hours later in the middle of the night I was nursing and needed a bucket next to me just in case. luckily it didnt come to that and I was able to make it to the bathroom in time afterwards. How miserable. By morning Jim was sick and stayed that way for several days. I was over it in 6 or 9 hours. I thought for sure that Jeannie had escaped until 48 hours later and then I found her confused in her crib covered in ick....not knowing what to do. We cleaned up and took a bath and I slept on the floor with her with layers upon layers of towels and receiving blankets. It only lasted 4 hours but the poor little thing, all she did was eat and...you know all night. At one point she had crawled out from under the blanket and I found her ice cold with goosebumps all over. She is about 19 lbs now, I am sure she lost a little from that episode. she is very good at cruising along the furniture but still hasnt taken her first steps. She hasnt cut any teeth yet. She started saying bub-bye last week and waving when people leave. It is very cute. That and Momma are pretty much all she says now. she is super fast crawling. Hates having her diaper changed and will squirm like crazy to get away from that. She loves bananas and will eat a whole one in one sitting. Bath time is one of her favorite times of day besides mealtimes. She really likes lasagne and spaghetti and gets mad if she doesnt get sauce with the noodles. Her and Liesl love their Sesame Street time and both love ELMO the best. It is a good quiet down time. Jeannie has been carrying around a lavender dishcloth (new knitted one) everywhere she goes. We call it her baby because she cannot be seen without it. She likes to chew on it and hold it close. I think it is so cute I am hoping I dont lose it by accident :(. Speaking of losing things. I lost my glasses for a month and a half and finally found them in the exact place I looked 100 times to try and find them. guess they were on vacation

Yesterday I made some babylegs from a pair of adult LONG socks so now they both have ST Patty's Day socks. We managed to make it over to Oz the Great and Powerful with Liesl last night while Jeannie had an Oma Ronnie evening. Liesl loved the movie but was covering her eyes every time a scary part came up. When Oma Gabi came home from FL, the kids and I spent the night and brought lasagne for dinner. Liesl was so happy for Oma to be home. The next day, Oma talked us into going to the Jaeger banquet so I had to run and get Liesl's Dirndl. When Jeannie woke up from her nap there she kept asking Aunt Melisa "Momma?". How cute. We had a good time at the club and the girls looked so cute in thier dresses. I hope Kaethe tante is on the mend, we missed her terribly this weekend.