Playing in the rain

Puddles, puddles everywhere!

After a full day of rain, I couldn't resist letting Gwen play in the puddles! (knowing bath time was just around the corner of course)

Spring is here!!!!!

Spring is here and we are loving it!!!!!! The weather has been gorgeous these last couple weeks with pure sunshine and temperatures in the upper 70's! Gwen has loved being outside so much. Today it is raining and I am loving that we have to stay inside and I can not feel guilty about it!

Gwen has been busy as always. Here are some of the highlights since our last post:

Our Professional Egg Hunter was at work again with Egg Hunt #6 in our backyard. He came to our house about a week late, however he did finally come ;-). With tons of eggs to find, Gwen worked hard to find them all in record time!

"Where did the bunny hide the eggs this time?"

Since Spring is here, that means the grass needs mowed! Gwen volunteered to help too with her bubble mower (I am so excited that they still make those!). She loves it and moves all the grass around her play area!

"I Julie!!!"

Gwen was so proud to mow like her babysitter, Julie. Julie also lives across the street from us and Gwen loves to watch her mow!

When not working/playing outside, we are working/playing inside! This particular afternoon I had Kennedy come play with Gwen so I could mow the yard--Babysitters should be called Lifesavers! Kennedy and Gwen had a great time playing house!

"Look Kennedy! Don't I look great in your shoes!"

Dinner is another time for Gwen likes to show us how cool she is! The other night she picked up a chip and started making sounds like a race car...this is just part of the fun!

"Beep Beep"

Gwen also surprises Gammy and Bubba sometimes! The other night we were playing with play phones (my old cell phones) and chatting away. Gwen grabbed my real cell and started playing with it and talking away...without me realizing she had actually called Gammy!!!!! She talked and talked to Gammy and Bubba for about 15 minutes, before I caught on that she was really on the phone! This isn't the best part of that 15 minutes, but it certainly is funny. Gammy this is what the other end of that call looked like!

"Hello Gammy and Bubba"

Other notes I have taken from this month:

-Gwen is now able to open and close anything with a screw top lid!

-Her ability to tell you want she wants or about something is really taking off, which makes me so excited! Some quotes from her recently include:

"Put sock shoe on Mommy"

"Come on Mommy. Time to go!"

"No Mommy, I'm watching Ferb" (This was when she was watching Phineas and Ferb on Disney and told her it was time for a bath.)

"I hear you Mommy! Come out me!" (This happened last Saturday morning when I just had gotten up and was in the bathroom--Gwen apparently wanted me to open the baby gate on her door)

"Boobie Time!!!!!!" (This is what Gwen is saying now instead of 'Movie Time'--she really is trying to say 'movie' I promise!)

-Gwen knows almost every synonym for "no". One evening we had to run out to get something from the store and Gwen didn't want to go. First, she started fake crying. I told her to stop. Then she started to say, "No, no, no, no". I told her to stop. Then she started to shake her head and say, "uh ah". I told her to stop. Then she started to say, "Nope. Nope." I told her to stop. Then she started to say, "I tired. I tired." I told her to stop. Finally she was quiet and fell asleep. It was actually quite funny!

Video Fun

This video just would not upload the other day, but it is up now! Enjoy the fun!

Gwen always loves to participate while we read! This performance is dedicated to Lilly and Gammy ;-)

Happy Easter!...a bit late

Happy Easter!!!!! Gwen had a great Easter jam packed with excitement!!!! The fun started with a rainy Saturday morning, but the fun was brought inside for Egg Hunt #1 at St. Joe's Church.

Gwen and Grace were 2 of 3 kids in this room (they split the 0-3 group into very small groups which was very nice). Together they cleaned out the room!

Just look at that concentration! This girl is on a mission!

Egg Hunt #2 was at the nursing home where we visited with Great Grandma Tempel and Big Grandpa Tempel. Gwen was a bit slower and shier at this one, but there were more kids.

Gwen took a break from her own hunting to watch Gracie's technique.

The celebrities posed for the paparazzi after their 2nd egg hunt

Taking a break from egg hunting, Gwen took some time out of her busy schedule to do a Easter photo shoot with Gram. Taking advantage of the neighbors plethora of violets in their yard we snapped these with my camera. There are more to come from Gram's camera (and the Easter bunnies made an appearance too--too cute!)

Egg Hunt #3 took place at Jayden's house, Gracie's neighbor. With 4 girls under the age of 3 and a windy afternoon...it was quite the event! Gwen also developed the assumption that if it doesn't look like an egg...it is not an egg and therefore should not be picked up. So much for the Easter Bunny getting creative with blocks, chocolates, and sports eggs.

A pro now, Gwen battled the winds to fill her basket.

The girls show off their treasure!

(From left: Jayden-2 in May, Gwen-2 since March, and Grace-2 in June)

Easter Morning!!!!!! We went to mass bright and early at 6:30 am and then headed to Gram and Poppy's house for brunch. Egg Hunt #4 took place in the font flower beds, however Gwen was a little picky since she knew what she was looking for.

Checking the goods to make sure candy was there.

What girl doesn't need a picture with an Easter Bonnet! (or hat in our case)

It couldn't fit in the basket, but Gram and Poppy got Gwen a car for our house! Gwen grabbed the steering wheel, put it in place, and said she was ready to roll even before any of it was put together!!!! Only 2 and already Gwen owns 3 cars, 2 tricycles, and at least 4 other approved riding toys....I just hope this leads to good driving skills and manners on the road later.

Uncle Don Don, Bubba, and Joey should be so proud! Gwen is already out practicing her putting skills. We need to switch from a crochet club to a putter, but she is going for the ball!

After a LONG nap (from 11:30 am to 3:15 pm!!!!!) Gwen was ready to go again! With another party and Egg Hunt to attend, Gwen was able to check out the goodies in her Easter basket at home before jumping in the car.

A bunny cup and sunglasses were only some of the cool things Gwen found!

Egg Hunt #5 was at Jim and Connie's house during the Tempel Easter Celebration. Full coverage is in another video, however the overall performance was good. Gwen, now a seasoned professional at Egg hunting, chose to sear away from the group (Grace and Ross--who was limited to 20 eggs so the girls could have some) to find all the eggs on the other side of the house. Once her basket was too heavy for her to carry, Gwen chose to play with the cats that were in the yard. Egg Hunt #6 at our house has not yet taken place. With such a long nap, we ran out of time, but I wasn't about to wake her or Brad! It might occur this Sunday...we'll see. She is a professional now, so she may enjoy another run before next year:-) To all our family we have been so blessed with...We love you and hope you too had a wonderful and Happy Easter!