March's Top Ten....

10. Going to my cutest ever niece, Kaylin's, 2nd birthday party. We had so much fun hanging out at their house eating yummy food and cake. Maddie even colored some pictures and wrapped them as a birthday present for Kaylin (we also brought a present as well :)

9. I have been going to the gym on a regular basis since mid-February and can proudly say that I am able to run 3-3.5miles straight without feeling like I might die.

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8. Robby has just learned how to say prayers before we eat and at bedtime. It is so cute to listen to him jabber in his own language. Normally I will sort of prompt him along and recognize several of the words that he repeats after me, with a lot of extra gibberish thrown in as well. I have noticed that whenever I say "Eli" he always repeats back "baby I-E"

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7. Maddie has LOVED how she has so many friends with birthdays in March. She went to three different princess parties and was in heaven when she got to dress up for them. She went as Cinderella, Snow White (Kailey's) and dressed up "fancy" for Makenna's. She tells me every day how she is going to have a "Belle birthday party" for her own birthday and get "Belle dress up." Too bad she only has 6 more months to go. I cannot wait to see her change her mind a dozen more times before the big day comes!!

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6. Playing in the yard is all fun and dandy....until you catch your 2 and 3 year old up straddling the fence between our yard and the neighbor's with big smiles on their faces. The fence is at least six feet tall and was scaled by climbing the pavers stacked next to it. Thank heavens no one fell/ was hurt. Note to self: watch kids much more carefully when they go out back to "play" and bug the husband about moving the pavers to a safer location.

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5. I am pretty much still head over heels in love with my littlest man Eli. His bright smile and big eyes can make even the worst day wonderful. He has the cutest giggles in the world and I love his babbling. He loves to have stare down contests while he babbles away. Just this month he has also developed quite the little ticklish bone. He laughs like CRAZY when I tickle his belly and feet! Ohhhh, I just want to squeeze him and love him all day long. Isn't there some way to freeze time to stop him from growing up?!

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4. I just turned 25 AGAIN (oh wait, I guess I am now 27). I was overwhelmed by the phone calls, chocolate strawberries, cards, flowers, and cake that I received by friends and family. It truly was a special day topped off with my special sister-in-law bringing out a fun birthday card, krispy kremes (super yummy) and a beautiful vase of flowers. THANKS TO ALL!

3. Earlier in March, we hosted something called a "Friendship Dinner" in our home. We had 3 other couples and their kids come over and eat dinner with us and play games. It is used as a way to get to know people in our neighborhood a little better. Ours was slightly chaotic with all the kids at the house, but so much fun! We had good food and good company; what more can you ask for?

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2. There are several phrases that have become a staple part of Maddie's day. Some of these include: "Why should I?" (to EVERY request), "I'm sorry" (immediately after a naughty act), "I am too busy" (when asked to help with something), "maybe later" (when asked to come for dinner) and "I just want to be sad and mad; I am not going to be happy" (as she is put in time out). But there is one phrase in particular which makes me smile when I hear her say it: "You/He never minds". She tells me this when she wants something that isn't hers. Robby will be screaming at the top of his lungs because she just stole his coveted green train, and she will still inform me that "he never minds" her taking the train. She also tells this to me when I specifically tell her to put a toy away. She will look right at me and tell me that I "never mind" her leaving the toy out. Gotta love it, or at least love the thought that she will soon come up with a new catch phrase : )

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1. With the downturn in the economy and a super strict budget now in place, I find myself with zero money to spend on my hair and nails these days (sad, I know). In exchange I am learning to do without, how to give oneself a pedicure at home and also the beauty of packaged hair products, aka hair dye. My mom and I collaborated and dyed my hair light blond this month. It turned out slightly yellow, but other than that turned out pretty darn good. I was so proud of us for saving some money this month on hair care.. YEAH!