April and May Updates

More updates from our spring!  The girls on top of Lazarus' tomb.  Does this look safe? 

Marianne's hair is long enough for braids now!

This doll of Evelyn's was mine, made at Andi Kierst's birthday party out of q-tips and panty hose etc...The only thing the doll has lost in 24 years is her shawl, but otherwise is in great shape for being so well loved.

We have very few pictures from Easter, the girls were not in a picture taking mood.  But they did enjoy egg decorating when Granny was here, and a series of activities leading up to Easter to remind them of the true story - Mary's gift of perfume, Lazarus' resurrection, the cross...We read the stories over and over again.  And we made resurrection buns for Easter morning.  The tomb is empty!

Evelyn and her two good friends, Bailey and Noelle, on Easter morning.

We actually had a double rainbow over the ocean.  The pictures cannot capture how pretty it was...

Evelyn and Brian went on a "date" to see a group of plays at Pepperdine based on children's story books, the highlight of which was the Fancy Nancy portion of the show.  They went out to lunch for Evelyn's choice of nachos (?) afterwards....Marianne and I had our own date at a park.

We took the girls to a grand opening of a fancy toy/dress store near Cross Creek Park.  The girls both got their faces painted for free, and we won a funny monkey backpack for baby brother in the raffle.  The girls were proud of their paint!

Nana and Papa's Visit in April

We were glad to have Nana and Papa come in April!

Evelyn scaled this super tall cliff/rock at Leo Carillo beach in no time flat!

Papa and the girls at the top!

Evelyn loves the beach this year - she has no fear of the waves, she is an expert sand crab hunter, can point out sea anemones, hermit crabs, dolphins, sea lions and star fish!

Marianne does not like the waves quite so much...but she finds other delights at the beach.

Papa found several of these crabs!

Papa flew the new butterfly kite from the cliff...

The sand fortress!

Evelyn and Papa took their special hike at solstice canyon this time.  Marianne was so proud to go on her first hike with Papa up to the rock about the park!

Here are some pictures from March and February! 

We were glad Granny came to visit in March - here are the girls in their matching Big Sister Dresses, courtesy of 418 Stitches! 

Evelyn and Granny in her first night gown, she had been wanting one for some time!  Thank you Granny!

Marianne liked hers too :)

Marianne walking on the beam by herself!  She was quite proud.

And all the way back to Marianne's 2nd Birthday party!

More gymnastics!

Grandpa came to visit in March too!  We had fun, Grandpa!

The look of joy on Marianne's face on a carousel!  It is pure delight!

The gathering of neighbors, friends, house group, and Bible study group who came to our "Its a Party."  Thank you all for sharing our joy!

Evelyn was really into ladybugs this spring.  She was proud of this one....we read about them from books at the library and enjoyed painting rocks to look like ladybugs!

We colored Easter Eggs with Granny.  Evelyn knew just what to do this year...

Marianne had fun too :)

And one more shot from our Its a Party...

Marianne is Two! (For 4 months)

Marianne has been two for 4 months, and here are her two year old pictures taken back in February, 4 months ago.  Marianne is a lot of fun, she certainly brings joy to our family.  She is very good at puzzles, and is entertained for hours working puzzles or just sitting down by a bookshelf looking through books.  She loved her "Mommy and Me" gymnastics class and is pretty good at her forward roll.  Her favorite place to go is probably the Wild Animal Park in San Diego, and she often plays that she is taking her dolls there.   She likes carousels, and will squeal with delight when she sees one, or if she sees a video of herself on one.  It is pretty cute.  Since Granny's house over Christmas, she looks forward to a glass of orange juice every morning.

She does NOT like to be scared, tickled, chased or roared at.  The rhinocerous game is is RIGHT OUT with Marianne.  She wants to name baby brother Lazarus (after we reenacted the Bible story one night).  She sent our college students into fits of giggles when she quoted the Scripture, "Lazarus, come out!" and pointed at my tummy.  She will put various babies or stuffed animals in her shirt so that she too can have a baby in her tummy.  Every group of animals we see in a book or magazine is promptly labeled "the mommy one, the daddy one, the baby one...etc." She is very maternal, and takes great care of her dolls and animals.

She helps me to make her bed every morning, puts her dirty clothes and shoes away, and can help water the tomatoes and dust the bench and rocking chair.

She is pretty much potty trained, and is adjusting to her big girl bed.  She and Evelyn have shared a room for about 6 weeks now.  Evelyn usually goes straight to sleep, while Marianne sits up on her bed, even in the dark, for at least an hour looking through Highlights High Five Magazines.
Other Teddy is still her favorite, even though she is quite worn.  Often times Other Teddy and Big Teddy are reprimanded for hitting their sister.  She says "Pink Delicious" instead or Pinkalicious.

She is quite independent, and is mellowing a bit from her state of everything being done "by myself." She can articulate that Evelyn "hurt my feelings," although she is quite good at sticking up for herself to big sister.  She certainly knows how to get Evelyn going...

Her favorite nighttime song switched from Jesus Loves Me to Blue Skies and Rainbows.

She has started saying her own prayers, and her favorite is "Dear God, thank for this day, thank you for blessing us and making my bed.  In Jesus name, amen."

These pictures were taken at Pepperdine by our good friend Holly.

We love you Marianne!