Happy Easter!!

We woke up to an egg trail this morning and half eaten carrots. It could only mean one thing..THE EASTER BUNNY ARRIVED AT THE MARTIN HOUSEHOLD! YES!

The girls loved following the egg trail down to the basement. We had to get clever this year. Lydia has been waking up EXTREMELY early the past couple of months and so I knew the girls would not wake up at the same time. I also knew I would not be able to keep the wild Lydia upstairs until Lillian woke up. So, what to do? Hide the goodies in the basement and it worked!

Now, Dutches was here too for her first Easter in this household. She managed to chew some plastic eggs, mess up my trail, survive confetti eggs in the backyard and hoard some candy in her kennel. But, all in all, she loved Easter too!

Lydia came down the stairs and the first thing she noticed was the half eaten carrot. Lydia, being Lydia, picked it right up and ate some of it too! HA! Lillian first noticed that Lydia got exactly what she asked the Easter Bunny for- a new Hello Kitty bike!

Normally, we just do little gifts, but poor Lydia needed a new bike. She has all of Lillian's hand me downs. And Danielle, this is for you...Can you believe we still have the twins old bike? Lillian and Lydia both learned on that bike! Brings back good memeories of Fort Riley! Now, it was time to let Lydia have a new one for Spring!

Lillian loved her basket too and was so happy for Lydia! I was wondering if she would feel left out, but she was so excited for her. Lillian got gift cards and items for her ITouch. Daddy and Lillian are waiting for me to finish this blog update, so they can get to shopping!

We managed to make it to church on time too which is a miracle. We went with two pen marks on Lydia's Easter Dress and salsa splashed all over my Easter shirt. Keeping with the Martin tradition!

Well, off to make Easter dinner! Everyone will be here at 4:00pm for Egg Races, Easter Bingo, Guess how many, Follow the Leader Egg Style and FOOD! Happy Easter!

Love you all!

Julie

Spring Fling

I say the word SPRING, but really it feels like WINTER! But, we still headed out to enjoy the Children's Festival on post today. It was really cute and more than what I had expected. We started with face painting, of course. The girls were number three in line this morning and were ready to paint away.

We jumped in bounce houses, got tattoos, rode the train and played several games too. They always won a little something with each game. They played putt putt, bowling and a fisbee game too. They even got to see the Chik Fil A cow which was a big hit with Lydia! She kept hugging him and going back to see him.

The girls also attended the egg hunt. I was expecting mad chaos, but both girls got about six eggs or so. Lillian and Lydia even gave away eggs to those kiddos who didn't get an egg. It was done by age group, so Lydia was able to get some eggs without being run over. And Lillian was able to run everywhere with kiddos her own age too. Lillian even got an egg with a number on it and won a special prize! Both girls did great and I was impressed with how they just gave up their eggs for others. True spirit!

We enjoyed hot dogs on the curb side with friends and after one long morning it was time to head home for nap. Now, we have another egg hunt to attend. This time we are putting it on with three of our neighbor friends and have about 150 eggs! Lots of goodies inside too and then we are giving Kansas a taste of confetti eggs!!! Should be a ton of fun! Thinking of you today Nina...you know I would have gotten you first! HA HA!! Happy Easter!

Love you all!

Julie

Lydia Conquers her Egg Hunt!

I look at Lydia now and see a big girl. It is amazing at how much she has changed just since our move to Fort Leavenworth, KS just 10 months ago. She is starting to lose her baby look and move into toddler time. I know she is a toddler, but it is hard to see your youngest child growing up so fast.

Lydia has a personality bigger than herself! She loves to step into Lillian's shoes, literally, all the time. Lydia thinks she is 6 1/2 years old and I just wish she would slow down and be 2 1/2 years old (minus the tanrums). She is all grown up in her eyes. You can see it in everything she accomplishes too.

We are taking mommy and me swimming lessons right now. She tells me all the time while we are in the pool, "I got it." Yeah right! She thinks she is an Olympic swimmer and doesn't realize the dangers of water. She wants me to stand over by the ropes...let her go by herself in 4 feet of water??? Not happening!

She is a joy to be around and I love her quirks too. She loves to play with her belly button, she loves to say, "What happened?", she loves to swing (and she is actually pumping her legs now too!) and she loves to think she is all grown up.

My little girl enjoyed her Easter egg hunt today at the library. She only took four eggs like we were told and she didn't get upset. There were so many eggs left over, that we got to get some more. Of course, she told me she would eat only one piece of chocolate on the way home. When I unbuckled her car seat, there were about 5 wrappers on the car floor! That hot mess!

Happy Easter Lydia! Don't grow up too fast for mommy! Love you bunches!!

Julie

Time to Dye Some Eggs!

It is that time of year when we start thinking of Easter egg hunts, dying easter eggs and candy. More candy!

The weekend started off with Lillian and her Girl Scout Troop participating in Spring Clean up for the city of Leavenworth. The city had over 1,300 volunteers this year and it was their biggest turn out ever! Lillian had 25 people from her Girl Scout Troop volunteer (troop members, sisters and parents). We picked out grid and went to work picking up trash! The girls did a great job and I was amazed we made it for two hours in 34 degree weather! That is right TX friends....you are swimming and we are still wearing ski jackets, gloves, scarves, hats and mittens! The girls pushed through until we were numb!

Lillian then changed her clothes (she was muddy from clean up since it had rained for two days prior) and headed out to an Easter egg hunt with her friend, Annalise. It was so nice of her family to think of Lillian. Lydia needed to nap considering she was up at 5:50am and barely made it through Spring Clean Up! Lillian had a blast and like she said, "I got a 100 eggs mom!"

Today we finally got around to dying some Easter eggs. We had our awesome friends over too- Mandi, Brian, Abbie and Cody. The four kiddos enjoyed dying the Easter eggs and we went through 72 eggs in about 7 minutes! HA! I needed some for my Girl Scout Easter party tomorrow too, so watch out Troop 5400! Egg races coming your way!

Lydia was even a little thirsty and thought it would be a good idea to drink the blue dye! YUCK! I look away for one minute and her face is blue and she now has blue teeth! Good grief!

Love you all!

Julie

Father Daughter Banquet

What a special evening for Rich and the girls. This was Lydia's first Daddy Daughter Banquet and only Lillian's second. Lydia even let me curl her hair today for the first time ever! YES! You read correctly, Lydia sat long enough for me to curl each and every strand. I know what you are thinking, she doesn't have that much hair. But, still a big accompishment for a booming 2 1/2 year old!

The girls even had their BFF come along too. Abbie looked amazing too and this is her first banquet. They all rode off into the sunset together looking smashing. You too Brian!!!

The girls looked GORGEOUS and their daddy was dashing too in his uniform. The banquet was put on by our church but held at the Riverfront Community Center. They will have their picture taken by a professional photographer, have a gourmet meal and dance the evening away. After dinner, there will be a letter exhchange too. The dads were supposed to write a letter to their daughter and the daughters will write a letter to their dad. I can't wait for Rich to see his cards! The girls worked hard on them yesterday afternoon. Plus, Lillian can read her own card this year!

I have only had one text message stating the little one didn't want to be posed for their picture. Remember Portrait Innovations? Need I say more on this topic!

Dance the evening away and enjoy Butterfly Kisses! Mommy loves you all and I am so very proud of you!

Julie

Here Comes Peter Cotton Tail...

Hopping down the bunny trail!!! Easter's on its way! HEY!

Today we were brave and took the girls to get their half year birthday pictures and Easter pictures taken at Portrait Innovations. Most of you know, how much work and effort goes into one little pose especially for two little drama queens. A two year old pulling her headband out of her hair, mucus flying, tears flowing, stomping feet and saying no, etc. And I do know from previous experience too!

It was like I went back in time to when Lillian was 2 1/2 years old! The same experience as today only we were at Fort Riley, KS in a Sears Portrait Studio. Needless to say, I never went back to that studio. Too embarrassed to show my face!

We made it through and got a couple of cute shots for Easter. I was happy with the outcome, but the process is and will be still be difficult for a few years. Lillian is at a good age now and will pose, smile and ham it up and she LOVES the attention and camera. I just need to get little miss on board and then we are good to go!

Lydia finally walked off the set this afternoon and said she was done! What? Can you say DIVA!!!

We managed to pull it together and head to Oak Park Mall to meet the Easter Bunny. Lydia was all set to go with Lillian and then she decided to go by herself on the escalator. Well, it turns out, she wanted mommy to really go with her (if only I could have read her mind!). I couldn't go because I was still holding the stroller and I had to grab her little hand and pull her back up before we both fell down on our heads! Isn't there a nursery rhyme about being put back together again?

So, tears were flowing by the time we saw Mrs. Easter Bunny! But, Lydia did sit on her lap and even waved and blew her a kiss good bye. She has no fear when she is with Lillian. Good or bad, I don't know! But, she loves her and adores every part of her world with Lillian.

So, my day ends with a smile on my face. Why? Because they are asleep!!! HA!! Good night!

Love you all!

Julie

Bridging to Brownies...

Today our my Daisy Troop bridged with the Brownie Troop below us. We meet in the same building weekly, but we have the top floor and they meet on the bottom floor. In order to bridge, then our three bridging girls had to work with a Brownie Troop. In order for the Brownies to bridge, then they needed to work with a Daisy Troop. So, we met today!

The Brownie Troop taught us two Brownie songs. The songs were adorable and the girls really listened and tried to learn them. They can learn songs so quickly at this age and really gave it their all! Then, they shared something they love about being a Brownie and something different about being a Brownie rather than a Daisy.

I was proud of them and enjoy the songs! WAY TO GO DAISY TROOP 5400!!

Julie

Dutchess and Moon Marble Company

Last night, we adopted a Bischon Frise named Dutchess. She is one year old. We found her on Pet Finder.com and met up with the lady who rescued Dutchess and her two sisters- Gardenia and Holly. We are excited to finally meet Dutchess last night and bring her home.

This all started when Lillian had her recent allergy test. Yes, she is still allergic to cats, dogs, milk, lamb, coffee, beef, lobster and 23 seasonal allergens, but the doctor thought she could now hanlde a hypoallergenic dog. He thinks her allergy shots have helped build up her immune. So, we started looking right away and Lillian was thrilled to find Dutchess. She wanted a small dog which was perfect for this family.

Dutchess is really shy right now and still trying to adjust to life in this crazy house. Lydia and Lillian LOVE her and chase her everywhere. They think she is playing, but she is really running for her life! :) She will warm up to us, but it might take a little while. She is really sweet and hasn't made a sound. We love the new addition and yes another girl in this house!

Lillian and I had to leave her this morning for a Girl Scout adventure. We went to Moon Marble Company in Bonner Springs, Kansas. It was awesome! We got to watch an artist make a marble and then we all played a game of marbles. The gentleman showing us the marble game was too funny. He kept making jokes and had the girls rolling in laughter! He was the hightlight of the field trip. We went got to pick out all of own marbles to fill a tube to take home. They even got to pick out their own shooter marble. I would highly recommend going if you live in this area. Another fun patch for Lillian and Troop 5400!

Love you all!

Julie