The Fighter's

Doug and I shipped the kids off to Grandma & Grandpa's and were able to escape for a long wonderful weekend to Vail, Colorado! We had an absolute blast. Here are some highlights from our trip... Day 1: Started at 5AM with a trip to the airport. We arrived in Denver around noon, hopped in our rental car and started driving towards the mountains. First stop: Food of course! We split some sushi rolls (one of them was a Toledo roll - ha!) and had a beer (at lunch)...I love vacation! After a quick pit-stop at Target (we can't get away from that place) we started on our 2 hour trek towards Vail. It was our first time driving through the Rocky Mountains. Can I just say...it was stunning...and fun. The mountains are majestic to say the least...and us Midwesterners aren't used to those kinds of hills so the twists and turns, ups and downs made the drive a fun adventure for us. There are so many places on this earth that make me stop and say Wow! Thanks God! And this was defini...

After dinner Kate says to Ava: "Ava...you make my heart SUPER happy." Ava replies back..."Kate...you make my heart super happy." really...does it get any better than that as a mother? How I love my girls and watching them love each other. They make my heart SUPER happy!!

We love winter but are anxious for spring to arrive. The sun has been out this week and we are loving it! Katelyn had her first ride on her tricycle down to the corner and back (last year her legs were too short to peddle!), chalked on the driveway...and the girls spent a big chunk of the day playing out back in the melting snow. We also embarked on a birdhouse project. I bought one when Olivia was born to paint and hang in her room ...but had not gotten around to it until today. So...the girls needed one to paint as well. They love arts and crafts and had so much fun decorating their bird houses (or bird nests as Katelyn calls them). Maybe they'll lure spring in a little bit faster:-)

The Easter Bunny's interior decoraters stopped by our house. Or maybe the girls and I went to Hobby Lobby and went a little crazy buying Easter decorations that were 40% off:-) Nonetheless, we're feeling festive here in Fighter-land preparing during this season of Lent for Easter! Ava informed me very matter of factly that she was the big blue bunny because she's the oldest and her favorite color is blue, Katelyn is the pink bunny because her favorite color is pink and she likes princesses, and Olivia is the yellow bunny because she's the smallest:-)

Jet came over for a visit. We tried to snatch a few pictures of the two munchkins but as you can see they weren't very cooperative:-) Jet was focused on the TV stand (takes after his father) and Olivia was upset because I dressed her in an outfit that had pandas on the feet. I love these two little ones...

We took a trip down to Grandpa Fighter's this weekend. The girls had a ball...feeding ducks with Grandpa F, playing with the gardening kits he picked out for them and ransacking his place:-) Katelyn can't quite say "Fighter" yet...so she calls him Grandpa "Fire" (much like Ava did when she was little!). It was such a fun visit! So thankful the girls get to experience these fun memories with all their grandparents!

It seems like yesterday Rob, Pat and I were young, watching Smurfs together Saturday mornings on the couch. So when I get glimpses of my little brother as a dad...it just blows me away. I have always been a very protective (and they may say bossy) older sister. I have never had trouble sharing my opinions with them on what I feel they should/should not be doing. For some reason I have always worried and thought about them...almost as much as a mom does her own children. Must be the oldest child thing. But as I see them forming their own lives...and as we've been given the opportunity to experience "grown up" life together...it has been so much fun realizing what great guys my little brothers have turned into. I guess I can let go of that oldest child syndrome a bit. They both have picked amazing girls, they are hard workers, kind hearted, thoughtful, loving and fun...and I couldn't have asked for better. And now...to watch my brother as a dad with his son. It just war...

Came for a visit...and the girls couldn't get enough of him!

I must have drank the right coffee today. Up at 7AM (that's sleeping in for me!). got an hour of work in. got dressed, girls up, got them dressed, breakfast, cleaned kitchen. trip to Costco (went for coffee & trash bags...walked out with 10 million other things, including pickles. Kate insisted on pickles:-)). trip to Hobby Lobby (trying to find frames for some of our family photos...walked out with stickers for Ava & Kate and smarties...bringing the pics next time to choose a frame). home for lunch and play time. moved the furniture in family room to attempt to steam clean the carpet...but found that Doug needs to fix the steam cleaner so.... called Stanley Steamer who is coming on Thursday (I like this idea better anyways!). put the girls down for a nap. did 3 loads of laundry. started my spring cleaning of the laundry room by pulling everything out and cleaning and organizing the cabinets and closet. made spaghetti (with homemade spaghetti sauce...so easy and so yum!)...

One of the greatest gifts I was given throughout my childhood is the gift of a fun and amazing family. I really do feel so incredibly blessed in this department. My aunts, uncles & cousins are spread out geographically from us but...our parents always made a point of getting together a few times each and every year. Trips to each other's houses, the beach every summer (one of my favorite childhood memories), Thanksgiving, etc...even though hundreds of miles apart, I always grew up feeling the warmth of a close relationship with them (and still do). Kacy (my cousin) is now Ava's Godmother. Kacy is one of the most kind, witty, fun loving persons I know. She is a great role model for my girls, she is a great friend for me...and I really am so thankful to have her in my life. She sent the cutest little valentine gifts for the girls. They absolutely loved them. Ava didn't want to sleep on her real pillow that night...she opted for the owl pillow instead:-) So sweet of Kacy t...

We had a fabulous Valentine weekend with the girls... Out for burgers with the girls on Friday. They insisted on sitting next to each other (which I loved:-)) Both wore their new headbands...I got them a pack of 6 at Meijer and they spent they day "trading" them. Kate wore hers across her forehead most of the day. Saturday, daddy got them dressed (...the girls totally dictated what they wore) and we went out for breakfast, a trip to Lowe's and the grocery store. Sunday was church. The girls made special Valentine headbands, and the Sunday school class sang Jesus Loves Me in front of the church during service. It was the most adorable thing ever:-) Kate hanging out with a few of her buddies from church. I just love the headbands! After church we relaxed and gave the girls their Valentine presents...which included umbrellas...which they played with the entire day. Daddy also got us these adorable cupcakes...yum! I love my Valentines...the best ever!

We broke out of the house today to the bouncy place where the girls ran, jumped and Olivia had her first swing. I LOVE winter, but we are ready for spring and running, playing, jumping outside. In the mean time, yay for the bouncy place! Loved these pics of Olivia's first swing and my adorable hubby pushing all three of our super girls:-)