An update

WHITNEY: Loves talking on her princess phone that Gma & Gpa D got her for her birthday. I feel like I'm getting a glimpse into teenage-hood. She's pretty good about asking permission before calling people. She LOVED (prank?) calling people on April Fool's Day with her cousin and singing Christmas carols (got that idea from my sister's MIL). Gma & Gpa Nelson returned her April Fool's phone call by singing "Happy Birthday", and Whitney thought it was the funniest thing ever.

Tyler took a red-eye flight out to DC, and on his flight he got an eye mask and ear plugs. So Whitney's "surprise" present from daddy's trip was just that. I couldn't resist snapping a shot of her asleep with the eye mask, legos, and lego instructions all over the place.

The butterflies were all over the place out here at the beginning of April, and Whitney was DYING to catch one. We went shopping for butterfly nets, but we couldn't find any, so Tyler helped me make some of our own. We got these small mesh baggies (a 3 pack from the $ store) and then we bent a wire hanger around the edge where the drawstring goes. Voila! It was super easy. The handle was shorter than I would have liked, but the kids were in heaven chasing butterflies all over town.

Recently we've been taking the kids over to a deserted parking lot by our place for hours of fun. Whitney rides her bike and COLE rides his manly "Sugarscoot" (he got that name from MarioKart) around the lot. The parking lot has provided so much entertainment for the kids: we collect rocks for painting when we get home, we draw with sidewalk chalk, and we have even found a few rolly pollies.

Cole also had a blast at his cousin Caleb's 8th birthday party. Well, technically, it was just for big boys and Cole didn't attend the whole thing, but my sister invited us to join them at the end for cake. My sister April Fooled Caleb with a surprise party on the 1st. She had the entire theme going on from telling the kids to wrap up an April Fool's gift (Caleb got a rock from one of the kids as a joke) to the goody bags filled with practical jokes. Our favorite part was the cake with the TRICK candles. Here's one of my favorite moments from the party... Caleb realizing that the candles he had just blown out were a trick! Yes, my sister made that hot dog and french fry cake!

ANNIE has been up to her 18 month old antics. Sometimes when I have to make a phone call or something, I'll ask Whitney to "babysit" for me. Most of the time she gets the binky and blanket out of the crib (which are supposed to only be for when Annie is sleeping) and pushes her around in the stroller and treats Annie like her baby. Well, one time Whitney decided to teach Annie how to play hide-and-seek and this is what I found:

She stayed pretty quiet in there with the door shut and her binky in her mouth!

I also tried a new hairdo on her. Finally, something other than the baby mullet:

She's still in love with her best buddy/cousin Andrew. These two are peas in a pod. And I know I've said this before, but really, I feel like I get to experience the fun of twins when these babies are together. What a joy!
Oh, and Annie is totally obsessed with trains right now. "DOOO-DOOOOO" is how she asks for a choo-choo toy. There have been a few times where I've found her just chillin by herself in the bath (usually with clothes on) playing with the Thomas bath toys. She's a nut!

Well, I'm going to stop there while I'm ahead. Easter might be lengthy, so I'll save that for another day!