Happy Easter!

Hippity, hoppity - the Easter Bunny found his way to Kipper Turn. There were eggs everywhere! Tate scurried all over in is jammies, and snacked along the way. Poor Avarie barely got a chance to pick up even one, so she just parked herself by the basket and worked on getting the candy out instead. (That's my girl!) Mr. E.B. also left bountiful baskets of goodies - games, sidewalk chalk, and new spring clothes. We enjoyed a quiet day at home and Derek made a FANTASTIC dinner of ham, scalloped potatoes, carrots and fruit. Yummmmmm!

More pics at www.familymattila.shutterfly.com Don't forget the password - mattila

The cousins are coming!!!

The cousins at the WWII Memorial

We got the call from the cousins that they wanted to come visit during their Spring Break and we couldn't wait!!! Tate walked around chanting "The cousins are coming, the cousins are coming" for the whole week. Funny, because we haven't seen them since he was about 20 months old, before we moved.

Before they came, we had a few other fun things to do - like fly a KITE and learn to bowl on the Wii. Tate received a kite from Uncle Davin last year, but we just hadn't gotten it out. So, I opened my big mouth on a super windy day and out we went. You can see in the pictures that it was going great, Mommy got it up a few times then Daddy really got it going. Tate was fetching it when it fell, and we would put it up again. Until . . . UH OH! Big boom and that ended the blissful family fun. Tate ran home crying that Daddy had ruined his kite and he never liked flying kites ANYWAY! So there!

The pictures of Tate bowling on the Wii don't really do it justice. The kid is crazy! He bowled a 175 the other night! He doesn't want any help, he rolls it "granny style" but it works for him. Too funny!

The cousins arrived on Saturday, March 15 after a 19 hour drive. I am so lucky that they were willing to do that long drive. (It used to be an 8 hour drive from Wichita to Denver.) What's more is that it was only (girl) Chris and the boys - WHAT A WOMAN! Tate and the cousins (Nick, 13, and Cole and Christian, 9) had a blast running around, wrestling, chasing, all that boy stuff. Avarie loved watching and trying to keep up. Sunday morning we drove to DC so that they could see some of the sights. I arranged a special day for them by calling in some favors - it was the St. Patrick's Day Parade, and the President flew over in his helicopter and landed at the White House while we were on the mall. Sooo cool!! It was freezing cold and super windy, the cherry blossoms weren't quite open yet, but we braved it long enought to see the White House, the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Korean War Memorial. It was really neat to be there since I haven't been there for over 10 years when I used to visit my aunt and uncle and cousins who lived near DC. The World War II Memorial was new and was very moving - definately worth a trip. We drove to Arlington and walked up to see the Kennedy's graves, and then to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Although we were all tired and cold, it was a great day. Poor Christian wanted to see the museums but we couldn't fit it in. Chris did take them back later in the week to see a bit of the Smithsonian. We also made a trip to Williamsburg, which I don't think they thought was quite as cool, but they'll understand the significance someday. I thought Chris was going to kill me one night when I told the boys they could decorate a gingerbread house for Easter (long story). They created quite a masterpiece - jelly beans, marshmallows, chicks, and ducks, peeps and poops (Hershey's kisses). Derek said the house had some serious bird issues!

We had a great visit - lots of laughs and only a few fits by the kids (or adults)! Haha!

There are pictures on our Shutterfly page www.familymattila.shutterfly.com you just have to enter mattila as the password.

Avarie's 1st Birthday

I feel like every month flies by faster than the last one. At least this month felt faster, but there were only 29 days, right?

We started the month off by having tubes put in Avarie's ears to ease her ear infections. It was quick and easy (for us), and not too bad for her either. She was a trooper and is like a new baby now! Happy and comfortable at night again! That's happiness for all of us. Now we are all counting down to the end of cold and flu season here - only a few weeks to go!

Tate celebrated Valentine's Day at preschool on the 13th with a party, treats and a bag full of cards. We made cards with paint and a foam meat tray - very crafty for me! He wrote his name on all 24 cards, and one of his little Valentines was convinced that he had made a special one just for her with pink paint. Too cute! He loved opening all the cards when he got home. He's become quite the little artist, drawing mommy all kinds of pictures including a dishwasher that "transforms" into a house. Today he was using every marker he could find to draw balloons just how he wants them at his birthday party. Soon enough!

Valentine's Day quickly left us as we now have a birthday to celebrate in February - Avarie Sue turned 1 on February 18. We had planned to have Ally here and have a little get together with some neighbors here, but Ally got sick and didn't make it and our neighbors kids' got the flu. So, it was a family dinner with Derek's delicious roast, chocolate cake and homemade ice cream! She opened her 4 presents we bought her, and was happy as could be! On Monday, her actual birthday, she and Tate went to My Gym for class where we sang to her and she smiled and clapped along.

Tate is finally realizing that Avarie is going to be trouble once she starts walking. He used to escape her on the stairs, but Derek taught her to do those, so now she's right behind him. We tried putting things out of reach on the coloring table and on the couch, but now she can reach those. She cruises around the couch and tables. Those first steps could come any day! In the mean time, they are so happy together and love camping in Tate's tent in the living room. I heard Tate tell her in the tent the other day, "Avarie - you are my bestest buddy and sister." Melt my heart!

Here's a link to some pics from this month - http://community.shutterfly.com/gallery/post/start.sfly?postId=/gallery/1/post/GMGDFg0bNWzJm3YA8Ostgc

I understand from a few of you that those pictures were tough to see (too small) so here's another link to a new place I'm storing pictures to share. You have to type in mattila as the password. http://www.familymattila.shutterfly.com

The daffodils are up here so we are sending spring cheer to all our family and friends!