it smelled like camping

How nice would it be if adults got Spring Break? While Britt has been enjoying this week and sleeping late, my poor Justin is still getting up at 5:45 for work. Yesterday was the exception. Justin had a day off. Monday night, we went on a movie date and the kids went to have a sleepover/party at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Tuesday morning, with no kids to wake us up, we slept until almost 9:00AM! It was glorious. Now I know why Marnie has so much energy all the time. 10 solid hours of sleep feels amazing. We picked up the kids and took our newfound vigor to a nearby lake. Picnic lunch, skipping rocks, looking for lizards, feeding geese...it was a fun break-from-the-ordinary.

Beyond Behind

It's funny to me when I look back at my first years with this blog. 2008 is the first full year that I blogged, and I had 139 posts during that year. 2009, Marnie came along and my posts dropped to 88. Then 53 in 2010 and 42 in 2011. Now look at me. Almost 3 months into 2012, and I'm writing post #2. Naptime was once my blogging time, but (sadly) our kids are sooo over napping. Combine that with the fact that it takes me a solid 30 minutes to get "going" on the computer (i.e. figure out what I want to say, what pictures I want to post, make sure the kids are engaged in whatever busywork I gave them, etc.). That being said, I'm always glad when I do post something. I love looking back at the old posts and reminiscing about the funny stages they went through and how much they've grown. I reeeeeally need to get back on board with the blog. They only grow up once. I only have the chance to record things for a short time. With all that jumbles around in my mommy head, I need to try harder to make a hard copy of these days before they fade.
This post will be a hodge-podge, so be prepared.

Last month we took a day trip to hike and check out the ruins at Walnut Canyon. 

For her third birthday,  Ms. Marnie requested, "a ballerina cake that's pink and fluffy and lovely."

We had a great visit from cousins Haylee and Brynn recently.

He loves to try on new hats.

I love how sweet Griz is. This pictures was taken on Christmas morning, when he laid right down in front of Beck and invited him to pat his head and pull his ears. He's such a gentle dog.

Marnie has been obsessed with The Wizard of Oz for months. I made her a Dorothy dress (out of the curtains I made for Britt's room a few years ago) and she was in heaven.

I can't wait to watch this little lady run around Granny's house in a few weeks...

 and Britt and Marnie can't wait to play with cousins Emelyn and Ellee again.

And we're counting down the days till we get to snuggle our handsome little Beck again.

I love how these two are best buddies. 

Britt got another best buddy from Santa too... Isn't he gorgeous?! Both of them, really. I better introduce the scaly guy, Tesla, the corn snake. He's awesome. We all LOVE him.