The rest of March (or picture dump because we are over halfway through April)

 Some of these pictures were taken quite a while ago, so forgive me if I repeat myself as I tell the stories behind them.  Mitzi gave me the above bag for my birthday.  I love it!  It is my go to bag as it has many layers of inside jokes we share.  The only thing that could have topped it would have been if she had somehow already loaded it with Sunkist and sour cream and cheddar chips. And maybe some Sprecher Root Beer. (Note to self: Find perfect canvas bag for Mitzi and load it with Sunkist and Sour Cream and Cheddar chips...and bourbon)

 We have loads of costumes that may sit dormant for months at a time and then be the go to play accessory.  At some point in March, Molly and John re-discovered the Mario and Luigi costumes.  I was so proud!  My pride grew when John clarified that he was actually Baby Mario...due to the absence of a 'stache.  Now, when Dom and Will wore these, I found the moustaches online, printed them out, traced them on a foam pad, cut them out, and taped them to their upper lips (having to regularly re-find the tape and re-tape the moustaches): Mother of the Year.  This time around, I didn't mention the moustache, and let them wear the costumes to The Dollar Tree (I love that store!) and Walmart: Also Mother of the Year.  I'm just getting a little more efficient.

 Our Johnny is getting older as children of a certain age are prone to do.  Will and I agree we wish he could stay this young always...but that is really not likely.  There was a moment on John's birthday when he and Dom and Will were wrestling on the kitchen floor.  Just before I yelled at them to stop, I saw them all in 10 years, bigger than me and no longer my little boys, but young men.  And probably capable of doing a lot more damage during these wrestling bouts.  Time just keeps marching on, but if I can help them stay young in heart, then I will always have my little boys.  New goal:  Keep them young at heart.  I'm succeeding pretty well with Dom.  He doesn't want to grow up.  He told me so on John's birthday with tears in his eyes.  Poor guy.  I had the same experience when I turned nine.  Luckily, it seems the age of adulthood has now been extended to 30...by the time he is there, it may be be over 40.  He's got loads of time!

 The end of March brought the beginning of baseball.  When basketball season was going on, I had Dom shoot 100 baskets a day.  Now, I have the boys throw and catch 100 times.  Not sure if they are counting each throw an individual makes or not...doesn't matter.  They are outside for quite a while with a couple of their biggest fans.  Man, Dom and I bought some bats and gloves (one was pink) at Goodwill last week.  Molly and John were so excited.  Really, children are only as expensive as you make them.

Homeschooling Molly has been different than the boys.  It is much more unstructured.  She could already read when we started the year, and that is generally the goal for the end of kindergarten.  She completed her math curriculum with very little input from me.  And she does an amazing job of just doing little projects of her own design.  For example, one morning, she was adamant she wanted to make a menu for her restaurant.  An excellent opportunity to practice penmanship and dictionary skills.  I have found her a few times perusing the dictionary and I think she enjoys the new power of not having to rely on me to help her spell.  That brain is a pretty powerful muscle.  Lately, she has also taken to creating some pretty impressive artwork (my opinion, which is pretty easily impressed by others artwork)...but, that will be for an April time period post.

 While the boys are busy on the baseball field, Molly has started a dance class that also does some tumbling.  She is actually more interested in the tumbling, so I think we will try to pursue that route as we find the opportunity.  So far, somersaults are the extent of her skills, but she has taught her brothers how to do this as well, so I feel we are getting a 2 for 1 in this. Or 4 for 1.

 Molly and John are pretty good about finding activities to keep themselves occupied.  Time I often squander on facebook or news or nothing particularly important...so I continue to feel I have no time to get chores done.  Most of these times are non-destructive like when they play dress-up, or with stuffed animals creating intricate scenarios, or reading books.

 Or sometimes they are destructive like when John climbed into the birdbath garden...and broke it.  Ah well, Eric never liked it anyway.

 I could easily check, but I won't.  Did you know that Molly can ride her bike?  She and I took a short bike ride to Publix and then stopped in at the new Dunkin Donuts on our way home to replenish the calories we had expended.  For the record, Dunkin Donuts is not as good as our regular Donut shop, but it will work in a pinch like when you need a donut at 10 PM.  Or 10 AM for that matter.  Our other Donut shop tends to sell out by 9 and are out of our favorites by 8.  #DonutProblems

 Molly and John painting rocks.  Because, why not?

 John keeping a plant alive.

 Molly loves going monochromatic when that color is pink.

 There was a Saturday when I met Molly as she was heading down the driveway.  She informed me she was going on a great adventure.  I told her Godspeed and left her to it.  She returned about 15 minutes later with photographic evidence of her great adventure (which was great, by the way). 

 The kids experimenting with the wind chimes.  This directly leads to John climbing into the birdbath and breaking it. 

 Getting ready for St. Patrick's Day.  Which didn't get a whole lot of love as it was sandwiched between Pi Day and the start of the NCAA tournament.  But, we did decorate a little and have corned beef hash.  And wore head gear.  Will was particularly excited about the bowlers because he could pretend he was Cornelius Fudge.  #HarryPotterReference

A rare photo solo photo of William.  He needed sunglasses because the sun was blocking his shots. 

 A morning where more costumes got some playtime...yeah, I think I took them to Walmart in these as well.

 Molly set up a lovely tea party for her dolls.  Just like Toy Story...only Mrs. Nesbit was not in attendance.  And the toys didn't come to life in the backyard.  Probably because my kids don't regularly blow them up.

 Molly and I played dress up, too.  #NailedIt

When they cannot seem to figure out anything else to do, I will request that Will build a train track for them as I continue to waste time on the computer.  I thought this was a particularly good track. I helped a little, but it was Will's vision.

 Next to the games, our favorite part of the NCAA tournament are the Charles Barkley commercials.  Even John knows to call for me when Chuck is on the TV.  Here Dom is sporting the snack hoodie. 

 Molly received this pretty dress from Katie and Margaret for her birthday.  She wasn't super impressed with it (it is kind of lacking in the pink department), but after a couple of months, she pulled it out again and now wears it regularly.  I think it helped I called her the Pioneer Woman and now she has a pair of brown boots that really make the ensemble. 

And, just a token picture of what I find when I do go through my phone snapshots.  There is a pretty amusing video that goes along with it.  Just let me know, and I will send it to you. 

Ok, that is all...now on to April.

Happy Birthday, John!

 Our Li'l John is turning 3 today!  Though he has been claiming the age for the last few days. 

 As I was going through pictures, I realized he had a huge year.  Since his 2nd birthday, we have visited Universal Studios, flown to London, gone to Legoland, and made a stop in Disney World. Not to mention, numerous trips to the beach and just hanging out with siblings.

 Molly and John spend quite a bit of time together.  Which is on the whole very positive, though they do know how to push each other's buttons.  Just like any self-respecting brother and sister duo should.

 John has for a while tried to help out when he can.  And he actually does a better job of cleaning up than one would expect.  Though, his favorite chore is watering plants.  My plants are thankful.  Except maybe the ones that that got the fire hose treatment. But, we patched them up and they are thriving now.

 John loves to read books.  Or rather, to have you read to him.  He will bring over a pile as I sit on the couch to rest and basically order me to read to him.  Good for him.  Luckily, I have three other readers in the house regularly and they are generally happy to fill in for me.  Today, Molly even read him to sleep.  Bonus!

 Some time in the last year I realized he knew his letters.  Granted, he did not know colors or certain common animals...but, he knew what we had focused on.  Naturally, I started focusing on colors and animals, so we're good now.  You should hear him sing the alphabet song!  I think he is inventing new letters!

 Speaking of animals, he was quite the trouper through three amusement parks in three days.  It helped when he saw animals. Like Pluto.

 John is pretty comfortable with technology.  But, not too comfortable.  He doesn't know our passwords.  I think. Ok, so I don't know our passwords...he is as comfortable as I am, which is not that comfortable.

 One day, Eric took the boys to get haircuts, and our curly haired toddler was gone. But, the spirit is alive and well...and there is a little curl.

 Oh, John LOVES the Kitchen Aid.  LOVES IT!! If I turn it on, he comes running.  You may think this is cute...and you probably do not have kids.  Molly and I had just come to an understanding about co-cooking...and then John decided to join the band.  The result? Messes.  Big ones.  The other day as I continued on my quest to win Mother of the Year, I attempted baking some pumpkin bread with my two youngest.  Just as we had put all of the flour in...John put the mixer on high.  Flour and pumpkin was all over the counter.  A counter I would need to clean (though Molly tried to assist me).  Maybe I can get that award next year.  Luckily, we did salvage the bread and I'm pretty sure after some tears and hugs I salvaged our relationship.

 Plus, it is hard to stay angry at a child that looks like a cherub when he sleeps.

 I mentioned the Alphabet Song, but there are loads of songs that John will attempt to sing.  At Christmas, he would belt: O Christmas Tree! over and over and over again.  Jingle Bells was also a favorite.

 Being a 4th is rough. He does a really good job of keeping up, but he is great at catching naps whenever and wherever he can.

 Some pictures from our time in London...

 Turns out selfies are a pretty easy way to keep 2-year-olds entertained. Also going up and down escalators in airports.

 John loves all things water.  Be it the Gulf of Mexico or a bucket on our back porch.  He is there!

 And he loves Mitzi, too.  I love this picture!

 Most of all I love watching these four together.  A picture I hope to get one day is of Dom holding John's hand as they walk in front of me.  I see it happen all of the time, but I can never get my camera ready in time to really capture it.  Will still views John as just about the best kid around.  No one is as clever or cute as John.  The other day we were at the library and Molly said she wanted to go check out a little house next to the building, Will goes: Me, Too!, Dom goes: Me, Three!, and John goes: Me, Four!  Counting and Comedy...he is pretty clever and cute. And Molly is seeing him more as a playmate these days, but still wants to mother him a little...if he lets her!

Eric and I are grateful every day he is in our family.  We look at each other and just comment how wonderful it is that he is here and the joy he brings to the dinner table...most days.  He regularly tells us he loves us...and then will comment that he hates ants.  Just for reference, I think.  He loves hugs and will squeeze as long and as hard as you do.  He also gives kisses.  Always two at a time.  The scene goes like this: "Mom, I want to give you a kiss (I lean over and he kisses my cheek) Now your other cheek." His Italian side is coming through, I guess.  Or French.  Definitely not German or Irish. 

He has a couple of friends in the neighborhood that he plays with regularly which is fun to watch.  One a year older and one a year younger.  And, of course, he thinks he can hang with the big kids, too.  And they generally let him for a little while, which I appreciate.  I think because he gives out hugs so freely.  Everybody likes a good hug!

Happy Birthday, John Eugene Anthony!  Today we thank God for your life and the joy you bring to all around you.  We love you more, most, and forever!  Now, I guess I better lay down some kind of protection before we make your cake!

Mom