Other April news...

Here's a few April highlights:

 

Earth Day:

Every year the hospital I work at sells amazing t-shirts for Earth Day.  This is the third year I have bought them for the girls...so I guess it has become a bit of a tradition.

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This year's blue and aqua tie-dye is my favorite :)

Audra met a new little friend...

a SNAKE!!

 We spent one weekend digging out the grass/mulch area at the front corner of our driveway (more on that in a future before/after post!).  After dumping a wagon full of old dirt/mulch something caught Audra's eye....a teeny, tiny gardener snake.  Now this girl is afraid of every living thing that is not human...ALL animals...even birds, squirrels and worms! 

But this little snake captivated her attention like nothing I have seen.  She was so determined to pick it up...PICK IT UP!  The little girl who squeals at the very site of a worm wanted to touch and hold a snake ?!?!

Eventually Daddy picked it up {with a shovel of course, cause there was no way HE was touching it} and moved it to a grassy area.  Audra poked her finger around in the grass, still trying to pick it up.  And even when she gave up on actually getting her hands on the fast moving, squirmy little bugger she stood guard right there in the area where Daddy deposited her new little best friend.

Who is this little girl...and what happened to my creature fearing little one?

Riley's Track meet:
Riley would say he doesn't like participating in track,
but he says that about any activity that occurs outside of our house!
I love watching him run, and I absolutely love the atmosphere of the county Special Olympics Track and Field Competition.  They go all out for these kids.  A real flame torch that is carried by runners across the county, police escort, marching band, medals, lunch...I could go on!

 

Yes, it's the end of April, but he insisted on wearing his lucky knit winter hat.

 

I love his face in this picture, he is giving it his all

{and actually enjoying himself I think}

 

 

And to finish April out on a high note,

Someone turned 12 years old today....

 AIDAN !!

 I just realized this is his first ever birthday picture with short hair!

Well, if you don't count his 1st birthday :)

April {SNOW} shower ?!

Maura went to bed asking for curly hair...

And she got what she wanted for when she woke up !!

 

 We also woke up to something we weren't expecting in April...

a snow shower !

 

 We really haven't had much snow since the "Blizzard of 2016" in January,

and I'm quite alright with that!

Let's hope this is the last of it for a while.

3rd Familyversary

T'was the night before Audra's 3rd Familyversary,

 and her sweet {big} little sissy read stories to her until she fell asleep...

Today we celebrated 3 years of Audra!

Three years of her silly, crazy, sassy, funny, lovable (with a touch of wild and stubborn) self.



 

Sibling sweetness:

Aidan is so patient and accepting of his little sister's desire to be with him. 

Audra always wants to do whatever he is doing.

And he lets her :)

Maura loves being the "older" sister,

she is watchful and helpful, just like a little mommy.

Now, I'm not so sure that Audra wants another mommy around,

be she usually lets Maura lead the way for her.

Riley is a gentle giant, and I mean that quite literally.

He towers over Audra!
While he usually keeps to himself,
every so often he shows his affectionate side...
talking to her, consoling her,
even picking her up and carrying her around!