Life in the fast lane

I have neglected to update for the past few months for the same reason that I have neglected to take any pictures since Christmas--we are busy!  A few highlights from the first two months of the year:
Lindsey continues to excel in first grade.  She is reading predominantly chapter books, especially Junie B Jones, Magic Tree House, and Ivy + Bean series.  She has her last ballet class for the semester tonight, and we are taking the rest of the spring off to hopefully take tennis lessons. 
Benton continues to surprise us with how much he loves preschool.  He can't wait until kindergarten because he loves Miss Natalie.  He did the pledge for the school a couple of weeks ago and Lindsey said it was adorable.  He is still obsessed with Star Wars and any type of super hero.
Kate continues to be trouble.  She bites, she refuses to apologize, she screams in the car--but she redeems herself everytime she toddles over and says, "I wanna hold you" or "moon and back" (her version of "I love you").  She started talking in sentences and is now unstoppable. 
I started sewing, which is something I've said I wanted to learn to do for years and I am so thankful that mom took the time to teach me.  I'm very much a beginner, but I enjoy sewing for my kids.

This weekend is Spring Break, and we decided to stay around home this year.  We went to Tupelo to spend a couple of days with B and Popsey, and I was able to spend time with Julie and Elizabeth.  It is always fun to catch up with old friends.  Tripp came to stay with us one night, and adding a boy to the house doubles the noise level--but those two boys have the best time together.  Trying to get ready and packed with the four kids running around was not easy, especially when Tripp ran in to tell me that Kate had painted her face with fingernail polish. 

This picture is hilarious because it captures Kate's personality so well.  B promised Lindsey and Benton she would take them to Build a Bear during Spring Break, so while they did that, I took Kate around the mall.  We met up with them and Lindsey gave Kate a miniature bear.  Kate was not thrilled with the tiny version of Lindsey's bear and refused to smile for a picture. 

Mom let the kids pick any bear they wanted--and it shows.  Benton wanted an army bear, which is cool except that we have no camo in our house.  What makes this even better is that he wanted his army bear to have a leather motorcycle jacket.  He named the bear B.O.  Not Bo, but B.O.

Crazy sock day at school.  Those are some crazy socks.

Tacky day at school.  Lindsey remembered that I did not dress her very tacky last year, so I let her go all out this year.  She was definitely tacky.

When she sees a camera, no matter who the camera is pointing to, Kate yells "CHHHEEEESSSSEEEE" until someone takes her picture.  Then she says "I wanna see" until you show her the picture.  Cutest baby on earth, but she is a handful.  I think we had two well-behaved children and decided we could handle one more so God laughed and said, "Watch this!"

Benton's Valentine cards for his class.  I love that he was able to write his name on each one.

Of course he had Star Wars cards.  I did not get a picture of Lindsey's, because she quickly wrote her name, stuffed them, and put them in the box.  She is efficient at all things.

Hard at work.

Lindsey's homemade Valentine's box for school.

The first day of Spring Break, the kids were bored by mid-morning.  I pulled out paint, paper, and Q-tips and they got to work.

Painting her paper--and her fingers.

I think he said this was a ninja turtle--or a robot.

Definitely a princess.