The Malones: Mondays with Crosby and Jane Claire

At 11:24 am, Crosby Fox turned 4 years and 12 weeks old!!! At 1:03 pm, Jane Claire turned 51 weeks old!!! In one short week, seven short days, my baby girl will be ONE!!! O.N.E. I can hardly stand it. It seriously hurts my heart to think about it. So I will just stop.

This week was full of events. Spring events. Events that should take place in nice, pleasantly warm weather. Not in jackets and hats!!! Where is the warm Spring weather hiding??? I sort of thought it might be warm on Wednesday. So I put Jane Claire in the wagon and walked to the neighbors house to pick up my new toothbrush (oh how I LOVE the Sonicare...). Blake had Crosby on his bike. Needless to say, we didn't make it too far before Jane Claire's nose started to turn pink...

At least we got to be outdoors for a few minutes...

Which my sweet, slobbery baby girl didn't mind!

On Thursday, Crosby had his Spring Program at school. Once again, it was tricky to find something for him to wear. His Easter outfit is shorts/short sleeve shirt. The weather is freezing!! So I managed to borrow a pair of seersuckerish pants, tan and navy belt and way to short white shirt for the occasion. My poor little ragamuffin!! Of course it doesn't really matter. He had a good ole time up on the stage singing He is the 4th from the left...

Excuse the strange auditorium (or is it sanctuary?!? ;-) ) lighting. These two cousins were in an exceptional photo taking mood!

LOVE these faces...

Had to throw the littles in for a group cousin shot! Not the greatest but it is the best one I got!

And one of the littles! Most definitely not great!

I just love that our kiddos are being blessed by the Otter Creek School. I am so very thankful Crosby is surrounded with teachers and assistants that love him, his friends and most importantly, the Lord. It truly is the most precious place. Even more special that they will experience Otter Creek School with their cousins. Such wonderful memories in the making for our children. Oh my heart rejoices!

We had a major event happen Thursday afternoon. MAJOR. Here is a little hint...

Crosby had his very first soccer practice EVER!!! Blake even took off early for the occasion. He could not miss our little man's first go at team sports! Of course we have been talking it up. But you never know how they are going to respond. Will they listen to the coach? Will they stare up at the sky, spinning in circles? Will they sit on the field picking a blades of grass? It was a toss up...

I am happy to say Crosby loved his first soccer practice! He attempted everything the coach said and required no encouragement from mom to participate! At the end of practice, he proclaimed his love for the sport! Let's hope he feels that way in a few weeks...

For now, I would say we are off to a good start!

It helps when you have a best buddy on your team!! These two boys should have a great time this season...

I am afraid this whole soccer mom business is going to require some major juggling! School drop off, school pick up, carpool drop off, home to get ready for practice and then back out the door. We may have forgotten water but at least he was clothed in proper attire! Jane Claire may have to learn to sleep in the car on Thursdays because we are going to spend a lot of time driving around it seems! Fun times!

Saturday mornings. You gotta love a Saturday morning.

Especially when your baby sister likes to sleep late...

And you have the downstairs all to yourself!

Peace, quiet and Color Wonder!

And of course there are the PJs and bed head!!

This boy loves some PJs. He asks if he can wear then all day long. And some days, he does. He also loves to color right now. He is extremely intense when doing so. Coloring is to be taken very seriously!

And to think there was a day he could hardly sit long enough to pick UP a crayon...

Now he could (and does) sit and do this for hours!!!

Meanwhile, I got to sit and watch. Taking him in. Watching his facial expressions as he decided which color to use. Watching him grip his marker, without thought, the way I taught him to a few years ago. I got to encourage him to keep on going when the color got a little out of line. I got to give him a big "high five" when the page was completed. Ahhh. My little boy. What a sweet thing he is!

Saturday was our neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt. I am pretty sure this is the first year we have ever been able to attend the hunt. Once again, it was freezing. It is so bizarre to hunt eggs in cords, a sweater, coat and knit hat!!! At least it covered the bead head!?! ;-) The cold weather didn't stop him...

He managed to get a basket full...

Or at lease half a basket full anyway! And you may be able to see something peeping out of the very bottom of the picture...

Crosby got a golden egg!!! That meant a gift card to Sweet CiCi's!!! Totally worth the 15 minutes Jane Claire and I stood in the cold watching him run!!