Bed Head

Anyone else's kids have some major cases of bedhead? Lilly isn't too bad, the back is kinda curly and just gets frizzy when she sleeps. I think I am soooo use to Lucas' crazy hair that I don't even try and do anything with it anymore. I pretty much send him to school with his hair sticking straight up b/c I don't think it does anything else. I just bought some detangler spray thinking maybe that would help to tame it down. We have been debating what to do with his long locks and if you ask him if he wants it short or long, he says No to both. So let's take a vote shall we? Grow it longer, Go back to short on sides longer on top, or Really short?

Enjoying the Weather!

Well, we have been enjoying the weather...well at least last week we enjoyed it. This week I think it is suppose to drop back to 30 at night. Why do we live in Indiana again? Thought I'd post some pics of what we did last week that didn't involve work.

This is Lucas on his new green bike. Green is his favorite color in case you didn't know...and if you didn't know you must not hang around that often b/c he will either tell you...or he will grab the green sucker, or the green bubbles, or knock you down (or throw a fit) if you have the green "something" and not him.

Lilly wanted to ride like her big brother, and had to have a helmet just like him too. Thought this picture would sound like this if she was talking; "Oh Darling, I just love my bike."

(Really it is "Moommm! Stop taking pictures!)

And here they are both very nicely playing tee ball together...there was definitely no yelling of "Lilly stop knocking my ball off!" or "Mom- Lilly hit my ball off can you tell her to stop?" or "No Lilly! This is how you do it, see?"

Working Hard...or Hardly Working?

My "outdoor office"
Lucas' "outdoor office"
Well, we have been able to enjoy the sunshine and warmth and still get a little bit of work done. One benefit of working from home, redlining drawings on the deck instead of a stuffy office...now I just need to get a laptop!

Looking for the Beauty

It isn't too hard right now to find beauty right in your backyard. If you are as lucky as me, there are tulips and daffodils a plenty. They may not be surrounded by beautiful landscaping (hopefully yet to be done this summer), but their beauty catches your eye and brings a smile to your face. When you start to look closely at all the intricate details of a flower, they are really truly amazing. And I think when you start to look closely at all the intricate details of your life and how God has blessed you, you will be inspired. God makes so many beautiful things including you and me. Most of time I don't think we take the time out to notice the little things. I challenge you today to look around you, maybe take a closer look than you usually do. Look for the details in the spring beauty, or take time to do those little gestures that can change somebody's day- like a smile, or a hug. God's beauty can shine through you, and I hope He will shine through me today.

Happy Birthday Aly!

Here is the 3 year old birthday girl. (Most gorgeous hair ever!)
Here are the Clarks with their 3 year old triplets.
(Well really only the one of the left belongs to them- it is Lucas, Ethan and Neil, but this picture was just too funny. The boys held hands walking into the party. I am sure this will be shown at their highschool graduation parties!)

There were lots of Monkeys climbing around at the party.

And this is how they worked off the sugar from the Cake! JUMP JUMP!

Lilly had fun bouncin' with the big boys and was actually kinda bossy, not letting certain people in. I wonder where my kids get there strong-willedness from? Tim or Me? What do you think?

Shakin' Things Up!

Thought this picture that Lucas took of Lilly hanging upside down might bode well for today with all the shaking and quaking that is going on! Not sure if you felt the earthquake this morning but I sure did. I was actually up in Kokomo at my friend Kelley's house and was sleeping with Lucas in the same bed. I woke up about 5:45 to what I thought was Lucas continually kicking the bed but when I realized he was asleep and that everything in the room was rattling I wasn't sure what to think! Definitely couldn't be an earthquake in Indiana...must just be a jet from Grissom flying really fast overhead shaking the house. Oh well...back to sleep (for 15 minutes till Lucas was wide eyed and bushy tailed) What is it with early risers?? Did you wake from shake?

GO Lucas! GO Lucas!

Well, folks I think I can finally say that we are well on our way to being potty trained! It has been a many phased process.

Phase 1: He was 100% potty trained...but only when he was naked, which essentially means we could do it at home with a little nakey butt running around all day (until he got cold)

Phase 2: Running around with only underwear on, but as soon as you would put pants over them he would have an accident.

Phase 3: Finally able to wear pants and be a part of the real world. Still a few accidents but did great at school this week and we are moving forward!!(He actually has underwear on in this picture...you just can't see it)

Thought I would share another famous self-portrait! SO serious when he is in his photographing mindset. I will share more of his new pics later.

Yes...I am one of those!

Well, with Lilly's help this morning, we have just printed our 2007 taxes.

This is Lilly anxiously awaiting the printer...
She would grab each sheet that came out and hand it to me, it was way too cute!

Here you go Mr. IRS!

Well, we ended up as a wash, owing to State and return from Federal. (I really can't complain since I didn't do very well paying my self-employment quarterly taxes last year). Well, with all the help I had finishing my taxes this morning they are finally ready to go! I hope you aren't a procrastinator like me! Do you have any big plans for your tax return this year? Or if you didn't get a tax return...there is always the May stimulus to look forward too!

Typical Work Day

Ok, well I wouldn't say that Friday is a typical work day b/c I typically try NOT to work on Fridays, but in regards to the picture below this is how a typical work day in my world looks.

Lucas and Lilly both love to sit on stools next to mommy at the drafting table and they either work on their labtop, cash-register, or whatever else they drag up there. Lucas likes to draw pictures too...but only with permanent markers (need to get him magic markers or something!). Lilly likes to draw too (no markers since she still eats them). I took pictures of them sitting up here a few weeks ago b/c Lucas was being so cute showing Lilly how to work the labtop. He was using such a calm and collected 3 year old voice (vs. the typical yelling) and it was just too cute not to try and capture.

As you can see (and I am sure hear from me often) is that working from home can be kinda challenging...but it definitely has many rewards, surprises, and benefits that out way everything else. God has blessed me with all that I have and I am very thankful.

SCRUB-A-DUB-DUB...Three kids in the TUB!

A tub full of cousins

Isn't she just adorable?

And of course Lilly needed to hairdry Allie's hair afterward! You don't want to go to bed with wet hair right?? And leave it to Lucas to use the hairdryer as a gun later. What is it with boys anyway?

Back to normalcy...(if that is possible)

Well, the kids and I had been up North since Wednesday and are finally back home today. We had a great time hanging out with cousins plus a few more! Wednesday-Saturday we were at my sister's house who has a daycare, (kid farm as Tim calls it) so needless to say everyday was an adventure. We really enjoyed the playgym with the great weather!

Lilly is behind the purple hood with Lucas and Hannah beyond.
Lunch time, there was actually one more but we ran out of boosters!

Then Saturday we were off to Kokomo to meet up with the rest of the family.

Happy Birthday to Trinity! Yummy cupcakes!

Race down the slide at the park...Hannah won!

Allie and Lilly swinging in the wind!

Great to get outside and wear out the kids. What did you do to enjoy the weather?

Back up and Running!

Well, I am not sure if you have missed me, but I have missed blogging and reading blogs. My computer crashed on me Monday, but now I am up and running thanks to my brother-in-law the computer guru. Thanks Matt!

In the midst of the computer world stopping for the Hess household this week, we did not of course. Tim's brother and his family were in town and we met up with them at the Children's Museum on Tuesday and had a blast watching the kids run around all crazy.

Three monkeys sitting on a bench.
The only good fuzzy shot I got of cousin Noah...half smiling.

Lilly and Noah playing tic-tac-toe.

And Lucas and Noah making funny faces.

It was nice to get together with family and for cousins to play. Now I am up North with our other cousins so more pics to follow soon! Hope all is well in everyone else's computer worlds and otherwise. We missed staying in touch.