So there are 4 hours left in the month of April. I have to get this blog updated in Abby's birthday month - since I didn't quite get it updated ON her birthday. Sue me!

Let's go back 2 weeks to Sunday, April 17. We decided to dye Easter Eggs as it was the only day all week that we'd all be home together. Just dyeing the eggs wasn't exciting enough, so Abby decided to taste the purple dye tablet. I called poison control and discovered that eating one tablet was not harmful, and I was advised to watch for color changes in her diapers. During clean-up we found some partially dissolved pieces of the tablet on the floor, so we believe it tasted so bad that she spit it out. We never saw any color changes in her diaper. As it turns out, the real tragedy was that Katherine's favorite color is purple, and she didn't get to have a purple egg.

Once the eggs were dyed, we were able to concentrate on the real holiday of the week - ABBY'S BIRTHDAY! Maggie and Katherine were especially excited and eager to make Abby's birthday special. Chris took them out to shop and they each chose a special gift for Abby. They also enjoyed baking and decorating her cupcakes and choosing a birthday balloon.
Abby was also very excited about her birthday. We started early in the day, because it was Holy Thursday, and we weren't sure if Chris would make it home between school and church that day. So when she came downstairs, she saw "PRESENTS!"
Then we had birthday pancakes and cupcakes for breakfast. She LOVED the candles and singing, shouting "More candles" after blowing them out.
The sun came out just long enough to enjoy some time outside on her birthday. There was a part of me that wanted to take her out someplace exciting, to make the day extra special. But really, at 2, all she wanted to do was stay home and play for the whole day. So we stayed home, played inside and out, and then had cupcakes again with our dinner.

Overall I think it was pretty great day for Abby. And it was only the first of her birthday celebrations. She had 2 more to go!The Easter Bunny arrived on Sunday, bringing lots of eggs and a few other surprises. The Hula Hoops were a big hit - though 3 girls with hoops got a little crazy in our living room.

Then we went to West Bend for the day where Abby had her second birthday party at Boom Boom's and the big girls got to hunt for more Easter eggs/treats.
On Monday we enjoyed the first full day of SPRING BREAK! The weather was just barely nice enough to head to the park and try the new kites that the Easter Bunny delivered. They weren't very strong though, so Chris was able to get them flying, but they both ended up crashing soon after take-off. As Maggie pointed out "They were only $3!" I think the Easter Bunny should check for price tags next year!
The rest of our week was spent hanging out. Gram and PopPop came up on Wednesday for Abby's third birthday celebration. Chris enjoyed cooking a true feast and we enjoyed eating it!
On Friday, the sun finally came out! We went to the Zoo in the morning to take advantage of the warm weather. I think that 1/2 the city was there too - everyone felt the need to come out from hibernation!

In the afternoon we picked up the new dresser for the big girls' room. As we transition Abby into a "Big Girl" room we've been moving some furniture around. The dresser is exactly what we needed in the room, but the mirror that attaches arrived with a crack down the middle. So we'll wait another 2 weeks for that project to be complete.

Finally, this morning I joined a few colleagues and participated in the March for Babies in Milwaukee. It was very windy, and cooler than we might have liked. But, since it wasn't raining or snowing (as it was in Iowa 2 weeks ago) we tried not to complain and instead just enjoyed being there, walking for such an important cause. Thanks to all of you for your support!

Last weekend, Abby had a terrible runny nose. It was constant and messy, both gross and adorable. Monday I had a stuffy nose; I was not adorable. Wednesday I lost my voice. And by Thursday night into Friday it was a full blown monster cold, the type I get usually only once a year. But the one that sends me to a doctor because of my asthma. I actually thought I was doing well, using my tricks to conquer this cold. I stayed home from work Friday, but thought I'd be able to go back today.

Until I woke up with pink eye.

So, instead of work, and instead of Palm Sunday Mass, I went to urgent care at 8am. With my 3 darlings. I left with Bronchitis, Pink eye, and so many compliments on my adorable, well behaved children, I wondered if they were really talking to me. I'll be fine.

But these well behaved children? At least one of them has been a real stinker lately!

That sweet face, who yesterday climbed over the guard rail between the upper bunk bed and the wall, "just because" and got completely stuck.

Or how about today, after a trip to the Doctor and the Pharmacy, and after a special treat of McDonald's for such good behavior (and let's be honest, limited lunch mess for me to deal with.) I was on the couch, resting. The girls were happily playing. I overheard Maggie and Katherine decide to see how far they could throw a small ball. I interrupted them before they could find out, and asked them the questions that have been used quite a bit lately, "WHY?" followed by "What did the little voice in your head tell you about that?"

Maggie hung her head and replied that her little voice had told her "We're not supposed to throw things in the house, this isn't a good idea."

Katherine looked me straight in the eye and reported that her voice had told her "Mom's eyes are closed, She won't know, go ahead and do it!"

*sigh*

The birthday girl, Abby, she'll never be sassy like that, right? Look how grown up she is with her mini-laptop. She'll always be mature and easy to handle, right?

WRONG! Look what happens when I let Katherine outside to play before Abby, while Abby was happily coloring at the table.....

She took the container of crayons and dumped it on the table. And when I turned around and said "ABBY, what did you do?" She looked right at me and used her hands to push the crayons all onto the floor.

*sigh*

Maggie is grown up enough to be trusted, right? Look how studious she is at Science night, studying the colloids that she and her friend Clare made with the "Mad Scientist"

We won't discuss how moments after arriving home with "SLIME" in a jar, (which the scientists strongly advised to keep away from carpet,) she opened her jar and slopped slime all over the living room carpet.

*sigh*

I guess it's a good thing that they are usually so adorable. Last Sunday it was nice enough to wear summer clothes and sandals to Church. When Maggie learned that she didn't need to wear tights or a coat, she shouted, "I feel like a brand new kid!"

Abby wasn't quite ready to give up wearing her winter hat. In fact, she continues to pull it out almost every day. Earlier in the week she did NOT need it, but we had snow yesterday and more in the forecast for overnight tonight, so we haven't put our hats and mittens away yet.

Katherine is improving her reading quite a bit. She is sounding out words, but also memorizing a few of her more favorite books. Still, she is quite proud to take Abby and read to her "Like a real big sister." And earlier today, while I was on the couch, she brought me 2 books and told me "Mom, I'll read to you, because you read to me when I don't feel good."

Yes, I'd say, even at their worst, I'm pretty lucky to have these beautiful girls in my life.

This morning started out a little rough. For unknown reasons, all 3 girls were particularly crabby and each had found a reason to cry before breakfast. It was just one thing after another and nothing I did made anyone happy. It made for a frustrating morning. But then, we decided to walk Maggie to the bus since we had nowhere to rush to this morning. And as we set off down the block Katherine called "LET'S SKIP!" Watching my 3 girls skip (or desperately try in Abby's case) made all of the crazy disappear. Let's hope for more spring weather, more time outside, and less crazy crabbiness!

2 weeks ago our good friends Phil and Stephanie came to visit from Green Bay. We declared it to be "Sepersky Family Mental Health day" and everyone stayed home from school to play with the Hart family. We went downtown to Discovery World where Abby once again overcame her fear of fish

and went to the Mitchell Domes on Saturday.
Sidenote to their trip. On Friday, while crossing the street in downtown Milwaukee, Katherine tripped and fell. She had pretty impressive scrapes on her left 4th and 5th fingers, but was fine once we were able to clean and bandage them, and life went on. 3 days ago(10 days from the injury) She woke up complaining that her left arm hurt. As any good Mom would do, I gave her a little sympathy and then went on with the day, no big deal, she had just slept wrong, right? Except that after her bath that night, it was clear that her left ring finger was red and swollen. Hmmmm. Tuesday morning when it had not improved, she was taken tot he doctor, had xrays of that finger, and was diagnosed with an infected finger, though luckily not a bone infection. She's now on a 10 day course of Augmentin to clear the infection. She is still babying the finger, and says it hurts. But she's also using it more and more, so I do think it is healing. What's that phrase? Never a dull moment!

On Monday, the 28th, Aunt Nora came to visit. We were all thrilled to have some extra time to just hang with Nora. Katherine enjoyed reading books,
Abby pulled out her fanciest costume,
And Maggie and Katherine discovered that Aunt Nora is talented enough to give simultaneous back tickles. What a treat to have her visit, Hooray for Spring Break in the Midwest!

Katherine is somewhat obsessed with my camera these days. At first, she was taking pictures of furniture. But now that she's mastered the self-portrait, this is what I find on my camera. Every time.

Sunday was the Award Luncheon for Chris' Kohl Fellowship Award. We drove through a massive hailstorm to get there and had a great time celebrating Chris. The soggy croissant sandwich and pasta salad lunch wasn't too exciting. But, it was very exciting to share the moment with Chris, being recognized for all of the hard work he does. His 2 principals, 2 fellow music teachers, and the Superintendent of his district joined his mom and me in clapping for him.

Speaking of major accomplishments, Chris' building project for Church is almost done. He had a "soft" grand opening 2 weeks ago and the response has been fabulous. It is a beautiful building and the parish is grateful to Chris for his leadership. The official dedication is May 1. You're all invited!