Science Night

Hannah wasn't as brave as last year (no tarantula), but she still had fun at Science Night.  She was very excited to go to my school.  She asked,"Am I big now?"  Olive was more interested in smiling at people than looking at animals or science experiments.
 

 

Family Bike Ride

Our first family-of-four bike ride.  We rode on the Indian Creek trail and stopped at Subway for lunch.  Steve was super excited to use the bike trailer, since Olive was too little last summer.  But now Hannah is almost too big.    It looks like this is the only two-girl trailer summer.  We better enjoy it!

 

 

Mowing

 

 

Hannah Stats- 3 years

Hannah is now 34.2 pounds (90th percentile) and 40 inches tall (97th percentile).  That's the biggest weight percentile rank she's ever had.  At her one month doctor visit she was in the 15th percentile.   She has come a long way!  In the past year she has gained over 6 pounds and grew 3 inches.  Here are stats from one year and  two years.  Hannah looks like she is older, acts like she is older, and talks like she is older.  She pretty much talks non-stop to me at home.  People never believed her when she said she was two.  Someone even thought she was five!  She is also pretty outgoing and introduces herself to strangers...usually using her full name.  In the last year she has learned to spell her name (not write it yet), numbers 11-20, lower case letters, and how to (mostly) undress and dress herself.  And she's potty trained!  Well, during the daytime anyway. :)  Hannah does not like to be wrong and she does not like to be "in trouble."  When she was little she would cry if you raised your voice (even if it wasn't directed at her), and she is still very sensitive.  She doesn't want to disappoint anyone.

What I love about Hannah:
She is very much her own person.  She likes what she likes and it doesn't matter what other people think.  She likes some girly things like tutus, make up, jewelry, and wearing my high heels.  And she likes boyish stuff like trains, pirates, bugs, and fixing things with Steve.  I love how her eyes smile when she is really happy.  I love her perfect hair that curls under at the ends.  I love how she speaks slowly and deliberately.  Hannah is smart, silly, and funny.

What Steve loves about Hannah:
I like how she loves the outdoors.  I like her playfulness.  I like her smile.  She likes legos.  She isn't a girly-girl, but she still likes some girly things.  It's a good balance.

What Hannah thinks about herself:
I'm a hard worker and a hard player.  I practice at running and I'm fast.  I'm a good dancer.  I'm silly and crazy.  Olive is my best friend, just like Thomas and Percy are best friends.  You and Dada are best friends.

Hannah's Favorites as a Three-year-old:
foods: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, pasta, fruits
drinks: grape juice and chocolate milk
song: Let Me Go by Cake, Engine Roll Call (from Thomas)
books: Thomas the Train books, Little Critter books, Franklin books
TV shows: Thomas the Train, Jake and the Neverland Pirates
toys: tricycle, scooter, Pipeworks, blocks, puzzles, drums
activities: blowing bubbles, playing at the park, reading, painting, playing Go Fish or Uno
sayings: "Not too many snuggles!" and "Why?"
* least favorite thing: getting her hair washed

Kauffman Center

Steve got me tickets to the Kauffman Center as a present. I wanted to go to the ballet.  He got tickets to the opera.  Luckily, there was a little ballet in the opera.  I wouldn't have picked Nixon in China, but I've never been to the opera before and it's always neat to experience something new.  Plus I learned about an historical event...and I learned that operas are 3.5 hours long!  While we were gone, Marissa and Casey got their first babysitting experience with the girls.  Everyone survived.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hannah's 3rd Birthday

Hannah had been looking forward to her birthday for awhile.  She knew it was on March 18 and she would be 3 years old.  She wanted a Thomas party.  The #1 priority was a Thomas cake.  She also wanted balloons, and she wanted to invite her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousin.  So we did a small family party at our house.

 

 

 

Hannah was very excited that she got to keep the Thomas toy off of her cake.  It's the little things. :)

This is the best we could do...  Olive is distracted by a balloon off to the side.
 

 

 She was very serious opening up presents.  She didn't really seem excited at anything except her drum and digital camera. Although the day after the party she played with everything, and really liked all of her presents.  

 

After lunch, cake, and presents, we went outside to play with her new t-ball set.  It's amazing that she is running around in a sleeveless dress and barefoot in the middle of March!
 

After nap she requested another "blow out".

 

 

Trying on her new matching dresses and taking pictures of everything with her new camera.

Animal Tales and Trails

As part of their birthday present, we take the girls to a place they haven't been yet.  Hannah's first trip was just to Leawood Park.  Year two we went to Science City.  This time we went to the Animal Tales and Trails exhibit (that was new even though we have been to Crown Center before).  Marissa and Casey were spending the weekend with us, so they went along, too.

 

 

Hannah wanted to get into a kangaroo's pouch when we were at the zoo.  This was the next best thing.

Hannah picked out her outfit: long striped shirt, flower jean skirt, turquoise boots.
 

Olive's favorite: the bird nest.
 

 

Aunt Marissa and Uncle Casey's first time at Fritz's.
 

Olive is playing peek-a-boo with the hat.  If you look closely, you can see her fangs.
 

On the drive home...

Nature Hike

My parents always took us on hikes in the woods and I loved it.  Over spring break we did our first family hike at Minor Park.  Steve runs there some, but I had never been there.  I'm always amazed at the places 10-15 minutes from our house that I don't even know about.  Anyway, Hannah loved it.  She got to throw rocks in the creek, carry around a stick, see a lizard, follow tracks in the mud, and swing on a vine.  Olive's favorite part was riding on Steve's shoulders.  It is a little strange to see the pictures where the trees look like winter, but we are wearing shorts. :)