Haircuts are a big deal in our house. No one but Daddy is allowed to cut Max's hair according to him, and even then it's still a very stressful ordeal. Just look at that face!

Don't you like Daddy's ability to cut while also holding Max's head?

Such handsome, brave men I have.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Dusty and I have a very small Irish heritage each, so we really don't celebrate but while at the gym today they were talking about the St. Patrick's Day parade in New Richmond. It started at 4 so I called Dusty to make sure he got home in time and we loaded up the kids and left with a good 10 minute cushion.

Seriously. It's a small town and I tend to over plan and arrive way too early to things so I thought I did good. I was all proud of myself until we hit stop and go traffic about a mile out of town. Seriously, I had no idea their St. Patrick's Day parade was that big of a deal!

They have llamas, camels, and reindeer! (How that is Irish, I don't know.)

Max was a trooper waving to everyone that went past, and even was able to bring home some candy.

Rory was content eating her snack in the stroller.

She'd throw out the occasional "Neigh" when a horse went by and even did some dancing during the Irish bagpipes but was otherwise rather nonchalant about the whole thing.

Max was very into pointing out all the stuff and waving hello. Although he wasn't a fan of the Leprechaun and wouldn't stand next to him until Daddy stood with him. But in my hurry to get a picture I cut off Daddy's head! Oops!

So next year, I'll be better prepared and show up with plenty of time to park and find a good spot so we aren't in the second row, across from one of the Irish bars in town. At least the crowd was lively!

I love having Max and Rory so close in age. They play together so nicely and are becoming fast friends. One afternoon, while Rory was still sleeping, Max told me "I missing Rory Mama". How can that not melt your heart? And whenever Max is gone Rory is quick to ask "Where Mac go?" (Yes, she says Mac, x's are a bit hard for her yet.) I tell you, it is just bliss.

Except when we want to do something. Then I quickly become jealous of all the mommy's with only one kid with them. The library is becoming my least favorite place to take the kids. They have a story hour, where Rory refuses to sit still and Max is constantly having to be reminded to sit on his butt so the kids behind him can see. Then I am stuck shuffling between the two of them helping them with their craft and trying to prevent them from making too big of a mess when I'm with the other child. There is a lot of chasing in two opposite ways. In their defense, there are other kids, toys, and lots of chaos after library hour so I can't be too mad that they aren't listening, but I certainly am envious of those parents with just one small child they have to chase after and keep an eye on.

The good news is that I turned in Max's sign-up for preschool. Come September I will be a one child parent for a few glorious hours twice a week! And the heavens opened up...

Or the sunrise was pretty enough for me to take a quick picture of and share. To each their own...

You guys a second post was absolutely NEEDED today! My book came!

Sorry on Peed on You by Jeremy Greenberg

Remember when I was parent of the month? Jeremy Greenberg writes that blog and he sent out a mass email asking for funny pictures of kids for a new book he was working on. I was honored for him to ask me to help him with the book as he bounced some ideas off of me. You can see I'm recognized if you click the "Look Inside" option on Amazon.

But what is even more exciting is that one of my pictures was chosen! So there is a story about Max in the book. (The stories are fictional and written for humor, but he gave us the option to use our child's real name or an alias and I chose to use Max.) Look!

Seriously, I am so excited! Don't worry grandparents, I've ordered enough books for you guys! Anyone else? It's $10, go buy it now! Yay!

Max woke up sick today. I was so proud of him because he told me he was going to be sick and we got a bucket and he made it in! (I'm sorry, a bit grotesque but in order to tell this next part you need to know the details.) So after he is sick I go and dump out the bucket, get him a napkin to clean his mouth and some water to drink. Within 5 minutes he is feeling all better and gets a nice burst of energy. He runs into his room, grabs his monkey, announces that "Monkey throw up!" and proceeds to put monkey over the bucket and then goes to dump it out and wipes monkey's mouth off with a napkin. And seriously? He's been better ever since.

But I did get one good cuddle in with my sleeping, sick boy. (No, I have no idea how he slept like this.)

Rory on the other hand has been a mystery all day. She slept in until 10am. That is super late for her. When I went in her room she instantly started signing for food which I took as a good sign and sat her down to breakfast with Max. Then we all headed downstairs to watch movies all day. Rory was back asleep by noon people! (And on me, might I add.)

Rory NEVER falls asleep on people. She can't handle the distractions. She didn't nap as long as she usually does and has woken up with quite the attitude. My guess is she didn't get a long enough nap because she's acting like she does if we don't get her to bed in time. But let me tell you, this girl certainly has one crabby demeanor! Definite princess material.

**To Brooke: Rory has sucked on her bottom lip while sleeping since she was an infant. Maybe her and Eva will share this trait?

Do you see that?! Do you see that mud and the tiny little footprints throughout it? This is my yard. This is my driveway. This is disgusting!

All there outside toys are getting covered in it. We're supposed to get some beautiful warm weather this week. My first thought was "Yay!" Then a sudden feeling of doom as I realized how filthy my children were going to be this week. And it's already started!

I had JUST cleaned the floor. To top it off? Rory's boot fell off outside and instead of telling me she decided to walk around with just her sock on one foot. Seriously! It's going to be a long, muddy spring. I'm afraid I may be going a little crazy...

On a happier note. Max made his first airplane today and was so proud to show it off. He was quick to tell me "Take a picture, Mama!"

Can you tell how proud he was? He even made sure that there was a "tire" (aka steering wheel) so the man could drive it. So dang cute I tell you!

I'm going to pretend that mud isn't still sitting in my entryway. It's only going to get bigger before the end of the day so I might as well wait and clean it all tonight, right?

First of all, to those of you that contacted me to tell me how cute Rory looked in her mud covered snow pants? You have no idea how NOT cute the mud is. It is seriously taking over my entry way, my washing machine now has sand in it that I can't seem to get rid of and I have stopped counting how many times I've swept. I'm going a little crazy over here.

So today? I've banned the kids to the patio in the back. Thankfully that is still surrounded by snow and where it's melted there is only the rock border. So that means no mud, no sand, no dirty entryways and filthy washing machines. Plus? They are still cute driving around in their cars!

Yes, I think today will be a clean day. And I refuse to even start worrying about what this weekend will bring. Happy Friday everyone!