Easter

We had a pretty low key Easter this year.  It was right after Marlee's birthday so my creative juices were tapped out from the birthday fun :)  We did fill up some Easter eggs and "hide" them for Marlee. (Hide means putting them in plain sight so she would find them and not get bored.) We got a few cute pictures of her hunting.  

 These first two pictures are of Easter last year.  It was Marlee's very first holiday ever.  She was only 1 or 2 weeks old here.  It's fun to compare these to the next photo's.  How much difference one year makes!

 One of Marlee's eggs had a Peep in it. 

 

 She quickly discovered that Peep's are full of sugary goodness!

She liked it so much she stuffed the whole peep in her mouth. 

 We had to fish ts out because it was just too much for her little mouth.  After that she enjoyed little bites :) 

To get Marlee to pick up the eggs, Sam and I cheered very loud every time Marz found and egg and put it in her basket.  She got the idea pretty quickly.  It was very cute to watch her bring the egg to the basket! 

Before we were finished, Marlee figured out how to open the Easter eggs. For the next week I could tell where Marlee had been because she left little puddles of fishes and stars around the house.  

Maquoketa Caves

                   Sam had a four-day-weekend over the Easter holiday.  Our friends, also a Palmer family, invited us to join them on their trip to Maquoketa Caves, IA and Galena, IL with them.  Looking back, maybe we should have looked up the trail or map of the caves. However, we were going just for a fun day, nothing too serious, so we didn't. Our friends knew how to get to the caves and once we got there we just explored.  

                 One of the first signs we saw said "Caves are closed during bat hibernation."  So immediately I was checking the sky and ceiling of the cave for bats!  Sam kept gasping and grabbing my arm like he saw a bat.  He thought it was very funny but I repaid him with a punch in the arm! Luckily there were no bats that we saw!

 

This is the first cave we spelunked. You can see that it is pretty low.  We all had to crouch down but not quite to crawling, except Marlee.  She walked through it, no problem!  The one time being 2' 6" comes in handy!  Our friends are Wendy, Cameron and Alexa's in the backpack :)  

That little tunnel opened up to this area.  It was really pretty to see the sun shining down into the cave.  The camera just wasn't able to capture it fully.

The next cave was called the dance hall.  As you can imagine it opened up into a big room.  We let Marlee get down to dance and she loved it.  I love that cute smile!

Mamma and Marlee "dancin' in the dance hall."

Next stop on our trip was Galena, Illinois.  It reminded me of West Yellowstone with fun shops up and down the street. It is also where Ulysses S. Grant's after-the-civil-war-and-before-he-was-president home is located. 

I like Marlee's chubby cheeks in this photo :)  

At the end of our trip we had dinner at Olive Garden.  Sam just couldn't resist giving Marz a taste of the lemon.  She puckered her cheeks at first, then actually didn't mind it too much.

Marlee's 1st Birthday!

We had so much fun celebrating Marlee's first birthday.  It's crazy to think she has been here a whole year.   She has been so much fun to have around and we have loved watching her grow and develop.  She is a wonderful addition to our little family. 

Marlee woke up to balloons and streamers everywhere.  She really liked the balloons!

 First thing on the birthday agenda was one year pictures.  We haven't had any taken professionally since she was 3months, so we decided to spend a little bit and get some nice ones taken.  At first we couldn't get Marz to hold still for anything!  Soon she warmed up to the idea, and she was posing like a pro.  We couldn't get her away from the camera! We also want to say thanks to Grandma Croft for the cute dress!!  As soon as we get the other photo's back I will post them too. 

As soon as we got home we had Marlee open her presents from Mommy and Daddy.  I think I was the most excited out of any one for this part.  As soon as Marlee realized there was something under the wrapping paper she was all over opening them!  She is also wearing a birthday outfit from Uncle Jarod, Aunt Kristal and Fam.  I think she looks super cute in it, but you know I'm the biased parent and think she is cute in just about anything!

Marlee really liked all her gifts.  She especially liked the Lego's.  I think her dad liked them as much as she did!! 

It's Elmo!  Becky sent me a Pintrest tutorial on Elmo cupcakes and I think they worked out pretty good.  We only ran into one problem.  The tutorial didn't tell me that the food coloring waters down the frosting.  So at first the frosting just ran off!  Sam was so patient while I was slightly freaking out!!  We eventually got it thick enough to stay on the cupcakes and settled for that.  Marlee recognized them as Elmo, so that is what really counts.  

Next, it was time to let Marlee dig into her cupcake!!!

We stripped her down to a diaper so nothing got dyed red, except the highchair tray and Marlee of course!

We had Grandma Kathy, Grandpa Rod, Grandma & Grandpa Croft, and Uncle Andy on Skype.  We all sang happy birthday (there was a little lag but Marlee didn't mind). 

Then we all watched as she tore into the cupcake.  As you can see she LOVED it! 

The best part was when Marlee decided to run her sticky hands through her hair!!  She had a blast!






We were so thankful that part of our family could still celebrate with us from 1,000 miles away.  Thank you technology.   When Marz was done we quickly said good-bye to the family and (gently) threw Marlee in the tub!  It was full of chocolate crumbs and I think the water was tinted red!

After Marlee was cleaned and in her pajamas, Mom and Dad decided to enjoy an Elmo cupcake.  We all had such a fun day!  Thanks to all our family for your love and support!  Marlee felt your love and had a great birthday!!!

First Month in Davenport

We have now been in Davenport for about 6 weeks.   The cold Idaho weather followed us here so we have had to find fun things to do inside.  Here are a few things we have done in to entertain ourselves. 

We tried to go to the St. Patty's Day Parade.  It's a huge deal here.  Everyone had gone all out. This festive dog was just perfect for a photo shoot.   We ended up going home before the parade because it was too cold for Marz, but we did enjoy the sights.  

Marlee loves to go for rides in the laundry basket.  Especially when dad pushes because he goes fast!  This is one of the few times Sam had break from school.  Marz loves it when dad gets to play!

Marlee and Sam have the same favorite new toy!  Whenever Sam gets it out, Marlee is right there.  She learned long ago to slide her finger across the screen to move it.  If you look close here she is doing just that.  And Sam is making a funny face for the camera!  

Marlee and I are showing our new jewelry to Daddy.  Marlee likes to put this one on and when we say pretty she gets a big smile! 

Marlee has decided she is a big girl who can use spoons and forks to eat.  We usually don't give her forks but she always steals the spoon I'm using to feed her.  Usually everything on the spoon or fork ends up on Marlee or myself, but she keeps trying!

Ho Ho Ho.  No it isn't Christmas it's Marlee in the bathtub!  Daddy put in lots of bubbles and Marlee decided she better try them to see how they tasted.  Sam and I were laughing pretty hard so I think that's why Marlee has this look on her face.  She is thinking, "What?  What's so funny?"

Coming soon are more Davenport Adventures!