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This week, it's started to look like Spring. So, we took advantage of the better weather and headed down to the playground by our house after nap time.

Leah loves the slide, and went down as many times as she could squeeze into our visit. Each time she'd get to the bottom, she'd run around to the stairs to climb straight back up so that she could go down again.

Jen started out catching Leah at the bottom, but then Molly asked if she could catch Leah. The catch turned out to be a very sweet hug.

Molly wanted to play in the sandbox, but she didn't want to get sand in her shoes. So, she stood on the side and built some sort of house.

I tried to get pictures of Leah before sliding down several times, but she was very focused on sliding down as quickly as possible. I did manage to get her to look at me this one time, though, before she quickly turned back around to slide down.

The slide may have been Leah's favorite, but she did swing for a short while. Looks like she's enjoying it.

In preparation for Molly's 4th birthday, I made the girls Mickey and Minnie dresses. They were inspired by this dress. Molly's response when I showed her the dress, "Oh, it's lovely Mom."

For a fun family outing yesterday, we went to Baskin Robbins. Leah really enjoyed her vanilla frozen yogurt, and especially liked dragging a spoonful along her tongue. I guess it maximized the taste.

Molly wanted rainbow ice cream, so it gave Chad a chance to introduce her to one of his favorites, Baskin Robbins rainbow sherbet. She loved it.

For the third year, I hosted a Mardi Gras celebration with my MOMS Club. I enjoy sharing this New Orleans tradition with my Maryland friends!

The party favors were made...

And someone was very excited about eating king cake with her friends! I made a cream cheese filled, with cream cheese icing. Mmmm...

Molly welcomed everyone at the door saying, "Happy Mardi Gras Day!" The kids decorated their own king's crowns...

then donned their hats and enjoyed a piece of cake.

Each child left with Mardi Gras beads and a bag of cookies. I hope I lived up the the hype, as according to one friend, "It's the best event of the year!" I had to laugh when another friend said she'd been waiting years to come and was "starting to feel like [she] should camp out for tickets!"

Since it's warmed up a bit, we took the opportunity to get out of the house and play a little soccer. Leah hasn't grasped the "no hands" part of it yet.

Molly scores!

Leah wanted to wear Chad's hat for much of the outing.

Molly figured out a new trick - balancing on the ball with her knees.

Many of Molly's friends are in a dress phase like Molly. So, I made this dress for her friend, Jenna, for her 4th birthday. (Please excuse the cheesy grin from my model!)

It turned out super cute and Molly agreed. I'll be making one for her soon too.

It may still have been February, but Sunday it warmed up enough to get outside. Molly and Leah were eager to take advantage of it.

Chad kept saying that Leah was ready to go back to the 70's with her snazzy dress.

Warm weather also means... bubbles!

Bubbles are great to stomp on,

and to pop by poking.

This weekend, I helped host a "Sip and See" for my friend, Emily, and her baby girl, Camille. Sip and See's are not common here, so it was a great way for us to bring a little Texas to Maryland for Emily.

I volunteered to make these monogrammed cookies. (And unlike what some may have thought, the C was not for Chad or Christy!)

The guests were offered lots of tasty sweets while waiting to see the sweet baby!

Christy, myself, Kathy and Helen with the honorees, Emily and Camille.

I also made a bubble outfit and matching headband for Camille. Hopefully, it will fit her when the weather is warm. The pattern ran a bit bigger than I was expecting.

I've been participating in a Secret Sister program with my MOMS Club. For 4 weeks I secretly left gifts for my "sister" on her doorstep. The gifts were to be all about Mom!

Week 1 - Deliver a $5 gift
Week 2 - Deliver a homemade baked gift
Week 3 - Deliver a "free" gift (recipes, magazine or book you already read, scrapbooking extras, etc.)
Week 4 - Reveal with another $5 gift

Last night was our reveal party, so I made my "sister" a cute gathered clutch.

Molly wasn't the only one performing yesterday. Leah showed off a bit of her saxoflute skills as well.