Outdoor vase

Carla bought this vase for us for Christmas with the intention of hanging it outside for the kids to put flowers in.  The spring has brought an abundance of wildflowers and the plastic cups inside began overflowing with flowers.  We found a perfect spot on the porch to hang the vase and Linden quickly went about collecting flowers to put inside it.

Mr. Fix it

Saturday before Stefan and Hadley left Stefan spent the day getting ready, cleaning the garage, and fixing every bike we own.

Bluebonnets

I was quite concerned with Stefan and Hadley being gone for a week that we would miss out on the bluebonnet pictures and we couldn’t have that.  Friday night after Taekwondo we rushed out the door to try and take a few pictures.  It was WAY too bright still but you can’t expect much better than this.  Love these four!

Birthday lunch

We had to wait a bit for a good day to Channing out for her one on one birthday lunch and she chose Maggiano’s.  Sweet girl told us how much fun that was and how much she loved her time at lunch with us.  Worth every penny!

It’s a big day!

Titles to both our cars.  It’s been a long time since we haven’t had at least one car payment. Picture worthy event for sure.

Teamwork

We had some good helpers planting outside.  Channing would dig the hole while Gibson put the plant in it.

Still celebrating

This is one lucky girl.  Channing’s friends were walking out the door Saturday morning when my family started showing up to help celebrate Channing.  Here was the picture of everyone before they  headed home.

Birthday party, kind of

Channing wanted to have Jenna and Kinsley spend the night and having just a girl party makes it a little difficult to include the family of boys who live next door, who also happen to be our best friends.  We decided to invite Jenna and Kinsley’s families over for dinner, cupcakes and pinata and that seemed like the perfect chance to have the Jones’ and the Hankins’ over to play and celebrate. Here is the whole crew.  It’s a fun bunch.

Chess outside?

Sure, especially when the weather is warm.

Birthday girl

Here she is first thing birthday morning with a chocolate cake, per her request.  I’m not sure she’s ever been as this excited for a birthday before.  She was counting down to number six for weeks.

New dance recital outfit

I’m not even sure what to call it, outfit? costume?  Whatever it is, she had to try it on once more after she brought it home from class before it was to be hung in her closet until recital time.

A good big brother

I love the expression on Gibson’s face as Hadley read his magazine to him.

Serious this time

Our next camping trip was to Canyon of the Eagles.  A beautiful place that was probably even prettier when there was water in the lake.  It wasn’t perfect weather but we had fun just the same.

Wicked

I HATE that Stefan isn’t in this picture especially since he was the one working to pay for this awesome experience.  We took the kids out to dinner then to Wicked the Thursday of Spring Break.  What a treat for all of us!  We loved every minute, I’m pretty sure I might need to see it again some day.

 

I found this one on the point and shoot camera before it ran out of batteries.  I’m glad to have at least one picture of Stefan that night.

Straws and connectors

I knew when Channing got these for Christmas, it wasn’t a present she would play with right away.  It was more of a rainy day toy.  I pulled it out during Spring Break and it kept the kids busy for hours.

I’m the target

Isn’t mom always the target?  Warmer weather brought out the fireman fire extinguisher. He had a fun time filling it up by himself and just squirting the grass, but when I came around, it was way more fun to shoot at me.

First day of Spring Break

With the Thompson crew over, we’ll call it a success.  Don’t let Gibson’s face fool you, it was a great day to have friends come play and he had a great time.

Attempting

We had been parking the monstrosity of a trailer down at the front of the lot and to be fair, it was making it harder to pack with it down there, especially with the weather being cold.  Stefan was determined to get it up the driveway and by the house and thankfully, Greg was willing to direct.  They made it (barely) around the trees.

Getting ready

The boys spent a little time practicing forms and one steps before their big blue belt test Saturday morning.

I now have proof

of how old I seem to my children.  I have this lovely noonday bracelet and Channing asked me if when she is like 21 if I could get her a pretty bracelet like that for her birthday.  Then she stopped.  “Oh wait! You’ll be dead, nevermind.”  Why is that I asked?  Because you’re old. Thanks.

Jumping

It’s still a highlight in the day.

Stomach bug for 1 (and me)

This poor guy got the stomach bug and instead of 12 hours and done it lingered on and off for days.  He was in the car seat without clothes because he went through two sets in addition to an armload of blankets while at the library.  Good times!  A few days I caught it but thankfully it didn’t last long for me.

Play-doh pals

Someone got the play-do out and there was no stopping them.  They created some delicious meals for me out of it.  I kind of love it when they all play together.

Good checkups

It cracks me up when we go to the dentist and take up every chair in the office.  Dentist appointments during the day make for long homeschool days but no cavities to report and we get to wait 6 more months before a visit to the orthodontist for Hadley so we’ll call that a win.

Funny or serious?

We’re going with our funny face picture this trip.

Garner- my favorite of the day

It’s hard to pick just one from this beautiful Saturday.  The weather was so nice, we couldn’t pull the kids away from the river.  We never even went hiking.  While it’s not the most perfect picture, the picture of Hadley and Griffin win out.  It seems peaceful and the hope they show at catching a fish even with a horrible rod that doesn’t cast in an awful spot, that’s something only a kid can have.

Here we go!

We were both feeling nervous about taking the trailer for the first time on a camping trip but we were ready.

Coloring buddies

At least they could agree to color Spiderman.  I’m pretty sure Holden was not going to go for a princess picture.

The Great Wall of China-out of marshmallows

This was NOT my most favorite kindergarten project.  It was WAY too mom-hands on in my opinion and took a little too long for this 6 year olds attention span.  We were both ready to move on when it was done.

He still needs a nap

 

At four, he should be taking naps still and I probably should force the issue but he can handle going without so I let him.  Almost every MWF on the way to TKD though he tells me he’s tired and wants to take a nap.  I say ok and about 1 minute later I find him like this.

Trying new things

Hadley recently started looking through our library of books and came across one especially for boys about building stuff for outdoor use.  He made this bola slingshot.  I’m not sure if it ever worked as it was suppose to but I’m proud of him for trying.  It seemed like a cool idea.

Real life- courtesy of Hadley

I was outside trying to get a picture of Arthur and was the only one making the little man smile but as soon as I picked up the camera, smile was gone. Hadley came to help.  This was as good as we got.

New digs

After much deliberating we decided to bite the bullet and buy a travel trailer. Bunk beds for four in the back was required and the kids think it’s awesome!  I’m pretty sure this is a life changing purchase for us.

Mobile Loaves and Fishes

We waited for Stefan and the driver of the food truck to arrive by sitting outside and keeping Arthur happy after our third Thursday Mobile Loaves and Fishes time.

Muscles

Check those out!

They are growing up

Collectively as parents we agreed to allow the boys to ride their bikes around the block unsupervised. Very proud boys.

Lulu’s

Since we missed staying the night in a hotel and eating out the next day, which the kids were looking forward to, we decided to try out Lulu’s, home of the 3 pound cinnamon roll, hoping to lessen the disappointment from the weekend.

Blurry picture courtesy of our waitress and my iphone.

Enormous cinnamon roll, courtesy of Lulu’s.

Sing Song 2014

It had been years since I had been to Sing Song and since we’ve missed Homecoming the past few years we thought we’d take the kids.  We had a great time, minus a hotel debacle.

They are big

I went outside in the lovely weather and found these three just sitting around, chatting.  Somebody said something silly and the three of them cracked up like the perfect inside joke was told.  I was an outsider who became an insider by capturing the moment.

After the party

comes the sugar overload.  After Valentine’s parties this year we met up with friends at the park and I let the children eat anything they wanted out of their bags.  No wonder everyone has smiles on their faces.

Serious stuff

Valentine card making is serious stuff around our house.  We went all out this year with the decorating.  Not that they were overly exciting cards but the kids certainly participate this year.

Sharing with friends

Nobody needs an entire batch of rice krispies to themselves and what a fun way to share the love by sending some over to the Jones’.  We made heart shaped treats and then poured an entire bottle of sprinkles over the top of them to make them taste even better.

This picture is bitter sweet because Channing’s decided after this year she is done with dance I will be sad not to see her in that cute pink leotard every Tuesday afternoon.

Valentine’s pictures

Shoot!  It’s hard to choose just one of my favorites from each of the kids pictures much less narrow down to one.  Even thought this is supposed to be just one picture a day, I think I’ll go ahead and include my favorite of each kiddo.

This is not technically the best picture but I had him punch at me and got that genuine smile I was looking for.  I love the rainbow loom bracelets on his wrist that is so much a part of him these days, the one tooth in, one tooth coming in mismatched grin, the orange of his hair in the light and the tease of freckles showing.

I had her try and throw the sequins at me since they seemed to be sticking her her hand more than blowing my direction. Throwing it was way more fun and she thought it was hilarious.  I never thought we’d be here in kindergarten.  Homeschooling, reading… it’s been a good year.

When did my four year old get so big.  He proves it here, sitting strait up, grinning at me like he owns the world.  He looks big but the way he talks, not like a robot anymore but just not quite like a big boy proves he’s still the youngest and I love that.

I think I was maybe talking to him about who he might be shooting that heart arrow at and he had to look away with a giant grin on his face.  Not so much that he was embarrassed but more that it was a funny concept I think.  I hope I’ll always know who he might like to shoot heart shaped arrows at.  I’m not ready for him to be 10, my social butterfly.

Rodeo 2014

It is a long standing tradition that Gramma Gicki and Pa take our kids to the rodeo.  This year did not disappoint!  The kids had a great time.

The visit

David and Carla came for a quick weekend visit and we enjoyed their company.  Of course, we also put them to work setting up the trampoline but that’s another story.  Here is my favorite of them and the kids.