Easter Weekend........

I love Easter Weekend..... There are no other real words for it.

For the last 12 years that Phil and I have been married and lived in this house we have tried to do some type of home project. Sounds strange I know but it gives something around the house a new beginning. We have built a fence, deck, flower beds, planted new vegetation of some kind, painted, you name it we have probably done it.

Saturday, we dug up two big flower beds that really needed a face lift. We are going to take our time shopping for plants both green and flowering to refill it. So today I do not have new pictures of what the changes look like.

We spent most of the day outdoors digging in the dirt,

assisting Kaitlynn with her quest to be proficient in her bike riding adventures,

watching Jackson peruse the street with his scooter and bicycle,


giggling as Madelynn confiscates Kaitlynn's scooter and helmet,

mostly just taking the time to enjoy the day.

As we were waiting for dinner to finish on the grill I had a few minutes to take a couple of additional pictures. I really liked them and can not figure out where to put them in the house so I figured I would at least share them.

All I can say is, "They are mine and you can't have them."

We hope you have a very Joyous Easter Sunday and are able to enjoy your family as we will.

TTFN~

Need to catch you up.....

As we are approaching Easter Sunday I realized that I haven't posted in about two weeks. So much has happened in two weeks I wasn't really sure where to begin.

Shortly after Kaitlynn's field trip to the Zoo, Jack had his field trip to the Lazy 5 Ranch. Travelling with about 100+ kindergartners to a place to see animals talk about crazy times. It was lots of fun though.

Walking it to the animal area like you would see in the Zoo was this wild (but tame) peacock. The colors in the photo do not do it justice. It was beautiful. Listening to the boys as we walked around and freak out about being so close to the camel was very comical. But thinking about where these innocent little boys will be in 10 years......frightening.

As for me personally that day I received lots of compliments about Jack. Both the teacher and the assistant teacher were very impressed with him. They talked about the good choices he has been making recently and they were very impressed with his progress. I very much worried about Jack as he entered kindergarten, he turned 5 four weeks before school started, one of the youngest in the class. I had always wondered if Phil and I made the wrong choice. After the field trip I was assured it was the right choice.

I am not sure how it happens but Jack gets left out of things accidentally, too many times. I was VERY glad I was able to take the day off work and ride the bus with him to the ranch. As a family we had already been there. But that day, it was very nice to just be with him.

TTFN~

Milestones of all kinds

If my records are correct this is my 400th post. It seems like quite the milestone that is a lot of posts in less than 3 years. This particular post is about a milestone of a different kind and what an exhausting one it was.

Kaitlynn came to her Daddy and asked him to take her training wheels off. So for the next hour Phil and I took turns running up and down the street behind Kaitlynn's bike hoping she would find her balance.

For those of you in desparate need of a laugh, Phil can always provide it. It is one of the things I love about him.

TTFN~

Our Week in Pictures

Last Monday I had the opportunity to be a chaperon for Kaitlynn's first grade class to the NC Zoo. Kaitlynn and I have been there several times but this time it was really fun to go with just Kaitlynn. I didn't have to worry about Jackson or Madelynn's needs. It was really nice. Thought I would share some photos.....

The rest of the photos from the Zoo are below. The rest of the week seemed to trudge along until this weekend. I will share Katie's other experience tomorrow.

TTFN~

Our Week in Pictures

Something Missing............

Well not to be out done by his sister, Jack lost his first tooth after school today. He was very startled when it happened but was very excited. He has such little teeth to begin with but the gap is there on the bottom row. Hopefully the tooth Fairy can book us in tonight (and doesn't forget....HAHAHAHA!!)

TTFN~

Some picture fun......

As we just recently celebrated the 12th anniversary of the day we bought our house, it was cause to celebrate. Most people don't celebrate that day. But I remember it like it was yesterday. I took a half day off from work, and Phil and I met at the lawyer's office for closing. When we left the office we thought it was some type of joke. We were only required to pay half as much as originally quoted to the closing table. Since it was in fact April Fool's Day we asked ourselves if it was some type of joke. But in wasn't. In hind sight it was the way God provided for us to also buy a refrigerator that we paid cash for and did not have to finance. This past weekend we were able to get some new pictures of us and the kids. My dad was wanting a picture of himself and each of his grandchildren to feature on his facebook page. This time it was Kaitlynn's turn. Since I had to nicely dress one child I figured I should nicely dress them all. Then the truth comes out. We walk in the door and my dad says, "Oh good I can take your picture too, I really don't like your facebook picture." It made me laugh coming from dad the perfectionist photographer. But I also reminded him that Kaitlynn took that picture when she was six. So needless to say if you reached this page from my facebook page, you'll notice the picture has changed.

As I looked through the pictures, I am reminded of how lucky I really am. I have a wonderful family starting from my dad who was a saint for trying to get my box of puppies all looking in the same direction and smiling. To my husband who silently sat there for an hour while I was smiling with my children. He really didn't want to sit and smile but he did for me so I could get a new picture of us. But he also let my dad take pictures of the kids and I but he doesn't always remember to do that. Usually I am the one taking the pictures.

Then I see these B-E-A-utiful (Jim Carrey reference) pictures of Madelynn. I was thoroughly impressed with all my children as they played in between pictures and turned the smiles on when needed. But I see Madelynn and it takes my breathe away first that I was intrusted with such a gift, to know she could have died and today she amazes me everyday. I hear people talk about they are waiting for their Miracle. Well she is mine and I Thank God everyday that she lived.

The picture below has only meaning for one person. In trying to get the picture above I told Madelynn to stick her piggies out so everyone could see that Miss Amy had painted them. However, initially it had back fired because Madelynn leaned over to pointed to her painted toes, then sat up and smiled. So the picture below is for Miss Amy. I know it will make her laugh, and some days a good laugh is all we need. Thank you Miss Amy for all you do for us.

Hope you enjoyed the family picture updates. Have a great week!!

TTFN~