Easter Family Fun Festival

This morning, we headed to one of my favorite Colorado events, the Easter Family Fun Festival at Cherry Hills Community Church. They do a great job, managing TONS of people. They have several stations where the kids get to participate in fun activities while learning about the resurrection of Jesus!!! They must have chanted, "Jesus is risen, he is alive!!!" a hundred times. They learned that Jesus can live in their hearts, take away their sin, help them to be a better person, and that he loves them always! In the midst of all this learning, they went to a puppet show, had an amazing storytime with SweetTart, and braved the snow and FREEZING wind for an Easter Egg hunt.

Here is Gracyn checking things out.

Addison showing off her basket full of eggs. It was also full of snow. Can you tell she is freezing?
Reagan, on a mission.

I think I took 10 pics and this is the best one.

Posing with SweetTart. I think she was the most amazing speaker/teacher for kids I have ever heard. She told me after this picture that she was pretty sure she was in labor and she was trying to make it through her last show.

Waiting for the puppet show. Reagan isn't interested in having her picture taken!

Addison braved the cold this morning, while the rest of us watched from the glass door. I took these pictures through the door....too hard to get boots on, hold Gracyn and go outside. She had a blast out there, sliding down the slide, into piles of snow. And running around in the snow up to her thighs....about 18 inches total, I think. Here she is trying to climb through the snow to sit in the patio chair.

All so she could have a big bite of snow. No matter how dirty I (or her teacher)
tells her it is, she can't resist eating it!!!!

Reagan was hanging out with me, taking pictures with my old camera. She isn't the biggest fan of cold and I don't blame her! Gracyn was dying to get out here, she stood at the door and yakked like crazy at Addison! Not sure what she was saying, but she was saying it LOUD and CLEAR.

Maybe when Daddy gets home, he will take her out there.

Reagan finally gave in, suited up and headed out.

They built a tiny snowman, but Reagan ate his carrot nose, right off of his face.

Sweet sisters!!!

Thankfully, the snow is already melting quickly! That is the beauty of spring snow, it falls fast and melts even faster!!!

The Evolution of the Bunk Bed

Friday afternoon, my little helpers and I cleared out the girl's bedroom. We sold Reagan's toddler bed and took Addison's bed apart and stored it for Gracyn. Then we began taping off walls and preparing to paint. When we moved here, we had promised Addison a pink room, and we painted her one, fast and furious She night before the furniture arrived. It was WAY TO BRIGHT and a bad paint job as well. So after they went to sleep on Friday night and in shifts Saturday morning, we repainted it a nice, pale pink....it's much more peaceful in there now!!!They spent Friday night, much to their delight, camped on their mattresses in our bedroom floor. Saturday the bunkbeds arrived. They came in SEVEN boxes!!! After a few attempts at 10 sets of hands putting the beds together, Mommy finally made a spontaneous trip to McDonald's with 6 of the hands in tow. We came back to find their beds up and ready to go. They have had a blast with them!!! And, yes, that is my almost 3-year-old with a paci if anyone wondered. Not sure she is ever giving it up....thinking she may take it to college....we aren't worried about it, just saving some cash for her future orthodontic work!!!

Happy "Green Patrick's" Day

We had a fun St. Patrick's Day, or "Green-Patrick's Day" as Reagan calls it. We started the morning with green milk for breakfast and I painted the girls nails green. It was a beautiful day outside and Tommy was working in the area, so before we dropped Addison off at school, we were able to meet him for a picnic.

That afternoon, our neighbor set up the bounce house for all the kids. Many of the husbands were home, so it ended up being a mini-block-party, with 14 kids running around. There are twin boys due on the street in the next couple of months. They won't come close to evening the score, but atleast they will add to the male numbers!!!

For dinner, we headed out to a friends house for cornbeef and cabbage. It was our first time....an adventure. My kids loved it and kept asking for more "steak"!!!

Zoo Day

Last weekend, while Mimi and Austin were visiting we headed to Colorado Springs, back to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Feeding the giraffes there, is always a big hit!!! My girls could do that all day. We also thought Austin would like the Sky Ride. He was excited about it all day, but bailed at the last minute. He stayed on the ground with Mimi, Reagan, Gracyn and I while Tommy and Addison went up. We had a great day at the zoo and loved the warm, sunny weather. Gracyn was so much fun.....she went crazy over each and every animal. She screamed, shrieked and laughed. We couldn't figure out if she was excited to see the animals or mad that she couldn't get them.

23 Years

23 years ago, this past weekend, I made my first walk down the aisle with my husband. My cousin David and his wife Noelle celebrated their 23rd anniversary and we were their ring bearer and flower girl. I remember Tommy back then, and what I remember most is NOT wanting to link arms with a BOY!!! Who would have thought that 14 years later they would set us up and we would make a second trip down the aisle! I will have to dig out the picture from the first time.....picture us at 8 years old, white dress/white tux, and lots of missing teeth!

Goodnight Light and the Pink Balloon

This pink balloon has been Gracyn's most prized possession since a birthday party last weekend. She carries it all over the house with her. If it floats away, she fusses at us until someone gets it back for her. She even went to bed with it a few days ago....have to pry it out of her little hands after she falls asleep. I don't know what kind of mega-superfloat is in that balloon, 7 days for a latex balloon might be some kind of record.

My Love

My precious girl....I could eat her up!

Show and Tell

Sitting like a big Pre-K girl.If you can enlarge this picture, it is hilarious. Reagan has her "thinking finger" on her cheek.

Protective big sis with her arm around Reagan.
Reagan got to write her "R" on the board.

She had to sit in Mrs. Williams' lap to reach.

Last week was "R" week at Addison's school, which meant that Friday she had to bring something that starts with the letter "R" for show and tell. Addison had big plans starting the week before and was determined to bring Reagan! I tried to talk her into taking a picture but she wouldn't have it.

The girls anxiously awaited Monday when they asked Mrs. Hoiland if Regan could come to show-and-tell. She happily agreed and the girls were overjoyed. Poor Reagan got confused though, she didn't realize that it wouldn't be until Friday. The moment she heard the teacher say, "Yes", she was headed into the classroom to stay for the day. She was so sad when I told her it wasn't time yet and she had to come home with me.

When Friday finally rolled around, I woke her up early from her nap and we headed to Addison's classroom. Gracyn and I snuck in the back and Reagan quietly tip-toed to the circle and sat right next to her sister. When it was Addison's turn to share they went up front. Mrs. Williams asked Reagan a few questions, which Addison answered for her, then she helped her write her name on the board and circle the "R". They were just precious.

As we were leaving Mrs. Hoiland began preparing the class for letter "S" next week. She told Addison that we could come again for the word "Sister". Of course, Addison was thrilled by that. She has her fingers crossed that we will come again!

Dance,Shot through Addison's Eyes

Reagan, in the purple leotard, checking herself out in the mirror.

Upside down Reagan???

Mommy and Gracyn hanging out in the floor.

Both big girls recently started a combination tap/ballet class at a local dance studio. They love it. Their classes are back to back, one hour each. Addison goes first while Reagan hangs out with me. Then Reagan goes in while Addison eats a packed lunch and gets ready for school. It is so much fun for them.

Gracyn and I, however, we aren't having that great of a time. The waiting room is not that big, and gets VERY crowded. Poor Gracyn just wants down to crawl around and she really can't do that. So, I spend TWO hours holding her and trying to entertain her while she pushes off of me and tries to crawl down. FUN!!! I get a donut on the way each week.....a donut and a coke. It helps me make it through.

Last week, Addison wanted my camera. Happy to keep her entertained I turned her loose. You are looking at a few things she came up with. 3 non-blurry pictures out of 35 isn't bad for your first time, Right?

S-P-R-I-N-G

Yes, my Texas friends, spring here can require a warm hat.

Bounce House = Crazy Hair

Gracyn and Lila are not to be left behind. They tried thier hardest to make it up that slide.

Addison and Garrett in the middle of a very intense wrestling match. They do that every time they see each other.

The "Girl Team" taking a break from chasing poor Garrett.

Charlie riding some cool wheels.

The baby girls finally got their chance, though it didn't last long. We had to pull them out after a few minutes when the bounce house was bombarded by big kids.

It's finally here, at least is was for today, and I will take it! I love being outside with the girls, and I have been anticipating today, since I saw the weather forecast. The day did not disappoint. After bible study this morning, I went with several friends to picnic at the park and let the kids play. Then after Reagan and Gracyn had naps, we headed across the street to Garrett and Courtney's house. Mr. Troy set the bounce house up in his garage and several neighborhood kids had a blast jumping, chasing each other around the yard and riding bikes. Finally when we came home, my big girls headed out to their sandbox, for the first time this year. They happily built sand castles while I cooked dinner. I am so giddy from all the Vitamin-D, I don't even mind all the sand they tracked in!!!