Easter fun

22 hard boiled eggs! Once Gabe starts eating them I'll have to do at least 2 dozen! Maybe we should have our own chickens?





Plenty of candy was consumed, before 9am (and after)!



A little boy enjoyed his first Easter...even though the Easter Bunny didn't bring him any candy!


We went to Grammy and Grampy's house and spent the afternoon eating delicious food and spending time with family.
I sat the 5 cuties down for a group picture and this is what I got...I think it shows their personalities very well!


Gabe loved snuggling Grammy and Grampy:



Lukey snuggling his Aunt Anna (isn't her hair fabulous?)


Cousin Katie, a self portrait. *smile*


Great Grandma was there too, it was so nice spending time with her!


I got to drive Grandma home to the farm after dinner and we had the nicest time visiting in the car. When we got to her house her two little kitties were waiting at the door, very hungry. Grandma is so funny, she makes macaroni and cheese and keeps it in the refrigerator for them. She opens a can of cat food, puts some m&c in the bowl with it, and warms it in the microwave. Talk about spoiled kitties!!! She is so cute. After the kitties were fed, we danced to some big band music, although I did not inherit the ability to dance. Especially with my crippled foot. Grandma can still cut a mean rug at almost 83 years old!
On my way home I passed a field that had AT LEAST 50 deer grazing and romping...I have never seen anything like it in my life. I took some pictures (stopped the car first, of course), but they didn't turn out very good.
It was a really good day, a holiday full of fun with family.
Most of all, celebrating the true meaning of Easter. I am so grateful for the life that we have because of what Jesus has done for us!

Is this spring?

Merry Christmas...I mean Happy Easter!! I promised my inlaws that I would show them what they're missing down in sunny Florida! On Good Friday we literally got about a foot of snow, much to the childrens' delight! Here are some pictures of them happily enjoying the beautiful white snow, perhaps for the last time this year!






Our streets were plowed early Saturday morning, and it is a good thing we have 4WD on our Suburban. David spent a lot of time shoveling Saturday morning, and I hobbled out with my broken toe to take a few pictures. Hard to believe it is almost April!

Thankful Thursday

Ahh, Thursday. I really love Thursday. This week really flew for us, at least for me. One week closer to spring and warmer weather, days spent outside, walks and sunshine. This dreary pre-spring weather is hard for me, the pretty white snow is gone and everything is still in it's winter "sleep", brown and muddy. The time change last weekend has made a huge difference, though. The days are longer, the sun seems warmer coming through the windows in the afternoon. I actually heard some birds singing the other day, and that really lifted my spirits! I know spring is coming, and I can't wait.
Sickness has been like a plague here the past 2 months. One thing after another, without much break in between. Lots of wakeful nights, lots of bleach, lots of cuddles and snuggling a feverish little boy this week. Sometimes it is hard to find things I'm thankful for in the midst of a time like this, but this morning I was reminded of many things I am so incredibly thankful for.

**Warm little bodies, sandwiched in between daddy and mommy all night.(not always so comfortable, but comfortING)

**The half hour spent with my youngest this morning before the other littles woke. Special quiet time is few and far between.

**The hugs and kisses I receive from sleepy heads tumbling down the stairs.

**My hardworking hubby, who so sweetly started the dishwasher at 3:30 this morning.

Happy Thursday!

sshhh...

dare I say it, out loud? We have a potty trained boy!! Thank God, it finally clicked with Luke and we are in big boy pants all day now! That was seriously the longest 5 months, so many setbacks and frustrations, bribes and treats. I honestly at times thought I'd be changing his diapers in high school! (I'm only partly kidding) He is the fourth child, and I might say that one could get a bit confident (read: cocky) after successfully potty training three children. Shouldn't be a problem, right? Luke has blown a good majority of our parenting theories out of the water. He is a very strong-willed child. It is so funny because when he was born until he was about 2, he clung to me like his life depended on it. He was quiet and loving, tender and seemed to be very easily directed. Wellll...things change and from age 2 until now he has really challenged us. On the other hand, though, he is still just the most loving, adorable, sweet, tenderhearted little boy. With potty training, it has been a battle at times, one that I had to continually surrender to. I was NOT in control, something that is not easy for me to admit. :)
My wonderful friend, Sarah, had been dealing with potty training her son who is 3 also. After Christmas she told me he was potty trained. Of course, I was very jealous and asked her exactly how in the world she did it. Popsicles. Popsicles? Yes. Every time he went in the potty he got one. Why didn't I think of that? We had tried, m&ms, chocolates, fruit roll ups, and the list goes on. None of those things really meant much to Luke. But the minute I explained to him that he'd get a popsicle each time he pottied on the toilet, it clicked. It's been about 4 weeks now, and we've had only a few accidents. And he doesn't even ask for the popsicles anymore!
David had promised him that as soon as he was potty trained, he could join "soccer school". There is a 6 week program at the local indoor soccer place called "mommy (or daddy) and me". He went for the first time this past Saturday morning, and had the time of his life! He was SO cute out on the field. At the end they did a mini scrimmage and he made 4 goals! The penny he was wearing went all the way to his ankles, which made him look even smaller, but the look of pride and joy on his face was absolutely priceless. His siblings and parents cheering for him, he was in all his glory!

Happy 7 months Gabe!

And what a wonderful and extremely fast 7 months they have been!

Saturday afternoon fun

Homemade playdoh...as I was cooking it the smell reminded me so much of the time I would spend at my grandparents' farm as a little girl. Grandma always had some playdoh made and in the refrigerator for us to play with. Today we doubled the batch and did 3 colors: Ben's is blue, Luke's is green and Maddy's is...surprise! Pink!

It is so easy to make, takes about 5 minutes, start to finish.
1 cup flour
1 cup water
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1/4 cup salt
1 tsp. oil
food coloring

Mix all dry ingredients in saucepan, add water and oil. Mix well and cook over medium heat, making sure to continuously scrape the bottom of the pan. Once it is thickened completely, turn onto the counter to knead in food coloring. (or you can add with the liquid ingredients before cooking.)
Store in a ziploc plastic bag.