Easter 2012

HAPPY EASTER!

Coloring Eggs & Hunt

Because my parents are getting older, losing their minds, such great grandparents, they invite the kids over the week before Easter to practice our egg hunting skills and decorate eggs.

It's an event my kids look forward to every year!
This picture is proof if I actually get a pic with the kids really smiling, I will never see their eyes. Arph!

Lucas and Ry get ready for the big hunt.

Aunt Beth supervises artistic Julia from decorating the counter and her shirt in addition to her egg.

Ryan is super proud of this rainbow egg he creates.

Happy almost Easter!

Sister Love

A sister is a best friend for life! 

Soccer Time!

Today marked the start of spring soccer games.  Mother Nature conveniently cooperated, and we all enjoyed an awesome day outside cheering on our little athletes.

Ry guy jumped right in on the action.

Juls had to have a little pep talk from Daddy to get moving.  During the warmup, she bumped heads with another player and then was convinced that this was just too rough of a sport for her.

Daddy did a good job motivating!  She was on the move!

Of course, snacks at the end of the game will probably always be a favorite tradition.  Juls and her teammate Jackson pose for me.

Ryan is sooo excited to have his friend from school, Tyler, on his team this year.

Tyler, Julia, Jake and Ryan playing around post game begging us to bring them for some ice cream.  How can you say no to these faces??! =)

Watch Out, Picasso!

Ry's art teacher, Mr. English chose one piece of artwork from each grade at the school, and guess which artist's piece he chose to represent 1st grade!!?
Our RYAN!  The same kid who in preschool during art time would sit under the table!  He's come a long way, baby!
He was super excited (as were we!) to be invited to a reception to view his art at the Edwardsville Arts Center gallery tonight.  They gave him a special tag to wear so that he could answer any questions people had about his piece.
I overheard him telling someone that he worked for a long time on this piece, which had the Disney Cruise Ship and Batman/Mickey featured.  In fact, he said, "Yeah, it took me years to finish!"
Awesome job, Ry guy!

E = 6 mos!

Our sweet baby E is 6 months old today!
Seems impossible!

Emerson, you bring so much joy to our family!
Your smile is contagious.
Like your brother and your daddy, you smile even with your eyes!

You are full of sweetness!

You love to play...especially with this diamond ring Gram/Papa gave you for Christmas!

You are also super inquisitive...
...your brother and sister give you lots to look at and think about! 

Kindergarten Registration

My "first" baby girl starts kindergarten next year.
Gasp!
The days sure go slow (sometimes!), but the years so so fast!

Jul was SO EXCITED.
She wants to start TOMORROW!

Rolling Over!

Life as we know it has changed...Emerson is rolling!
All.
Over.
The.
Place!

1st Lake Trip of 2012

Amy and Jeff had the fantastic idea of heading to the lake this weekend to take advantage of the unseasonably warm temps we've had lately.  We couldn't resist joining them!
Emerson enjoyed her first boat ride...it put her right to sleep!

Juls is so excited she asks if she can get in.  Uncle Jeff confirms the temp of the water is still in the upper 50's, so we nix that idea!

Uncle Jeff chillaxin.

Daddy and Juls navigating.

Our new captain Ryan!

The guys and kids later went fishing, shopped for candy treats at the gas station, and took a 2 mile hike, and Amy and I got some mega shopping done with Emerson...our second outlet mall visit in 2 days.  You can never go enough, right?! A super fun + relaxing weekend!

Papa Visit

The kids participated in the Awana Sparks-a-Rama today in Highland.
Since it is rare we make it to Highland these days, we took the opportunity to run to my dad's gravesite.
Ry and Julia thought it was very important to add some "flowers" (weeds) by his headstone.

Catching A Leprechaun

If you want to catch a leprechaun, you need to build a trap.

Apparently leprechauns are mischievous (says Ryan), and the "rules" are meant to be broken.

And since they can't fly, you will need to build a ladder to entice them up to your "pot of gold"...
Ours consists of $6 Ryan had in his wallet, and the $20 he talked his sister out of, although her first response was "No! I'm saving mine for Disney!" after Daddy said leprechauns are tricky and he didn't want to risk any of his cash for this mission. Ryan is quite the persuader!

So the kids are banking on the fact our tricky leprechaun will climb to the top, and fall through the "fake" floor where they will capture him.

Exciting times here, I tell ya! =)

Upward Bound Basketball

Tonight was the Upward Bound Basketball Award Ceremony.
The boys were given bags for their efforts this season.  Ry told us he was really hoping for a medal or trophy. =)
Julia (5), Andrew (3), Ryan (7) Polar Bear Team, Jake (5) Kangaroo Team.

Happy Birthday Daddy and Juls

Aunt Stacy + The Girls!

Aunt Stacy crossed the river today to come see us and celebrate Julia and Jeff's birthdays a little late. We had a great morning cheering for Ryan's basketball game, and then a yumm-o lunch at Cleveland Heath (my new favorite restaurant!), and then she came back to our house for a bit.  Of course, we made her get in on our Bananagram game action too... =)

Thanks for coming, Stacy! It's always fun to see you!!