Easter Houses

Want a way to entertain small children for almost an hour? Have them decorate an Easter House. The kids loved decorating with the frosting and candies and each had their own approach to decorating.

Kenzie was all about the candy:

Manny made a smiley face:

Kenzie even tried some stripes:

She may have needed help squeezing the frosting, but she knew right where she wanted the stripes:

The finished products:

Of course, they had to have a little taste once we were done:

How do you know that spring has sprung? You will find us at Little City Park!

McKayla and Manny receiving some last minute driving directions aka gently veiled threats about speed/trees/not running into people from Christine.



Fast forward 11 years and I can totally see them in a real car going for a drive:

Kristian and Kenzie taking a spin in the fire truck

Some geocaching adventures

Kenzie hiding her own cache deep in the woods:
keeping herself entertained with stickers and a notebook:

Will we make it? (Yes we did!)

walking through the field:

Sometimes they're in a tree:

Sometimes they're in a guardrail:

Starting our journey along the power lines:

Sometimes you just need a nap...

Somtimes, you just fall asleep wherever you are. Manny started out on the floor in the living room:

Moved to the couch in a curled-up position:

To stretched out on the couch (notice the drool...haha):

Valentine's Dance

Manny attended a Valentine's Day dance with his friend Brianna.

There were Shrine Clowns, games, pizza and of course music. Manny had a lot of fun, but was a little worried before we went into the building. He said to me, "Mama, what if I don't know how to dance?". I reassured him that he was a great dancer and that I was sure that he was going to have a lot of fun.

Manny with his balloon hat:

Dancing with Brianna: Trying to get Manny to just look at the camera and smile:

Actually...

Kenzie woke up early from her nap today. She came into the office and just stood in the doorway. I said, "Kenzie, it's still nap time, do you want me to tuck you back into bed?"

She looked at me, put her hand on her hip looked at me and said, "Actually, Mama, I pooped".

I burst out laughing, changed her diaper and then snuggled with Kenzie on the couch.

Makenzie's Family Birthday Party

Kenzie's Birthday had a theme....PINK! That is all she wanted for her Birthday.

Grampa took his pink shirt one step further and added a duck costume:

Manny in his pink hat using his hands to talk like Uncle Paul who is wearing his pink shirt:

GG and Kenzie:

Kenzie reading her cards:

She was very excited about her cake with flowers on it:

Manny and Lexi admiring the fish:

David (no pink!), Manny and Grammy

Kenzie and Manny playing with her My Little Pony house:

A little bit of snow time

Since we have so much snow, might as well play in it for a while.

Spaghetti Sauce is a food group right?

Makenzie and I were making homemade spaghetti sauce for lasagne and she decided that she wanted a taste. She loved it!

She ate at least 1 cup of spaghetti sauce and asked several time for more.

The Evolution of a Ski Outfit

Manny's first day of skiing started quite normally-snow pants, winter jacket, hat, gloves and of course sunglasses...


His third day of skiing involved his own skis and a cowboy hat...

His fifth time skiing involved his own skis and Mr Incredible underwear on his head...

Birthday Party #2

Makenzie had some friends over for a Birthday Party. Reed, Kristian, Tim, Roman, McKayla and Nick came over for a little Birthday Party fun. We playes, we ate peanutbutter and jelly (lasagne for the big kids), played some more, ate some cake and then opened presents. It was great to see the kids playing together and it was especially great to catch up with the other parents.

Manny and Roman:

Manny and Reed enjoying their cupcakes:

Reed checking out the dancing and singing snowmen:

Enjoying dinner:

Playing on the top bunk. With eight kids we are lucky there were no casualties:

Kenzie and her favorite other Mama's, Heather:

and Christine:

Christine coloring inside the lines:

McKayla and Nick:

Kristian enjoying his cupcake?

Tim:

McKayla's sweet smile:

Kristian taking a little quiet time to himself: