Our Front Door Bendaroo's

I am SO not a fan of Bendaroo's. My kids got them from Santa this last year and since then I don't think they have been allowed to play with them much. They were a little fun at first, but every. single. time. they are played with, I spend about that same amount of time scraping sticky stuff off my countertop. Grr.

I think this happened on a Sunday, but I came home from Choir practice and saw some neat Bendaroo art on my front door! My kids were so excited that I had to leave it up. I just so happened to paint my front door the next day (coincidence? You be the judge.) - so - shoot. I had to take them down.

PS - the front door was that awesome cream/tan/gross color when we moved in. I've just procrastinated painting it for a good 7 years now. It was preeetty bad.

The before...(yikes)

A couple of close-ups of the neat Bendaroo artwork...





I was actually pretty impressed with this one...

And the after. Better, don't you think?

Springtime Swimming

Literally, this was the first day of the year that broke 70 degrees. We have had such a wet, cold spring that it felt WONDERFUL today. Therefore, we broke out the kiddie pool. Morgan and Grace were invited to swim in our neighbor's HOT TUB, so we filled our kiddie pool with water from our water heater. Sweet!!

Gage, obviously, had never seen the sun up close before, and Crede was soooo excited to get out and play in the water. They had a lot of fun.

Here's the debut of "albino baby".

Crede was trying to help Gage play with some fun pool-toys.

Check out those ab-rolls!



Gage looks like the Micheline Man here. Either that or the State Puff Marsh-mellow Man.







Gage cuddling with Dad on the swings.

Swimming Lessons

I finally broke down and signed Morgan and Grace up for swimming lessons. We go camping every year with some close friends of ours, and we always make it a point to camp by some type of water.

Last year we couldn't find Crede for about 10 minutes ~ and then he came walking through camp with wet socks and shoes. He had just decided to walk down by the water...ALONE...and wade his feet. I will tell you how freaked out that made me.

So.
Swimming lessons it is.

It was quite the ordeal taking all 4 kids to swimming lessons. Chance was only able to come twice, and let me just tell you how much I appreciated it when he came. What was hard was when Grace, or Crede, or Morgan would come up to me and say, "I need to go potty!!" I would then have to take Crede, Gage and whomever else in the bathroom with me. It's hard when you can't put your baby down for a minute to help wipe. Ya know? I would always finish out of breath. I made a nice friend who always sat by me ~ she gave me this cute magazine that she was looking at (after I sat and read over her shoulder the whole time) and I'm looking forward to hanging out with her again this summer (her daughter signed up for the same time as we did).

Anyway,

Here are some pictures of Grace. Morgan's year went a little worse. She was so freaked out of the water that each week she was in tears during her lesson. Her teacher kept telling her that he was a lifeguard and not to worry. I was so happy that she had a caring and patient teacher. She wouldn't have made it otherwise. She finally got used to it after about 5 lessons. This summer they will be taking more classes, and I'll get more pictures of Morgan then. In the meantime, here are pictures of Grace...and one of Morgan doing what she does best.


Oh Grace...



Yep, that's what she does best.


And Gage...





I like how she has a perma-grin on her face in all of these pictures. Goof-ball.

TIme is going waaaaay to fast.

It hit me today. Gage is 9 months old! This is his last milestone before he turns the big One Oh. Wow. I can't imagine our lives without this little man. He is so stinkin' cute and funny and chubby and yummy. I love to smell his head and nuzzle into his cheek. I love that when he wants you to pick him up he will "head butt" you in the leg. I love when he talks to me, saying, "Bah bah bah bah" or even just opening and closing his mouth over and over to make that popping sound. When I was taking his picture today I kept saying, "Boo!!" I swear to you, he said it. I know, my kids are GENIUSES.

(They get it from their Mom.)

Happy Birthday Crede!

Crede, I can't believe that you are now 3 years old. THREE! You have been such a fun little boy. Before actually having a boy in our family, I didn't know how much fun they could actually be. I was nervous and apprehensive when you were first born. I didn't know if I'd be a good Mom for a boy.

You are SO. MUCH. FUN. You make me smile each and every day. You have a fun little sense of humor, and your little belly makes me laugh. When you were about 1 1/2 we would tease you because your tummy stuck out so much after you ate. It looked like a little basketball under your shirt.

Anywho, you turned three, you had a very fun birthday and even had your "car" birthday cake, as requested. I am loving the birthday hat Morgan made for you, and you were loving the Lightning McQueen car she bought for you. We all love you very much, and I hope that you enjoyed your third birthday.

Your puppet show...



Your be-yoo-tifull birthday hat...Thanks Morgan



Even birthday boys have to sit in time-out sometimes...Sorry Crede.





Yeah, I know...my cake skillz are amazing. I would officially like to announce my retirement from the cake world. Sorry kids, but next year we're going for taste rather than shape. Mmmmmm.....red velvet.....

Easter Part Deux

The Saturday before Easter is always quite the event. This year we had THREE Easter Egg Hunts to go on. Here are the kids practicing with Dad before leaving for the big hunt.



I cannot believe how COLD it was. I am thinking it was literally 30 degree's outside. Here are our kids all bundled up. Cute Morgan...



Crede...


Gage hiding out in his stroller...



And Grace...


Now. These next few pictures were taken on Easter morning. Gage was thoroughly excited (as you can see here). Mainly he just tried to eat the Easter Grass. Oh well. Next year will be more fun for our little Man.


Crede got a new friend in HIS basket (and we can even take him to church with us!)


Here are all the kids as we were waiting for the time to leave for the Grand-Baileys' house.



As you can see here...Gage has PLENTY of love.



Here are all 15 Grandkids just before the Easter Hunt at the Grand-Baileys' house. It was a lot of fun.


Poor Gage...didn't quite grasp the concept. Oh well.

Easter Eggstravangza

Here are our eggs before:


Aaaand after:

(Can you guess which egg belonged to Chance?)


Morgan drew that Easter Bunny all by herself on that egg. I thought it pretty cute.