Too much going on ...

I have no idea where to begin here. Since Easter we have been non stop and our lives will not even slow down until the 15th of June when we will be departing for our East Coast Tour. Although, this year we got smart. We are not going to really tour, we are going to go to one place and chill. More on that trip when we return (mid July). In the meantime, we have been keeping up with the kids social lives. In May alone the kids have attended 7 birthday parties. I sat up one night wrapping gifts and if it were not for the Cars and Barbie wrapping paper I would have thought it was the night before Christmas. Both kids continue with their swim lessons. Acacia is back into soccer twice a week as well. Our life group's last official gathering was a little over a week ago so now we have one night a week that we do not have something going on after work. The house has been on the market for a month now and Randy continues to do more and more improvements to it. The most recent projects have been painting the deck and the house. I have no idea what is next. I am afraid to ask. The weather is finally warming up enough that we are able to be out doors and not have multiple layers on. This has allowed for kite flying, carnivals and cook outs. Both kids are able to ride their bikes without training wheels but both still like the security of having them. It's a day to day thing. No training wheels one day, back on the next day. Today Acacai asked how many days until we leave and I got a knot in my stomach when I told her it was 26. Only because we have soooo much yet to do before we leave. At least 3 more birthday parties (including Chris' 4 year party). A bowling outing, 3 open houses, at least 3 cook outs, 3 more swim lessons, 3 more soccer games, and the packing .... I love the packing. Randy will be teaching the entire week before we leave. Acacia last day of school is the 15th and we leave that night. Somehow, it will all come together. As soon as we pull out of the drive way on the 15th I just know my shoulders will relax and drop about 4 inches. OK - enough. Here are some photos of the past few weeks.

Although you can not really tell, this is Acacia and Carson flying kites.
Acacia lost her second tooth and Chris is showing off his cool aid mustache.

Acacia's kindergarten had a concert. Here she is with 8 of her classmates - all paying attention ... to what?? I just do not know.
Rocking a baby?? Carrying a large sack of flour? I can't remember.

Acacia and Rachel ride the dragon roller coaster ... front and center ...
Braden and Chris have their faces painted. They are so serious.
The finished products. A rainbow butterfly and a mango ... don't ask. I thought it was a pineapple..
Rachel's flower and Cacia's mango ...

How much fun can one have in a big blue bear?? Just ask Jamie (who stepped out for the photos). He had them spinning pretty good!
This is the gang in the "bouncy cars".
Chris and Braden choose the pink tea cup for what appears to be a pretty darn good time.








This is just a little video clip of the kids on the rides. It goes kind of fast so you can't see their faces that good.

The Last Hunt

Ah, the last hunt. HoiMing had us over for a great dinner and egg hunt. It was great to see everyone again and have some quality adult conversation ... well, you know - stuff like "How do you get your kids to not have accidents at night?" and "Do your kids still bite ... each other?" I think the only casualty of the evening was somehow the bathroom door got locked, with no one inside. Good thing they have two other bathrooms!!

Sorry there are so many of the same shot - but each kid looked their best in a different shot!























Here are a couple quick little videos ... Just click the play button (maybe twice) ...

Easter '07

7a. We hear the whispering! Time to get up. The bunny left two trails and their names in jelly beans to the room with the rest of their eggs and a little something special for each of them. Chris was convinced that Acacia's line of jelly beans was longer then his so he tried to take off with a few from her trail. Otherwise, all went well! After breakfast we packed up and headed off to Promega for showers. Our church service answered all my questions about the relationship between Jesus and the Easter bunny. If you are at all interested you should check it out on line! You know it will be good as the name of the sermon is "Peeps". Everyone's favorite Easter treat.

Click here if you want to see the service and understand the history of the peep! It's about 30 minutes long - but very good.

Peeps

Click here to see more photos from this AM's hunt!

Easter Egg Hunt '07

















Here is a little video clip ... Sorry, but part of it is side ways ....

The First Hunt

Take one. This is the first of maybe three Easter Egg hunts the kids will partake in this year. We skipped a couple already. The grocery store had one at 7a. Uh, I'll pass. This is by far the coldest we've had an Easter Egg hunt. I was kind of trying to convince the kids that they would not want to go since it was so cold. I guess that was a bit of a foolish thought. As in years past, Acacia will not go anywhere near the bunny and Chris will go racing up to him and almost take him out with his all powerful knee grab. We tried to get a photo of him with the bunny (an no other kids) buy this proved to be impossible. So, we just left him there to be in others family photos too.

The hunt started at 1:00:00 PM. It was over at 1:00:37 PM. Acacia's friend (Ellie) showed up so she did not have to hunt alone. Each year this event has been interesting for Acacia. This is the first year that did not involve tears. Last year she got 6 eggs and remembers "selecting" each one specifically. This years goal was to get more then 6. She almost did not succeed as when they blew the starting whistle she ran past all the eggs towards the tall grass and then over towards where the younger kids were hunting. But, with enough yelling - this was corrected and a large basket of eggs was obtained.

Randy had Chris in the younger kid section and I guess Chris had a similar start. For some reason they feel the need to run to the far edge and work their way back. But, Chris got plenty as well. After the hunt if you got special eggs (with star stickers on them) you got additional candy and if you got an egg with a pony (not a bunny) you got to pick a little stuffed bunny. Acacia got a pony so she also got a bunny. Did you follow that? One of the extra treats they got were those lovely 3 foot long pixie sticks filled with flavored sugar. Needless to say, no one had a nap - or quiet time today.

Tomorrows schedule .... Easter bunny arrives and leaves two jelly bean trails, candy, hard boiled decorate eggs, more candy, one special little game or something and, uh - candy. Chris wakes up (we all wake up) the hunt begins. Then we all pile in the van and go to Promega to shower. Church at 11a, run errands and then to our friend HoiMing's for another hunt. This is worse then Halloween. Jelly beans last forever.

More to come on the additional hunts. I have yet to have anyone explain to me what the Easter bunny and Jesus rising from the dead have to do with each other. Anyone??




Here is Chris and the bunny and some other unknown kid.























This is Acacia and her poker face - eyeing up where the star and pony eggs are.











Yeah!! Chris came over to say hello before the hunt!












This is Ellie! She went to the 7a hunt at the grocery store and will be at HoiMing's tomorrow too. I bet the dentist loves her!! (we also hear she'll do anything for a Mike n Ike ....)












The whistle is blow and the tape is down!














Yippy!! More then 6!!














AND NO TEARS!!














Success for Chris!













A good time was had by all!

Getting Ready for Easter!

This year we convinced the kids that the Easter Bunny would love some help. So, they sat and filled the plastic eggs with jelly beans!! And, of course, we colored (and glittered) our eggs! Can't wait for that bunny! Sure wish it was not supposed to snow! I have no idea why Acacia insisted on not wearing a shirt ....

Not too much going on

Well, we have been super busy with birthday parties and other outings but just not really taking too many photos. Lots of time now spent on getting the house ready to go on the market. The date is set ... 4/17/07. Our first open house is 4/22/07 12p-4p ... if you want to come. If you come and there are potential buyers - you have to act like you don't know us and say how great the house is and that you might offer us more then we are asking!! Kidding ... sort of!! :) Well, in the meantime, the kids enjoyed the tower of mattress that was the living room for a while. Acacia and her never ending "boring" life decided that making a stained glass window was pretty cool!! And finally, we took the training wheels off her bike. She is ready for the open road. It was pretty dark when I took the bike video. I'll shot more next time we are out in the light! Hope everyone is doing well!! Can't wait to see you all this summer!!

Snakes??

Acacia's friend Carson invited us to see a show that had live snakes, frogs, spiders and turtles ... and other fun stuff. Everything went well until the tarantula came out. Then Acacia did a little back flip off the wall she was sitting on. But, everyone had fun!!



Inseparable ...



Snake face ... ewwwwwwww!



Chris gets brave and pets the snake!

Snow Fun

We have been trying to get out in the snow, but it's actually too deep. But, the purple rocket sled did pretty well on it!! Click the link to see all the photos.

Snow Fun!!!



Walking the frozen tundra ...



Fun in the purple rocket.



Click the play button to see Acacia "surf sledding" on the purple rocket.



Click the play button to see the kids on a mile long purple rocket ride. If you have sound you might be able to hear me wondering when they will stop. They are screaming the entire way. The ride ended when they hit that snow bank at the edge of the parking lot.



This is Chris showing me how he can roll down a small hill next to our house.



This is Acacia on the same hill.

Chris' Lunch

Chris' class made lunch for all the parents last week. The kids brought in fruit and veggies. They cleaned and cut! They made veggie soup, home made bread and butter. They created invitations for the parents and made the table clothes!! It was all great fun!! They were soooo proud of themselves! Click the link to see more photos of the event.

Chris' Lunch!!!

WBB Game

Today we went to see the last WBB game of the season. It was pretty cool. There was this lady at half time who did holla hoops, like 50 at a time. My friends Kelsey and Carson got their photo with Bucky too! I have the best friends ever!

My Friend Carson's party!

My mom had to wake me up this AM to get ready to go to my friend Carson's 6th birthday party! We went roller skating!! It was soooo cool! I fell on my butt a lot but so did everyone else (except Rachel). She just skated around and around and around, without ever falling. The party room glowed in the dark! It was AWESOME!




Here I am with Carson. Wizzy is sneaking up behind us!




This is Rachel. She just kept skating around and around and around.




Cool glow in the dark affects! I am the 4th one in on the right.




This is Carson and her cool feather boa. It glowed the best!

Lost my tooth!!

February 13th, 2007. I LOST MY FIRST TOOTH! How cool! It came out in music class. I got to go to the nurse's office and she gave me a little plastic box shaped like a tooth for me to put my tooth in and then I could wear it like a necklace.

Mom here. She was more embarrassed then excited. Not really sure why. She did not want to show anyone or talk about it. When she woke up this AM I asked if the tooth fairy came. She just looked at me and and shrugged her shoulders and said, "Well, I don't know." I told her to check under her pillow but she did not want me to watch. I turned and she kind of stuck her hand under the pillow and felt around but would not actually pick the pillow up. The tooth fairy left her a note and 4 shiny quarters. She was not impressed but was happy to have more money.

Maybe the next tooth will be more exciting! If not, this could be a long road. How many teeth do kids have? 20?? Sigh ....