4.30.11 - Another Quiet Moment

...but this time they were reading.

4.29.11 - Caught Red Handed

The house was quiet and Tyler was no where to be found, 

that usually isn't good.  Look what I found...

4.28.11 - The Most Beautiful Season

 

Hands down the most beautiful season is Spring.  

I love watching everything wake up from hibernation.

4.27.11 - Teamwork

Tyler thinks he has it all figured out.  He simply whines 

and along comes someone to steer and another to push.  

All Ty has to do is lift his legs.  What a life!

4.26.11 - How many loads?

 

I don't know...too many to keep track, at least six.

4.25.11 - Double 'E'...

Gotta love the neighbors who puts Christmas lights up before 

Thanksgiving and takes them down after Easter.

...with 'E'xcitement the Christmas lights went up.  

...with 'E'mbarrassment they came down. 

4.24.11 - Easter 2011

4.23.11 - Timber

Saturday morning Derk and a colleague from work took down one of a few trees we are taking down in an effort to help us grow some grass in the backyard.  We found that after a few summers of trying to grow grass that the seed was simply not getting enough sun.

The best part was hearing the sound effect
from the boys as the tree fell.

4.22.11 - Easter Colors Continued

Jalen illustrated "The Colors of Easter" at school.

4.21.11 - We Love You Mommy

The boys surprised me with flowers when I got home from work.

4.20.11 - Jelly Beans and Easter Colors

 

Jalen's teacher always has cute ideas.

4.19.11 - Working on a little something...

 

...for someone special.

4.18.11 - Snow, Are You Kidding Me!

 

Jalen came running into our room first thing in the 

morning to ask if it was winter again.

4.17.11 - All Smiles

Paused during their wild game of b-ball in the empty sun room.

4.16.11 - Walk for Water

It's simply not fair so we walk to raise money and awareness.

4.15.11 - Neighborhood Play

Spring is here and so has playing outside.  Just about every day 

Jalen asks if he can go play with Dylan.  These boys are both 

the oldest in their families so isn't a surprise when conflict hits.  

They love each other like brothers.  

Later in the evening when more kids were
playing I asked for a group picture.
Isn't it true, pictures say a thousand words.

Dylan: "Are you really trying to do this"

Micah: "You better take it now, chaos is breaking out"

Mady: "What is he doing?"

Ella & Jalen: "Everything is cool"

Ty: "GET ME OUT OF HERE"

4.14.11 - Now I know my ABC's

Tyler loves to sing and dance.  He has about 4 songs he randomly 

combines and sings.  He went on for about 20 mins singing his 

ABCs and I just so happened to catch it on video.  Sometimes
he makes it all the way through but the cutest times 

are when he belts out his own version.

4.13.11 - Signs of Spring

What tells you spring is here?  For some it's when they spot their first robin (which by the way, my mom spotted on March 11 this year).  For me, it's when the perennials poke their little green heads out among the dry out / dead debris.  Each year, I anxiously wait through Michigan's long winter months.  I usually see it upon our return from spring break.  It doesn't take long and I'm out pulling away the dead so the new can be seen.  There is something spiritual about working in the garden on an early spring day.  It happens every year and I see it as another way in which our Fathers affirms his love.

4.12.11 - Privacy, I need PRIVACY!

I know what you are thinking..."what in the world?"  Yes, it is a picture of a door...but it represents so much more.  The journey all started when we were designing the house.  We went back and forth on whether to put a door in between our master bedroom and bathroom.  We finally decided that it wasn't needed.  Boy, was that the wrong decision.  First off we have large windows in our bedroom that open to the front yard / road.  I love everything about these spacious windows except that you have to pull the drapes anytime you are in the bedroom or bathroom unless we want the entire neighborhood to see us brush our teeth.  The second is the fact that our bedroom is right off the kitchen on the main floor leaving it rather easy for two little boys to wonder in.  After countless times of requesting I mean yelping "privacy, I need privacy"...we knew a barrier was needed to give us privacy.  And so, the story ends with us having a door installed during spring break or so we thought.  We still need to have a door handle with a lock put on.

4.11.11 - Insistent on Using a Fork

 

Ty wants to be a big boy and is starting the Mr. Independence stage.  Recently its been about using a fork at dinner time just like the rest of us.  At first he was fine with us simply giving him the fork after it had food on it but recently he wants to do it all himself.  If he isn't able to "poke" the  food, he picks it and pushes it onto the fork then places it into his mouth.

4.10.11 - Baby Girl

 

Since its warmed up, Lucy especially likes being outside.  

The only problem is everyone else does too and she 

thinks everyone loves her and needs to pet her.  She has

acquired wondering legs. It is our top priority 

to get the invisible fence working.  We worked all afternoon 

fixing the broken wire while Lucy watch from the window sill.  

We didn't quit finish but hopefully by Monday night we'll be operational.

4.9.11 - Ty's 1st Airplane Ride

 

...we were spoiled and journeyed to and from Florida by air.

4.8.11 - A day at the pool...

...boy was it nice!

4.7.11 - A day at the beach...

 

...boy was it nice!

4.6.11 - Animal Kingdom

4.5.11 - Lunch at Santa Maries - St. Augustine

While we waited for our food the waitress brought the boys 

bread to feed the seagulls.  You simply open a window 

box from your table.  We were sure to wash our hands

...this was a "first / last" experience...nasty birds.

4.4.11 - Enjoying Crablegs

4.3.11 - Wild at Heart

4.2.11 - Do you think we have enough?

 

Three families, one week...don't ask us how much we spent.

4.1.11 - Anyone want a kiss...

...come here little penguin.  The boys stopped in Atlanta
to see the "world's largest" aquarium.

On a side note, when I put Ty to bed he
said "love you" back for the first time.
He sure knows how to make my heart melt.