Our Children's Garden

We are SO ready for Spring and have been very busy. We had tons of sunflowers, zinnias and other flowers I can't pronounce to fill this garden over the summer. The kids mostly liked building the garden and playing in the sprinkler! Stephen is working on a mosaic step that we will be watching once the snow hits. I hope all of the little glass beads actually stay in the concrete!

Happy Easter

Winter Fun

Stephen's Birthday

Happy Birthday, big guy! He is growing so fast and SO tall. This year's birthday theme was Wall-e from the new Disney-Pixar film. We began our party with a treasure hunt game. I had hidden clues and mini planter pots for them to find, just like in the movie. For those not familiar with the movie, the earth had been evacuated to space in order to clean up. Wall-e was still left on eart when a probe bot, Eve, came to investigate life. She found a plant, but it was then taken from her when she arrived back to the ship. The movie was filled with both adventure and a sweet love story. Most important, Stephen LOVED it and I was ready for him to move on from the Disney Cars. Sorry, but I can only watch movies 1150 times in a row.

Good friends, Ruby and Macy came to join the party

Beetle Barn - Yes we are going to raise our own beetles

Slot Car Time

All Stephen wanted from me was a new quilt. He had been asking for a new one for about a year and I told him that I would make one for his birthday. We decided on a Wall-e blanket, so I found some sheets to cut up and make him his own. It was a long three days in the making, but he makes it so worth it. I think I have made him four quilts now and he keeps three of them on his bed at all times. The fourth one is boxed up in his baby stuff, but I am sure he would hold on to that one too if he knew we had it. Seeing him treasure these really makes my heart melt. Oh ya, he managed to get a pillow out of it too since there was left-over fabric; a bonus he didn't know about.

Ah, the pinata. This was my attempt at a quick and easy game. However, I had forgotten that this was a bit of a struggle at our wedding rehearsal dinner. These things just don't break easily without a little help. Thanks Dad.

Merry Christmas

The month of December was full of Christmas fun. I thought I would start with our Christmas Eve picture and then tell you about the month. Rhea had left her necklaces in the car and managed to talk us into taking them in. She didn't part with them the entire time.

We began our Christmas celbration by making gifts for our family members. The kids put together key chains, Christmas ornaments, bookmarks, and reindeer bags to put everything in. To by surprise, Stephen finished almost everything on his own over a couple of weeks. Rhea enjoyed the projects for a few minutes, but Stephen sat for hours working on everything.




Our church had their annual kids moment in the second Sunday service of December. Rhea pretty much hung out while Stephen really got into it.





Grandma and Grandpa always get us a membership and we chose Morton Arboretum this year. Fortunately, our cards arrived early and Grandma said it was OK to go before Christmas. We were able to see the Christmas train which facinated the kids. I had to keep Rhea from playing with the track and taking the little presents out of the backs of the trains.

Snowball Fight

Gnome Hunt

Wrap up for the nature hike

Why doesn't this pump work?

Merry Christmas

Rhea's New Sled

Stephen's New Robot

Rhea's Dolls

New big girl bed and new bedding

Wow! A Globe!

Princess Dress-UP

Daddy had to ship out with the NIU football team, so we headed to Grandma's house to keep the Christmas high going. My sister and nephews were there, so the kids had a GREAT time. They had to leave on Sunday, so we ended our trip by going to Chucky Cheese with Grandma and Grandpa.

Ryan and Stephen

Alex and Rhea

Chucky Cheese