Just hanging out in the backseat

I don't frequent the back seat of the van a whole lot...and it's been about two weeks since I've really made notice of the condition of it. Apparently I need to be frequenting it more often.

Yep. That's pen AND marker.

Guess we're keeping this van until it dies. While I think I can get the pen off the side area--I'm pretty sure that pen and marker on the upholstery isn't coming off.

I should really do another post documenting the walls in Hannah's room and her personalization of the sheets and pillows too. The girl loves to mark her territory--that's for sure.

Easter 2011

The kids love Easter. And I'm not gonna lie...it's all about the candy and the Easter egg hunts. Luckily, we had lots of both. And even managed to do a little service as well.

The festivities started off with an Easter egg hunt at one of the local parks with some friends from church.

Group Shot

Helene was totally into it

Sweet boy

I LOVE this picture of Ally and Hannah, even if her eyes are closed.Too busy checking out all their loot to look at the camera
Krista and I took the kids to a convalescent home to pass out some candy and sing to the residents there. It was really sweet to see them interact.

We dyed eggs. This was the only halfway decent picture of it.

Easter morning I tried to get a group picture of the kids in their outfits. I tried. I really did, but you can see what I'm working with here.

We went to Krista's house that afternoon for dinner and an Easter egg hunt.

Now I just wish I could stop finding plastic Easter egg halves everywhere.

ice cream

Last week it was in the 80s here.

So I took the kids to McDonald's for an impromptu ice cream cone.

And yes, Sammy had one...he just ate it all before we got home.

See, I'm a nice mom...sometimes.

Lately...

Life seems to be getting in the way, which results in neglect of the blog.

Here's what we've been up to lately.
You know...besides school, homework, doctor appointments, dentist appointments...life.

Dabbling in a little guitar playing

Playing with friends at the park

Talking myself out of buying this rug at a yard sale.
It was brand new and a total steal....but really...I have no place to put it.
Still love it though.

Indulging in a little toast with Nutella for breakfast

Hanging out with new friends at the zoo

Eating ketchup at In-N-Out

Attending the Pajama Story Time at Sammy's school.
This was actually a really fun night. The kids were supposed to come in pajamas, and they went from classroom to classroom to hear a story. After the story, they made a craft related the story (Cat in the Hat hats is just one example) and then had cookies and juice. The kids loved it.

Pretty much taking over Mom's bed

Eating at Souplantation....a few times.

Mmmmmm...ice cream

uh....I don't know where he gets it from.

This is just something we've been doing since Sammy was a toddler. There is a ramp just outside the exit to Souplantation and the kids always race Matchbox cars down the ramp. They could literally do it for hours. Simple pleasures.

Aaaaaaannnd...that's pretty much the end of February and some of March.

More birthday stuff!

Since Sammy was having his birthday party on Saturday at...yep...you guessed it: Chuck E Cheese's (again)--I didn't do a cake or anything on his actual birthday. I know that may sound mean, but I had spent the night before making 26 cupcakes to take to his class. And I was also making the birthday cake for the party. And I was planning to make a cake for Helene's birthday the following day.
And he doesn't even like cake.

Anyway. I digress.

So, Helene helped me make her cake on Wednesday.
OK--she just licked the beaters, but that's really the best part anyway.

Group pic. So love it.

And yes, that's Christmas wrapping paper...cause that's just how I roll.
(and she's only 2 so I can get away with it!)

My adorable girls

She couldn't have been more excited about her Cinderella and Little Mermaid figurines. I wish I could have captured her face the moment she opened them, but you get the excitement.

Poor Hannah was so jealous...and I really don't blame her. It's hard to sit by and watch everyone else get presents while she has to wait until July for her birthday.

Luckily, Helene was willing to share.

Sweet girl.

CAKE!! AND PRESENTS!!!

I don't have a ton of pictures from Sammy's party. It's just too crazy to take any while keeping track of kids, ordering and distributing food, giving out tokens, changing Helene's diaper, and trying to socialize.
I did manage to get a few.

Air Hockey!
(Mom's favorite!)

Stephanie and Riley and Danielle and Michael

Sammy's cousin, Jon, was in town visiting from Las Vegas--and Sammy was so excited to see him. CEC has this new thing for the birthday kids to do called the Ticket Blaster. Basically, they put you in this capsule and they start a wind tunnel and release a ton of tickets. Sammy really didn't want to do it (and I didn't blame him), so we enlisted Jon to do it for him.
It was pretty funny.

Chuck E. has a really really big head.

Cake!

My mom was so sweet to make Helene her very own birthday cake so she didn't feel left out.

Two forks...my kind of girl.

This is so Helene. She is my Prim and Proper girl.
Always saying "please" and "thank you"....and always wanting a napkin. She hates messy hands.

Presents!

Happy Birthday Sammy and Helene!