Denver Day 1-2

 At the end of June our family and Todd's parents drove to Denver for a little trip to visit Todd's brother and family. We arrived fairly late the first day since it took most of the day to drive there. The kids were so excited so see their cousin Ava. Above: Listening to bed time stories.

 The next day we spent the day at the North Pole. The kids had a blast! The rides were just right for their age.

 Riding the train.

 The girls telling Santa what they want for Christmas. Boston wasn't quite brave enough to tell him what he wanted. I don't think he would even make eye contact with him.

 Waving to Santa.

While we were there a fire started on the opposite mountain top (Waldo Fire). We left just before they closed the park and before roads were closed.

Father's Day

So I'm a bit behind (only a few months).

We celebrated a day earlier since Todd had to work on Father's day. He was very excited to get a grill from all of us.

While they were assembling the grill Reese wanted her picture taken with her new Lalaloopsy doll - Coral Sea Shells. Reese had worked very hard for weeks doing various chores to earn money to purchase her doll. She was very excited to finally go to the store and pick her up. She even earned some money from Grandma and Grandpa when she helped in the garden one day while visiting.

June Dance Recital

 Reese had her final dance recital a couple weeks ago. Ending her first year of dance. I did remember to bring my camera this time.

 So it cracks me up that everyone is doing something different here.

 Waiting in the hallway for their number to be up.

Reese did a wonderful job. We were also able to have family there to support her. Dad was there for her first number but then had to go to work. We also had Grandma Z, Grandpa and Thomas. After the recital G&G took us out for dinner at Pizza Hut.

Missed May

 So I slacked a little last month. Most of these I pulled off my phone since I haven't really been in a picture taking mood.

 A few weeks ago we made some homemade pretzel bites. The kids were in absolute heaven!! We found the recipe on Our Best Bites. The kids often request a trip to the mall just to score some pretzel bites. We thought it was pretty fun being able to make them at home. They were delicious!!

A few weeks ago my brother called wanting some thoughts on a cake (a sexy male torso) he wanted to make for my SIL for her birthday. I tried explaining to him how I would do it over the phone and some how that turned into me making the cake and not him. So I found a few pics online of some others that had been done and I didn't think it would be too bad. I think it turned out pretty good, considering this is my second time using fondant on a whole cake. I even made red velvet with cream cheese frosting from scratch (also a first).

 So I mentioned previously that Boston broke his arm on Easter Sunday. I have some pictures of his x-rays on a disc but I can't seem to pull the files off so this is all we really have documenting his Dr. Visits. He had to wear a sling for the first few days after breaking his arm, because we needed to wait for the swelling to go down before they could cast it. That was an extremely miserable 3 days. A 2 year old and a cast to not mesh well. The cast was too big and we constantly had to readjust and situate his arm in it. So that just ended up causing additional pain each time we did that - so we were relieved when it was finally time to get the cast. He picked blue for his cast. He was a little wiggly and upset while they were trying to put it on, but they got it done. The cast didn't hinder his wildness at all. You would think it would slow him down a little, but it didn't.

Here the kids are the day Boston got his cast off. The wanted their picture taken with the skeleton who bonked his head.

April Dance Competition

 In April Reese had her first dance competition. She is in a tap/ballet combo class and absolutely loves it! She says ballet is her favorite. It's so funny to see her incorporate some of her dance moves at home. She is constantly twirling and posing and showing mom and dad how to do certain ballet positions.

 So I completely forgot to bring my camera to her competition - duh! We did take our video camera, but I have no idea how to put the video on here. So I'm was able to get these pictures thanks to one of the girls aunt.

 Their tap costume. For this number they danced to "Gettin' Jiggy With It" - Will Smith.

 Reese and Bailey - her best little buddy she met in dance.

For their ballet number they danced to "Once Upon a December" from the movie Anastasia. Reese did absolutely fabulous. Grandma Debbie and Grandma Nan drove up to see her performance. They loved seeing her dance.

Zoo Day

 We made an impromptu trip to the zoo a few weekends ago. The kids love the zoo, obviously! I should also mention... you'll notice above Boston in a cast. On Easter Boston fell off the kids slide in Nursery and broke his arm. We'll post more on that when we get copies of his X-rays.

 We end up taking nearly all the same pictures when we go to the zoo each time. We end up with a picture at the Lion fountain, and sitting on the various statues... although they are the same pictures it's fun to see them get older and bigger.


2010
2009
2008

 Cute kids! We had a fun day!

 Easter morning the kids participated in a photo scavenger hunt in order to find their Easter baskets. The clues led the to the basketball hoop, behind the shower curtain, inside a kitchen drawer, Reese's dollhouse, under Mom and Dad's pillows, the swing set, and finally in the family room behind the couch.

 They had lots of fun figuring out where the next clue was.

 Boston loved his new crocs. He wore them around all morning.

 Imagine that - the Easter Bunny left some Lalaloopsies for Reese (a little sister doll, a mini doll, Lala puzzle, Lala sunglasses, and some candy). Boston got the new Muppet movie (which they watched twice today) bubbles, Spiderman sunglasses, stamps, and some candy.

All dressed up for church. I practically had to hog tie Boston in order to get his tie on. For some reason he was very against it. Obviously he figured out it wasn't so bad after all. I wanted to get some cute pics outside with them all dressed up but at this point we were already 10 minutes late, so maybe next week.

We had a lovely Easter. After Easter baskets we had a yummy french toast breakfast, went to church, came home and stuffed ourselves full of goodies.

Downey Easter

 These are all completely out of order, but I'm way to lazy to fix that so whatever. Saturday we went down to Downey for their city Easter Egg hunt. These first few pictures are of the little egg hunt we had a grandma and grandpa's house after we ate lunch. They had a few treats and gifts for the kids.

 Boston found some candy, money, bubbles, and a Yo Gabba Gabba Book. And for our Lalaloopsy enthusiast a sticker book, candy, bubbles, and about $4 in change (enough to buy another Lalaloopsy mini).

 Boston dumped out his goodies from the city egg hunt on the ground so he could gather some more things at Grandmas.

 They're Off! The ended up finding the really good stuff inside the chicken coop.

 While at the city egg hunt they got to pet a real chicken and bunny.

 We kept telling Boston when it was his turn he needed to run really fast. Well he did just that... so much that he ran all the way to the net without picking up a single thing. Didn't quite get it for a minute, and when he finally did he would only pick up the loose candy on the ground and not the eggs. Since there was so much for all the kids he ended up with a bucket full of goodies.

 Scoping out the goods before it started.

 After Boston had his turn we went over to watch Reese's age group. Boston helped himself to a few eggs.

April First

 Sorry these pictures aren't the greatest (I took them with my phone). So here are some pics of my April Fool's jokes. Naturally I found them on Pinterest. Above: Litter Box (brownies, with graham cracker crumbs). Below: Mashed Potatos, Peas, and Carrots (cupcakes - starburst, runts, and caramel sauce).

 Last Sunday we went down to my grandma's for dinner and for our family Easter Egg hunt. The kids had a lot of fun looking for all the goodies. There were a ton of things out there for them besides candy. Dress up jewelry, monster trucks, punch balls, bubbles, and lots of other fun things.

 Scrambling for the goods.

 Reese and her loot.

Obviously this is out of order. The cousins making a mad dash to find some goodies.