New Beginnings

We had these sweet little creatures talking to us the other day outside.  It has been so fun showing the kids the eggs in the nest, the little bitty babies, and now these chirping little ones.  They loving seeing the momma bird drop off worms.  Caroline claims she is growing up to be a momma bird.

We also started something new with Jack.  Tommy has been dreading this day.  Now that Jack's hair FINALLY grows (he didn't have his first haircut until he was 3), it grows fast!  We were getting haircuts every 4-5 weeks.  Let the summer hair begin.  I have to say I was just a bit nervous of how it looked, but I love it.  Jack does too.  He just keeps touching it.  He is so excited to show his friends at school tomorrow!  What a big kid.  Reminds me of Uncle Mark growing up!

the before

getting started

of course we had to stop for a mohawk

look at those blue eyes!

he kept checking it out while getting the finishing touches

Happy Easter

This past week being Spring Break gave the kids and me a bit more time for some Easter related projects.  First up, we made and decorated (painted) some fun spring shaped sugar cookies.  These are my absolute favorite sugar cookies.  They rise up nice and stay soft for atleast a week...if they make it that long around here!  We also decorate them with a royal like icing.  The only thing I don't like about all the royal icing recipes is that they use raw egg whites.  Just doesn't sit too well with me knowing that I give most of them away and the kids are eating them.  So my sister sent me this recipe several years ago and we love it.  We use paint brushes and paint it on.  So fun!  Here are some photos of the hard work put into them and the final results.

We also got to watch the Reds opening day parade this year.  I wish we could have actually gone the parade, but I wasn't brave enough to go downtown by myself with the kids on that crazy day.  Here are the kids supporting the Reds.  Plus, Chickfila was giving away a free sandwich to each person if you came in wearing Reds shirts.  Can you say free dinner?

Caroline also got a new haircut this week.  We cut bangs.  I had always thought I would stay away from them for her, but they look so nice now!  Her hair was sure getting scraggly!  Here are some photos from the haircut place and right after.  The actual Easter pictures look much nicer!

Proud to wear the Star Wars shirt Jack got her for her birthday.

We also painted eggs this year.  I dyed them using Kool-aid (amazing idea!  Thanks pinterest!).  The kids got to paint them with paint.  They had fun with it.

Then this weekend we went to our first egg hunt at a local church.  Cold, but fun!

Love this...

 The Easter Bunny came this morning.  Caroline was into her chocolate before she even saw what else was in her basket.  This girl LOVES some chocolate!!  They were super thrilled with their finds of the morning.

And finally, we headed to Lexington to have Easter with the Smiths.  They are so wonderful to include us in with their family.  The kids love being around the other kids and playing outside for most of the day.  And of course, the egg hunt!

Notice here that Caroline is just "looking" at Jack's basket...she's thinking...

Now she's getting egg, after egg, after egg and putting them in her basket.  Sneaky girl!

Here is a fun series of pictures of the kids.  Trying to get a good one of both of them is often a challenge.  Here they are, both being hams.

Jack doing what he does best, getting her to laugh!  Love these two!

Too long

Some of our family is going to cringe and want this post taken down.  Here is a sign that we've been in Kentucky too long.  Tommy took Jack to the mall for a new hat.  Look at what he was insistent on getting.