Memorial Day

**Warning**I actually posted several things tonight!  I know, shocking!

We were so excited to have Tommy home for the long weekend.  We had fun with fireworks, water balloons and the parade.  Tommy and I even got to have a nice date!!  Here are some of my favorite moments of the weekend.

Batting water balloons...definitely a Tommy idea

love this smile!

such concentration

The garden is coming along nicely.  Have to keep the rabbits out with the fence!

Tommy needed a turn too!

Getting ready for the parade.  Chairs, drinks, shades, snacks...got it all!

Getting the clapping and waving down

Waving and hoping for candy.

What a ham!

Caroline had become "Caroline grouchy" just moments before.  I told her "don't smile" and we get this.  So fun!

Such a sweet, sweet girl

Finally, candy!

Something about this shot that I love

Working hard to get that sucker open.  What a hot day!

Grammy and Grandpa

Every so often, Tommy will have to work on the weekend.  A few weekends ago, Grammy and Grandpa came to visit.  They were so sweet to help with the kids and some things around the house and yard.  I was even able to sneak off and attend graduation at the high school.  On Friday, the kids and I took them to this neat restaurant called Jane's Saddlebag.  Bikers and classic cars often come out this way.  It is in a neat county setting and has tons of fun things for the kids to roam around in.

looking for sticks to throw in

Of course, Jack and Grandpa go for the big one

So Jack goes for another big one

He got it

And heaved it

Making sure Caroline is busy throwing too!

Love this Caroline face

Yes, they got showers that night!

Much easier to go up the hill this way!

Jack really wanted his picture by the sign with his name on it....

Yes, I was actually there too!

What a fun night!

Swim Lessons

The kids have been LOVING swim lessons.  Tomorrow night is the last class of this session and they are so disappointed..  We've come a long way since night one.  I don't even have pictures to document that night.  I'm sure I will get the image of Caroline beating against the class crying "mommy, mommy, mommy" out of my head eventually.  No need to share with others..ha!   Once we got them both settled into the right class, things have been much better.  We are excited now that the outside pool is now open.  We will be spending most of our days there this summer!  Friday is the kids last day at daycare.  They are excited for their class parties.  Anyways, here are a few highlights of swim class!

Caroline's turn to jump in

She waits until Ms. Laura is holding her hands before she will jump

This was Jack jumping early on.  Very close to the side.  Now he jumps to see if he can get Ms. Laura all wet.  He thinks it is hilarious to cover her with water!

Getting excited

Can you imagine that these two often get separated and in trouble for splashing?

Jack likes to go under and forgets to close his eyes and mouth.  

So fun!

Going Private

I've decided to make the blog private so that I can discuss some of our recent events.  Email me or leave a comment here so I can add you to the list.  Make sure you tell me your email address.  Once I list you, I don't think you will have to sign in every time.  Just want to be able to openly share!

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!