Evening at the Park

Before we had kids and after Abby was born we would go out to eat on Friday nights.  After the boys came it got a little more difficult.  One of our new things we like to do is to picnic at the park on Friday evenings.  Then we feed the ducks or play on the playground.  The kids love it.  It's actually a lot more relaxing with 3 small kids than going to a restaurant.  This week we went to the walking trail after dinner and the kids rode bikes.  It was good exercise for us because we had to walk fast to keep up with them on their bikes. 

Bobby and Nathan (his little clone)



Noah



Easter

We started off Easter by attending our church's community Easter service at the high school stadium.  The boys stayed in the nursery but Abby went with us.  It was sunny and hot and I was worried about her making it through.  (She melts in the heat!)  She did great.  We were very proud of her.  It was a great service and we had a huge turnout.  Afterwards we headed home to get ready for lunch.  All of our family came over for a big lunch and egg hunt.  The food was delicious!  The kids had a great time hunting eggs.  It's funny every year to think about how the egg hunt changes from year to year as the kids get older.  We have "big kids" now.  Karlie is practically a teenager.  The little boys are no longer babies.  They are on the run constantly.  Little Jonathan is the only baby.  Time flies with kids! 

Bobby was giving Hayden a head start.  Nathan is trying to escape!

Easter baskets

Jonathan and Pam

Big Kids on the Loose

Noah and Nana

The whole crew

Nathan is looking serious about this egg hunting.

Noah and Nathan

The big "twins"

Abby and Karlie

Karlie and Mandy

Bobby and Abby



The rare family picture



Sweet brothers- Clayton and Jonathan

Hayden on the run!



Tonya, Hayden and Brad



Abby on the hunt



Getting ready for Easter!

Last week Abby had her Easter egg hunt.  We were worried that it would rain but it cleared up.  We had to hunt in the parking lot because it was a little wet.  I love what her teacher did for the eggs.  She had each child bring in 20 eggs with their classmates' names printed on each one.  Even though the eggs were just scattered in the parking lot they still had to really work to find them.  It was very bright, hot and muggy for April.  Poor Abby is so sun sensitive that she couldn't open her eyes in any of the pictures.  We then had an ice cream sunday party.  Finally we celebrated her teacher, Ms. Allen's birthday with a giant cookie.  All the kids had a great time!

Mikayla, Jolie and Abby



It was cute to watch these two help each other.

Abby and Mikayla enjoying the art center.



This morning we let the kids dye Easter eggs.  Abby has been doing this for several years but this was the boys first time.  They did a good job.  We kept it to a dozen.  We didn't want to get crazy with two 3 year olds!

Testing the first egg

Noah

Nathan

The whole gang

The Wild Ones

Mommy and her little angels (excuse the no makeup)

Our beautiful eggs!



Noah and Nathan's Easter Party

Today I went to the boys' school and helped out with their Easter party and egg hunt.  They were so excited to hunt eggs.  I can't imagine how excited they will be Sunday when we have our big egg hunt.  They are such funny little guys.  They love to eat the snacks at their parties.  They are so unlike their big sister who never touches the food at her parties.  It's so cute to see them with their little friends.  They seem to really like the girls! :) 

Noah getting ready to hunt eggs!

Sweet Noah

Nathan: "Look at my big egg, Mommy."

Noah and Mommy

Nathan and Mommy (at a weird angle)



The rare picture of the boys together. Aren't they cute in their orange?



Does Nathan look excited to be hunting eggs?

Big Boys!

We love pretty days when we can get outside.  Yesterday was gorgeous so the boys and I spent a few hours outside.  They love their new bikes that they got for Christmas.  They look like such big boys riding them.  Noah also has a new fascination with mowing the lawn.  He will make rounds in the yard for 10-15 minutes.  Of course he picks the farthest corners of the yard where I can't see him.  It's so different taking boys outside.  Abby would just play in one little area.  They go toward the street, run around the side of the house, get into the woods, etc.  They just can't contain themselves to one spot. Life with two 3-year old little boys!! :)

Daddy wishes so badly that this was a real lawn mower.

Noah

Is someone aggravating their brother in this picture?

Nathan

I just had to add a pic of my crazy roses.  We cut them back and they have grown
almost  a  foot this spring. 

Barney!!!!

Tonya and I took Hayden and Noah to see Barney's  Birthday Bash  last week.  We had a great time.  I especially enjoyed it because it was the first time that I have been able to take just one of the boys to do something together.  This is something we want to do more of in the future.  Noah is the only one of the 3 kids who really likes Barney so I jumped at the chance to take him.  He and Hayden  both cried for a few seconds when the lights went out and Barney first came out.  This didn't last long.  Noah started singing along with all of the songs.  He kept saying "Hi!" as each character came out.  Hayden yelled and clapped the whole time.  He was so excited.   I wish I had some better pictures but the boys were too excited too cooperate for pictures. 

Noah and Mommy ( a little fuzzy)

An excited Hayden

Happy Birthday Barney!

Tonya and Hayden