Jaden

Our J-Man --

Aunt Amanda got a new camera and was playing and learning one afternoon while Jaden was at her house!  

 She told me she took some pictures of Jaden, but  I didn't DREAM they would be this CUTE!!!

This is his sweet, genuine smile!!

We RARELY see this smile in pictures.  Instead we get the cheesy/show-off grin!

Any pictures we have of my boys with Mason--- they are trying to hold him.  

My boys just love Mason and trying to "Take care of him"!!!

Thanks Aunt Amanda for taking these cute pics.  Now---can you get our other 2 kids!!!  

Summer's here!!!

Summer started TODAY at 4:15pm

To get ready for summer...
**I went to the grocery store and bought LOTS OF FOOD!! Lots of SNACKS foods! (we'll see how long these snacks last!)
**have cleaned out closets--got rid of long-sleeve shirts/pants
**bought a few more summer clothes
**cleaned up the back-yard and replanted shrubs that had died!
**caught up on laundry today
to name just a few things!!

Yes---this is my pantry shelf.  I am so proud because we actually have it FULL!!!!!  I don't usually buy lots of "Snack" foods, but today I did.  So, at least for the first week of SUMMER, they'll eat good.

I also bought a watermelon...doesn't that signify summer!!!

Then, when Tyler got off the bus today...ready to go on to 2nd grade.  We ALL greeted him with a GIANT SUCKER (their last day of school treat).

Then, fudge-sicles outside

Swimsuits/slip n slide/sprinklers with the neighbor kids and a BBQ with Wilkinson's!  The kids played outside from 4-8pm and had a BLAST!  Then, in for baths!!

Paige, Leah, Jaden, Hallie, Tyler, and Jaycee

Tyler really was having fun---not sure why he is looking like he is!

Then, because that wasn't enough FUN for one day, we let the kids sleep in the tent in the basement and watch a movie.  We told them at 10pm we had to turn it off.  Tyler and Paige were asleep about 9:30pm.  Jaden made it til 10pm and then we turned off the movie, UP. (I wanted to set the tent up outside and camp in the back-yard---Steve was not up for that!!)

It was a FUN NIGHT!!!  
Summer's here, ready or NOT!!!

More Easter

I wasn't going to blog these pictures, because 3 blogs of Easter pictures is a lot.  

But, I want to always remember their little selves coloring Easter eggs. 

 We may not have many more years of doing this.

Working SO hard

Yes---the "cheesy smile"

Hmmm.....at what age do I have to make Paige keep her shirt on?

Steve had the great idea of coloring eggs with a paint-brush.  I made fun at first and then decided it was truly a good idea. Any time we can do something with a LITTLE less MESS, is good!!!

Easter egg hunts

I took over 100 pictures just for Easter.  

That's silly!

But, in my defense there's: coloring eggs at our house, coloring eggs at Grandma B., eating with Balzer's, eating with Roth's, Easter egg hunts at both grandparents, Easter morning pictures....

There were lots of different opportunities to take their pictures!!

I think Grandma Balzer is telling Tyler that he will never (in her mind) be too old for her hugs and kisses!

Tyler is already thinking he is getting too old for that.

Surely not....he's only 7!

Easter outfits

Precious cute Easter pictures!!  

We ate lunch with Grandpa and Grandma Balzer at the Breadbasket in Newton and took these pictures outside before eating! 

I LOVE the boys' outfits!  UMM...  UUMMM.... cute!!!

I love the ties and shorts, the loose tied tie, the shirt un-tucked, I love it all!  

I cannot believe that I got them BOTH to wear them.

And---the kicker, each tie was $2 at Children's Place Outlet!  YES!!!!  

Paige and her cousin, Taylor

Tyler and Mason--

Tyler LOVES holding Mason (even though Mason doesn't usually like to be held for long!)

And, is that PRECIOUS or what!!!!

Grandpa Balzer and Jaden!

Westlink School Program

The last Pre-school Program--

The theme was CAMPING--so the kids wore bandannas!

The red bandanna really put a "kink" in Paige's outfit for her the program!

She was going to wear her cute pink and yellow Easter dress---

but we had to switch the outfit due to the bandanna!!

Yes--her hands are IN her pockets!  

It was hard to do the actions with her hands IN her pockets!

We'll make sure the next program her dress does not have pockets!

Paige and Emmi Harden

Jaden and MaryKate Wagoner

The kids all got "S'More packs" after the camping program!

Off to Kindergarten Jaden goes!  No more little kid Pre-school programs!

What will Paige do without him next year??

Father/Daughter

Precious Paige--

This day Paige wanted her hair flipped out--- too funny.

She woke up and asked for "flipped out hair"

Then, she looked so cute and daddy looked so cute (on his way to a meeting)

so we took their picture together!!!

I thought this was so cute with her head tilted in!!

I hope she will always be Daddy's little Princess!!!

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to ME!!!

This year we could not get a "group" photo for Mother's Day---

so we got individual pictures!

Tyler--7

Jaden-- 4 1/2

Paige-- 3 1/2

So---because of these 3 blessings--I can celebrate Mother's Day!!