Almost SUMMER!

SCHOOOOOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER (almost)! (In my best Alice Cooper voice)

I have realized that with each change of the season that the new season coming is my favorite season. Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall... I love them ALL and all of the fun that they bring for our little family! They all seem to come around just when I am bored of the previous season. Thanks midwest weather & mother nature! You are the BEST! So now that it is May, SUMMER is my new favorite season!

We started May off with some fun "school is almost out" activities. Bailey had a program at her school, the big kids had field day, and our school district put on a huge parade that ended at a carnival! The kids didn't have to go to school that day - they just had to go ride rides till they puke. SCORE! Kenz walked in the parade and played her recorder the whole way with the rest of the third graders. Then we partied hard at the carnival. Well we partied as long as my back could handle, that is. We got in a car accident a couple days before and I was hurting pretty bad. Some moron driving a big truck and pulling a trailer rear ended us at a stop light and off course he didn't have insurance. Awesome! We were all okay thank goodness!We still had a great time at the carnival though. I bribed the kids to leave with Happy Meals and Sundaes when I had had enough. Food bribery pretty much always works on my kids...and Rich... and me too actually... shocker!

I did not get to go to field day but Braxton's buddy's mom sent me some great pics!

Last day of school finally came and then baseball season started for Braxton and oh my heck was this kid ever in heaven! It is in his blood and constantly in his brain! We would go take BP at the park by our house and Bailey would hide behind Rich so she wouldn't get clobbered by a line drive. He hits HARD! Yay for summer knocking on our door!

More April Fun...

Just a few fun pics... Papa Bowman made the kids their own money, kids climbing trees (and dad), 80's day at school, a too cute bug n dad pic, and Braxton's new ball glove. 

Easter Bliss!!!

It's that time of year again! Eggs, Baskets, Candy, New Church Clothes... and trying to remind our kids that those things are not why we really celebrate Easter. Those things sure are fun though...

Our ward (church congregation) had a pancake breakfast and Easter Egg hunt for the kiddos. They had a blast! Then the kids got spoiled by Mr. Bunny as usual. Kenz got a bunch of fancy duct tape and a Digi Bird that sings with her. Bailey got a Playdoh Sweet Shop set. All B cared about was more Reese's White Chocolate Eggs than he could fathom! After crepes for breakfast (of course!) we watched General Conference for our church. Pretty cool that it fell on Easter Sunday! Hearing Prophets and Apostles speak about our Savior and share their special witness of Him made the day much more special and focused on what is most important.

Taking pictures of these turkeys can drive me up a wall when I want a plain ol cute, happy, loving, obedient, perfect child picture (said picture, by the way, is like finding a flipping UNICORN!) Their antics in the moment make me want to chuck my phone/camera on the ground and stomp away. Looking at the pics later just makes me die laughing...
B: "Mom I CAN'T SMILE! IT IS TOOOOO SUNNYYYYYY!"
Well Bailey had no problem in the exact same sun 2 minutes later... she had all kinds of poses including the puppy dog face that Dad falls for daily and Mom is REAL good at ignoring or making the face back and then shouting "NO!" at whatever request required the deployment of the puppy dog face in the first place.
And I only got one good pic out of Kenz because she was pouting about being held hostage to take pictures before church.

All joking aside, these three make me even more grateful for Easter and for the resurrection of our Savior. Because of Him we too can be resurrected and live with our eternal family after this life.

Sometimes Life Sucks...

Yes, true statement... sometimes life sucks! In March we found out that two of our very best friends were moving within WEEKS! The Russells and the Smiths are like family to us and we were crushed to find out they were leaving St. Louis. We were able to squeeze in a few fun things with the Smiths before they left but the Russells had a house to sell CRAZY fast so we just got to stop in and say some emotional goodbyes. I HATE goodbyes. They are the worst! We just have to remember all of the good times and memories made. Oh, and visit them ASAP in Florida and Colorado! We are already missing you guys but we are happy for the new adventures your families get to embark on! WE LOVE YOU!

Geese and Sea Lions!

(I actually spelled Miscellaneous right without checking! Go ME! LOL)

In March we did a few fun things with pics too cute to let rot away on my hard drive.

On Wednesdays we miss Dad since he usually leaves work and heads straight to church where he works with the youth in the Young Men's program. One Wednesday we brought a picnic dinner and met him at the awesome park by his work to play before he had to go. We ate dinner, went for a long walk. played on the playground, fed the ducks and geese, and played some football. It was a great time with Daddy!

This video of me scaring Bailey with a goose threat is great!
https://youtu.be/HrCrb-MZG0M
Bug VS Goose

A few pics from our March zoo trip where we got to see the new sea lion exhibit!

Snow Ball of Emotions!

It snowed a TON in February and we had a heck of a time playing! I took a bunch of pictures for a project in my humanities class. We had to capture and label 5 different emotions and our day in the snow sure did the trick! These are my emotional snow pictures...

Some more pics of our fun... getting dad, getting gotten by dad, snow angels, "Painting" the wall of the apartment with snowballs, etc...

Happy Birthday, Dear Kenzie!!!!

Seriously I cannot handle my kids getting older. Unfortunately I do not have a choice and they just won't STOP! My little baby girl is NINE PEOPLE! ONE YEAR AWAY FROM DOUBLE DIGITS!

Since her birthday was on a Sunday, we made big birthday plans for Saturday. Those plans were totally ruined by bad February weather! We got tickets to go ice skating for the first time at an outdoor rink in St. Louis. The thought of dragging six kids out on the ice in 25 degree weather and high chances of sleet and rain made me want to curl up in the fetal position. Plan B still made for a great day though!  Amanda, Chris, Rilea, and Dylan drove in for the big day! We picked up McKenzie's best friend, Brianna Birckhead, and they played at the apartment for a while until it was time to play at Chuck's (Chuck E. Cheese). The kids had a blast, won a bunch of tickets, got their brains rattled in the bumper cars, and took some pretty funny pictures. Afterwards we got pizza for lunch and the kids made Duct Tape crafts from the giant and super cute bag of duct tape Brianna got for Kenz. After we took Brianna home it was time to get ready for Birthday Dinner! Kenzie wanted a date night with the adults so we got a sitter and went to her favorite restaurant, Smokey Bones, for a belly full of deliciousness and a bunch of laughs. We had an awesome day!

 This picture cracked me up.... Photo bombed by a creepy lady on TV! LOL

On her actual birthday for breakfast we made pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream and tons of bacon (of course,). After church she opened presents and insisted on making her own "Orange Camouflage Duff Goldman Cake". Some of her favorite presents were her new hymn book, Pinky Pie, Kinetic Sand, and Cash of course! She got spoiled as usual by all of her extended family. It was so great to have the Doellman's spend the weekend with us too. Birthdays are way more fun with family!  

Well Miss McKenzie Lea, as much as I don't like it, you are growing up more every day. You are sweet and sensitive, kind and generous, You are a great friend, and excellent big sister and cousin. Your smile brightens any room. Your favorite thing to do is create masterpieces through drawing and painting. You are so smart and love learning new things. You are loved by so many people. Never forget that! Your dad and I are so proud of the person you are becoming and we love you more than you will ever know! Happy Birthday beautiful McKenzie!