Spring is in the air + "Church Egg Hunt Picnic"

It has been really beautiful outside lately! Megan and I headed over to Home Depot last week... and picked out some plants. It was great getting out alone with my kiddo. We had a potato chip snack while taking a break on the lawn department furniture. (Healthy 9:00 snack-Ha).

We loaded them all up in the jeep... and Megan drove them around back.

"Hey... lets put one right here!"

Now it's feeling a bit more like SPRING!

EXCEPT...
for all of the leaves!!!!!!

Kevin HATES this part. We have 5 acres of leaves... and too many oak trees to count. For the last few years... he has used a leave sweeper behind the mower. It really works great... but creates about 50 piles of leaves that have to get burned. So... this year... he got a new plan.
LEAF BLOWING! I have to admit... it sounds crazy... but worked.

"Who needs a rake?"
It's pretty sad... but after 5 years of living here... we don't even own a regular rake.

It works really fast! (Pretty good too!)


"Church Easter Egg Hunt / Picnic"

We had a great turn out! Lots of kiddos to play games and hunt eggs!

Gammie came too!

"Hey this is fun"
Jake and Gammie hung out on a blanket in the grass...!

"Look at me... I'm getting bigger everyday!"

Bubbles! Bubbles! Bubbles!

The kids all loved dipping in to the soap!
"What is it with kids and soap?"

"Hey mom... this is fun!"

I looked over... and caught Megan and Evan hanging out on the swing together. Cute!

"Hey... I want some too!"

It was neat seeing so many kids out for the day.
More and more babies keep popping up everywhere! What a blessing!

Megan and her buddy Ben had fun checking out the cows! Megan got a like on the hand!

The BIG HUNT is on!

The big kids had to wait for the little guys to get a head start.
Ready... Set... Go!

"Here's one!... I found it!"
She got a pretty good stash of eggs!

"I love CANDY!"

They finished off the day with a huge pinata! Hooray- Candy for everyone!!!!!!

Jake's first mashed potatoes!

"Mmmm.... Yummy my first real mashed potatoes!"







"Holy Crap... this is some thick stuff!"









"Kinda gaggin' me here mom!"








"I don't know about this?"








"Hey... it's pretty good... once you get the hang of it!"

First attempt with the Dentist!

Big girls get new Belle toothbrushes!

The kids had to come to my staff meeting with me on Friday... and on the way... Megan kept asking about going to the Dentist. I said "no... we're just going to play"... and she kept asking about it. I intended on taking Daddy with us for her first trip (for behavior)... but she continued to ask... so I thought hey... timing is everything. Well... You'll see it started off well... and then she shut down. All in all... I feel it was a successful first start... but not a "real cleaning".

She got to sit in the Big Girl chair...and try on Mommy's purple exam gloves!

I was surprised to see her lay back for me... and we counted all of her teeth!
10 on top... 10 on bottom! Great job Megan!

Then came Mr. Slurpy... and the Squirt gun! ... and this is where our cleaning started coming to a close. I already had it in my head not to push it... we'll just get it next time.
She did laugh when she closed on the suction... and giggled with the air spraying her.

I started in with Mr. Tickles (the polisher)... and she pretty much sat right up. At least she got to see what it felt like... and heard the sounds and taste.

"No... I do Mommy's teeth"... "let me try Megan's first"... "No... Just Mommy's"
so... I got a bit of a cleaning myself.
I just chaulked it up to a try... and then moved on so she could try an exam.

... Waiting on Dr. McDonald.

... needless to say... she was a bit tight lipped... and didn't see many teeth... but better luck next time. We left on a happy note... and she promised to try again later.

Megan got her treasure chest surprise for sitting in the chair... but no "No Cavity Club Picture" until she sits for a full cleaning and Exam.

She said many times later that day...
"I'm a good brusher"
"Next time... I won't be too shy"
I hope she's right!

Fun Highlights in a rough week!

SPA Day!
Well... about a week and a half ago...
Mom-Steph-and I were treated to a day at the spa! We've never done anything that long before! It was nice being treated to such a relaxing day... without the cost! I unfortunately don't have fond memories of the afternoon... cause OUT of the BLUE... I got the stomach flu... about 45 minutes after we left!

It was such a nasty bug! Kevin lucked out and left town for the entire week... and I was sick!
Megan got it a few days after me. Pitiful girl!
Thankfully Jacob stayed healthy!

(This was cookie baking... a few days prior to getting sick!)

This is Megan... NOT touching anything!
I said "Megan- don't touch the cookie dough!"... and while I was at the sink... she said
"I'm not Mommy"
"What do you think?"
I'm pretty sure she's busted!
I can't blame her though! It was yummy!

My 2nd day sick... I needed to get out of the house! I took Jacob outside on a blanket in the grass. Aside from feeling wimpy... it was a beautiful day!

We've been working on sitting up better.
This little guy is such a cool kid!
He is so sweet!

He liked chillin' in his PJ's outside in the sun.

Several days later... when we were on the mend... Megan and I really needed to get out!!!!! We did a little yard work... and cleaning too.
I thought Megan's rain boots and footy PJ's were a nice touch!
She wanted to sweep the floor BY HERSELF!
Well honey... don't let Mommy get in your way!

Time to get the Jeep out!

The girl has some crazy driving skills!

Well... Daddy finally got home!!!!!
We took the afternoon on Saturday... and spent some family time outside.
We got a lot done!
Poor Kevin had to do most of the work... but it ended up fun for them... cause it involved
THE TRACTOR!

I pointed out what limbs needed to be cut... and poor Kev did all the trimming!
It was the perfect day for it.

Megan loves a good tractor ride with Daddy!

Jake got to try his first time out on it too.
"Don't worry son... Daddy won't make you mow the lawn for a few more years!... We'll wait till your feet can touch the peddles"