Pool time in Vegas

The weather was beautiful while we were in Vegas. In fact everyday we were there it was hotter than the day before! The boys loved grandpa and grandma's pool.

Day 1 in Las Vegas

Last week we took a plane to Vegas to visit Matt's parents and his sister's family.  The first day of our trip was jam packed with fun activities.  Right away that morning we headed to  Boulder City for a very special adveture...A Day Out With Thomas.  The kids got to ride on Thomas and participate in other fun train activities. 

 Lunchtime crept up on us quickly and the boys were getting very hungry.  There was a McDonald's with a play land across the street so we headed over for some lunch and fun. 

 Caleb and Makena bonded on this lunch date.

 We headed back to the house for a little R&R before our big date night.  Matt had a couple of surprises for me!  First we headed to Circo where we were treated like VIP by Matt's sister Nikki.  Best. Meal. Ever!  Then we went over to the Mirage to see the Cirque du Soleil LOVE show. 

What a great night!

Resurection Sunday

Easter Sunday was a great day.  We started out the morning by reading about Jesus' resurection in the Bible at breakfast.  After reading the story we explained to the boys that we wanted to celebrate what a great gift God gave us.  So mommy and daddy hid special Easter baskets for them to find. 

 Here are the boys checking out their baskets

After the boys got dressed in their Easter outfits we took a couple photos

After church we headed to the Reeds for lunch and and Easter egg hunt. 

 The kids always have such a fun time searching for eggs filled with candy!

Fun with eggs

We have had so much fun with eggs in the past week.  Coloring them, reading about them, learning about them, dying them, and hunting for them!

I asked the boys to make silly faces like the ones on their eggs

Today at church we had our annual Easter egg hunt and candy drop.  I was privileged to be one of the preschool guides.  It was so fun to share the story of Easter with the little ones using the colorful jelly beans found inside their eggs. 

Black is for the sins we've done

 Redis for the love of God's Son

Green is for the life He now lives

Pink is for the joy He gives

Purple is for the robe He wears

Orange is for the reminder that He cares

White is for the grace He has given

Yellow is for your place in heaven



Caleb and his blue egg filled with jelly beans

Here we are learning about Easter using our eggs and jelly beans

After going through our Easter poem it is time to head out to the soccer field for the candy drop. 

 SO FUN! 

The helicopter lifted off and made a couple of circles around the soccer field dropping lots of candy

Look at that candy pouring down!

Joshua was diggin' it

The preschool group got to get their candy first

Here are the K5-5th grade kids after they have been given the OK to run and fill up their bags

Casey couldn't keep his eyes off the helicopter

Casey had a great time filling his bag with treats. 

We are so blessed to have such awesome leadership in our church.  Pastor Mike did a great job putting this together.  Our boys loved it!

Time and Effort

At the beginning of 2012, Matt and I decided that this year we were going to put a lot of time and effort into our marriage.  The busyness of life with 3 children had started to take it's toll on us.  So how does a couple with 3 young children find time and energy for one another?  This is what we came up with...

First we decided that it was important for us to have one date per month.  We asked my sister and her husband if they would be willing to swap kids once a month.  It works great, we both get a date night and the kids get to play with their cousins a couple of times a month.   I told my niece Hannah I would see her this Sunday (for Easter) and she said, "is every Sunday date night?"...I wish!

The second thing we decided to do was attend a marriage conference.  So in March we went to A Weekend to Remember.  It was such a blessing to get away for an entire weekend and focus on us.  We would recommend this conference to any married couple.  It doesn't matter if you are in the puppy love stage or ready to call it quits...this conference is for everyone. 

My hubby decided to take it one step further and he planned a mini-getaway for us this past weekend.  He made arrangement for the kids and took me to a bed and breakfast in Port Washington.  It is so important to reconnect and spend time without the kids.  I love them dearly, but there is just something about a good night sleep and not having to clean up after anyone! 

I am looking forward to our monthly date nights and our anniversary weekend away in August.  I love spending time with my best friend.  I'm so lucky that he also happens to be the love of my life!

Awana Grand Prix

This year was the first year that Casey could participate in the Awana Grand Prix at church.  Matt and Casey designed and painted a really cool car.  What a great way to spend quality time together.  Casey was so excited and proud of his car

Placing his car at the starting line

Waiting to see how his car does

Here is his car up close

Here is Casey with the winner...his buddy Eli

What a ride!

Where have the last 6 years gone?  Each day I hug Casey good bye and send him out the front door to walk to school, all by himself.  I stand and watch him as he walks, skips or runs to the corner.  This particular day he was watching a plane. 

Once Casey is off to school it is just me and my little buds.  We keep our mornings packed with fun.  On this particular day we took a bike ride.  It was Joshua's first bike ride in the trailer.  There wasn't any screaming so I think it is safe to say he liked it. 

These three little boys are such a blessing and a gift from God.  I just want to soak up every minute I can with them because I know they go so fast.