Turtle Sighting

Jack and I have been playing a lot of catch in the street in front of house lately.  Today, while we were tossing the ball, Jack saw a baby turtle walking down the street.  He seemed unable to get back up the curb, so he decided to help.

Before putting him back in the pond, he showed the other kids and even let Ben hold it.

Eventually he put the turtle back in the pond and it swam away pretty quick, making Jack feel so good about helping it find its way back home.

All Alone

This ride actually allowed the bigger kids to be the chaperone for the littler kids.  Ben rode with Jack and Norah with Ava, it was sweet to see them looking out for each other.

Lots of Lines

Today was the last day to buy season passes and get free parking included.  We had planned to go earlier in the month and pick up the passes, but with Six Flags being closed so much, and our crazy schedules, we waited until the last day-BIG MISTAKE!!!

These are pictures of Ben occupying himself in one of the 3 hour long lines we stood in at the park today.  Just to get in the park was an hour, another hour waiting for season passes and a third hour waiting in line for Aquaman.  It was a total beat-down, something we haven't experienced too much of during our daytime visits.

The only silver lining was the little kid rides weren't packed at all so we managed to squeeze in two little rides before getting some dinner and heading home.  The kids were pretty bummed they didn't get to ride their usual favorites, but we promised we would be back really soon!

Baseball Games

We have been better lately about taking the whole family to Jack's baseball games.  It helps that they are no longer at 8AM, but the kids don't seem to mind the hour and half they are spending out at the baseball field each Saturday.

Most of the time Ava is in charge of figuring out the game they play, and sometimes there are friends at the game, but today, Ava was at her game and no friends were around, so these two improvised and managed quite well.

I love that they have become better playmates this year while the big kids have been at school all day.  Next year Norah will be in kindergarten all day and Ben will be home with Mom and Dad by himself, so I'm glad they have gotten closer while they could.

More Fun

After the kids counted out their eggs and Jack was the winner (again), I put all the candy in big Ziploc bags and recycled the paper grass.  Afterwards, Ben decided his basket made a better hat than anything.

Figuring it OUT

At first Ben was more interested in eating the candy than finding eggs, but eventually he got the hang of it and with the bigger kids help he managed to fill up his basket!

A Team

Jack was so sweet to help Ben find some eggs.  He knew he had to let Ben find the low ones, and would even point them out if Ben didn't see the eggs himself.

Girl Power

These two definitely weren't outdone in the egg department, even with their politeness about finding them.

ON The Hunt

The boys were the first to start hunting for eggs.  I love these guys!

Easter Morning

 

The kids woke up nice and early, after another late night for Kyle and I.  It always makes it easier to get up, though, when it's these adorably excited kids stirring you!

They didn't hesitate to find their baskets.

School Photos

Jack needed a photo of him and I together for a school project.  We took this one first and after seeing how yucky the game room looked as a back drop, we decided we would need to reshoot tomorrow after we were in our church clothes.

I tested the backdrop and lighting before asking Ava to take our picture.  Jack made the perfect muse.

First try!  Ava did a great job and this is the one I ended up emailing his teacher.

 

I liked this one to, but Jack's look a little too somber for his school project.

Here is one Jack snapped of Ava and I afterward, I love this photo of her, so sweet!

One More

After cake, we found Grandpa's present on the doorstep.  It was so fun for Norah to open one more gift before bed.  The snow globe was a perfect addition to Norah's birthday loot!

Kyle's Cake

After donuts at school and a hang out session with a friend, Norah was ready to go see Rio2 at the theatre with the family.  We got her favorite meal for dinner, McDonalds, and headed home for cake.

These pictures don't do the cake justice.  This ice cream cake was totally amazing with it's cookie crust and cherries on top.  Kyle made this from scratch for our girl who doesn't like cake.  What a Dad!

 

Birthday Ballerinas

Norah couldn't wait to get her ballet outfit on and kept asking when it was time to go to her ballet class.  We didn't mention that those wouldn't start until she goes to kindergarten.

The Rest...

Along the ballerina birthday theme, we found a lady in Fort Worth who makes ballerina dolls to order.  We thought Norah would love this!

No girl should have a birthday that doesn't include clothes and shoes, and when Norah saw all of Ava's new gear, she kept telling me how excited she was to get her new clothes.  It was so fun to see her happy with the selections I made without her.

Nana's Gifts

We have tried to learn to tell people what to get the kids for gifts, since we know what they are asking for.  I usually don't do this, because it seems rude, but after Ben got a bunch of duplicate gifts for his birthday, I was forthcoming with the gift ideas.

Norah really appreciated the sticker book (despite her face in this picture), the ballerina leotard and tutu as well as the Barbie movie she has been fawning over at the store.

New Book

We need to start teaching Norah to read, so we got her a fun Barbie book to start on.

No Elsa Dress

All Norah has been asking for since Christmas was an Elsa dress-up.  She bought an Anna dress-up with her Christmas money from Grandpa, but really wanted an Elsa one back then.  I looked and looked, but there weren't any to be found.  I wanted to get her the one thing sh asked for, but when it wasn't looking good, we bought her these homemade felt dolls instead.  There are all the main characters from the movie in the set.  Everyone was pretty excited about them, when Norah opened them.

Jewelry/Treasure Box

For her last birthday, Norah got a vintage jewelry box that didn't last long.  It was on its last legs when she got it, but she was a little tough on it and retired it pretty fast.  This year, we went with a sturdier one, metal!  It has a dancing ballerina inside which was the theme of her birthday.

Birthday Princess

Norah turned 5 today!!!  She is so excited to be so big!

Spirit of Elijah

Kyle has been staying up late, sometimes until 4AM, to do genealogy on my side of our family tree. 

He has traced my peope back to the original settlers of New York and corrected my misguided notion that my roots were German, not Greek.  He is trying to get as many family members figured out, so we can take them to the Temple with us next time.