Look What I Can Do!!

Well, the crib has been lowered. Why? Oh, because this is what I walked into yesterday.Enough said!
The look on his face is priceless too... I am going to have my hands full.

Easter 2011

He is Risen!!!

^"5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
Matthew 28: 5-7

We had a wonderful Resurrection Day. We started out our day with a wonderful church service. Our message given by our associate pastor and one of the things he said that stuck out to me was this..."You cannot change what happened on that day but what you believe happened on that day changes everything for today." I love little sayings like that that are simple truth and easy to remember. I thought that was a wonderful way to put it and it made so much sense.
We then headed to my parent's house for a meal made by my mom. She had my favorite meat, marinated chuck roast on the grill...so yummy. The rest of it was wonderful as well.
Finally we made our way to the barn for the 2nd annual egg hunt. The kids liked it so much last year when we did it in Florida that we just had to keep the tradition going. Although the weather wasn't quite Florida weather it was warm enough and dry enough to have it outside. It was fun watching them all get excited about such a simple activity.

Ready to get started."Yup, this is my letter Mommy. " Each egg has an initial on it, N for Noah, H for Hannah, A for Ava & P for Payton. Payton know's her letter so it was fun this year that she could find her own eggs.First ones done...ok, so Hannah & Noah's eggs may have been a little more difficult to find. :)

Excited to open them all up.Charley took a nap during the hunt but enjoyed hanging out while the kids opened up their eggs.

Payton with her bucket full of goodies.

Mommy & Little Man...don't be jealous of his thighs please! :)

Our attempt at a family picture...I just have to come to terms with the fact that it will be a few years before we get a good one.

Papa & Payton enjoying a sucker after all their hard work during the egg hunt.

Uncle Chris got silly stringed

Girls Trip Chicago

A few girl friends & I left the kiddos and hubby's at home this weekend and took a road trip to Chicago! We had a great time. Mainly, we shopped which was a treat for most of us to do without kiddos. Even though it was cold and rainy we did not let that deter us from the mission at hand...shopping til we dropped. :)
We also got to enjoy a wonderful dinner out, shared a lot of laughs, and made some great memories.
Thanks girls for a great weekend away. I love you all!

Ready to go outOut for dinner

View from our hotel room...score!Had to take a picture of the Realtor Building for my hubby.

Our New Swing Set

P & C are lucky enough to be getting a swing set for both of their up coming birthdays. I know it is a ways off but because of the nature of a swing set...being an outside summer activity...they are going to get it early. After picking it out at Sam's Club and taking the 4 flat boxes full of wood to the barn, Papa & Daddy went to work putting it together. (With a little help from Uncle Chris & Uncle Mark) Daddy had a fun doing it and said it was basically a big puzzle. Although it is not 100% completed is is almost there.

Thanks so much Papa & Daddy for taking the time to put this wonderful gift together for Payton & Charley. There will be hours and hours of fun had playing on it and making memories!Charley helping out.Testing out the very top level

Swimming Lessons

This post is a tad belated. Payton got swimming lessons as a Christmas gift from MiMi and Grandpa. We went once a week for a half hour for six weeks. She loves the water and loves to swim so we thought it would be a good idea to get her started with some lessons. It was fun to spend that time with her doing something that she really enjoys with just the two of us. Although she is not swimming on her own yet she definitely has a better handle getting around in the water using different flotation devices.

7 Months already!

This milestone snuck up on me for sure! I can't believe it. Chuck Diesel (it is ok to call him this...NOT ok to call him Chuck without the Diesel...just FYI :) is growing up so fast. It is crazy to me to think his first birthday is now closer then his actual birth day. Why do they grow up so fast? I love it and hate it all at the same time. Before I know it HE will be my two year old and Payton will be four...strange to think about.

Chuck Diesel,

Activities: You are crawling all over the place. It is still an army crawl but you are getting up on your knees and rocking like a mad man so it will not be long before you get your 'big boy crawl' down. You also love to be on your feet, standing next to things or walking with our help. I don't think you are going to wait long before beginning to walk all on your own.
As a little side note, you are now taking 'big' tubs with Payton instead of taking them in your own little tub. You love it and splash like crazy.
Play: Balls are a new found favorite. I think it is because now when they roll away from you you can go get it by yourself. Because you are moblie you like to do whatever your sissy is doing. (which drives her crazy but I think that is part of it's appeal for you :) If she is doing a puzzle you have to steal the pieces, if she is looking at a book, you want to read it too. I don't feel too bad for her though because it tends to go both ways and often you get the short end of the stick because you are littler...sorry buddy. Don't worry, I am sure this will change some day.
Cloths: You are now in all 9 month clothing. There are even a few outfits in your closet that are 12 months that fit well. Diapers are still size 3. I think you will be in them for a while because the more moblie you become the slimmer you will get and therefore will stay in the same diaper size.
Sleeping: In the past few weeks you have become a bit of an early bird. This is not something that Daddy & I are used to nor do we like that much. Now, when I say early I mean early for our house. You are waking up around 7:15 am...yes, that is early for our house. The bad thing about this is that Payton is getting up that early too...Daddy & I think you are connected in someway because you can't hear each other but tend to wake up at the same time in the morning and for naps. It's a little strange. You are still napping 3 times a day. Once in the morning around 9:30/10 o'clock. This is a mini nap, usually about 45 min or an hour. Your long nap is around 1:30 and you will sleep about 2 to 3 hours. Then you have another mini nap in the evening around 5:30. This is truely a mini nap, only about 30 to 45 min. Then you are in bed these days between 7:30 and 8 pm.
Eating: You like to eat. Baby food is fast becoming your favorite. There is now more variety but I do need to step it up a bit. You still like bananas the best but now get carrots, green beans, sweet potatoes, and peaches. Next on the menu list...peas, squash and plums...yummy. Most days you get an 8 oz bottle and a fruit in the morning when you wake up. The bottle will come in bed if you get up too early for mommy & daddy. :) Around noon you get another 8 oz bottle. 4 ish is a bottle and a veggie and then you get a bottle right before bed around 7:15/7:30.
So that is what is going on with you these days.

You continue to be such a blessing. We love you very much.
Mommy, Daddy & Payton

Crawler!

Watch out world he's on the move!
For the past few weeks we have been waiting for Charley to finally get the hang of crawling and as of this morning I can officially say he's got it. :) Bryan & I are both very thankful that he is now able to get to where he wants to go because he has been less than happy the past few days trying to figure it all out, getting frustrated in the process. Payton however, is not going to be as thrilled. Her toys are now in danger of being stolen and stolen they will be...paybacks are coming!

This is just a cute clip from the other day. So although the crawling is a major break through...he would love to be standing and walking.

Outside Spring Day

At a temp of almost 82 degrees the outdoors was the only place we were going to be playing today. P & C have been couped up in the house for the past four days with awful colds. It was so great to get outside and get the wiggles out. We played a little 'soccer' in the backyard then P suggested we go for a walk to the park. So we did. After rests we met the family at the barn for the usual Sunday night summer activities. It was a great way to spend a beautiful Sunday.

Butterflies with Auntie J & Ava

A couple Saturdays ago my dear sister-in-law took Payton & Ava to Fredrick Meijer Garden's to see the butterflies.
Payton had so much fun.
Thank you so much Jamie for taking the girls!