Grandma and Grandpa and Track Out Part One

Two days after Easter the kids tracked out again (i.e. - got three weeks off of school). My parents stayed the whole week after Easter, which was great. We had a fun time hanging out with them. It makes track-out go a lot faster when there are other people around. On the last day they were here we went to the Life and Science Museum. It's a great museum. We ended up buying a pass, and went back two more times before track-out ended.

On the way into the museum they have a cool model space ship. Kevin, Jenna and Jared in front of the base of it.


A cool caboose that is part of the play area. The kids loved it.


The inside of the caboose


Kevin checking out the animals


A cool butterfly statue on the way to the butterfly house


Jared and Kevin checking out the cool frogs. They were very colorful, and therefore very poisonous.


Derek caught a butterfly on his finger in the butterfly house. That was a really cool area with tons of butterflies everywhere. I think that Derek was the only one that caught one on that trip. Since then, we have all been able to hold one.


Jared, Derek, Jenna, Kevin, Grandpa and Grandma


Jared, Derek, Amanda, Jenna and Kevin


My mom taking a picture of me taking a picture of her. :)


Kevin and Jenna trying to figure out how to steal the eggs from the dinosaur. The dinosaur was on guard, so they gave up and moved on.


Derek and the kids checking out a dinosaur


Grandma and Grandpa


Grandpa, Jenna, and Jared digging for shark teeth


Kevin, Jenna and Jared hanging out on a dinosaur.


The whole group heading home (minus Amanda because I'm taking the picture).

Easter 2011

That picture has nothing to do with Easter, but I thought it was cute. Just don't tell Kevin that Jared dressed up in his Darth Vader stuff. That would be trouble.

We had a great Easter. My siblings, their families, and my parents all came to our house for Easter. That equals 17 people, in case you were wondering. We always have a great time when everyone gets together. We had an Easter egg hunt, dyed eggs, hung out and played games, found Easter baskets, went to church, and enjoyed a delicious feast. Thank you to our family for making the trip to spend Easter with us. We had a great time!

The first day everyone was here, the kids were entertaining themselves in various ways. I thought this was an awesome picture of my nephew, Levi, lounging, while playing on an iPhone.


Janie, my niece, ready for the egg hunt. She is so cute.


Jared heads out on the hunt. We gave the little kids a head start.


Jared running to get more eggs. That's why it's a little blurry.


Jenna pausing to count her eggs.


Jared collected his eggs pretty fast


Jenna, Kevin, and Jared after the hunt.


I made these bunny cupcakes (with help from my mom, sister, and SIL). I thought they turned out really cute.


Jenna found her Easter basket


Jared found his Easter basket


Kevin found his Easter basket (sorry about the blurry picture). He is sporting his new lion slippers.


The kids all got slippers. Jenna got butterflies.


Jared got frog slippers.


The Easter bunny hid my basket on a ledge that is about 12 feet high. I wasn't quite sure how I was going to get it down. But when junk food is involved, I will find a way, and I did. :)


Jenna in her beautiful Easter dress (thanks Kiersten!)

Jared's Fourth Birthday

On March 29th Jared turned four years old. He is getting so big! He loves all things that have to do with trains, including Thomas the train. He requested a Thomas the train cake. I had to totally make it up because I couldn't find a pan for it. It turned out pretty well, but sadly it leaned to one side. Bummer.

Jared had a great birthday. He got lots of fun presents. He is very healthy and growing well (according to his annual check-up). Jared is so much fun. He is the comedian of the family. He is also a lot more aware of what is going on than he lets on. I am amazed on how much he is picking up these days. He can write his name now (thanks to preschool). He loves to have books read to him. He loves anything related to transportation (cars, boats, trains, airplanes, etc.). He loves to build things. He enjoys singing, and has started to learn a lot of songs (thanks to preschool and church). Jared, we are so glad that you are part of our family.









Jared opening a present from Nan


Jared loves money. Thanks Great Grandma and Great Grandpa.


Jared finally got a two-wheel scooter. Thank Aunt Anne and Uncle Adlai.


A leapster! Now he has something fun to do on long car trips. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa.


A really cool flying thing from Bobo. He had a lot of fun playing with this.


Happy Birthday Jared! We love you. :)

March 2011

March was a busy month around here. Jenna lost her first tooth. Derek built box gardens, and planted a garden. Jared turned four (more about that in another post). And finally, Kevin tested for his yellow belt in karate. We also managed to squeeze in a trip to some local botanical gardens. Unfortunately, it was unusually cold that day, so it wasn't as nice as it could have been. I have to say though, North Carolina has amazing springs. The colors are unbelievable. I wish I had taken more pictures.

Jenna with her first lost tooth. She lost her second tooth shortly after this.


Jared has been very into legos lately. Here is an airplane that he built.


Derek and Jared working on installing the boxes for the box gardens


Derek found a free botanical garden close to our house, so we went to check it out one Saturday. It's a cool little garden area. Unfortunately, it was really cold the day we went, which means we took almost no pictures. The only pictures we took were in the zen garden area.

Jenna overlooking the zen river


Jared contemplating a swim in the zen river


Kevin


Jenna


Kevin started taking karate at the beginning of March. The first two belts can be achieved quickly, so at the end of March he tested for his yellow belt. He is really enjoying karate, which is good because he is committed for a year. :)

Kevin testing for his yellow belt


Kevin's instructor tying the yellow belt on him.


Kevin and Shihon


After a student tests, the other students congratulate him or her


Good job Kevin! We are very proud of you.