Grammy & Pops!

On Sunday evening Grammy and Pops flew into Richmond!  We were so excited to see them.  We had a fabulous week of fun with trips to get ice cream, going to the park, fun at home, some work and some shopping.  On Friday we celebrated Calvin's 8th birthday.  We all went to Busch Gardens, Pizza Hut for dinner, and then ended the day with presents and ice cream cake. It was an exhausting day. That night Grandma flew in.  Saturday was a busy day getting ready for Calvin's baptism.  It was a special day and it was a good program with Grandma giving a prayer, Grammy and Anna Elise speaking, Pops witnessing, and Mike performing the ordinance.  We were so thankful that Calvin made the decision to be baptized and for all the support of our family and friends on that day.  Grammy and Pops had to leave early Sunday morning.  It was sad to see them go.  

 Pops 'helped' Mike start a chicken coop.  'They' made a lot of progress.  Unfortunately Mike was busier working then he wanted to be - so his Dad did a lot of the work with his helpers - Grammy and Lilah.

 We went to Happy Hour at Steak & Shake and got half-price shakes.  We had a great time.  Thanks Grammy & Pops!  Below you can see Lilah doing her 'trick'.  She said to me "Look Mom, I can drink my shake with no hands!"

 At Busch Gardens!

 There was hardly anybody at the park.  It was perfect weather and no lines.  The kids literally sat and rode rides over and over again.  It was a lot of fun!

 Calvin opening presents and blowing out his candles. 

 Calvin's Baptism

Our family highlight this week is Calvin.  He is growing like a weed and has the appetite of a full grown man (a large one at that).  He is always hungry.  Calvin still loves Legos but picked out some Bay Blades with his birthday money and has been enjoying those as well.  He is getting ready for a re-match with his cousin Tucker ;).  Calvin is compassionate and helpful.  He is happy and fun when he gets enough sleep.  I recommend that he always get enough sleep!

Workin'

We had a super busy week which means we don't have any pictures!  Mike went up to the school on Monday to be a Watch Dog Dad and help out.  The kids love having their dad in their classrooms and seeing him around school.

We had some really warm weather - it was in the 80's and almost 90 one day.  That is not spring!  I'm holding out for some REAL spring weather sometime in April - I want some 70 degree temperatures!  It has finally stopped dropping below freezing at night so we decided to actually plant something in our garden.  We got all of our plants in and even started on the seeds - but we aren't done yet.  So far so good!

Mom and Dad have been spending lots of time on spring projects, fixing up the house, food storage, getting one of our rentals ready for tenants, working and doing all kinds of things to be ready for our 2 weeks of company this month.  The kids are so ready to be done working and to have some fun!  Hopefully we can get enough done to do some playing soon!  We can't wait!

Our family highlight this week is Lilah.  I think I say the same thing about Lilah everytime - she is such a good helper!  She has been helping me put in our garden - she takes the good garden soil out of the bag and puts it into my bucket so I have access to it, she keeps my watering can full, she fetches things for me and she plays with Celeste when she isn't helping me.  Who could ask for more?  She had a lot of fun with the kids home for spring break, she was sad this week when they went back to school - but she and Celeste seem to be playing better the older Celeste gets.  She is a tough girl.  The kids were talking about a 4th grader at school who punched a kindergardener - this didn't scare my little 4 year old, she replied with "if somebody hits me I'll just punch them back!"  I'm sure she would!  We may need to work on 'being nice' before she goes to school =).

Spring...

We had spring break this week!  It was a week of fun, creativity, work, play, and relaxing (well, I don't know if I relaxed, but the kids did).  We went to Busch Gardens on Monday (we got our 'fun pass'es so we

can go all summer) and had a blast.  It was beautiful weather and despite the crowds we had a great time.  On Tuesday the kids just relaxed and lazed around.  On Wednesday we made tie dye shirts and it went surprisingly well.  Thursday we played.  On Friday we all worked!  We did garden prep and worked outside. 

Spring also brings new birth - as in baby chicks!  Mike has wanted chickens for YEARS!  We keep saying we'll buy some hens when he builds a coop, but the coop never gets priority and has never been built.  Mike was in the farming supply store on Friday and noticed that they had a deal on chicks - if you buy a giant bag of chicken feed you get 6 free chicks (VA law states you have to buy atleast 6 at a time).  So we now have a large bag of food, a feeder, water dish, pine shavings, heat lamp with bulb and a box with 6 chicks!  The kids are ecstatic!  Mike now has a very real deadline for getting a coop built and we will have fresh eggs soon!  I'm excited, but will be even more excited when they aren't living in my house =). 

Spring brings gardens!  Or it soon will.  We are very behind due to cold weather, busy schedules, and a miscommunication with the neighbor that rotatilled our yard.  But - all the prep work is done and we will be putting plants and seed in the ground this week!  I'm SO excited.  I'm excited to have a much bigger space, to be better prepared and to be trying a new method this year.  We'll see what happens! 

Lots and lots of pictures...

 Celeste, Madeline and Lilah on a 'horsey' ride at Busch Gardens

Tie Dying T-shirts

 Celeste was 'napping' while we did our shirts right outside her window...

Calvin free-handed his

Apparently one of my gloves had two holes in it.  Nice.

Chicks!

 Celeste was a little uncertain, but warmed up quickly

 Now she is in love with them!

Here is their first home.  They've already upgraded to a larger box.  All the kids check on them frequently. 

Our garden spot.  You can see the cardboard and then straw on top.  We've got the whole thing covered now.  You can also see the large stumps we dug up earlier this year.  I'm hoping they are gone soon!

Our family highlight this month is Celeste!  She is turning into such a big girl.  She may have been slow learning how to talk, but she has caught up fast.  It's fun to have conversations with her and to listen to her communicate.  She has learned 'high fives' and has picked up on 'too slow' from the kids.  She holds her hand up and says 'up high' and then quickly drops it and says 'too slow'.  Cutest thing ever!  She is finally getting the potty training - she comes and tells me when she needs to go about half the time.  The other half is very predictable so we have only had 1 accident in the last 4 days.  We are to the point where I will say she is potty trained.  Yeah!  She loves to dress up, dance, play Barbies, swing outside, put shoes on, and do puzzles.  She has also developed opinions about her clothes and it takes a lot longer to get her dressed in the

mornings.  She is still a monster!