Simply Blessed

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Rain = mud = filthy, dirty kids :)

We have been receiving some decent rain here lately. Yesterday the kids decided to head outside to play. Knowing there were mud puddles all over the driveway I made sure they had old play clothes on. I did not know the extent of which they were going to go to until I heard Jaren yell "Cannonball!" I knew I was going to have 2 very dirty kids. The pictures don't due the filth justice as they were taken towards the beginning of the fun. Needless to say they were not allowed in the house until they were completely stripped down and then had to use daddy's mud entrance and shower. Bethany went and enjoyed a naked mud bath after her clothes were off...too bad I didn't get a picture to use some day at her wedding! :)

MUD BUDDIES!

Lions & Tigers & Bears, oh my!

A little over a week ago, I decided to take the kids to the zoo (and thanks for the free tickets from McDonalds that had a quick expiration date). We went with our friends Shawna, Mitchell & Connor. It was a beautiful day to go and see God's wonderful creatures, which is what over 2000 school kids also thought!

Bethany & Jaren standing by the ABC Animal wall.

Bethany practicing her monkey face!

Tour guide Jaren did a great job. We didn't get lost once!

Erica sporting her new zoo hat and enjoying watching the giraffs.

And last but not least, the most loved train ride. Jaren & Bethany loved it,

but Erica was not overly thrilled to be on the train.

Misc. pictures

I have a few miscellaneous pictures that I thought I would share with you. Enjoy!

Enjoying popsicles one warm day...notice they are only allowed to eat them outdoors (mostly due to Erica being slightly messy with them). :)

Erica enjoying eating an apply like a big girl.

Bethany & daddy planting beans. They're getting closer to being done,

but are now put on hold due to the recent rain.

Bethany modeling my broken sunglasses. She accidentally sat on them while

waiting to pick Jaren up from school. Good thing they were only $1!

Erica & Jaren cuddling one morning. Erica was having a rough morning

due to getting 3 shots the day before. Jaren can usually cheer her up.

Be a hitter

Jaren has been very busy practicing t-ball the past month. We just got done with his 3rd game and he is having a great time. He has a wonderful coach and great teammates. He was very disappointed with himself after the first game because he had to use the tee to hit, but the next 2 games he has been a great hitter. As his coach always says to the players, "Be a hitter, you can do it." They have 4 chances to hit off the coach and then 3 chances to hit off the tee if needed.

He made his first out tonight playing 1st base! The sparkle in his eye after the play was priceless.

Here are a few pictures from the 1st game. I'll try to get a little video from his next game to post.

Jaren playing short-stop

Erica insisted on have the ball tucked under her shirt. :)

Jaren being a hitter!

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Bethany & Grant

I had to post a couple of pictures of Bethany & Grant together. They were too cute. Grant is my cousins little boy. He is a couple months older than Bethany.

The adorable Dutch kids!

Grant showing off his true personality! :)

Bethany & Grant walking (riding) in the baby parade.

More Tulip Time pictures

Here are a few more pictures from Tulip Time.

The grandkids w/ Grandpa at the blacksmithing shed in the Historical Village.

Walking in the baby parade.

Thanks Grandpa & Grandma for buying us tickets to the bounce house!

Burning off the sugar from our cotton candy.

Hiding out in the tunnel.

Tulip Time

Tulip Time has come and gone and once again we had a great time seeing the parades, eating wonderful food and smelling the beautiful tulips. Jaren opted out of dressing in a Dutch costume this year, but the girls and I dressed up and walked in the baby parade.