Easter Weekend 2014

After a really long winter, spring is finally here.  We had a beautiful weekend for Easter and were able to have an easter egg hunt at our house which was snowed out last year.  Saturday, we hosted an Easter Egg hunt for a few families in our backyard. The kids had a blast hunting eggs with their friends and then playing in the backyard.  Later on Saturday, Madeleine had a soccer game and scored a goal.  She has really been enjoying indoor soccer.  On Sunday morning, the kids checked out their Easter baskets and then we went to church.  After church, we headed over to Butch and D's to celebrate.

Getting ready for the Easter Egg Hunt at our house

Kids hunting eggs... it was a little difficult to find hiding places for that many eggs in our backyard

Tommy really got into the egg hunting this year

Enjoying a snack with friends after the egg hunt

Dyeing easter eggs before bedtime

Ready to dig into their Easter baskets.  Tommy stopped to play with his new truck for awhile.  Then he just tried to eat all the candy as he opened eggs.

I couldn't get Tommy to pose for a picture before church.

Finally got Tommy to take a picture with Owen.  Tommy loves to play with Owen.

Tommy started the Easter Egg hunt as soon as we got into the backyard.    He wasn't going to wait for anyone to say start.

Running for eggs

Girls running to get some eggs... it is serious business

Wrapping up the Easter Egg hunt... ready to count their winnings.

Snow Snow and more Snow

The theme of this winter is definitely the snowy, icy cold weather.  It is March 1st and we are anticipating another big snow tomorrow.  Never thought I would complain about too much snow.  Even the kids are tired of it... mostly because they know more snow days means school in June.  Here a few pictures of our snowy January.

We rang in the New Years a couple of time zones early with some friends of ours. 

This is the biggest snow St Louis has seen since 1982.  Our kids only missed two days of school but other districts nearby were off for 4 days.

The girls had so much fun playing in the big snow piles

Madeleine has learned a lot about Martin Luther King and wanted to send him a birthday picture.  Took 4 helium balloons but up and away her note went.

Christmas

So I figured I should finish posting Christmas before catching up with January and February.  The kids really enjoyed opening their gifts from Santa.  Then we headed to church before going over to D and Butch's.   After Christmas, we went to the lake for a few days with Jim's family.  The big highlight of the trip was the train ride there for Jim, D and the kids.  I dropped them off in Kirkwood and picked them up in Jefferson City.  They also loved playing with Uncle Dave all week.

Ready to start in on their stockings and presents

Already out of the Christmas Pjs, into costume 1 and holding up costume 2

Lots of new trucks to play with... and a Defender towing a trailer

Tommy enjoyed playing trains with his buddy Owen

The girls always love playing with cousin Georgia

Madeleine, the elf, ready to hand out presents

Ready to catch the train in Kirkwood

Tommy enjoying the train ride

More trucks to play with at the lake

Hitting the "beach" at the state park

Christmas Eve

We had a great time celebrating on Christmas Eve with my family although we missed Amy and Seth.  We also enjoyed our tradition of going out for Christmas Eve lunch.  This year we tried a new restaurant in Kirkwood that the kids keep asking to go to, Billy Gs.  It was pretty good.  Then in the evening we headed over to my parents for our dinner of apps and presents. The kids were so excited for all their presents!

The girls were excited to wear these dresses they picked out themselves

PaPa and Tommy

The girls love to pose in pictures

Me and Hadley

About to enjoy our dinner

A quick call with Aunt Amy as we started opening presents

Present opening excitement

Tommy was very excited the box this present came in had a handle

The actual present inside the handle box was also very exciting.  He loves to pretend to build

The new Cardinal hat was also a big hit

PJ pic in front of the tree

Madeleine learned this pose from our Sugar Plum Fairy lunch.  You could get pictures with the Nutcracker dancers and this is how they all posed

Tommy didn't want to cooperate for a family pic so we tried the upside down trick

Then of course the girls wanted in on the action too

Skiing

Back before Christmas, we took the girls out to Hidden Valley for a ski lesson.  They were blowing snow that day which wasn't ideal but they both had fun.  It was Hadley's first time on skis and did great.  She was nervous before but smiled the whole time.   They will have a couple more lessons this year and we are hoping to ski with them too.  Then maybe next year we can head out West!

Madeleine ready for her lesson 

Madeleine coming down the hill.  She was doing good with the snow plow and starting to turn.

Hadley all smiles

Silver Dollar City, Backpacking and Climbing

Tonight we headed to an indoor climbing gym with some friends so I was downloading pictures and thought I would post a few from the weekend and our trip to Silver Dollar City a few weeks back.  This fall has been busy with three different schools for the kids and all their activities.

On the way to Branson we stopped in Springfield and visited the Discovery Center.   Tommy loves Bob the Builder and was very excited to get to try this out.

Jim and Madeleine on a fun ride at Silver Dollar City where you pull yourself up the tower  as it spins.

Tommy was too little for most rides but he loved the hopping frogs.  He kept saying hoppy, hoppy.  They really do hop.

We tried to go back to ride the train on Sunday for Tommy because the line had been too long the day before.  But they were having some technical difficulties so instead we got this picture and made some candles.

Jim took Madeleine on a backpacking trip last night.  I have always wanted to do that and now Madeleine has done it before me.  They had a great time even though they had to hike back today in the rain.

Tonight we went with friends to an indoor climbing gym.  Tommy was all excited at first but then after his first attempt he wanted his harness off and just ran around.

That's Hadley on the wall... pretty impressive for having a broken arm and only having her cast off for a week.  She is wearing a splint for the next few weeks for any activities.

Madeleine is in the white in the picture.  She loves to climb and really enjoyed it tonight.