Easter

Since I'm still behind - so we'll start with Easter today! Zach and I planned a little adult get-away and it just happened that we left town on EASTER - oops! When I realized it I was pretty sad - no Easter church, brunch and egg hunting like usual. So we decided to do eggs a little early this year. The kids actually got to do 3 hunts - 1 at school, 1 at the church where the kids go to daycare and another time at home the day before Easter. They had a ball - but I'm still sad I missed church! (Check back for more on that trip I told you about!!!)

Mr. Sunshine and the Circus

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Baily Circus "Fully Charged" was at the KFC Yum! Center (daddy's real home) last weekend so I took the kids. We had a Blast!!! It was thier 1st circus and my first time since I was too little to remember I think!

All eyes on the show!

I wish I could try this sometime!!! It looks like so much fun!!!

This picture would have been great had a lady not walked right in front of me and took off half the photo!

My favorite part of the circus is the elephants - and more specifically the girl elephants and the stars on ther bottoms - even elephants need some bling!

So that's it - the kids were really good and had a great time. We took Collin and Renee with us - can't go out without our boyfriend. And Best of All - Zach got to hang out with us and see the show for the most part!

Now - little known circus fact...did you know that the elephants know commands in 4 languages?

And as for the Title...Mr. Sunshine...have you seen the show? From the minute the circus arrived I couldn't get this show out of my mind. I'm not sure this show is funny to anyone who isn't in the entertainment/hospitality industry - but I think it's funny. I can just picture Zach walking through the back hallways at the arena and coming across an elephant like Chandler (yes - I know how long Friends has been off the air - but he will always be Chandler!). If you haven't seen the show you can catch episodes at http://abc.go.com

March Recap

I'm not sure what to say except - I'm Sorry! I've been an awful blogger lately! Life has been keeping us busy with Zach still working a lot of hours, several illnesses and tax season being in full swing. March was pretty un-eventful - just busy. So here's just a few pictures of some of our March happenings... Loving some Chinese food! Doesn't Em looks so Grown Up! (New in March - I don't have any babies that sit in high chairs anymore...buddy is getting so big!!!)

Zach has run a few more races this year - this is after the Papa John's 10 Miler - he beat his time from last year by a few minutes even though he pulled a muscle about mile 9! Good Job Daddy!

It was cold at the race...I love the one-eye look Em's go going on!

We took the kids to Puzzles Fun Dome where they have a lot of bouncies and slides and play stuff one Sunday - they always have a blast and we spend most of our time on the "big slide." Emma want's one for the back yard!

Not amused that we're all laughing at his static hair!

Hiding his hair so we won't laugh maybe?

More sliding...

Emma and her best boy - Collin...We had Renee and Dan over for dinner on one of the few nights Zach has been home.

Doesn't it look like Collin's a little embarrased that Em is so wild!!!

Emma and her best monkey - George.

I don't know about other kids - but mine LOVE puzzles. Emma got a few new puzzles for her birthday and they are hard - and she zips right through them like it's nothing. Chase is also getting really good at his!

Okay - that's it - I promise I'll post more often. We've got quite a few things up in the air right now to talk about, some good and some bad - ah, the suspense... I'm sure you can't wait!!!

Emma's 3!!!

February is Emma's Birthday Month! Her actual birthday is on Valentine's Day - so she had Valentine's parties on her birthday at school. Then a few days later she got to bring pink cupcakes (her request) to school for all her friends. This weekend we finally had a small birthday party at the house for her. There was chocolate cake with pink frosting and chocolate chips - Emma's very specific request for the last few weeks!!! Emma's big gift was a new Big Girl (Twin) Bed from Grandma and Papa Knute. They made a trip down for the party and to take care of my sick little ones!

Patrick loving his cupcake!


Emma's best friend Collin came to the party!


Okay - this one needs some explaining...this weekend Chase figured out how to take off his clothes - and apparently he prefers to be naked...just like his sister! I guess is runs in the family. During the party he tried to do a little streaking...we stopped him - but not until after getting a few photos!


Opening her presents!

So to go back a little, Emma was sick the weekend before her birthday with a cough and cold (so we thought). We finally got her feeling better and then last Wednesday I got a call that Chase was sick. Daycare said he was having a little trouble breathing so I called the doctor. Of coures - we had RSV and an ear infection. So home we went for breathing treatments and medicine. Luckily - Papa and Granmda were headed down for the weekend anyway so we had some free babysitters! So Thursday they all stayed home and things were fine. On Friday we had a little scare...I went to work and got a call from Papa around 11:3o that he thought I should come home and he told me that Chase wasn't breathing well. I had them rush Chase over to our doctor which is just blocks from the house and I met them there. He was not responding to mom and dad during his breathing treatment after his nap. By the time they were at the doctor - he was feeling much better. They did a big check-up and sent us home to watch him and keep doing the treatments and medicine. He finally started feeling better on Sunday. We're still not completely well - but on our way I hope!


Breathing treatments with Papa Knute


Emma and Grandma Nesie


Silly Girls!

The big 3 year old herself! Emma - you are growing up Way too fast!!!

And last - the 3 year old check-up stats: Emma is 25 lbs (15th percentile) and 3 feet tall (25th percentile) and developing perfectly! (And check out that we're finally above the 5th percentile line that we've just barely been straddling since she was born!) Like I said - she's Growing up WAY TOO FAST!!!

Christmas #3

Our 3rd and final Christmas this year was in Iowa with Grandma Nesie and Papa Knute! I took the kids back by myself for a long New Years weekend. The trip started off a little rocky when we went to get on the airplane and Emma decided she wasn't so sure about getting on. So if you can piture it - I Hurled her onto the plane with one arm while carrying Chase, 2 bags and other things! A Wonderful woman sitting in the front row in her army fatigues offered to carry her back to our seats for me (as she was Screaming!) and I walked down the isle of the promising to everyone on the plane that she wouldn't scream the entire flight...hopefully! Anway, we sat down - Emma in the windown and me and Chase next and had an open seat in our isle - which was great. Emma was a Champ - she loved looking out the window and absolutely loved flying - especially taking off! We had a layover in Chicago that lasted 3 hours instead of the planned 2 - so that was a little rocky - but we made it. I have to say I'm a BIG fan of the kids area that Southwest Airlines provides. Small table and chairs - TV on to the Cartoon channel and somewhat of a secure area that made it easy for me to keep the kids in one place without too much trouble. Thanks Southwest!!!

We landed in Omaha and waiting there was Granda, Papa , Aunt Carrie and Josh. We were all Very excited to see them! Emma was a little more excited to see Papa Knute...but we won't hold that against her!

We spent the night in Stanton and then headed to Des Moines the next day to get family pictures taken and then went to Allen Lundgren's wedding on New Year's Eve. It was a beautiful wedding and I'm so glad we got to celebrate with them - Congrats Allen and Libby!

Josh and Aunt Carrie


The kids coloring at the reception

We were joined by these 2 crazy girls - Nicole and Erin!

Me and my Sisters!

Josh and Chase with his "Cheese" face!

I'm not sure what face this...but I had to include it Erin!!!

Aunt Carrie and Emma practicing thier New Year's moment! Emma did a lot of practicing!

And this guy just couldn't make it - asleep before 11!

Not this guy - Tyler partied it up until after midnight!

Emma and Aunt Carrie doing a little dancing (I wish I could dance in my jammies!)

Happy New Year!!!

The next day we had Christmas at Aunt Al and Uncle Drew's house. The kids were EXHAUSTED but determined to get through the piles of gifts!!!

Tyler got a new Chair!

Emma was tuckered and took a 3+ hour nap in her new Dora sleeping bag.

After some naps - we had to break out Chase's new toy - this thing is GREAT!

The boys had to sport some football attire - Go ISU!

Phones for you...

Nevermind - it's for me!

Time to go back home - there's our plane!

Thank you Grandma Nesie for waiting with us for our trip home!

Looke at these big kids! They're amazing and were Very good on our trip. I couldn't have asked for it to go much better!

Loves her window seat!

So that's it - Christmas is officially over! We had a good run but I'm glad that we're getting back to normal now. Well - back to as normal as it can be at our house. Zach's still working hard and lots of hours. Here's hoping that 2011 brings Zach home a little more and lot's of Love to everyone!

We miss you ALL!