Home Group Cook-out

Tonight we had a cook-out with another home group from church. We met at Dave and Sandy Creamer's farm in Cedarville. The kids had a blast playing and running while the adults talked. The highlight for the kiddos was Yankee, the horse.

Emmaline patiently waiting for dinner

Ellie feeding Yankee some oats

Jacob's turn

Sweet Sunshine!

It is supposed to be rainy the next several days, so we took the kids to the park to enjoy the sunshine. Emmaline is discovering the fun of parks and Jacob and Ellie make friends with whoever else happens to be there.

Emmaline going down the slide
By the end of the evening, she also figured out how to climb back up the slide

Ellie on the huge slide on the hill

Jacob loved spinning...I'm surprised he didn't make himself sick!

Swinging is one of Emmy's fav. things to do at the park

Emmaline's 2-year photos

Here are the pics. we had taken in March for Emmaline's 2nd birthday

A New 'Do

Jacob has been begging for a mohawk since last summer, so Nathan gave him one tonight when we got home from the park. He loves it and thinks he looks pretty cool!

Before

Ellie pushed Emmy in the swing while Jacob got his hair cut

During

After

At the Park

Another sunny day warranted a trip to the park after dinner tonight. Emmaline loves being outside and is perfecting lots of new skills as she walks everywhere. (On a side note, she was evaluated by her physical therapist last week and is in the 22-month range for gross motor skills. She is 26-months old, so she isn't too far behind!) Jacob and Ellie made several new friends and had a blast running and playing.

Daddy and Emmaline on the swings

Jacob goes down the fire pole

Ellie, after one of many trips down the slide

Day at the Zoo

Today was absolutely gorgeous, so we headed to the zoo. The weather was perfect, the flowers were in full bloom, and the kids were well-behaved the entire time. My parents went with us and we enjoyed looking at all the animals while enjoying the sunshine. Hopefully spring is here to stay!

Ellie on the merry-go-round

Emmaline

Mom and the kids by some tulips

Train ride with Daddy

Papaw and Mimi

Jacob

Girls' Night Out

Tonight was Girls' Night Out for the moms from our church home group and we met at Spaghetti Warehouse downtown. For some reason, it was really crowded and we had to wait 50 minutes for a table. They felt bad that we had to wait so long and finally gave us a private table in the bar (it was closed at the time). We had a nice quite dinner served by our waiter, "Cash Drawer" (not his real name, but that's the server name that was printed on our receipts, so that's what we called him).

Me, Danielle, Mom, Kerrie, and Jenny

We are laughing because instead of telling us to say "cheese", he told us to say "Parmesan"

Would you like Green Eggs & Ham?

Jacob read "Green Eggs & Ham" a couple of weeks ago for school.
Here is a pic. he drew of Sam offering a tasty treat.

Date Night with Jacob

Jacob and I went on a date tonight to Red Robin. It's been awhile since we've spent any one-on-one time together (besides homeschooling, which totally does NOT count!), so it was long overdue. He was so cute because when we were looking at the menu, I told him several choices for our appetizer. He picked the "Tower of Onion Rings" for us "because that's the one Mommy likes best". What a gentleman! Afterwards, he went grocery shopping with me and was a big helper. I am so thankful for the time we spent together this evening. In all of the frustrations of parenting, I sometimes forget what a great kid Jacob really is!

Chick-fil-A Playland

For a treat, we took the kids to Chick-fil-A for lunch today. Emmaline made her first trip ever into the play area and she had a blast.

Now, how do I get up there?

All smiles

I can't wait to come back!

Tag

I was tagged by my friend, Jenny, so here goes. This is my 4th pic. from my fourth picture file. It is Ellie and me on Halloween 2006. I was 5 months pregnant with Emmaline at the time. I can't believe how little Ellie looks in this picture!

Now I have to to tag 4 people, so I tag Emily, Becky, Stephany, and Pam

Tag, you’re it!
You’re supposed to go to your fourth picture file and find your fourth picture, then post it on your blog with an explanation of the photo. Then tag four other bloggers to do the same.

Easter with the Curleys

After church, we went to celebrate Easter with Nathan's family. We enjoyed yummy brunch fare (complete with my homemade cinnamon rolls) and then the kids had another egg hunt. Everyone was worn out by the time we got home...what a busy weekend!

Jacob made a silverware holder for Grandma and Papaw

Ellie goes through her eggs and finds lots of candy!

Jacob looks cool in his new hat!

Emmaline tries to open an egg to see what's inside

Blowing out candles on Papaw's birthday cake

At Church

Here are some pictures we took at church today with everyone in their Easter outfits. It was quite a task to get everyone smiling at the same time after we had been at church for 3+ hours.

The Kids

Emmaline and Charlotte in their matching dresses

Big sisters, Ellie and Kaiya, match too

Home Group Girls in Green
Ellie, Kaiya, and Emma

Easter Morning

Before church this morning, the kids got to open their Easter baskets. They each got books, toys, a new tray, and snacks.

Emmaline loves her "This Is My Monster" book and cash register

Ellie got a book on unicorns and a new Ballerina Barbie

Jacob got a shark book and "Jupiter" from Planet Heroes

Easter with the Stovers

We celebated Easter with my family this evening. Mom made a wonderful meal, as usual, and then we hid eggs and prizes for the kiddos to find in the backyard. It was a little cool, but they found lots of neat things. Freckles (their dog) even got an egg filled with jelly beans (this was totally unintentional!).

Emmaline found a bunny

Ellie found lots of eggs and a Berenstain Bears book

Jacob heads inside to open his loot