Circus 2012

The kids started asking about the Circus again a week or so before we went again.  They were very excited to get to go to the circus again with their Grama Verni and Mommy.  We of course had a great time enjoying the show, all the Circus food (hot dogs, cotton candy,pop corn and snow cones), and Circus toys.  Denver said his favorite part was "the dark" (when the lights were off and all the light up toys were waving around).  Makenna said she liked the tigers, elephant, and the stuffed elephant turning into a puppy!

Waiting for the Circus to start and having lunch.

Denver was so happy to get a new gun as his from last year was barely hanging on.

Makenna also chose the same Circus toy as she had last year.

Her's did not last long last year, so hoping it does better this year!

Tigers

Elephant

Another hot dog for our growing boy!

Denver also loved the "motorcycles".

I tried to get Denver's facial expressions as it was so fun watching him, but with the darkness, and peoples heads in the way it was really hard to capture.

The kids can't wait to go to the circus again next year and are so thankful that their Grama Verni came with them and for all the special treats!

Evan's last Birthday in the 20's!

April 23rd was Evan's 29th birthday.  We celebrated on the weekend, going to a Casting Crowns concert with Evan's immediate family, having friends over to our house on Saturday, and going out for lunch on Sunday, along with a visit to his grandparents for his birthday gift from them.  So on Monday, when it was truly his birthday we stayed home and grilled, and then went for a bike ride and to the park, and later in the evening our cousins Paula and Tom stopped by to say Happy Birthday and to help us eat some treats I had made.

What better way to celebrate Daddy's special day than supper on the deck?

Daddy,

We just wanted to let you know how much we love you!  We look forward to your arrival home every night after your day at the shop.  The stories you make up just for us, the baths you give us, the snuggles, and all the other wonderful things you do for us are appreciated more than you could ever know.  We thank God for giving us you as our earthly father, and couldn't ask for a better Daddy.  We look up to you and love you so very much!  Happy Birthday Daddy! ~love, Denver and Makenna

Our Lil Bed Maker

I some times forget how big our little boy is getting and that he could have some more responsibilities around the house.  He's getting better about saying "Mom, let me do that" or "Let me help you", which is so greatly appreciated!  Denver really enjoys helping make his bed after washing his bedding, now we just need to get him to make his bed every day.  The only problem with that is that's not some thing I'm good at myself. :S  Maybe its some thing we can learn to do together! :)

Our big boy making his bed!

Makenna enjoys helping too!

A Visit from our Dear Friends

We enjoyed a visit from our dear friends, Keith, Aimee, Abby, Mason, and Sophia this past week.  I told myself over and over I need to make sure to take lots of pictures of the kiddos together, but of course I failed at that once again.  I also wanted to get a good picture of Denver and Abby together to put in a frame in Denver's room, but didn't get that done either.  We didn't have enough time to chat and play enough, but hoping God provides us with another visit with them again soon!
We didn't get a lot of time of all of us together as the boys had to do a favor run for me, and then they had to go get bait for their fishing endeavor in the evening, and Aimee & I made a trip to Hobby Lobby for some things she needed for a shower she was doing and to help me pick out some decorations for my kitchen (another blog to come, if I remember).  The kids of course ran and played the entire time and were sad when it was time to say goodbye.

Abby in Denver's superman costume!

Denver with his arm around his BFF, Abby

A fun night in the tub, with easy cleanup.....glow lights!

I originally thought the little 2 would take a bath and then the big 2, but the big 2 couldn't wait and crawled right in.  I think they had a good time, and they still fit better than I thought they would!

I realize the picture is blurry, but it showed the glowing lights the best, and then I didn't have to worry so much about what was showing. :)

We are so thankful that God has blessed not only Evan and I, but our kids as well with such great friends!

Malena Ann

We are happy to have another little girl in the family.  Evan's cousin Jordan and his wife Ann, welcomed Malena Ann on April 17th.  Denver's so excited to have another baby in the family and Makenna couldn't be more excited to have a little GIRL cousin!  We didn't visit long and the little time I got to hold her I was fending off the kids so I didn't get any close ups of her sweet little face, but here are some pictures of our family enjoying our first visit with baby Malena!  We hope and pray they have an easy transition into a family of 3, and are so thankful for the little blessing that God has placed in our family.

Believe it or not I got to hold baby Malena for a couple seonds before Makenna wanted her, and as soon as Denver saw her holding Malena he was right there begging for his turn.

Makenna, Denver, Malena, and off to the side is Malena's daddy, Jordan

Evan, Denver, and Baby Malena

1st "Big" Injury

We had our first injury that required a visit to the doctor's office.  This injury actually sent us to the eye doctor.  Denver was at softball practice with Daddy on Wednesday, they were playing in the outfield when Denver caught a fly ball smack dab in the middle of his right eye.  The poor little guy looked rough that night, but I felt terrible for him the next morning when more swelling had set in.  It was a school morning so there was no time for pictures as he needed some convincing he was okay to go to school, and I spent some time looking up when the eye doctor's office opened, besides our normal morning routine for school.  After school we went straight the the eye doctor where they looked at his eye and even dilated it.  We were disappointed, but yet happy (that it wasn't worse) to hear that he had iritis (swelling of the iris).  Denver was sent home with some steroid eye drops to put in his eye four times a day and another appointment was made for next week to see how its healing.  After the eye doctor I took the kiddos and 2 of their friends to McDonalds to eat lunch and play and a little before we left I noticed the swelling had dramatically decreased in Denver's eye.  We quickly ran home and got our picture taken, so while we don't have it at its worse swelling, it still doesn't look pretty.

He could finally open his eye better.

This is a little more of what it looked like in the morning before the swelling went down.  He was blessed with squinty eyes when smiling, thanks to his mother.

I thought the bruising was a little worse today (Friday), but he didn't complain of it hurting at all so his eye drops must be helping!  Both Mommy and Daddy (especially Dad) have a lot of guilt over this, but we are so thankful it wasn't any worse.

Growing, growing, growing

Our little girls hair is growing!  Lately I just look at her and can't believe how long her hair is now.  While, I'm happy its grown, I'm surprised its so long already as my hair was only about chin length at age 3,it wasn't until I was almost 4 that it took off growing.  I quick snapped some pictures of it wet the other night so I could remember better how long her hair was at this age as when its dry it really shortens up with her curls.

It won't be long now...

It won't be long now and we'll have a LAWN!  I can NOT wait.  It will be so nice to be able to be out in our lawn and not have to invade our neighbors lawn.  Denver can then invite all his new friends over to play.  We had a paver patio installed this week and Denver watched them do the entire thing.  I think he only missed while he was at school one morning.  The guys doing it said he'd know how to do one by himself when they were all done.  They were amazed at his patience and interest in what they were doing.  Quite sure all my dad's side understand how he did this, as its the Haney in him coming out!  Denver kept asking me to sit out on the deck to watch with him, but unfortunately or maybe fortunately I told him it was boring and cold out there and I had things I needed to get done.

Makenna also took interest in the "building" of the patio, but she wasn't a persistent in watching the entire time.  But, she did find after sitting on the back of the couch to watch them (because she didn't want to be out in the cold either...don't let her dress fool you, it was cool outside) that it was also quite fun to do acrobats off the couch.

Here's the final product

Now we just need some rocks, sprinkler system, plants and trees, AND grass!

Happy Easter!

Easter morning we did Resurrection eggs.

We've done these in the past at Church, but I came across a toddler one on Pinterest this year and thought the kids would possibly get more out of this one.

After they were done with their eggs they went on a little scavenger hunt for a couple special treats.

Here's Denver finding his first one in the dryer.

Kenna with her last one in the garage on her trike.

And our beautiful babies in their Easter outfits.

We hope each and every one of you had a very blessed, and meaningful Easter this year.

Sonrise Saturday

The day before Easter our Church has "Sonrise Saturday" which consists of activities to help the kiddos learn more about Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, a light breakfast, and an egg "hunt".

Here Denver and Makenna are lifting up the cross to see how heavy of a cross Jesus had to carry.

They also had a baby lamb and baby chicks for the kids to see and touch.

Picking up eggs on their egg hunt.

The kids had a blast and enjoyed their eggs filled with candy and treats when they got home from Church.

Dying Easter Eggs

The kiddos and I dyed Easter eggs during the week due to our crazy Easter weekend schedule.  I saw the idea of using Kool Aid to dye the eggs on Pinterest and thought that was perfect so there wasn't worry of the kids and whoever else ate the eggs of ingesting any dye!  This isn't such a worry of mine as it is others, but I liked the thought! :)

The kids had a blast and kept asking when they could do this again.  Both Denver and Makenna love hard boild eggs, as does Evan so I suppose we could do this any time we make hard boiled eggs.  To try and give our eggs a little character I got out some rubberbands to put around the eggs and some star stickers.  The stickers were old and the eggs were cold so they didn't stick very well, oh well, the kids still had fun.

Denver has finally gotten the point that the faster he cooperates for a picture the faster were done.

He also loves his sister and automatically put his arm around her without me telling him to, but she wasn't so sure about it.

 Finally a smile from Makenna!

Oh Pinterest....Practicing their Names

Thanks to another pinterest idea I made doted letters making out the kiddos names, laminated them, and then gave them white erase board markers and they set off to work on practicing their names for quite some time.  It was so fun watching them so carefully connect the dots to make their names.  Prior to this I finally captured Denver's attention span long enough to teach him how to spell his name.  He could recognize the letters before and tell you, but couldn't do it by memory.  We are so proud of all the accomplishments he's been making lately.