So last week my mom and dad came out to see us. It was so so great. It was so nice to just play and relax and play. I think my favorite part was watching the boys drink in all the love from them. I couldn't help but cry when they left thinking of how nice it would be for us and the boys especially to be closer so they could know them better....As I was feeling sorry for myself, Kade ran into his room and came back out several minutes later with a card that he'd made for me with hearts all over it. He wanted to make me feel better...then Luke was adorable and sweet and I realized how blessed I am. Being away from my family is hard, but the joy I feel everyday from my boys and husband makes it hard to feel sorry for my self for long. I'm sooooo glad you could come out mom and dad! We can't wait till next time!

Doesn't this picture look like mom is slamming Kade's head into the ground....ha ha...I'm not entirely sure what was going on, all's I know is that they were both laughing.

We all went to the zoo, and can I just say that I love our zoo--it's small and perfect for my kids. It was sad that the bird house was being remodeled or something, and we missed the time to feed the giraffes (I love feeding the giraffes) but we had such a great time. And grandpa bought us all ice cream...and Kade wanted this gigantic sucker...Grandparents are so cool--they never get that kind of stuff with us!

When we got home we had burgers out back---mom bought the boys these little foam dart shooter thingys that were so so cool, so dad got shot all through barbecuing, it was cute. And this is Jess' average photo face. He does it cause he knows I love it.

So the Easter Bunny brought the boys a slip-n-slid...so mom and I pulled it out the next day. Turns out it was pretty chili and the water was just so darn cold....and apparently we don't have a sloped backyard. There was a lot of fast running and ....thudding---not sliding--ha ha, the boys liked it though.

Like I said, this picture gives the allusion that they were sliding, but most of the time mom or I had to push the little one down the slide. Fun though!

So the next day we checked out Wildwood Park cause mom saw online that it has "sandy beaches" Now, I was skeptical because it seems like all the lake-side's have are red-muddy beaches. But turns out they sectioned off this little part and brought in sand. IT WAS AWESOME! We're totally going back. The boys had a riot and it was so nice and warm. I can't wait to go back!

So, as of today, Luke is the big #3! WOO WOO! He's been excited about turning 3 for a month now. This morning was perfect, before Jess left for work, the three of us woke Luke up by singing Happy Birthday. It was so cute to watch him go from sleepy to smiley and excited in moments. After singing Kade asked if he could give him the card he made for him that he's kept hidden so well. We just let him open all his presents before breakfast--it was awesome. He got so many games that we played them all morning, then we were going to go to Putt-Putt with Jess tonight, but it was raining, so instead we went to Chuck E. Cheese (which, incidentally is where Luke is planning on going on his mission). Luke was mesmorized by the giant dressed up Check E. Cheese and the boys ended up with two twirly straws, dumb-dumb suckers, a book mark and Pop Rocks! I love Pop Rocks.

Luke wanted a Lightning McQueen cake so...feeling inventive I tried it. HA! It was awful! I love watching those cake shows and whipped out the electric knife to shave it into the right shape--ha ha--seriously, awesome! But Luke loved it so that's all that matters right.

We love you Luke and are sooooooo blessed to have you in our family!

1 year old2 years old

We had a great Easter weekend this year! I took Kade fishing for the first time at Euchee Creek by our house, he made us a picnic-sandwiches and snacks to eat on the way--plus bread to feed to the birds. He did great learning to cast!

Friday night we had a tornado, This is a pic of Kade next to the roots of the tree that was uprooted.

Jess and I have always loved extreme weather and wanted to see it, but this time, as we sat there watching the lightning storm (amazing) with our power out, with the tornado watch in our county, we seemed to be thinking--'about insurance...are we covered for this?' At any rate, we were just fine and didn't really notice anything had happened until we went to our friend Rachels house a few minutes away for an Easter Egg Hunt the next day to find a large tree uprooted, the neighbors trampoline in her back yard, and fences in their neighborhood were everywhere. So turns out we were closer then we thought!

The Line Up!
SPIDER-MAN EGG! WOO!
THIS IS HOW LUKE LOOKED MOST OF THIS WEEKEND!

The egg hunt was awesome, there were a million eggs and the only problem was the kids didn't have enough room for it all. They all ran around like crazy--but all they really needed to do to fill their baskets was to stop in one place and just pick them up. It was the perfect day (you would never have guessed there was a tornado the day before) Our friends made awesome strawberry ice cream and cupcakes, cookies...it was awesome! It was the perfect day and so much fun to be with friends.

I was a slacker this year and didn't remember to color eggs. Luckily, we went to our friends the to borrow a pan, and they invited us to do it with them. We have some great friends here and are so blessed! The boys were ecstatic-and we had tons of fun! (not to mention that I had no mess to clean up--yay)

On Easter Sunday I had meetings in the morning and Jess had to get the kids up and out by 8:30--so...needless to say, the Easter Bunny didn't make it..it's okay though, cause we wrote a letter telling him to come while we were at church. When the kids got home, they followed the trail of peeps (a tradition Jess remembers from when he was little) to their baskets! As Kade was going through his basket, he saw some yogos that he'd seen the empty box of in the trash a few days earlier and told me that I'd put them in there. I'm glad they know that sometimes we help the Easter Bunny out.

That night we had some friends over for dinner. It was DELICIOUS! I can say that cause our friends brought the ham! Here's what you gotta do....

you--"Hey, do you want to come to our house for Easter dinner?"

them--"fun--what can we bring?"

you--"well, I really like ham..."

ha ha--totally kidding, I didn't do that (but that'd be funny huh?). They're moving and had food they wanted to get rid of. It was a really fun evening with friends where the kids played and we just laughed and talked. Especially with our families so far away, it is so nice to have such great friends!

The Lord has blessed our family in every possible way. We have a happy, healthy, family, and we know God's plan for us. I love my Father in Heaven. I am so extremely grateful to my Savior! My family can be together forever because of Him. I love Easter!