So this is the first spring break that we have stayed home....since we moved from Idaho.  I was able to get the kids out of the house, but OOlalaalee it was CRAZY everywhere we went!  We did a bounce house, lunch at parks, hit a movie, the childrens museum and Easter is the only thing I actually took pictures of.

This little man is quite the little brother.  

He thinks he is Hilarious All the time!    

 The Easter kit I bought this year was not
what I thought it was going to be.

 We ended up making our own color in the cup and then 

they painted with the color in the kit.  

They took it very seriously!

I gave the girls the option of buying or making
their Easter dresses this year.  

They choose to make them. 

  They all choose the same dress, just different fabric.

They helped with they sewing and ironing.  (I ran the pedal and they lead the material.)

 That is until Rylie saw the other two finished and realized that I was right, and she didn't want to match quit so much.  She humored me for Easter and pictures but will never wear the skirt again.  It doesn't lay very well and I don't know what to do to fix it :/

 Abby and Sydney's turned out super cute and they were very proud!

 It is official, no more babies or toddlers left in my house :(
Just the sweet smile of a little monster!)

Oh to spend a day in his shoes!

My sweet little family is growing up and I am Sooo grateful to be blessed with such a Healthy, Loving bundle of spirits!   

Great Weekend

A family in our ward had planned a trip to Colonial Williamsburg with their friends that have recently moved to Philadelphia.  Sadly, the whole family (Philadelphia friends) ended up with the flu and they had to cancel, leaving the Evans going solo and their kids in complete "despair".   That is where we come  in and score great weekend get away.    

A one by one mile of preserved history. 

Everywhere you looked their were reenactments and people dressed to the time period

The first day we wandered the street taking in all the shops and free festivities

It is beautiful.  

But can you image this picture taken a month later, the green trees filled in, leading to the Governors Palace?

Thomas Jefferson attended this church sitting in the back as a townsman, then the middle, and on up until he was sitting front and side center as a recognized government official.

The Governors Palace grounds where my FAVORITE!
They were amazing!  Definitely have to go back when everything is in full bloom.

Climb this vine covered hill or icebox cellar to over look the maze behind the palace.

The front of the the ice-cellar, aka the refrigerator:)

The second day we did the indoor tours that required tickets.

The entrance of the governors palace was all beautiful dark wood. 

I don't know why I was expecting white.

Tour guide using Abby as a model, so Lovely!

 

The ball room.  The colors were kind of crazy, 

very different than what I expected. The next room was a bright green.

Hot chocolate served at coffee house. 

It was a little bitter, more for your dark chocolate lovers.

Wig shop. With the right $ and a shaved head you were in all the latest style.

Style trumped comfort

By the end, we were exhausted...

So to the pool they went!  What a good sport dad is :)

Monday we went to the Yankee Candle Factory

It was an interesting little mini mall. They had a Christmas shop that would snow
(teeny tiny little bubbles) every 4 minutes and Santa comes every day.  

The kids chose a white wax mold and then dipped it in colored wax. 

A rainbow in 5 dips!)

We chose a slightly longer route home so we could cross the river on a Ferry.  I remember it being a little more exciting when I was a kid.  

  Couldn't help feeling a little guilty that the Gallops were sick and we were enjoying their trip. 

Still, glad to have had the opportunity, what ever the circumstances!

Great Weekend!

Surprise!

Aaron's mom called me a month ago asking if it would be okay if they could fly in and surprise Aaron for his birthday. Silly question, of Course!  I got home from visiting Des on Wednesday night and circled back to the airport Thursday morning to pick Pam and Doyle up.  We drove straight from the airport to Aaron's office.  It was PRICELESS!!  I really can't believe I didn't have my camera or phone to catch the moment.  He said hi, then a double take....took a minute to process and then welled up with tears. 

Daughter like father.  

I did manage a blurry shot of Ry and her tears of joy!

 They used the opportunity to bring Aaron two guns that he had been given by his two grandpa's.  Just what he needed!!  He "ONLY" had 7 before!   Kidding aside, the sentiment behind the guns is very cool and it was EXTREMELY Sweet of Pam and Doyle to go through the hassle of flying with guns.

Aaron put Doyle right to work. 

We have a "crawl space" under the house that we can use as a storage shed once we put in a level floor.  Aaron is super excited to have a running start.  I am Super Excited, the most labor intensive portion is over and I wasn't even sore, Thanks Doyle!

Everybody loves a little YoPop!

We have been SOO Spoiled with family visits since we moved here.  We LOVE LOVE evey minute of it!

February

Socks and Mints this year

 Its not Valentines without our Traditional sock picture

 My SWEET AMAZING Husband stayed home for a week with Eli and the girls so that I could fly home and see my Sister.  How Lucky am I!!  It was a perfect visit, I couldn't have asked for a better trip with my Sis!  My parents came for a couple days, and then my little brother and his SWEET wife came for the weekend.  We watched a little Downton Abbey, did a little shopping had and topped it off with ice cream at Dairy Queen with the four crazy little munchkins.  Oh how I wish I could have picked them up and brought them home with me!  My only regret is that the only pic I have to show for the visit is the family pic. 

I am so grateful to have such a strong and sweet relationship with my sister, and a husband who would walk the earth for me!  Love you both!!!

Twice in 6 months?

My parents were here just last September.  So you can imagine my surprise when they called and said they had booked a flight and were headed our direction again in January. YAY!! 

I put them to work when they got here.  My mom and I pulled the fabric off of my dining-room chairs and recovered them with a fabric that coordinated with the curtains.  Then I made my dad hang the curtains.  I came out ahead for sure!  

We made a trip into Raleigh to take a tour of the Mordecai House.  Built in 1785, it is the oldest home in Raleigh that still sits on its original foundation and was one of the largest plantations in Wake County.  80% of the furnishings in the home are original to the home and family.
Taking pictures was hard, Eli was not cooperating, so he and I spent most of the tour outside :/

I had taken the tour with Abby and her class back in November and really enjoyed it. So missing out this time around was only kind of frustrating?
Abby's class is below.

Isn't that piano gorgeous!

Not a lot of show and tell pictures, that being said we really enjoyed seeing them again.  I know that it is a long and exhausting trip, but we sure do Love and Appreciate them making it!!