Rylie is in the 6th grade, and here that means Jr. High. I was Pleasantly Surprised when she said that she wanted band to be one of her electives.  She just played in her second and final band concert this year.

Flute was her instrument of choice

I Believe That she has enjoyed it. 

She has really come far and we enjoy her playing as we sing family home evening!

 This is her Band Buddy

 Her band teacher, who is retiring this year.

I love that she has found something she enjoys doing!

Abby has been waiting patiently for two years, since Rylie turned 10, for this day:)

And now SHE is 10!!!  Super excited....just a little nervous:)

 All exited!!

Syd the kid passing the time!

Her birthday didn't exactly go as planned.  We were suppose to go rollerskating but it wasn't open skate, so we were forced to improvise:)  

 You know when you are excited and have your heart set on something?  She is a sweetie and put a smile on and we ended up at a Fun House instead.  

Honestly this is more up Eli's ally.  He was in 7th heaven.

 The Fun House was followed  up with dinner!
The Mom always has to get her token dinner picture in:)

 Home for presents and cake

She had picked her presents out while we were getting her ears pierced. So their was no real surprise.  Luckily the excitement of the piercing hadn't worn off.

Our precious Abs is so sweet, always looking for ways to help and and make people happy!  

Happy Birthday

We LOVE you Sooo MUCH!

Who knew!

My cousin called a few weeks ago....and here she is! 

 You can imagine my surprise and excitement since it has been YEARS since we have seen each other.

She left her two boys home with dad and brought the littlest:)

Who knew that moving to the other side of the country would bring us back together:)

She came just in time for the spring color

I LOVED her little girl!  

Though it took a little more work than I am used to to make the feeling mutual:)

Here's hoping it isn't "Years" before we see her again:)

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!