Hangin' with Uncle Trav

Before we left to come back home today, Uncle Travis invited us over for a morning of Wii! Now, our family is not caught up with the rest of the country, and we don't have a Wii--or a game system of any other kind, unless you count a couple really old Nintendo systems. Anyway, neither the kids nor I had ever played Wii, so it was a fun experience for us!

Caeden was ready to try as soon as we got there, and loved batting and pitching in the baseball game!



Sylvia was having a rough morning, and even though Uncle Trav was great helping her, she didn't last long trying her hand at bowling.


Annah did great with bowling! She thought it was fun, and got several spares!
(I played bowling too, and thought it was fun!)


Gram came over after a bit, and was able to successfully help Sylvia enjoy the fishing game!


Travis also had me play a game where you find the Mii's as quickly as you can. All the games were super cute and fun. It was a fun way to spend the morning with Travis. Thanks Trav!

As I left Trav's to pack the car, I notcied his gorgeous tulips in front of the porch!
He always likes to plant unique things. These are certainly beautiful!




After lunch, we headed back home. The kids were pretty wound in the car, but still not bad. They're used to the trip, and are good little travelers. We only stopped once about halfway for a quick bathroom stop, and made it home before Jeremy was home from work.

We had a really nice week for Spring Break and a great time with everyone we were able to spend time with in Indiana!

Relaxation

Our going and visiting is done, so today we stuck around Mom's & Dad's and visited here and relaxed. After the Easter egg dyeing, it was pretty mellow around here. Nice!

The kids play outside so much when we're here, and it's so good for them. Tons of space to run and play and we don't have to worry they're near the road or anything. They spend lots of time riding their bikes on the cement driveway, sitting in their "secret place" having pretend campfires under the willows, digging in the garden dirt, and just playing.

We were sitting in the sunroom, when I noticed Caeden outside with Shadow having a sweet moment. He was hugging him, petting him, and talking to him like they were such great buddies. It was so cute. When he saw me with the camera, they moved into the garage, but not before I caught him helping Shadow to wag his tail faster!

Gram still has our old games of "Go Fish," "Old Maid," and "Snap." The kids had never played Snap before, so after Gram taught them, there were many games of that this week! Here's a game of Go Fish with Uncle Travis & Aunt Erin.

Tonight we got sausage rolls from Pit-Stop Pizza in 'Busco. They're made almost just like the Papa Rolls used to be made at Papa's Place, so we get them a lot when we come...YUM!

Tonight Dad & Mom, and Travis & Erin showed the kids how to watch Purdue basketball. It was loud and wild and out of my league, but the kids thought it was fun!

Swirly eggs

The kids colored Easter eggs with Gram today!
They coated them with swirly paint using plastic gloves...fun!

Visits!

We spent the afternoon with our friends, the Skinner family today! We haven't seen them in at least a year, I don't think! We had such a nice time!

They had picked out a special treat for snack--Neapolitan ice cream sandwiches!


Brant and Caeden both big Thomas the Tank Engine fans, and they tried playing the Thomas V-Smile game together.


Jalynn took a picture of Amy and I since we hadn't had one in a long, long time!


Caeden, Brant, Jalynn, Sylvia, Annah
They played so quietly and nicely together all afternoon!


Tonight we went to Grandma & Grandpa Lopshire's. Grandma made us some yummy pizza, and spoiled us with all kinds of other treats. We even got to see Grandpa for a few minutes too.

Spring Break

Though we aren't completely convinced Spring is really, really here to stay, there are some signs of it. The kids are on break from school! Yesterday they all were super excited to go to the dentist first thing in the morning. (What a blessing that they love to go to the dentist and think it's super great fun!)
After morning errands, we went home and finished packing, ate a quick lunch and the kids and I hopped in the car to trek to Indiana. We were so glad to get here, as we haven't been since Christmas!

Today we have tried to play outside some, but it didn't feel very spring-like until afternoon.

This morning the kids wanted to play outside in their "secret place" under the trees. Gram played along for a while, until we all decided it was too cold!

Dad's dog, Shadow. He's not so fond of me, but the feeling is pretty much mutual. Ha!

Krampa was ready for his garden helpers to plant some peas. They were really into the digging part. Krampa now has some big holes all over his garden, apparently so the bugs would fall into the hole "traps" and not be able to get out.

Krampa and his pea seeds

Caeden's coat was in the washer, so Gram loaned him her garden jacket.

Mom & Dad's crocuses have come up! Maybe ours will be up when we get back home?

Sylvia's 6-year portraits

I took Sylvia's 6-year portraits today. Here are a few of my favorites...






a little of her spunky side

Scrappy, Scrappy

Been scrapping some the past couple days...
As always, click the pic to see larger...

Buddies
by TarynLeah
Scrapbook.com

Sylvia's Favorites at age 3
by TarynLeah
Scrapbook.com

This one I did for the Creative Scrappers 1-Hour Layout Contest this afternoon:

Friends
by TarynLeah
Scrapbook.com

Big Birthday Party

We celebrated Sylvia's birthday today with an "official" party! Gram & Krampa came over yesterday from Indiana for the whole weekend, and 3 of Sylvie's friends came for the party!

Jeremy invented a silly, fun game with balloons and pretending to be different animals. The kids loved it! He is really good at coming up with impromptu creative ways to entertain kids.



We did a couple fun crafts with the kids. One was decorating paper lanterns with shapes we cut out using the Cuttlebug. The kids loved that.
Then, they put together these little animals with foam pieces. They turned out really cute. Gotta love the $1 bins at Michaels!



Sylvia's friend Isabella had never been to our house, and we'd never met her parents before. So her mom, Stacy, stayed for the party and was super helpful!
Leyana worked very hard putting her little monkey together.


Craft time!


Leyana, Isabella, Sylvia, and Calli--such a sweet group of girls!


"Happy Birthday dear Sylvia!"


making a wish...


Time for presents...This one brought a big smile.


Magic pen books and sidewalk paint and chalk kit from Gram & Krampa.


It was really neat that Sylvie could read her own cards this year! She enjoyed that and took her time reading each one.


The kids were so cute all lined up to watch Sylvia open her presents.



Of course, big sister wanted to "help."
Here, Sylvia has opened a new princess devotional book.


Uncle Travis & Aunt Erin recently went on a trip to Las Vegas and had this painting done for Sylvia. A lady named Merina painted it with watercolor sponges. Sylvia was thrilled with it! She loves that the boat that is the "i" of her name also says her name on it! It's really beautiful and such a unique special gift!


Sylvia said her birthday party was "SO GREAT!"