Monday, April 25, 2011

Rebels Baseball

This year we have three baseball teams to cheer on. (We basically live at Ken Berry this year!) Maddox is on the Rebels team.
He was so thrilled to get the #1! Probably makes it even sweeter since Caden is #2 on his team!

He's such a cutie! Don't tell him I said that though!


Here are a couple shots from his game Friday night.








The Rebels are off to a great start with a 1-1 record. Go Rebels!!!

The Gustnado of 2011

We recently experienced what some people are calling a "gustnado". It looked like a huge dust storm in the field behind our house. It left behind quite a bit of destruction.

Here is what is left of our poor patio table:

Our poor neighbor behind us. They're still working with insurance and roofing companies.

The neighbors next door lost this playground, which was a ridiculously well crafted set.


Here is our poor basketball goal. Knocked down, but survived!


We lost some shingles, but nothing else terribly bad. Everybody was safe, so for that we are so thankful!

Roundup Fun

Hard to believe that it's been almost 2 years since I sent Maddox to Kindergarten. Since I send a new kid out into the world every 2 years, it's time for the next one. Brennen's Kindergarten Roundup had a "Candyland" theme this year. It was all so cute. Here he is at the entrance to the Kindergarten hall.

Here is Brennen and Lily. They will both be headed there together next year.

Brennen had such a wonderful time and was ready to just quit preschool that day and go to Kindergarten. Bet there won't be any tears from him that first day of school!!

My little Dazzler

Ella is going through a stage where if you ask her to "Dazzle Me," she will bat her little eyes at you. It's so stinking cute. Here's a video where we asked her to do dazzle us!



Sunday, April 24, 2011

Future Entrepreneurs

On a very nice Saturday, a few of the boys in our culdesac, including Caden, decided to go into the lemonade business. One of the kids donated the lemonade and candy bars, another one the start up money, another handled the advertising, and Caden donated the cups and Flavor Ice. I didn't have high hopes for how this would go, but figured it'd get this out of their system!
I love this sign!!

Little did I know that this stand would be a huge success!


Kids came from all over the neighborhood!




Now I'm not sure exactly how much of the profits that the kids consumed, but they still ended up making $38.50 that day. Not bad for a lazy Saturday afternoon!


Spring Break Fun

Bob was able to take spring break off from work and we had some wonderful family time together. We generally are always so busy with practices, school, church, etc... that family time is a rare commodity. Here are some of the fun things we got to do:

Here is the gang at a Topeka Roadrunners game. Preston and Ella did not find it terribly fun toward the end, but the older boys really liked it.

One day we ate lunch downtown and then decided to support some local businesses. First stop - Hazel Hill Chocolate Factory. All I have to say is, "Yummy!"

I love that the kids are still so easy to please that they were thrilled with dipped pretzels!


Here we are leaving Hazel Hill. Maddox thought the walk back to the van was going to drain him!



We also stopped into Marian Lane candles. I found a new favorite! They even have sets that will work in my Scentsy!


Then we headed to the zoo. It was a beautiful day!


Checking out the giraffes.


At the bear exhibit. I think the kids enjoy the things to climb on more than they do seeing the animals sometimes!


Preston relaxing a little!


It's a good thing this bear isn't real. Can't imagine he'd care for his ears being pulled!


More climbing!


And more climbing!


My little pigtailed cutie!
One last climbing picture!


We have been to a few different Disney on Ice shows. So when we heard that Disney on Ice: Toy Story 3 was in Kansas City, it was a no brainer. These are wonderful shows and worth every penny. Here is Caden and Brennen before the show started.


Still waiting for the start of the show.


These are not the best pictures, but they're what we've got. Here are a couple snapshots of the show.



During intermission Caden wanted a picture with the KC skyline behind him. Never did happen. This is as good as it got!




My favorite characters from Toy Story are Ken and Barbie so I was really excited to see their segment of the show!






That is a glimpse at our spring break. Not a trip to Disneyworld, but some wonderful family time nonetheless!

'Tis the season...for birthdays!!

As March approaches, I gear up and switch into birthday mode. This is because Maddox's birthday is March 6th, Brennen's is March 16th, and Caden's is April 4th. It's a very hectic time, but once it's over, I'm done with birthdays until August!

I always let the kids choose how they would like to celebrate their birthday. Birthdays were a huge deal in my family growing up, and Bob and I have continued this tradition with the kids. I love that one day a year it is about nothing else other than them. Everybody deserves that!

Maddox chose to have 2 friends spend the night. So the afternoon of his birthday, we met with family and a few friends at Planet Sub for lunch and cake.

My new 7 year old. Where did the time go? (I find myself saying that more and more lately!)



We gave him his presents from us at home that evening. Here's a couple of those shots. He really wanted an alarm clock. (Not sure why when he has me, but whatever!)





What's better than a play gun? A Star Wars gun!



The next weekend, we celebrated Brennen's birthday with family and friends. He had a movie party at the clubhouse where Bob's dad lives. It has a small theater and the kids all watched Despicable Me. I use the term "watched" very liberally as there was very little watching going on from what I saw!



Since Caden and Maddox got DS's for Christmas, that's all Brennen has wanted. He even wanted his cake in the shape of a DS!



These next 3 pictures are not the best, but they crack me up. If you look at what Bob is doing and even his facial expressions, Brennen is practically doing the exact same thing in the picture. Guess he can't deny that kid!!







Silly, I know, but it made me chuckle.


This is just a random picture of Ella from when Brennen was opening presents from us at home. Isn't she a cutie?!



Here is Brennen on his birthday getting ready to open his gift from us. He was pretty excited as I think he had an idea as to what he was getting!





And he was right!!



Then we moved onto Caden's birthday. He wanted a party with classmates at the new Lunar Golf place at our mall. So again, we celebrated with family and friends the night before.


Caden chose cheesecake cupcakes for a treat and Grandma generously provided them!




Caden got a decent amount of cash and DS games. Guess we're to that point already!



The next day we did Lunar Golf with friends. Here is a picture of Caden's ice cream cake from Cold Stone. Chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate pretty much sums it up!



It is very hard to take pictures in a black lit indoor golf course!



He LOVED the cake!



9 year old boys are crazy!



Caden got a ton of Lego stuff, which is exactly what he loves to do!


Stupid camera made my picture blurry!



Finding it hard to believe I'm a mom to a 9 year old!!