Happy 4th Birthday, Olivia!

Here are some (a lot) pictures from Olivia's birthday.  She had a princess party.  The girls got to put on earrings, braclets, and fingernail polish.  They also decorated picture frames.

This is the group pic.  They took home an individual picture with Olivia.  Thanks Justin for taking the pics and Dad for printing them!

 They played 'Pin Cinderella in her Castle Room'.

 Here's the cake I made.

 Let's eat!

 Opening presents.

 Some Party People.

These pictures are a little out of order, but ah well.

We went to Dolleywood on Olivia's birthday.  Justin took the day off.  They were riding rocks while we waited for Justin to ride the roller coasters.

 They both got to drive old fashioned cars, and LOVED it.

 Quack quack!

 Ferris Wheel.

 Daddy daughter.

 The fam.

She got her birthday doughnut on her birthday morning!

 This is not such a good picture, but it was hilarious.  Justin hid her presents around the house/garage.  They had to come get clues before they found each present.  This is them listening intently.

Praise the Lord for My Hero!

I know I need to post some pics of Olivia's bday and party, but I just have to say a HUMONGOUS THANK YOU to Justin!  What a hero!  As we were praying, talking, tucking kids in bed, etc....Olivia was playing with 3 quarters (didn't realize this) while she was laying down. Somehow two went into her throat and got stuck.  Justin is such a great thinker under pressure!  He stuck his finger her mouth, felt the things, hung over her bed and wa pow! Out came the quarters!  So Praise the Lord! and thanks Justin!

Happy Birthday Tami!

On my actual birthday, Justin surprised me (left for 'work', came back 10min later with my presents and a diet coke ringing the front doorbell) and took the day off. We went to the zoo. Isaac and Olivia got to feed the camels. They really have big lips.

This is 'Georgie', the coolest monkey at the zoo.  We played with him for about 15min or more.  He stayed right at the window with us the whole time.

Here we are at Olive Garden for dinner.

Here are my parents walking TO the Chalk Walk in Market Square with Olivia.  We all went here after my birthday dinner.

  This is me, showing my best chalk drawing capabilities.

And finally, we have my favorite chalk drawing of the evening.  It was tied pretty close with a fox and the hound drawing.

 

It was a great birthday and I'm glad to be 32!  Thank you family for making it special!

Outside

These are some random outside pictures I thought I would share.

The kids were outside "helping" Justin plant the garden.  I looked out the window and this is what I saw.  (I was cooking dinner by the way, not intentionally avoiding the garden.)

Then I saw this.  When I asked what was going on, Olivia said she was whispering to Isaac to run fast if the wolf comes.  Too funny!

These are the most amazing 'suck pops' (heather) ever! Chocolate pudding, cool whip, and oreos...you can't go wrong.  You can check out Justin's Rants and Raves blog for the detailed recipe!

I love this picture....mostly because of the boots I guess (thanks Katie).  We were playing with sidewalk chalk after church.  She was drawing Easter eggs all over the driveway and I was hunting them.

I took the kids on a 0.4mile hike the other day.  Doesn't seem like much, until you have 2 little ones who want to be carried down the big hill half way through the hike and then of course UP the big hill, all the while being by yourself.  Lesson learned.  However, Olivia REALLY liked taking pictures of everything she saw.  This catipillar was a life saver around 0.2mi.

Not sure if you can see their faces, but Olivia's wasn't happy.  But I was so proud of them for finishing the loop!

Random picture.  He makes me smile, alot!

Underwear

This deserves a post all its own!  Isaac is wearing big boy underwear! WOO HOO!  I haven't ventured out of the house with them on, or during naps for that matter, but he has successfully used them all weekend for #1!!!!  And, yes, Olivia loves helping to oversee the event (to an extent of course).

Happy Easter

We colored eggs.  2 dozen goes by super fast!

 Hard at work.

 We did the hunt.

 Full buckets.

We had a nice hearty meal at Cracker Barrel with my family. (no pics, darn)  Justin took off to Washington DC for a school conference.  We had a great Easter and are so thankful that Jesus takes away our sin...as far as the east is from the west... 

The Horse

A couple weekends back, we went to the UT vet open house.  I wanted to share this huge horse.  I've never seen any horse like it.  Do you see how tall it is??? That girl leading him was a tall girl.  He's a work horse...obviously.

 Here's the same horse in his stall.  His back was actually taller than Justin, let alone his head.  Olivia was a little uneasy about the picture.  The horse had breathed on her from his nostril and blew her hair all over.

 This was the smallest horse.  They got to pet this one.  I think Luci might be bigger than this horse.

 They also got to take their stuffed animals to the vet.  Olivia is helping to give her fish a shot.

 Isaac's monkey got some stiches and a bandage.



Just Another Quack In The Park

Today was supposed to be in the mid-80's so we all hopped in the car and took off to the park.  It was nice out, but a bit breezy.  I think they went down this twisty slide a million times.  The Easter Bunny showed up and let the kids have a piece of candy.  Isaac really liked that and kept the Easter Bunny on radar the whole time we were there. 

Justin snuck up on a baby duck in the pond and snatched it up for the kids to see.  Tami laughed her head off.  Isaac and Olivia thought getting to hold it was super cool. 

There was 'one' really low swing that was just right for Olivia and Isaac.  Justin taught Isaac how to play superman on the high swing.

Home Time

A lot of days, home days are absolutely great.  Here's some pics...

Isaac is at Olivia's Salon.  Just getting a trim.

 They are playing "sleep" with their babies.

Isaac is going to work.  He's all dressed up and ready to go (see the bracelets and anklets that Olivia put on him??).  He's even got his lunchbox that Olivia packed for him.  (This is what Justin uses for his lunches....being the reason they call a cooler a lunchbox.)

 Olivia's puppies are having shoe races.  Looks like pink is winning.



Go Butler!

Our neighbors went to the University of Butler and therefore, during this March Maddness (see Justin's Rants and Raves Blog for more details...ha ha) we have become Butler fans. They asked for a cake to celebrate while watching the game with family in town. Sure, no problem! Well, it took a little longer than I expected, and I learned quite a few things along the way, but here's the picture...I wanted to write Final Four across the top, but decided against it due to my shakey hand on the basketball court.

Besides making a cake, we also went to the zoo this weekend. There is a 220lb 23ft long python on loan at the zoo for the summer. Blek!! (Heather, I knew you would love this one.)