He is Risen!

He is Risen, indeed!

Look at these two all spiffed up!  Gracie is even wearing the butterfly that her caterpillar turned into overnight!

We were at the farm this Easter, which was sandwiched between Millie's 1st birthday and April Fools Day--pics to come!  :)

G'ma Trudy and Papa LeRoy have hosted Easter for as long as I can remember.  This year we met again to feast in the garage and play outside.

Jello jiggler eggs from Aunt Marie!  Our kids loved these--and we could tell they'd eaten them for days after, if you know what I mean.  :)  Love that Joshy's "Pants Optional" philosophy is shining in this picture.  This kid strips for little to no reason at all.  He's beginning to earn a reputation!

Miss Millie.  :)

The weather was beautiful to celebrate our Risen Lord!  Our morning sitting with G'ma and Papa, reading the Easter story and going through Resurrection Eggs with the kids was my highlight...

Earning Her Keep...

Gracie is very interested in feeding Oden these days...

...and isn't he darling?!?  That hair!!!

Miss Millie is ONE.

Well, that year went by fast!  What a sweet little girl--and she was good as gold on her birthday!

With older cousins like these...she's bound to have a fun childhood!

Showing off her WALKING...love the tongue out!  The weather was nice enough this year that Ben had to be good and stay out of the field on the birthday-day.  Not many years will he have to make that decision!

Farm adventures...Megan and Gracie and Josh found a dead bird and moved it to the hollow of this tree.  They then adorned it with violets and had a funeral for it.  They were QUITE entertained!

 Muppets theme...yes, Karina, I have a Miss Piggy ring to send to you...

Millie's uncle brought his Mr. McGibblets costume to heighten the Muppets theme...our kids were terrified!  (And Jeff laughed heartily--I guess this is part of the TV show, "The League?")

Millie even had a Kermit costume to wear!  Ha!  She was not amused.  But she sure was cute!  Kelly says, "That darn Amazon...if you bought this, you may like THIS..."  Sure enough.  Needed one of those.  :)

G'ma Trudy and Papa LeRoy giving loves...

Jeff and the girls had a great time with the Wii--I think this is the Wii, right?  We were quite amused just watching them.

And Joshy was quite a good helper, since he just got done with his birthday...Kelly was very patient.  :)

These cheeks!  Ben says she has the McPartland lips--apparently she can frown down to her neck?--but this picture just makes me want to kiss this girl!  :)

Happy birthday, Sweet Millie Girl with the curly hair...we love you!

More Birthday? More Pancakes?

Okay, so his party was on the Saturday before his birthday, so on his ACTUAL birthday, we couldn't let it go by un-noticed (even though we were all partied out!).  MORE pancakes for his real birthday--and Granny supplied the huckleberries for these!

He was a bit confused--he told G'ma Joan on the phone:  "I having ANOTHER birthday!"--but excitement was easy to muster.

And though Jeff and I were weary during this week before Spring Break--two track meets for Jeff, two late nights conferencing for me--we made time for ICE CREAM after dinner that night.

Happy ACTUAL Birthday, Sweet Boy!  Here's to a great birthday WEEK!

Kai is THREE, too!

Kai Guy had his birthday party the following day at the YMCA--a swim party!

This guy goes CRAZY in the pool!  He loves it--with every ounce of energy he can muster!  We got him this little life jacket and he kept swimming around saying, "No one is holding me!  I swim by myself!"

Ha!  The boys caught unaware.  Delicious turtle cupcakes at his house afterwards.  (This followed the greatest kid meal ever!  Mac&cheese, hot dogs, 9-layer dip...)

Happy THIRD birthday, sweet boys!  We like how you're turning out!  :)

Joshua is THREE!!!

Joshua Scott...or Dash?!?  Incredibles, Toy Story, Mary Poppins, and all Josh's favorite movies showed up alongside our family to celebrate this new 3-year-old.

Of course we had pancakes before everyone came.  His signature food.

 Grandparents came early to spoil Joshy before the crowd came.  It was such special time with them!

 This is the best family shot that happens these days...

Our adopted daughter, Brooklyn.  Gracie's "twin" sister.

 G'ma Colleen and Papa Scott brought him a Hot Wheels bike!

Papa Greg sleeping...he IS on post-surgery drugs, people.

It was such a fun, crazy day!  Thank you for coming, everyone.  We're quite amazed he's three already...