Easter

Easter?! I know... it was a long time ago... but I'm so behind... I thought about not posting about Easter but these pics are to cute to not post and I really want it for our family book. (I print our blog each year)

So here are the 4 older kids :)  Nathan took these pics.  I was still getting ready and said "Oh quick get some pics of the kids in their Easter outfits!"  I can't believe how good they turned out!

 
Jack-Jack all dressed up... not to happy about it... LOL

 
Sweet Miley, I love this dress!

Easter morning the kids got donuts and a bucket full of goodies...

Our New Van aka The Beast

Most people dream of a sports car (and really I am one of those people... I dream of a Mustang) or as a family they dream of a Honda Odyssey or a SUV.  Nathan and I knew that we were going to have a large familiy and we dreamed of a BIG van! :) Yes we did... We would see one here or there and say to each other "that's what we're going to need!"  I know we're crazy... but ya love us! I know I mentioned a couple of times on the blog about believing God for something big and saving money towards "something."  Well were we believing for a big van.  We pay cash for everything. We don't want any debt if we can avoid it so this was a huge thing to save and wait for. It's easy to just go to a dealership and get what you need or want. We had to wait to have the money and then find what we needed in our price range. My uncle is a dealer and he really helped us find the perfect van!  You see we have had one vehicle for a long time, about a year.  We made it work and were so thankful that we lived close enough to Nathan's work that he would take his bike to work on the days that I needed the van.  He works about a mile from home.  So not to bad at all but on rainy days or busy weeks it could be rough.  I have to give Nathan MAJOR props here!  He never once complained.  If I said I needed the van he said "ok." If it was raining he would ride his bike or even walk home in the rain instead of calling me to pick him so I wouldn't have to load up all the kids.  Which I gladly would have!  :)  He is amazing!

 So with Miley joining our family we weren't all able to fit in our minivan.  We did make a few adjustments to get us by for a few weeks until we got our van.  But we were crammed!  So here is The Beast.  I actually LOVE it more than I thought that I would.  Parking is challenging but I'm learning and getting lots of exercise in the mean time by parking far away. :)  We all fit and have plenty of room and it's not an issue when my little sister stays the night with us because we have the room. (We couldn't fit her in the minivan either!)  It's a tank, it's up high, it sucks gas... but I LOVE it!

It's a 2003 Ford E350 it only had 53,000 miles on it!, this thing can tow a house!  So if ya need to tow a house you know who to call!

Zoo Trip

We took the Monkeys to the Zoo!  We love the Zoo!  The pictures show you how much fun we had...

Father and Son :)

Carousel fun!  I couldn't get a good pic of Addy on the carousel.

The zoo has this little hands on room with tons of fun stuff for the kids.

Nathan cracks me up!

Dress up and pupper show!

LOL!!!

I love him he makes us laugh!

All tuckered out and ready to go home....

Great Gramma

 We went for a visit at my Gramma's house.  I love my Gramma so much!  I spent so much time with her growing up and she has taught me a lot!  She loves the new babies :) I see a "full circle moment" with each baby when she sees them for the first time.  She and my Grampa had 4 kids, 8 grandkids and now 14 great grandbabies!  I just love that!

For some reason I don't have picture of Addy from our visit... Addy loves my Gramma.  The kids call my mom Gramma, so to differentetiate between the two.  Addy calls her "old Gramma."  One day I was telling then we are going to Gramma's house!  Addy asked... Gramma? Or Old Gramma?  I laughed and said Old Gramma.  Addy got so excited and said "YAY!  I love Old Gramma... she's so cute!"  I died laughing but then had to talk to her not to call Great Gramma Old Gramma to her cause that would be rude.  :)

A day in the life...

Most days are smooth sailing and wonderful!  There is always a lot on the to do list...  homeschool has to be #1 and then I work on house work and playing with the kids.

Here is our ham...  He is just to cute!

 
This is what I look like most days... no make up and mommy clothes.

Miley grunting... she does a lot of that!

Jackson loves the baby's swing...  I can't keep him out of it.

The kids LOVE to play outside!  On this day they were "washing" our van.  It was so cute they got the stools and everything.

When Daddy gets home from work.  He horse plays and tickles the kids until it's dinner and bedtime.  The kids love this!