Flying a Plane & Getting Big

The weather has been so nice lately (except for a few extremely windy days), so we've been spending more time outside. We got a fun big airplane from Oma & Papa Dude a while ago but finally took it out for some good flying recently. The boys had a lot of fun, and Kyler had a few really good throws, letting the plane glide really well.

Bentley is getting much more active and involved with things around her. She talks a lot and wants to eat everything I put to my mouth. We started some rice cereal this week which she loves! I still can't get over how much the boys love to watch her do new things and cheer for her!

Piecing the plane back together after one of several crashes!

Daddy helping Radley

Radley's got this!

Damon trying to get the hang of it.

Daddy showing them how it's done with just the right touch to make it glide!

Happy Birthday to this amazing guy!  We couldn't love you more, and you couldn't be more deserving.

Bentley is really starting to move a lot!  She loves to grab her toes and has been caught putting them in her  mouth!

The boys get so excited for her when she rolls over, and she's so close to rolling from her back to her tummy.

She has the deepest blue eyes.  They are so pretty.

This girl has quite the shoe collection, and I'm pretty envious!  She even has UGGs (pictured above) from one of her Aunts!  Lets hope her trend of losing shoes ends soon!!

Kenney put this video on Facebook a few weeks ago, but I wanted to put it on our blog. I love listening to him read this book, especially when he says, "Purple cat, purple cat." He is so adorable!

Easter Morning

This Easter season we made a more conscious effort to remember the reason we celebrate Easter. We tried to get the boys to look past the eggs, candy, and Easter Bunny to really understand what Easter is all about. We did an egg hunt for Family Home Evening that had different things relating to Christ's death and resurrection. We watched a few Easter videos and had many other great intentions. However, I wasn't quite as organized as I hoped I'd be. I have some plans for next year and hope to be a little more on top of things so that we might do something every day leading up to Easter Sunday. If nothing else, when you ask the boys why we have Easter, they at least know that it is about Jesus dying and being alive again. They at least know what resurrection means!

The boys and their cute Easter ties!

Bentley doesn't exactly look happy (it was a little chilly outside), but I love these 4 crazy kiddos with all my heart.

The aftermath of Easter baskets!

Showing off their favorite thing from their baskets.

Bentley's first Easter!  This wasn't the dress I intended for her to wear, but it was in the 40's that morning and was rather cold outside, so her 'Easter' dress will have to wait.  However, my friend knitted this dress for her.  I love the color and she is just too cute, even though the wind was blowing in her face!

Easter Activities

The week of Easter turned out to be much more busy than we anticipated, but as usual, the boys loved every second of fun!! We had a few egg hunts and a lot of family time! I think it was a pretty happy Easter!!

All ready for Damon's class egg hunt.  His teacher Mrs. Davis was great and let us bring some extra eggs for Radley so he wouldn't feel left out.

Radley was getting nervous, but he handled it like a champ!

Damon and his friend Elvis comparing eggs.

He was so excited and happy after he got done!

Our egg dying was pretty minimal and mostly successful.  We only did 12 eggs (lame I know), but it had been a crazy day and week and we were happy we dyed eggs at all!!

All the cousins at an egg hunt one of the local churches hosted!

These two are pretty hilarious!  They just run around and play with each other, copying whatever the other does and laughing while doing it!  This is what they were doing to wait for the egg hunt to start!

Asher at least peaked to take a picture, but Radley wouldn't budge!

Kyler's with the big kids now.  He's in the camo sweatshirt gathering eggs.

Radley is serious about getting eggs, notice the tongue!!

Damon and Gentry leaving nothing behind!

Comparing buckets!  We aren't sure what happened to Kyler because he ran out in front of all the other kids but hardly had any eggs.  We think his indecisiveness effected the number of eggs he collected!  Damon had no problem overflowing his bucket!!  Radley did well too.

Trying to stay out of the cold wind!  I don't know if I ever remember such a cool Easter in Texas!

The boys on an unexpected fishing trip with Daddy and Papa!  They caught 6 fish (Daddy forgot to bring the camera closer to the water), threw tons of rocks, saw some turtles and frogs, LOVED riding in the back of the truck once they got on the dirt roads, and just had a great time!!!  Damon was convinced they went camping because we have been talking about it so long, but they were only gone for a few hours between egg hunts!

All the extended cousins waiting for the Dads to hide the eggs at the family egg hunt.

One Cool Dude!

Serious stuff, that tongue is out again!

Malia with her Easter Bunny that Grandpa Richie got them!

Love this cute face!!

After the hunt was over, all the kids found a spot outside to open their eggs and dig in, however, Damon went inside to be by himself to make sure his candy would not get mixed up with all the other candy.  You would think these kids never get treats or candy!!

One fluffy bunny!

Spring Break

I decided a while ago I wanted to go to Austin for Spring Break but didn't know for sure I would be able to handle it since I knew Kenney wouldn't be coming with me. I finally decided to take the chance and see how the kids and I would fare! Well, we survived and had a blast! It was a quick weekend, but so much fun. They said their favorite part was going to see Nanny and playing with their cousins. Well, that was pretty much all they did, so I guess it was a hit!

We were able to see two of my Aunts while we were down there, so that made it even more fun.  Nanny and Aunt DeeAnne got the boys some cars, puzzles, stickers and more, so they were set!  We also went to McDonald's and got Happy Meals which hardly ever do!  Aunt Darla took us to get frozen yogurt and had a pretty cool coloring book for them to color.  They keep asking when we get to go to Austin again.

After spending some time with Nanny, we spent the entire next day at the Payne's house.  We didn't go anywhere or have any plans, besides letting the kids play.  It was perfect.  All of them got along really well and they were happy as could be.  We played games, jumped on the trampoline, ate snacks, blew bubbles, ate some more, watched My Little Ponies (a new experience for us), colored, ate ice cream cones, etc.  They just played!  It was a fast and busy, but very much worth it!  We have one amazing family!

Bentley with her Great Grandma (Nanny)

Aunt Darla, Bentley and Nanny

Nanny and the kids (it's really weird saying the kids rather than 'the boys'  I forget sometimes there is a girl involved!)

Pretty much the entire time we were at Nanny's, she was holding Bentley.  They both loved it!

Happy Girl

These boys (and girl) were lucky to be able to see Aunt DeeAnne.  She spoiled them, and they loved it!  Radley had a lot of fun with her because she kept teasing him that she would take his blanket and Buzz Lightyear home with her.  He would just point at her and yell, "No!"  It was funny to watch.

Bentley never laid down at all!  There was someone to hold her the whole time.

Hook 'em Horns!  Aunt Darla is a big University of Texas fan.

Bentley got into it this time!

Nanny playing with the uncooperative Radley!

Radley continued to be difficult and the horns continued too!

Fun with cousins always starts early!

These kids found just a tiny bit of water and turned sidewalk chalk into body paint.  Radley was covered in chalk too, but was continuing his picture taking strike!

I could not believe how well they covered themselves!!

The new Blue Men group

Kyler wanted a close up picture of his face.  His paint was not very dark, but it was thick!

Kyler covered his legs really well.  This picture just makes me laugh; those legs are so skinny!!  I keep trying to shove food down his throat, but the only thing he eats well are sweets!!  However, he does eat; I promise!

Playtime with the Payne's wouldn't be complete without a little Just Dance!  It was funny because Shayla just turned on YouTube videos and let the kids dance, but they really thought they were playing the game.  After each song they would announce who won based on the 'scores.'