Easter Day

Here are the kids in their Easter outifts. They were able to see their treats in their baskets and then we went to church. In the afternoon we headed out to Grandma and Papaw Speer's for an egg hunt and Easter dinner. Great Grandma Dirks was there as well as Great Aunt Betty. It was a nice time with family and the kids had a fun day.

Easter Egg Hunts

As always we had more egg hunts than we knew what to do with! There was the hunt at Meadowood Park, the More than Eggs hunt at church, one at the Library, and then one at each Grandparents house! It seems even Lauren isn't too big for this activity yet. Ryan really enjoyed finding the eggs this year too. Mad, of course, was very excited to hunt for eggs as well. The one at Grandma Buckner's is always a neat one with all the grand kids heading out in different directions! Lauren still has one that we couldn't find at Grandma Speer's!

The Dog Ate My Homework

Many people have to wait a long time to use this excuse. Ryan has already had the opportunity in his first year of preschool!! The kids each get an opportunity to take home a traveling bear, Hope, and then they write about the adventures Hope had at their house. We had Hope from a Thursday to the following Tuesday. Our dear dog Miley didn't mess with it....until three minutes until we were to leave for school on Tuesday morning. I had just put Hope and the journal in the special travel bag and went to help the kids with their coats. I turned to pick up the bag and it wasn't there. A little looking and I found the bag. The dear mutt had chewed the corner of the book!!! We had to take it to school still warm and wet from the dog's mouth and tell his teachers that the dog ate my homework!! The teacher's found it funny though and it just became part of Hope's adventures.

The Great Piercing...

Lauren has wanted her ears pierced forever now. We had told her that she had to wait until she was ten years old. Since we are leaving for vacation soon after her birthday I decided to surprise her over spring break and let her get them pierced so we would be in town if there were any problems. The morning of the event she still had no idea what was going on. We we were in the van I told her and she was SOOO excited! She did great too. They did them individually and I thought she may chicken out after the first one but she did wonderfully. My little girl is growing up!

Trash Truck Visits Preschool

Ryan is still in love with the trash trucks. For his birthday I wanted to see if the town would send a trash truck to his school for a demonstration. I contacted the street department and they agreed to come to the school. It was a total surprise for Ryan and he and his classmates LOVED the trash truck. His goodie bags were little trash bags with candy and a little trash truck inside. The kids were able to throw stuff in the back of the truck and they even were allowed to stand on the step in the back....a dream of Ryan's. He absolutely loved his birthday surprise.

A Preschooler's Dream

So, the adults didn't find a main line break all that fantastic. However, if you are a preschooler, having a tractor in your yard for TWO days was a wonderfully exciting dream. Ryan and Addy enjoyed watching the tractor. They had a picnic lunch and watched it too so that they wouldn't miss anything. It was a super fun time to be a kid. The nice workers were so great with the kids and let them even sit in the tractor a few times. They were in heaven!!

Ryan's Birthday

Ryan wanted a Star Wars birthday this year. He specifically requested a light saber cake. So, after much thought, I made this one and he was so thrilled with it!! Made my day to see him so excited over it!! He went on his birthday lunch with Grandpa and Grandma Buckner to Choo Choo Pizza (Pizza King) and then they gave him his first bike! He LOVES it! On his birthday I took him to The Children's Museum and he had a blast there. Later we went to his favorite place for dinner...Olive Garden. Of course he really only likes the mint you get at the end of the meal though! The next day Grandma and Papa Speer came over with more gifts. He was excited to get the horses and their truck and trailer to haul them around. He loves horses! I would say he loves being four!!

The Snow Fort

The kids and I worked on this awesome snow fort. It took time but it's so cool. Luckily it's under this bush so we only had to do the walls but there is enough room for all the neighborhood kids to play in it. I'm not sure who is enjoying this weather more.....me or the kids!!

Let it Snow Let it Snow Let it Snow....

Here are the kids crawling through the snow bank by the street. It was nice that the street department came and cleared the streets so that the kids had these huge snow banks to crawl over and through. This was on the SECOND snow day from school!!

Sledding...

I took all three kids sledding with our neighbors. It was the most fun! The hill was great and FAST! There were different paths to go down. Madeline preferred to stay on the halfway path which was still a good distance. Ryan and Lauren were on the big path. I couldn't believe my little 3 1/2 year old was going down this huge hill!! He loved it and did a great job of staying on the sled....most of the time. Lauren was getting brave and going down on her back and belly and making me a nervous wreck but it was so much fun. The kids wore out before I did!! It was so much fun!!! We WILL go back there again!

Don't Eat The Yellow Snow...

The kids of course had to eat the snow. All kids (and big kids too) love to eat that first snow. Ryan absolutely loves it. He is always eating the snow! Mad said it was ok. Lauren likes it but doesn't eat alot of it. Here all three kids made their own "snow cones". We just love this snow storm!!

Miley the Snow Dog

Miley LOVES the snow. She is so fun to watch. She loves to jump all over the place and eats the snow. She gets so excited when she sees people getting all their snow gear on because she is hoping she'll get to go and play too! It's a riot watching her! She doesn't seem to mind that the snow is almost deeper than her in most areas!

Big Big Snow!!

We had a super snow storm last night! We have over a foot of solid snow. Some of the snow drifts are two feet or more! It's great! The kids have been having a super time playing in it. Ryan has a harder time as he isn't as tall and walking through the snow is really tricky for him but he does it! Of course it was a snow day from school so all the kids were out and having a great time! Here are some pictures to show how deep the snow is in areas!

Playing with our friends in the snow....

We haven't gotten as much snow this year as we usually do by this point. During the first good snow we ran outside and played with the neighbor kids and had so much fun. The kids like to use our driveway as a place to sled down. Works ok as long as there aren't any cars coming!!

FTMA (Future Trash Men of America)

Here is a picture of Ryan's orange trash truck from Santa. We all know that Ryan has been obsessed with trash trucks for over a year now. Buckner genes?? Anyway, Ryan and I sit on the porch rain, snow, sleet, or shine on Wednesdays to watch the 2-3 trash trucks that come to our house. On Christmas Eve (our trash day) there was a knock on the door. There was the trash man in a Santa hat and handed me a gift for Ryan. I have NEVER met anyone who has received a gift from their trash man! We took this picture to put in the thank you card for the trash man. Needless to say it made Ryan's day to get a present from him and made my eyes teary at the kindness shown to my son.

What's a Ryanism??

Ryan has entertained us with many sayings and questions lately. We have named these Ryanisms. He is a super inquisitive boy and his observations stun and entertain us. His latest Ryanism happened this week. I had called and made an appointment for Miley (the dog) to be spayed. I suppose he was overhearing my phone conversations. Later that day we went to McDonald's and ran into Grandma. In a sad yet serious tone he informed her that Miley was broken and we have to take her to the vet to get fixed!! Another time while at the museum he was jumping around and having a good time. He suddenly stopped and got serious. I asked him what was wrong. He claimed someone wet his pants. When I asked how "someone" did that he said he didn't know but while he was laughing someone came and wet his pants. Another time we went out to eat. He was quietly looking at the moon (it was a half moon). He then asked how the moon gets "broken". Yet our all time favorite one deals with God. While explaining about death and how when we die God comes and takes us to heaven Ryan sits and ponders for a moment. Then he asks, "What kind of car does God drive when he comes to get us?".

The Play Goup

It all started almost ten years ago! When our first kids were just babies we met at a Mom's group and started our own little playgroup. Sadly half of the group has moved away. Whenever there are enough in town to get together we usually try to do so. It's been so much fun to have these other Mom's to grow up with. I love you all!! I can't believe our group started with six little babies and if we could ever all get together again there would be sixteen kids! Wow. It was really nice to spend time with some old friends and see all the kids together again. When are you coming again Laura??

Build a Bear (or dog or bunny...)

The kids have been wanting to go to Build a Bear. It's a really fun place but pretty pricey for stuffed animals if you ask me. I told the kids to ask for gift cards or money for Christmas and then they could go. They did and we went. It was neat to get to pick out your animal and stuff it. The kids really enjoyed doing their animals and dressing them up. They are already thinking of doing the same thing with their birthday money. Luckily I could take them one at a time then!!!