Happy Easter!

We had a great day today.  We started with the Easter baskets this morning and then headed up north to my Aunt and Uncle's house.  We had a huge feast there and then an Easter egg hunt.  The kids played and played with their cousins - it is great they are all so close in age.  I am thankful we could all be together to celebrate today! :)

All of us at my Aunt and Uncle's:

Our goofballs, headed out for the Easter Egg Hunt:

The boys following a clue from Uncle Rich and Grandpa:

Carter always has to check out the cows:

Getting up close and personal:

I look at this now and think "what mother would allow her son to poke his head through a barbed wire fence like that?" and yet I didn't think anything of it at the time!?!?!

The kids with their loot:

A very tired Carter after a busy weekend.  He was out cold watching his movie on the way home tonight!!!  I look at it as the sign of a great weekend!!! :)

Carter's 5th Birthday Party

We had Carter's 5th Birthday party today.  We had 11 kids at Sky Zone, an indoor trampoline park, in Plymouth.  They had a blast jumping - they were so sweaty and tired when the 60 minutes was up!  We came back here for lunch, cake, and gift opening.  It was a successful day, and it wiped us all out! :)

All of the kids at Sky Zone - anxiously awaiting their jump time!!!

Noah:

Ryan:

Zach:

Pizza party back at our house:

Carter opening his gifts:

Singing Happy Birthday:

Blowing out the candles!

All ready for Easter!

Ryan had Friday off of school, so the three of us spent the day getting ready for Easter!  We colored eggs and made bird nests and I assembled Easter baskets while they were watching cartoons.  I'm officially ready for the big day!

Excited to see the eggs turning color!

Not exactly works of art, but they had fun creating them! :)

We made bird nests.  We used chow mein noodles, marshmallows, and butter - just like you'd make rice krispie bars, but instead of putting them in a pan, we put them in muffin tins, and shaped a nest.

This is what the finished product looked like.  The boys were skeptical at first, but one bite and they were hooked!  YUM!!

Easter baskets for the boys:



Economics

It always amazes me how young they start kids on subjects in school now.  Kyle has been doing calculus-like problems in algebra this year as a 7th grader.  We aren't even sure how to help him with the equations!  Ryan's book report this week was on Economics.  It was great seeing him think about the concept of the cost of food and how supply and demand effects the price.  I think he really got a lot out of the lesson - I was impressed!!!

{Proud parent alert}: Ryan has been in talent development programs for both math and reading in first grade.  He is working well above his grade level in both.  He was also nominated to attend a summer math and science program - it was a huge honor to be selected.  I am so proud of the hard work he has put in this year and it never amazes me at how much his mind soaks in - he is just like a sponge.  I hope school always comes this easy and he enjoys it as much as he does now.  It truly is a blessing and makes life much easier!!!!

Ryan's School Honors

Last week was a big week for Ryan.  He came home on Monday, proud as a peacock for being selected as a Johnsville All Star!  He earned a medal, certificate, and lunch with the principal! :)  He also had his artwork selected to be displayed at a local art fair.  What an honor; we'll have to get over there this week to check it out!!!