Bring on the sunshine!

We are so excited for the warm weather and all it brings with it . . . . .

Discovering the outside and tasty new things to eat. . .

how tough a shadow can make you look . . . .

soaking up a few rays . . . .

letting the cool breezes blow through your already messy hair . . . .

the sounds of kids playing. . . .

and running away from their moms! Bring on Summer! woohoo.

Soccer season made it!

Hmmmm, what am I doing?

Great action shot!

Goal tending

We have been waiting anxiously for soccer this year. Last year we missed sign ups twice, so this has been a long time coming. Jake and I are even lucky it happened since dad is not the biggest soccer fan out there. But he loves that his boy is having fun. It's been fun and very entertaining to get into the world of soccer. Five year olds are defiantly the entertaining part of it! Who knew that somersaults, picking your nose, was ever skills within this sport. I can't believe he is old enough for all of this. He is especially good at getting the ball turned around to head in the right direction (he gets really frustrated when they go the wrong way!) I love being this kids mom!

Easter!

Saturday we went to Grandma and Granddad's. Died Easter eggs, ate a picnic inside and went on one of the coldest Easter egg hunts in the history of Easter egg hunts. Luckily it warmed up so Jake and his cousins could play with "the coolest thing ever", his rocket from Grandad.

I never thought this would happen. My sweet Jake tries so hard to get a good picture with his sister but she would just not cooperate. Usually he is the one it's hard to get a picture of, but put Eva outside and she gets all crazy like. They looked so dang cute in their new church easter church clothes.

Saying Goodbye.

I am so proud of this man! This is my only big brother, Jared. He is headed to Afghanistan in a few weeks and is now in Miami training hard there. He is such a strong person, amazing Dad, Husband, great priesthood holder and most of what I saw, a great brother. (of course there was the occasional pushing me out the window thing, but I'm over that :)) He has always been there for me in my greatest times of need, and most dramatic times in my life. I'm so lucky to call him my brother and we are already missing him. Jake is so proud of him to and tells me he is going to be a GI Joe like Uncle Jared. I'm OK with that because I couldn't ask for a better example for my son to look up too. What he stands for in life, and eternity is what I am so proud of him for. Good luck big brother, I love you!

Our Cute Pirate turns Five!

I can't believe how big my little buddy is getting. He turned five on February 23rd. We sure partied hard. He got to have his first friend party. Thank goodness for amazing friends, or else I would have never survived all those pirates. Jake is very spoiled with some amazing cute little friends. With allot of fun and many meltdowns we all came out alive. On his birthday we had a great family party at Pirate Island (which is now our favorite place ever!) We got two bigger than the world pizza's and had so much fun playing in the arcade! He was also very spoiled with lots of love from Aunts, Uncles, Grandma and Grandad, and sweet Aunt Mer. Thanks to everyone who helped make this birthday so memorable for him. He is an amazing kid and so dang smart. I learn more from him than I think I could from anyone else. I love my Jake!

Birthday fun!

Jake was so excited to give Eva a present. Even though he has been playing with it more than she has.

Eva got her first dolly, a cabbage patch which Jake named LooLoo. I have to admit, I'm the one who really wanted it, I loved my Cabby when I was little, which ended sadly by it getting eatin' by the dog. So I guess I will live vicariously through my daughter and her toys.

A family in our ward brings everyone, I mean everyone (even the babies) cookies and sings to them the Sunday before their birthday. They are an amazing family and so were the cookies!

Eva is a big fan of the water. Aunt Laura had a great idea and suggested we take her swimming. It was a hit. Jonni, Grandma, Grandad, Gabi, Uncle Gary (Aunt Laura couldn't make it, she got sick), big brother, and even dad took off work early and made it (which was a special treat!). She had a great birthday and slept well after all the partying!