Camp is Over

Eli and Emma Kate went to Camp Grandma/Grandpa for Spring Break. This is the 2nd year they've done that and they love it! I would too if I got to do whatever I wanted, watch an unlimited amount of TV all day long and eat no fewer than 6 ice cream cones per day!



Although I don't have any pictures of that gluttony, I did snap a few pictures when the little boys and I went to pick them up.

Zane with some serious bed head one morning....

Eating breakfast with Grandma....

My crew with sweet little Harper Mae....

Harper Mae is so gentle and loving.

She patted on Zane....

and kissed Zander when it was time for her to go....

Each day that the little boys and I were at my parents, we would go over to my Grandmother's house twice per day to visit with her and help her pass some time.

My boys loved pushing the buttons on this radio....

and clapping and jumping if they were able to hear music from the radio....

My grandmother has a basket on her coffee table that has artificial flowers and fruit in it. They loved taking the "bapes" (grapes) out of the basket.

Zander tried to eat them and when that didn't work, he told me to "feeet fit" (fix it).

One day we were there around lunch time. My grandmother was eating this....

(that's a hodge podge of corn, sauerkraut and meatloaf)


My boys "shared" Grandmother's food with her....

and it was the highlight of her day....

Zander's 1st Trim

I had been trying to hold off as long as possible on getting Zander's 1st haircut. I've never been really attached to my other kids hair, but I just knew that if I cut these off...

they'd be gone for good.

Philip is always so patient. But over the last month, he mentioned a couple of times that Zander's hair needed to be cut. People at Walmart called him a girl. Even my sister (who I knew loved the curls as much as I did), told me I could hold off a little bit longer but not until his 2nd birthday in May.

My Aunt Glenda gave Emma Kate and Zane their 1st baby trims so I talked myself into doing it last week when we were going to be at my parents house. She even had reservations about doing it 'cause those curls were just so cute. But, I did it. When I left our house, I told Philip I would bring Zander back with a haircut and I was going to stick to my word.

Zander did really well and I didn't cry either!

Here's the after picture. I couldn't bring myself to do a full-blown boyish haircut the first time. But at least its not hanging down his back any more.

Spring Break Snow

We thought it sounded crazy when we overheard a weather forecast calling for snow at the beginning of Spring Break.

Sunday morning March 21st we woke up to snow and it continued ALL DAY LONG. 10 inches. Unbelievable.

Eli and Emma Kate were at their usual Spring Break getaway ("Camp Grandma/Grandpa") so we didn't even get out to play in it. I loved the snow in January and part of February, but was really ready for spring at this point. Can't deny it was still beautiful though!

February & March Gymnastics

During February and March, Emma Kate had 2 meets each month. These are my favorite pictures from those 4 meets.

saluting before vault....
This is what Eli, Connor, Emily & Cole do while their sisters are competing....

Durham's Meet

TOPs Level 5 girls with the 1st place Level 5 trophy after Durham's Meet

Emma Kate was chosen to take the trophy home first!

Conocco Phillips Meet, Bartlesville, OK

warming up at Arkansas State Meet

love the look on the girls face while they're listening to Coach John before the meet starts...

We usually do not take Zane & Zander to the meets, but we had to for this one....

Thankfully, we had all 4 grandparents at the meet to help!!

marching in....

casually waiting for her turn before vault...

Vault is done now. She's cold so she puts her warm-up pants on. This is the 2nd year to wear those pants. This year they only have to be rolled at the waist. Last year we rolled the waist and the hem....

Here's the sibling gallery again....

The girls are finished with all 4 events. They get their "scorecard" and huddle up to compare....

Then, sit down and wait for other teams to finish....

Level 5 State Champs!!!!!