Spring Break

Kade had Friday off from school so Erik and I took the day off as well and made plans to go to a waterpark.  Erik's sister Jenna, and her family, were able to join us as well!  We rented a cabin and spent 5 hours at the waterpark on Friday and then another 3 hours on Saturday.  Everyone had a blast! 

Kade and Violet, 2 peas in a pod.

I don't know why but I just love this picture of Kade.  

Can't believe how big he is getting!  The last time we were here, he was about 2 years old!

These are a couple pictures from the last time we were at this waterpark.

Who is that handsome little man?!?!?

Anyway, back to our mini-vacation...

This might have been the one and only time Mason let someone catch him as he jumped into the pool!

Violet, Mason, Jay and Isaac

It is impossible to get a 3 year old to actually look at the camera, or smile on command, or really do anything you ask of them!

Isaac

Violet

Kade spent quite a bit of time shooting hoops, 

which should come as no surprise to anyone :-)

Mason enjoying the hot tub

I told him to smile for me and this is the goofy grin he came up with.

The kids were SO EXCITED to discover their sleeping arrangements!

Remember what I said about a 3 year old doing what you ask?  Yeah, I told them to stay where they were (they were all laying on their beds) so I could take their picture.  Of course, Mason immediately got off his bed.  What a turkey!

Sitting in their beds lasted all of 2 seconds.

Let the fun begin....

Looks like a very serious conversation happening.

These 2 know what to do on vacation!!

It was a such a beautiful evening, we actually got to enjoy the outdoors for a little bit too!

After the sun set, we headed up to the game room.

Each couple spent exactly $10...

...and the kids got enough tickets to "win" 2 starbursts and a teeny, tiny racing car.

Oh well, the kids had fun and the pictures are cute!

The morning after their epic sleepover.  

In which both of these handsome little men ended up sleeping in between their parents! 

The drive home.

Unfortunately our fun weekend ended on a poor note, Kade and I came down with a nasty stomach flu.  Sunday was spent laying in bed or hanging out in the bathroom.  We both stayed home from work and school today and are spending quality time hanging out on the couch.  But, at least there hasn't been any more urgent trips to the bathroom!  

Oldies but Goodies

I stayed up too late last night reading a book which means I've been lazy all morning.  The boys and I have been laying in bed all morning looking at old pictures and it gave me an idea for this week's post.  I took exactly 2 pictures of each boy this week and, don't get me wrong, they are super cute (like always, in my completely biased opinion).  But, after looking back over the last 6.5 years there are some CUTE pictures in our collection!  The following aren't even my favorite of all time...but...holy cannoli...we were blessed with some adorable little boys!

This week's pics:

Pictures from the past:

 These little boys are lucky they still have cheeks!  

I can't believe we didn't kiss them right off of their faces at the times of these pictures!

Fun With Friends

I've been struggling with what to write about in these posts because we've been so boring lately!  We stay home every weekend, it's cold and blah outside so we haven't been doing anything fun.  

We've been debating taking the boys on a little vacation to a beach in Florida but we're just not sure Mason "is there" yet.  He's not potty trained for one.  And I just can't imagine either busy boy being content in an airplane for 3 hours or being content on a beach for 4 days (at least not the way I'd want to enjoy that beach....relaxing with a drink nearby).  Not to mention I don't trust him near any large body of water yet....that kid is fearless!!!!  Hopefully next year and every year after that!

However, I did just make our first campsite reservation of the year!  Summer fun is just around the corner!

In the meantime we've been staying busy playing with friends.

Kade's classmates got to go rollerblading for gym class.  

Here's some picture's a mom sent me of the sweaty aftermath.

A couple weeks ago Harper spent a Wednesday with us because her daycare was closed.

Mason was in Harper Heaven!!

And Kade was so excited because Paityn and Charlie got to ride the bus home with him that day and play after school!  I forget that "Country Kids" don't get to play with friends every day after school, like I did growing up in town.  So, it was an extra special day for the boys!

We took the boys bowling last weekend.  Kade was SO GRUMPY because he did not want to go.  He told us it was boring and he hated that we always made him go bowling (disclaimer:  he's only been bowling twice in his life and the last time he went was before Mason was born).  Anyway, he ended up having a great time and keeps talking about when we can go again!  We went to a small town alley on a Saturday afternoon.  They had to open the place up specifically for us and we had the place to ourselves!  It was a blast!

Is there anything cuter than little people getting help from their dad's when bowling for the first time? 

Mason loved to run back while the ball was still rolling, veeeeerrrrrry sloooooooowly, down the lane.

These 3 had their own lane and managed to get about 6 games in while we were still finishing up our one.  Mason and Harper definitely put a delay on the game every time they were up :-)

We've been spending a lot of weekends at home, catching up on projects that have been on our list since we moved in 2.5 years ago.  Mainly painting, every single room.  This means that the boys have been "bored".  We were painting our bedroom last weekend and the boys decided to put on a modeling show for us.  Nothing says High Fashion like head-to-toe camouflage!!

I couldn't get a great picture of Kade because he wouldn't let me take it from the other side, where the light would be on his face and not his back.  

His reason:  "Mom, I'm not a lefty!  I can't look good if my left arm is on the wall." 

 So, maybe he does have a future in the modeling industry!  Nothing says high maintenance like "take it from my good side"!!

Then there's this goofy guy who's just happy his brother shared his camo with him!

We took the boys ice skating last Sunday.  This was the first time Mason and I joined Erik and Kade on the ice.  We made it 1.5 laps around the ice before Mason decided he'd had enough (not going to lie, I was done too!).  We went to Caribou for a mocha and a smoothie and watched the little kids playing hockey on the next rink over, while Kade and Erik skated for another hour.

Big Boy Bed

We now have 2 big boys sleeping in big boy beds!!  We moved Mason out of the crib last weekend.  It's going really well so far!  We should've done it a lot sooner considering he's been climbing out of his crib for months.  Still working on the potty training.  And by working on it, I mean we ask Mason if he wants to try sitting on the toilet and he says either,  A. "Not now" or B. "I'll do it later".  So yeah...baby steps into full on Big Boy Status.

Some After and Before pictures.

A lot has changed in 3 years!!

Crib coming down...

3 years earlier...

Crib going up.

Unfortunately Erik didn't have his other little helper for the take down, he was playing at a friend's house.  Can't believe how big these boys are getting, and how fast it's all happening!!