Bluebonnets

Dan is "over" the bluebonnet picture taking tradition, but for some reason I feel like since I live in Texas, I must take bluebonnet pictures every year. So I took the kids out on a cloudy day last week and tried to get some cute ones before the flowers disappear. Here's what I got.

 Sam was being a good subject for me that day.

Sibling love.

 And my favorite from the outing? This one.

Cheneys Come to Town

A week and a half ago, my parents came to visit for one stop of their cross-country odyssey. It was great to have them. They got here Wednesday and I think we just hung out that day and took a walk to feed the ducks. Thursday we went to our local arboretum which was looking particularly pretty this time of year. It's amazing how much nicer it looks when you actually go during the spring...

After admiring the flowers we went across the street for a picnic and to play at the park. 

And Sam totally surprised me by doing an awesome job on these monkey bars. He pouted after that fall. We need to help him work on failing gracefully...

Friday Candice's family came to town and we visited.

 "Do you like seafood?"

 I think Millie was sensing her parents' imminent departure...

Saturday Candice and Craig left for a cruise and they also left their two girls at our house. (Thankfully my parents stayed until Monday morning!) Our community had an Easter party.

 Charlotte did a great job getting eggs.

 But right before the hunt began, a creepy Easter bunny came onto the field to announce that it was time and it completely scared Afton. She had been fine but lost all interest and only got 4 eggs before she said she was done.

Sam was in the older age group this year. There was 20 minutes between age groups. Whoever decided that needs to change it for next year. It started to rain but we waited and finally it was his turn.

We got a few quick pictures with the Easter bunny (Afton wouldn't).

We then hit up the petting zoo, Sam rode some kind of caged-in ferris wheel, Afton ate a large piece of candy, 

then we headed back home.

The rest of the time my parents were here was spent trying to take care of all the kids. I'm glad they were able to come and visit and help me maintain my sanity.

Sam and Afton LOVED little miss Millie.

 Mom was on Millie duty pretty much the whole time she was here. Thank you...

 "Thank you very much."

 But after Mom left, she was my charge. But who wouldn't love that face?

 Or even this one?

 And especially this one?

 Getting ready for one of only two outings I was brave enough to do with four kids.

Candice and Craig came back on Thursday and left on Friday. It was nice to see them and I'm glad they got to spend time together while we watched their cute kids!

Lately

A little about Sam. Sam is growing up. He'll be five in two months! Sam doesn't like jeans, but he loves track pants and comfy pants with elastic waistbands. And shorts. He likes shorts. Sam has been into playing with Dan's old Construx and making helicopters, airplanes, and cars. He's moved on from making up silly fake words and now uses real words in silly ways. "You're a banana pumpkin head!" Oh, what fun. He's figuring out what types of things are okay to say, "Hey, daddy dooboo." (Okay, so dooboo is a made-up word.) And what types of things are not okay: "You're not smart."

He's gotten more sassy lately and tries to talk back more often. He eats PB&Js for lunch 90% of the time. A few days ago I bought him new shoes that light up when he walks. Now he always looks down when he walks to watch his shoes. He like Looney Tunes and slapstick humor. He does "lessons" from a pre-K book everyday and is working on reading a little bit, too. He is sweet most of the time and we love him so much.

Afton, our sweet little snuggley diva. She loves to be held even though she's two and half and over 30 pounds. If I can't hold her, she's holding my hand, sitting on my lap, or walking immediately behind me, it seems. A lady at a ward party last week called her my little shadow. She's right. Afton loves babies, dolls, Minnie Mouse, playing, swinging, and "Curious George Goes to a Costume Party." (They both have most of that book memorized.)

She's a great napper and usually just plays in her crib until I come and get her. She loves "big girl nursery" and has gone potty in her toilet quite a few times. I think I'll potty train her after I'm done watching my nieces in a few weeks. I bought her a bathing suit on clearance this week and she wanted to try it on.

Dan, other than being hunky, is busy with work, church, and dreams of rock climbing. He goes climbing at the gym every Saturday for a few hours and usually one weeknight each week. He's also busy building us a breakfast table. He's made a bench for one side as well as the table base. He's going to do the top this weekend. So far it looks great!

Here's Dan at our ward "Cajun Cultural Appreciation Day." (AKA a crawfish boil.)

 And here's Dan with his crawfish peeling mentor, Donnie, without whom, Dan would not have consumed 40 or so crawfish.

And speaking of the crawfish boil, here they are before, while they were being "purged." (Getting the poop out.)

So gross looking. Here they are after.

And here's our awesome crawfish boiler, Barry.

Despite how much he had at the party, Dan brought home another 10 pounds or so (which, once peeled, isn't as much as it sounds like) and I am crawfished out.

I am busy with the usual. Watching kids, reading, wasting precious nap time, and going to the gym. I'm training for a half marathon with Candice and Aunt Colleen. We'll see how it goes!