Easter 2014

This year Easter was a 3 day event!  It started with an amazing Easter Egg hunt at our friends the Dillards home.  There were quite a few kids there and they had it PERFECTLY organized.  The kids had so much FUN running/searching for eggs.

A BIG THANK YOU to the Dillard family for including us in their annual Easter Egg hunt!  

The next day found us at the Ward Easter Egg Hunt - the kids were even more excited as they now knew what to expect.  Although, Mika wasn't too happy that she couldn't eat ALL of the candy from her eggs right then and there!  

Daddy was FINALLY able to join us in our Easter celebrations Saturday evening and ALL of Sunday!

The kids didn't quite know what to expect when I told them we were coloring real eggs...but they caught on quick and had FUN!

Easter Sunday started off with the gifts the Easter Bunny brought us, but I really wanted to make sure they understood the TRUE meaning as to why we celebrate Easter.   I told them we would be doing an Easter Egg hunt, but there would be NO candy involved.  And while Mika and Luke are a little too young to truly understand I think Taija got something out of it.  There were 12 eggs to find and each one had a part of the Resurrection Story (I stole the idea from Pinterest.)  It was fun to explain the life of the Savior and HIS greatest GIFT.  I am truly grateful for my Savior and HIS life and sacrifice!  Happy Easter everyone!

Philly ZOO

We have been meaning to go to the Philly Zoo for a long time, but for one reason or another it hasn't happened until NOW!  The kids were excited to be going to the Zoo - Taija kept asking if it was going to be as cool as the Florida Zoo!?  While there was no giraffe feeding I think the kids still had FUN!

 Pa was pretty funny - the kids were laughing so hard as they ran around this play area and he couldn't understand what was so great about it.  And then Mika kept popping out to surprise him and he got caught up in the excitement!

Thanks Pa for all of the FUN and adventures!  We sure do LOVE when he comes to visit!

Pa Comes to Visit

We were so lucky to have Pa come visit us!  The kids had been talking about it for weeks in advance.  We are truly blessed in the fact that we get quite a few visitors as we live so far away from family.  One of our first stops was to the river park...

The kids had a BLAST throwing sticks in the river, climbing on rocks, sword fighting with Pa, having a picnic and truly enjoying the outdoors!

A few weeks ago the kids and I went to Home Depot to purchase some carrot seeds, soil and small containers as we began our adventures into gardening.  Since Pa was here we took the easy route - buying already grown flowers!

Things that make me HAPPY

Since this blog will eventually end up being our family journal I want to make sure I document some of our 'happy moments.'  Justin just started what will be 4 weeks of ER nights, the first 2 weeks being insanely LONG hours of working then coming home to sleep.  So...last night while putting the kids to bed Taija came and sat on my lap for singing time.  Mika - not one to be dethroned decided to sit on Taija's lap.  Taija then declared it 'group hug' time so Luke came to join us.  My kids sure do make me happy!  Hugging all three of them brought such happiness to my heart.  It won't be much longer when I won't be hold all 3 of them in my lap.  There are moments (maybe even entire days) that being a mom is HARD, but there are even greater moments such as these that make it ALL worth it.

March Madness

March has come and GONE and it seems like we didn't do much - although the pics say otherwise.  Here is a random post of ALL that took place (or at least what I remember of it)!

Mika got a NEW scooter for her birthday so when the weather is good (it has been teasing us with warm weather, then snow, some days rain and yet others with biting wind) she has been testing it out.

 St. Patrick's day - GREEN waffles, and a GREENish dinner

My little climber

and driver...

Proof that my kids do at times play together

Ever since the new year when church changed to 1pm I lose at least one kid before we get there...this Sunday it was all 3!

Silly Daddy decided to play MONSTER...the kids were laughing hysterically!

The day Frozen was released!

Luke was so excited...he kept saying he looked 'hansome'

On a Saturday that Justin had to work I decided to load the kids up and take them to meet up with my Sister and Ari at the National Aquarium in Baltimore.  This aquarium is MASSIVE.  It's like 6 stories that is designed so that it keeps you moving - there are literally escalators that move you from each 1/2 level to the next.  They don't allow strollers (but provide you with baby carriers if needed) so it is not somewhere I would visit ALONE with the kids.  Thank goodness Reiko was there to herd the older 3 as I attempted to keep Mika moving along with the others.  It is pretty dark throughout most of it so pics aren't the greatest.

This was the rain forest area - Taija was having a HARD time with the smell.

Luke and I waiting for the dolphin show - we actually saw it twice.  We decided it would be the BEST place to eat lunch!

Phew!!!  What a whirlwind, but I am sure that April will be just as BUSY!  Life sure is crazy with 3 little ones, but I wouldn't have it any other way!