White House Easter Egg Roll

Thanks to our great friend Jill, we were able to go to the White House Easter Egg Roll!!! We also need to thank Linda who watched Landon for us! The even was much bigger than I expected. I thought you just got in line and rolled a little egg...boy was I wrong. There were so many events, we could have stayed another couple hours. We rolled eggs, hunted eggs, ate peanut butter eggs, painted, colored, saw characters, and had fun. We even saw the Jonas Brother walk by as they went to the stage. What a day!!

Jordan actually saw 3 of the Strawberry Shortcake gals and was totally thrilled. Can you belive how long this toy has lasted...I had the blueberry one when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade!!
It was amazing to be so close to the White House. I felt so patriotic and very proud to live in such a wonderful country.
I even saw Daddy George while he was mingling. I wasn't close enough to shake hands, but managed this shot.
The grounds of the White House are beautiful. The Cherry Blossoms are coming into bloom.

And here is the main event!!! Spencer wasn't sure what to do at first. Jordan just loved having a pink egg. She flung the thing half way down with her first push. She had to help Spencer figure it out.


We love the Easter Bunny!!

They had tons of PBS Characters so Jordan and Spencer were thrilled.That is the only TV they watch, besides videos. I was actually surprised at how easily Jordan ran up for her picture. At Disney a couple years ago she wanted nothing to do with the characters. I guess you wise up with couple years.
Curious George
Running around playing with friends while mommies wait in line.

Spencer's way of killing time.

Thanks again Jill!!We had a blast and can't wait to go back next year-only I will be camping out with Jill. Can't wait...

Lancaster County

We decided to go to Lancaster County for a couple days during Spring Break. We found a fun hotel, ate at our favorite restaurant, went on the train, went shopping and to an Easter Egg hunt. We had lots of fun. I forgot to turn some pics, so had to redo them and they are out of order. Sorry, but I will explain them!! Two of my handsome men on the train. Anyone else thing Spencer looks like his daddy?
Full baskets after the hunt.
Jordan and mommy model their new aprons. We found these at the farmers market. I saw them last year and didn't get one, so this year I decided I wanted one. I felt more like Martha when I was making Easter Dinner.:)

Our kids love staying in hotels. I think it is because of the cable:) They just love running aroundt he room and seeing all the fun stuff. Spencer was obsessed with the mini fridge, and we had to do the top lock on the door because he could et out. He also felt like he needed to use the dresser drawer for a chair. Should have put one of those pictures up. In this pic, Landon is determined-he saw a cookie crumb under the hotel crib and went after it. We love the Amish buggies. It was too cold to go on a ride this year, but we found this one at our favorite furniture shop. We love to see them as we drive around and the kids would look out the car window to see one. Darin would day "buggy on Jordan's side" and she would get all excited.
Easter Sunday-the pics are our of order. This is a bench in our neighbor's yard...we have lots of pics on it-she doesn't mind. All weekend Landon stuck his tongue out...he really can smile normally.

We went to Hershey Pennsylvania, which is really close to Lancaster. They have a little ride you go on to see how chocolate is made and you get a piece at the end. Of course, we went on the ride twice! You can actually smell the chocolate!! For all the fans of cows, you have to see the singing cows. We picked up some Hershey baking products that I have never seen anywhere else. Jordan found something she wanted to bring home.....how long would it take to eat that?
This is the Strasburg Rail-a real steam locomotive. We love going on a train ride when we visit Lancaster. We were able to see the Easter bunny. All the kids on the trainb were excited because Thomas the train was parked there, but he was being worked on and they were all concerned that his face was missing. We were told that the Thomas weekend is a madhouse...good thing we aren't that huge Thomas fans.


The Easter Bunny gives out lollypops to all the kids. Spencer was excited, although it was everywhere. He sure enjoyed it.

Jordanisms

I just have to share a couple funny things Jordan has said in the last couple days. Mostly so that I won't forget to write them down.

In a prayer the other day she asked " Dear Heavenly Father: Please Bring Dinosaurs back to the earth."

In sharing time on Sunday, the teacher did the thing with all the eggs having something inside to represent things from the last week of Christ's life. I tried to do something similar in Family Home Evening Monday night. Before we started I asked Jordan if she remembered that we talked about this in Primary and she said yes. We got to the last egg, the empty one and I was confident Jordan would remember, so I asked her why it was empty. Do you know why it was empty: "Because the teacher didn't put anything in it."

Sure made her daddy laugh. I wasn't so sure who he was laughing at-me for my overconfidence, or Jordan for speaking the plain truth!!

Cheaper by the Dozen

Ok, I have to ask this.... Is having 3 children so unbelievable? Over the last 10 months, I have gotten so many comments it is crazy. I have had people in stores ask me "are they all yours?" Afterwards I always think that if I was smart, I would tell them that the older 3 are at home. Maybe next time I will remember that. Sometimes when I have the boys and I tell people my little girl is in school, they look amazed.

So anyway, here is the next installment of my 3 children craze. I went to the dollar store after I picked Jordan up from school the other day. We had just been to the library where they remember us because we go once a week or so after school. So I parked, got the double stroller out and all the kids and headed in. There was an older gentleman who watched me the whole time-he stopped to watch on the way to his "handicapped" parking spot. When we walked by he said "that's the way to do it-cheaper by the dozen." I just chuckled then he continued " good tax write offs. I had mine December 3rd so it was in time." I said yep or something and went into the store as he continued to mumble something about so many kids.

Can't wait to see what I hear next!!!

What would you say?

Imagine yourself in Staples, about to pay for your items. You have your 2 children in a stroller by your side. There is a lady who had been previously complaining, whining and moaning about the lack of something she wanted. You are talking to the very patient and calm sales associate and the mean lady all of sudden looks at you and says "How do you stand those kids? I hate kids. They take all your time and you never get any time to yourself." She continues to rant and rave about children and the horror that they are.

Well, this is a true story-happened to me yesterday when I was making copies for file folder games for my wonderful children. I looked at the lady and very nicely told her that I love my children and chose to be an at home mom and have lots of fun with them. The sales lady said "good for you." I continued to talk really nice to the lady while the sales lady, Kathy, ran my credit card. She gave me my recipt, and to my surprise, she only charged me the price for regular copies, vs. copies on cardstock. I mentioned this to her and she smiled and said it was ok. What a nice lady!!

Some Great Happenings in February's

We had some good things happen in February. Here are some of my favorits:

1. As Febrary left this year, so did 5 lbs leave my body!!! It was actually 4.8lbs on the scale, but I consider it meeting my 5lbs a month goal. One month closer to my black dress...

2. I worked out 5-6 days a week. Is it bad that Jordan has formed an attachement to Suzy on the Biggest Loser workout video? I did a version with other people,besides Suzy and she kept asking me "Where is Suzy? I want Suzy mommy" She is learning the moves with me!!

3. Jordan now has an interst in writing and wants me to spell words for her all the time. She wrote cards to Nana and Papa and Auntie Marion and Auntie Karin. An example of her writing is in the previous post-I wanted to scan some she just did, but can't find it. She also really loves her gymnastics class.

4. Spencer loves his art class, and has done some great work. Today the paint was all over him, me and my coat.... Here is an example of some work.

5. Landon was 9 months old the beginning of the month (he is not 10 mos. as I post this) and I had some pictures taken. Here are a couple examples. He won't be too proud of the later one in is teen years!!

6. We have church at 9:00 which we love. In the afternoon, the men of the house love to have naps. Landon was asleep in his crib when I took this picture. Ok, sometimes mommy gets a little cat nap, too.

7. We got our tax return back and I have been given "permission" or maybe authorization is a better word, to paint our main level-well living and dining rooms. If we could only agree on the paint color.

8. Jordan is wanting to be more independent and do things for herself. She stirred the pancake batter and poured them in the pan herself. How long until she can make the pancakes without my help at all on Saturday morning?

9. I had my birthday and we actually went out to eat without the children!! Thank you Jana Martin!!! We went to the Cheesecake Factory and loved it as always. So, I am now 36- do you remember a time in Jr. and Sr. High school when that seemed so old?

10. Spencer graduated to the Senior Nursery!! Now he won't be bullying the little kids in the Jr. Nursery anymore. Maybe he won't be in "time out" when Darin picks him up!! Well, that wasn't every week.