4th of July

We joined the Kacmarynski's for the 4th of July parade this year.  We were thankful for friends to sit by as well as the shade of their Texas tent.  The kids got plenty of candy.  Eric sat on the curb most of the parade with his bucket sitting next to him.  He must have looked cute because people would walk right up to him and drop candy in.

We tried out the Coralville fireworks this year from the parking lot of Gilcrest Jewet.  Plenty of space between us and and all the noise but you could still see the show.  Eric wanted his ears covered so we tied his extra shirt around his head and he was happy.

May Day

I love celebrating friendship by preparing and delivering May baskets.  The kids had so much fun putting these together and managed to get most of the candy into the baskets and not their own mouths.

Easter

Sylvia and Eric woke up early Easter morning so we sat on the deck and watched the sunrise.  We talked about the first Easter morning and then came in to warm up.  Before church at Parkview, the kids enjoyed receiving a few gifts in their Easter baskets.

We headed over the Nana and Papa's and took a ramble in the backyard before hunting for eggs and eating lunch.  The weather was beautiful.

We dyed a few eggs in the afternoon and played in the backyard.

Grandma and Grandpa had us over for an egg hunt where we invited our neighbors who have a kindergartner in Sylvia's class.  The kids made resurrection rolls with me where you dip a marshmallow in butter and then sprinkle it with cinnamon and sugar before wrapping it up in a crescent roll.  While cooking, the marshmallow melts and the roll is empty which reminds us of the empty tomb.

Great Nana came over to watch the kids hunt eggs.

The weather was still nice when we got home so the kids headed outdoors to play with a few new water toys.

Valentine's Day

Sylvia and Eric spent the first two weeks of February working hard on their Valentines.  They were so proud to pass them out to friends at school.

You're out of this world.

I'm glad we're in the same school.

Sibling pictures are hit and miss at our place and our Valentine's Day picture was a miss (at least if everyone looking at the camera at the same time is what you're going for).  The boys swapped shirts from what they wore last year, and I put Eric in the 24 month one because I didn't think I could get Drake into (and out of) it.  The kids enjoyed getting Valentine's Day cards from Grandma and Grandpa and special balloons from Nana and Papa.

A Visit from the Stiechs

We were blessed by a visit from my best friend from college and her family over winter break.  Our our kids enjoyed having a house full with the extra six people.  It's so difficult to live far away but I'm thankful for the time we do get together and that our kids also enjoy the friendships.

We spent a day at the Children's Museum

There was a photo booth upstairs at the museum that everybody enjoyed.

Each year Rachel and I send Christmas packages to each other's families but this year we got to open our gifts together.

Micah, Drake, Sylvia, Lydia, J.D., Abi & Eric

All but the two youngest boys slept in Sylvia and Eric's room.  Bedtime is fun with friends.  We also enjoyed playing at home and snuggling on the couch.

On New Year's Eve we took the kids to Hiawatha for a celebration.  There were bouncy houses, a spinning ride, photo booth, lunch and a countdown to a 12:00 noon balloon drop.

We skipped the expensive face painting at the New Year's Eve party and let the kids paint each other's faces at home.  They also made hats and drank sparkling grape juice while we watched a youtube countdown.  There was no way they were making it to midnight after playing all day.

Our final outing was to tot time at the gym.  The kids lined up their bikes for lots of races.

The kids (with lots of help from the adults) made hand print pillow cases for each other.

Matching shirts as we say goodbye.

Christmas at the Broffitts

We celebrated Christmas with the Broffitts on the 26 and enjoyed spending the whole day at Nana and Papa's.  We opened stockings and presents, ate a delicious meal, took the kids sledding, watched Wreck it Ralph in 3D and visited the basement to see Aunt Ginny and Uncle Stephen's dogs.  It's so nice to have family right here in town.

Drake tried hard to figure out how to play the "catch cup" Papa made for him.  He slowed down from time to time to spend some time with both Nana and Papa while opening gifts.

These are the only two pictures I have of Sylvia.  I believe she was moving this fast all day.

Eric insisted on wearing his suspenders for Christmas.  He was also on the move most of the day.

Uncle Stephen and Aunt Ginny posing with their gifts from us.

We changed into pajamas before heading home which turned out to be a good thing.  This is what the kids looked like when we pulled into our garage.

Christmas Day at home

We spent Christmas Day at home as a family.  With no afternoon plans, the kids had time to play with their gifts at home.  We spent the month of December preparing for Christmas by reading Bible stories, doing fun winter and Christmas activities and blessing our neighbors and friends with gifts and goodies.

Dan assembling the kid's play school bus on Christmas Eve.

Opening stockings before a yummy breakfast of french toast.

Sylvia worked hard with daddy's help to make this rocket ship for me.

Dan was a bit surprised by his gift from me.

I had a local artist add a monster to this Goodwill find.

Drake got a Little People Circus from Mommy and Daddy.

Sylvia's gift was a doll house.

The kids enjoying their new bus while Daddy hangs up his new artwork.

We also payed for some animals through World Vision for all of the kids and they got to open cards with pictures of the animals to remind them of their gift.

Eric got a box of Legos and Dan bought me a Kindle which I am very excited about.  The grandparents joined us for dinner and took a look at the kids' gifts.  What a blessing to celebrate the birth of our Savior and the gift he gave us on the day of his birth.