Sweet 16!!

Sweet 16 for the sweetest thing!! Our favorite niece turned 16. Amanda is such a joy and a wonderful person. We are so thankful for her.

As always the kids have a blast hanging out with their cousins, playing volleyball and swimming. 

Resurrection Rolls

To help visualize Easter and the empty tomb, we made resurrection rolls with crescent rolls (symbolize the cloth Jesus was wrapped in), marshmallow (Jesus and his purity), butter to dip the marshmallow (oils of embalming),  & cinnamon and sugar (spices used to anoint Jesus). The marshmallow is then placed inside the crescent roll and wrapped up tightly and placed in an oven. The marshmallow "disappears" and demonstrates that Jesus was no longer in the tomb. Thanks, Pinterest!

see no marshmallow!

Bluebonnets 2014

We went to Independence to make the pilgrimage to see the wildflowers and take the usual pictures, trying not to disturb the state flower while sitting or walking on them.  Our state sure looks pretty in the Spring! I think we got some winners. (Love our new camera!! Thanks so much Bill and Maxine!)

Easter fun

The park across from my parents' house had an Easter party complete with "train" rides, pony rides, a small petting zoo, egg hunt, and meeting the Easter bunny.

The Things They Find

When I was a child if we found a snake in the backyard, we would yell for dad to come and kill it. When my kids find a snake they bring it to me and I take a picture. Quite a change.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

This year we have two players in our family. Rebecca wanted to play softball. Drew moved up to kid pitch. We were happy that both were put on teams with lots of friends. And they also had the chance to make new friends. Drew was finally able to experience some wins, but had a challenging time trying to hit off kid pitchers. Rebecca's team settled for having fun. Which means they lost every game. But in their defense, they were the youngest team and the smallest team. Besides they won the cutest team (in my unbiased opinion)! Rebecca got the hang of hitting off the machine and had a hit in almost every game. Overall a fun baseball season!

First pictures are from opening day ceremonies.

 Rebecca's first game:

melts my heart!

Rebecca played catcher and did such a great job. Balls would hit her and she didn't flinch. 

All smiles behind that helmet!

 Drew:

"Brett Sevier, What a coach!"- A League of Their Own reference

Baseball ready!