She's three!

This year has gone fast and slow all at the same time!  Brooke is a spunky girl.  She has mastered a lot of skills during this past year - potty training, swimming, jumping, galloping, spelling her name (and she's working on writing it all!), and counting to twenty.  She is working on things too - especially sleeping ~ which has been a struggle since the fall and we pray that it will be over soon...

She has such a fun personality and boy does she love her big brother!  I've told Connor "monkey see monkey do" a lot the last few months.  She wants to do *everything* he does! :) :) :)  She has gotten a lot better about sharing and being kind to other kids. Can't wait to see what the next year holds for her.  Happy Birthday Chick-a-Dee!

May 2016

June 2016

July 2016

August 2016

September 2016

October 2016

November 2016

December 2016

January 2017

February 2017 (yes... it was warm enough to be doing sidewalk chalk!)

March 2017

April 207

I love this video!!!!!

flags

We got some flags from Aunt Sandy on Easter.

yep.  you read that right.

Might as well be patriotic every day of the year right? ;)

Brooke cracked us up - didn't want the flag waving in the breeze.  She wanted to control that flag.  So she had it all rolled up.  And we told her to "Put your flag up!  Take a picture with Aunt Sandy!"

See below... and you'll laugh too!

"no flag waving in the breeze for me!"

"Okay, fine, I'll put my flag up."

Thanks for the flags Sandy!  They'll be out soon showing our love of the USA! :)

Easter week

~ Palm Sunday ~

Bill does children's corner every second Sunday

~ Easter Weekend ~

Good Friday we went bowling

and celebrated April's birthday - this is my favorite picture of her!

Saturday we hunted for eggs at Mawna and Pap's in the morning

Clara

Brooke

Linlee's first egg hunt!

Connor

Connor dyed eggs with Grandma and Pop Pop

we also went to the mall for our traditional fancy meal of Chick-fil-a and and a ride on the train but... I left my camera behind for that.

Easter Sunday!

camper

Did you know we got a camper?

Friends of ours at church gifted it to us, because it was given to them.  They aren't able to use it now or in the near future and it was time to pass it on.  

We were very happy to welcome it into our family! ;)

It needs some work, but here are some pictures of it the week it landed in our driveway!

it opens up on the side - we thought we left enough room but we really need about two more inches for the canvas to open correctly.  Silly bush is in the way.

the snuggler

Brooke likes to sit and wrap in a blanket.  Or a lap. :)

Connor joins in too sometimes.

Connor's boat race

Connor's Awana group had a regatta tonight.

They all get the same boat kit and have a few weeks to design it and turn it in for inspection.

Last week they had a practice run, and tonight they held the races!  They started on one end of the water-filled gutter and blew their boat to the other end.  

Connor didn't win his heat, but he was a good sport and had fun!

the Blur of January

first weekend = hunting!

second weekend = Pittsburgh visit to the Hoffman Train Open House:

third weekend = Connor's birthday ~ party and visiting

fourth weekend = traveling to Pittsburgh for Barton Family Reunion

it's been a bit of a crazy month!  Here's to February to give us a little rest and recharge!