First time bowling!

Last weekend we were invited to our friends' son's birthday party at a bowling Alley! Caden had bowled once before with his BOCES class in summer school, but Colin never had. In fact, he was REALLY scared to go. I started prepping him really well on Friday night. we sat on the couch and watched YouTube video's of bowling for an hour. Then I remembered that they couldn't wear their own shoes! Yikes!! So, we had to watch MORE video's on what bowling shoes look like. I explained how they are all different colors and that it's ok. Whew am I glad I did that, Colin never would have put them on. That day though, he said Oh, these are so beautiful. (thank you youtube!!)

Here is Caden bowling!

And posing with his ball!

Colin liked picking up his own ball, but was SO scared that another one would come shooting out of there and get his fingers. He just needed reassurance all the time

Happy to go throw his ball!

Thank goodness for bumpers!

After this picture, my camera died :(

So sad that I didnt' get any pictures of the birthday boy Timmy, his cake, or the 3 boys together. The boys did all have a good time though, AND I think maybe I'll look into getting them on a bowling league in the fall. Colin might be too young (although I hope not) but I really think they would enjoy it. Mike, of course doesn't think anything is a good idea. No t-ball, no bowling, no boy scouts. Baa humbug! too bad, I already signed up Caden for T-Ball. We are visiting a boy scout troop next Friday to consider joining and I sure can go ahead and look into bowling leagues too. Mike can be such a party pooper! Our kids NEED this social interaction more then anything else, so bring it on!

Caden had his first ever play date during break last week as well. I was off one day, so Caden's friend Nicolette came over. She was in his original 1st grade class in the beginning of the school year. They still ride the same bus when the boys are at Kristens' house, and they talk on the phone a few times a week as well. After playing office {of course} for a few hours, I thought we'd do something that Colin would enjoy as well.

So I gave each of the kids a plate of baking soda, some colored vinegar and droppers and we made volcano's. Caden and Nicolette flattened their baking soda, so they just really made theirs sizzle and bubble, which was just as fun anyway!

Colin kept his true Volcano form and had fun with it!

Colin's {lava}

Caden kinda was all over the place, and didn't like using the dropper either, so ended up using a spoon and dumping the vinegar on it.

Caden's pretty plate

Here is Caden & Nicolette. So proud of him for his first play date! they did really well. I am glad that finally at 6 years old, he is able to do this.

In the end, all the kids switched up the colors and just kept pouring and pouring it on. It was like goop.

However, Colin somehow made his end up looking like the Ocean in the Caribbean, with the sand bars and everything. Very Cool Colin.

Not sure what Caden's ended up looking like?

During break last week, we had to think of some fun things to keep the kids occupied. Colin loves to play with his duck and boats in the water. I thought he would like it if I made the water blue. He LOVED it! Simple things in life make kids happy. Food Coloring & Water

Boy Toys

Matchy Matchy a bit ya think? Meet Big Green, our new lawn mower for the front and back yard. Our old mower, which has been in need of serious help anyway, has been demoted to Little Red, and now only mows the field part of the back yard.

Caden is in his glory!

Pictures!

Here's some really good updated pictures of the family! It's VERY rare that I am able to get good pictures of the kids ever. But I figured it was Easter, we were dressed up, and it was SO nice outside, let's see what we can do. I think we did pretty good! My only regret is we don't have a family picture, but I guess that's ok. We'll settle for the one we took at Christmas for now :-)

Here's a very happy Colin. He is SO photogenic.

The before he opened his eyes. LOL

Caden. it's SO hard to get a decent shot of him. When you tell him to smile, you always end up with the weirdest face. he's cute no matter what though, so we let it slide!

Close up. LOVE this picture of him.

Bummer for too much sun. It would have been a good shot of the boys!

Mommy & the boys (ugh, I look horrible!)

Try again. Try hiding mommy this time. Still didn't work.

Daddy and the boys. If only we could get DADDY to smile!

More sun blocking the way.

Colin crashed the mommy/daddy shot!

Having fun with the eggs on the lawn!

Ah.. then comes Courtney. Who did NOT want her picture taken. Can you tell?

Fake smile.

Then she got better :)

LOVE this one.

And here is  good candid shot. This girl is so tall and skinny.

Love how the wind is blowing and everything.

Easter Baskets!

Sorry for the delay ~ Still trying to get all the Easter pictures uploaded onto the blog from home!

Thought I'd share the loot the kiddos got from that awesome Bunny!

Colin's basket. he got  a chocolate train (of course!) 2 Thomas trains that he's been begging for, for months! (Hiro & Hank) in addition to peeps, some jelly beans and that little crab thing hanging from the side. Don't really know what it is, but he's cool and walks all over the kitchen floor.

Caden's Basket ~ Well, we couldn't find caden's basket this year. SO Saturday night, I had to run to target and find a basket for him. I found this monkey head one for $2.50. score! It's not permanent. In fact, I'd like to update all the kids baskets next year to more grown up ones anyway, so this worked. Caden requested from Bunny this year, a blue notebook, and a monkey. He also got an activity set, peeps, jelly beans, a chocolate school bus & the same crab thing that Colin got.

Courtney ~ Man it sure does get hard as they get older. I was stumped. Bunny left her peeps, A shirt from PINK, an iTunes gift card, a chocolate IDK (letters) some neon nail polish, and a white nail art pen that she's been wanting. Oh, and jelly beans as well.

Where were they? Caden's was hidden inside the blanket storage bin in the living room :)

Colins was behind the tall plant in the dining room

And Courtney's was hidden under towels in the linen closet.

Dumping out the loot they found!

Playing trains!

Finding eggs.

Chocolate IDK (I don't know)

Caden woke up first on Easter. Apparently at 6:30 - and woke up Courtney. I vaguely heard him opening and closing doors looking for his basket. At 7 he came in to me and said he can't find his basket anywhere!! I told him to wait until everyone woke up. Colin woke up at 7:30, so we got Courtney up and began the hunt. We tired to wake up daddy, who wouldn't budge of course :( We continued on with our egg hunt, finding baskets in the process, and finally around 9:00am, were able to rouse daddy out of bed. he missed all of the Easter fun. I was pretty bummed about it, but the kids didn't care one bit! LOL

We also did our annual Easter egg hunt in the House for the kids as well. Each kid was able to find 16 hidden eggs :).

We all went to church as a family (which gets easier for Col and harder for Caden each week?!) then came home and cooked  Easter lunch for Meema, GG & Jack. It was a perfect relaxing day for all of us! If only every holiday were SO calm and peaceful!