Fishing

Cast.....Stand.....
Sit.....
Success!!!!!!!!

Frogs

Jeremiah was thrilled (as you can tell from his smile) to catch frogs this weekend....a lot. He caught one within couple hours (if not minutes) of us arriving. He was so in his element at this campsite. Creek, frogs, snakes, pond, fishing, water, catch and release bucket. This is my son's dream come true. He may not be able to spell real well, or do math, but he can do just about anything he wants to outside.
This is the creek that ran behind our site. I found Jeremiah there with his chair and his new best friend... A Frog. He sat there for quite a while holding and petting his frog. (Me personally, I tried to tell all the frogs that they would be better off hiding in a hole somewhere until October. The poor frogs probably get this all summer long. "Oh, no, another 8 year old boy just set up camp....Watch out."

Playground Time

All of the kids seemed to really enjoy the little campground while we were camping. It wasn't too far of a walk from our site.

Memorial Day Camping.

We went Memorial Day camping with Ben and Jill and girls and Joel and Anna. Even cousin Dan Ziegler came along for one night. We had a great time. Unfortunately, we didn't get a whole lot of good pictures, no group picture, family picture, and not too many of DaniRae......next year I guess we will have to hire a photographer to take pics. or a chef, butler, maid, nanny so that the Mom's can take more pics. Ha, ha, ha. Anyway, these are some miscellaneous pictures. We had gorgeous sites. They were next to a busy road at all. Right across from us was the fishing pond (more on that at a later date). There was a great creek right behind us (with wonderful frogs...more on that at a later date). It was very nice and shaded. There was plenty of place for the hammock and the swing for the little girls. The was probably the most sought after and therefore fought about item at the campground for the AnaGrace and Rachel. They really did great, though, and got along quite well. They had there moments....but what 2 year old doesn't. It was fun to watch them. It was hot enought that we also went swimming every day. Unfortunately, you guessed it, there are no pictures of that on my camera (if anyone else has some please pass them on). Well enough of my rambling...on to the pictures.Even Naomi seemed to enjoy camping a little. What trooper....Jill is, I mean!!!! I am so glad that Ben and Jill braved camping with two little ones. We loved having everyone along and hope that they enjoyed it too, despite the lack of sleep.
Another favorite acitivity for the little girls was throwing stones in the creek. Actually, I think I saw Uncle Joel playing in the creek too, building a dam or something.
Frisbee time...

You can't see it, but Joel's and Anna's tent is on the other side of the camper still. We really had a lot of room.

Spring Concert

Here are some pictures of the kids' Spring Concert for school. Jeremiah was able to go this time (he was sick for his Christmas Concert and was unable to go). So for him, this is his first concert!!! He is in the second row, the second from the end.Here is DaniRae (at the opposite end of Jeremiah..hopefully coincidental, and not because of their lack of "peacekeeping"). She is in the front row on the end.

TOOOO CUUUTE

Brotherly Love

The girls love to watch Jeremiah play with his DS. Typically, he is very tolerant of it. They are all very cute sitting together. It almost makes you think they like each other!!!!!!!!!!

Happy 8th birthday, Jeremiah!!!

Jeremiah turned 8 years old on Sunday. As a typical 8 year old boy would, he wanted to celebrate on Saturday night so he didn't have to share Mother's Day with his birthday festivities. Anyway, we had a good time anyway...Grandparent's Renno came over for a birthday supper of Tacos, peanuts, and Hawaiin Punch (followed by Tums for all of the adults). He wanted a chocolate cake made like baseball stuff. My Mom had a baseball glove and ball pan which made it easy.

Dan and I gave Jeremiah a little money for his birthday. It was finally enough so that he could by his Nintendo DS that he has been wanting. We are very proud of him and the way he has saved. He has been saving for this for about 6 months. Then for his birthday we got him a couple games. He has been so happy. He also got some lego, a new hoe and shovel, and some books. I love birthdays!!!!!!

A Big Girl Now

We moved AnaGrace to a big girl bed last week. She has done very well and has stayed in bed until we come to get her. She looks awfully little though; it doesn't help that she is actually sleeping on a double bed (the bottom bunk). She is getting so BIG...sniff, sniff.

Our "new " dog

So, we got Tucker "groomed." (This dog keeps costing us money...). Anyway, a mobile grooming unit came to our house....thank goodness, because I certainly didn't want to take Tucker and AnaGrace in the van together all by myself. Anyway, here is a BEFORE picture.
and AFTER!!!!!!


Actually, we all think he is kind of cute. He is very soft and pettable, he doesn't stink, and he is clean. I actually petted him some....WOW.

Home Run!!!

I think we might have the next Babe Ruth!!!

Take me out to the Ball Game

We have entered a new stage of parenting...we are the proud parents of a baseball player. Jeremiah is so excited to be playing for Lightstreet Little League. He had his first game this last Saturday. He did mention that he had butterflies in his stomach before he played, but once he got going, he seemed fine.
Here he is "on deck" to play in his first ever baseball game. Isn't he soooo cute?
BATTER UP..... Jeremiah is in t-ball, but the coaches will pitch to the kids about three times. If they are still having a difficult time, they bring out the "t". Jeremiah was able to hit off the coach every time. Isn't he brilliant?
He played first base the first time he was in the outfield.
He thoroughly enjoyed sliding into all of the bases. (I think is has something to do with dirt.) He did it once and then had much encouragment from a certain Uncle to continue doing it. Anyway, we had a great time...certainly helped that it was a gorgeous Spring Saturday.

Easter egg hunt

We were in Washington D.C. for Easter....We had a great time with Ben, Jill, Rachel, and Naomi. We held an Easter Egg hunt in their backyard. We color coded the eggs so that Jeremiah and DaniRae had to search harder. Overall, I think they all had a great time. Rumor has it that once the hunt was over, the Dads kept sneaking eggs from the little girls' baskets and re-hiding them. The little girls' thought it was great fun to keep searching for eggs. What a great way to keep them occupied. hmmm....maybe this should happen every week. I could hide eggs for AnaGrace and send her on an egg hunt.

Easter pictures

Family pictures on Easter (0r any holiday for that matter) are not exactly what I call "fun." However, I am so thankful that my family cooperates a little....I know that someday we will all be glad that we did this.
Here are my beautiful children. This is before things really went downhill.....

At this point, no one was having fun....this is one of the few pictures of the kids with their cousins in which AnaGrace is not pitching a fit. Oh, well, at least they are all there and everyone is somewhat cooperative.

Springtime dresses

This post is mainly for Grandma T. I know that she enjoys sewing, so I took this picture of the girls in dresses I made for them. It used a technique with elastic thread to give a fake smocking effect. Thought you might like to see it, Grandma.

Jeremiah and Tucker

My only response to this picture....eww, gross. For the record, I was inside and Dan was with the kids taking their pictures. Of course, knowing my son, this happens all the time, I just don't know about it.

Hershey Chocolate World

We took the kids to Chocolate World in Hershey last Friday. They had off school for Spring Break. After the tour, we let them pick out some candy. AnaGrace saw these cookies and pressed her face right up to the glass.....Decisions, decisions.
I don't think that I ever saw so much candy in one place....yum. Jeremiah chose Kit-Kat and DaniRae chose Reese's Pieces and Dan bought us a Take Five.
Speaking of Take Five...we took this picture for all of the Aunts and Uncles (and Daddy and Mommy) who can't resist Take Fives.

Sisters

The girls can be really cute together at times. They still seem to be able to know how to really push each other's buttons quite well. But here are a few pictures of the "silver lining."

DaniRae and Molly

DaniRae still enjoys her Molly doll. She especially enjoys dressing up the same as her doll.

Chocolate Covered Toddler

There is nothing more irresistible in our family than fresh from the oven chocolate chip cookies. AnaGrace certainly know what cookies are. The chocolate chips make such a yummy gooey mess when they are a little warm. She was enjoying herself. (Actually, this wasn't even that bad....like the time my alter-eg0 Crazy Mom showed up and let the kids finger paint with chocolate pudding...Ugh).

Bubble Machine

Here is the picture of AnaGrace with her bubble machine that she so enjoys.

DaniRae's 6th Birthday

It is hard to believe that DaniRae is a big six years old already. What a fun and interesting six years it has been. We tease her that by the time we heard that very first scream at the hospital (and believe me, it was a screaming, ticked cry), we knew we were in trouble. She has been a delightful bundle of energy that keeps us smiling and laughing (and yes, at times, pulling our hair out). She has a "heart of gold" that would do anything for anyone, and for that we are so grateful. We started off the morning with what is becoming the traditional candle in the pancakes.
She requested a ladybug cake this year which was very easy to accomodate.
She loved opening presents....I mean really, who doesn't? Jeremiah got her this....her response was "What is it? A Bag of water?" After we all laughed, we pointed out the new fish and a snail to clean the sides of the tank. (Yes, Ben, see what you have started.....Me, (the anti-pet person) now has a dog, 2 fish, and a snail). Our new addition's name is Spotty. The snail doesn't officially have a name yet, but I think we may be leaning toward Schneider (after Hermie).
Dan and I got Dani an American Girl doll. She was thrilled. We were commenting later on how much fun it is as parents to do special things for your kids and to bring them so much happiness. We walk a fine line between not spoiling them, but also bringing them joy. It was so much fun to see her face light up at receiving Molly.