Spring break fun!

Going 100 miles per hour running from one event, practice, or program to life coming to a screeching halt has been such an unexpected blessing to our family.  The challenges have brought growth and we pray the fruit from this time together will be a harvest of love.  Time will only tell.  But after a couple of weeks of doing school from home we welcomed the change of pace that spring break brought.  First you just have to see this picture of Bryce....

We never know what this kid is going to have on when we turn around.  He loves to dress up and he keeps us on our toes all of the time.  This picture just cracks me up and is just a small display of his crazy personality.  He is either laughing and obeying or screaming and demanding.  The unknowns of a 3 year old brings lots of smiles and lots of tears (for the adults too).  

With Easter approaching we took some time to dye some Easter eggs.   

April 9th Kevin and I celebrated our 15 year anniversary.  The Kids went to bed early and Kevin and I enjoyed a delicious meal from Sullivan's restaurant in downtown Anderson.  We had no idea of what was to come but we had planned our anniversary trip to happen in January so we were blessed to have had a week alone together to celebrate in California already.  

To continue the spring/Easter theme, the next day we made edible birds nests.  I have lots of helpers in my house so sometimes it is hard to find enough tasks for everyone to help with.

For Easter we decided to still to get out of our PJ's and take our normal "all dressed up" Easter picture.

In between our Easter celebrations, Henley's Birthday, anniversary, and a couple of crafts, we managed to complete two 1000 piece puzzles.  We did a car one that I didn't take a picture of and this Coca-Cola one.  The kids like to help but lose interest pretty quickly.

And just because Chase and Bryce have a love-hate relationship when I get a good picture of the two of them I savor it!  It reminds me that they do love each other and some day maybe it will be more of a love-love relationship.

Happy Birthday Henley

This year Henley's Birthday fell the day before Easter which also meant her birthday would be on spring break for the kids.  Being so close to Easter, it was easy to plan an action packed, activity filled day for our little birthday girl.  Henley is a little social butterfly and is really missing her friends and teacher so her special day began with a surprise drive by from her teacher, Mrs. Harrison!  Henley struggled not being able to give her a big sized hug but it did her heart good to see her.  

Our sweet neighbors planned an easter egg hunt for the kids.  They had some of the best egg hiding spots I have ever seen and the kids had a blast!

Six of the eggs they found were confetti filled and Megan had the most fun smashing the confetti eggs on the kids.  

 

After our egg hunt was over we celebrated with a birthday piñata for Henley.   

 I think if we had a piñata a week our kids would have a lot less aggression.  It is a good release of any tension you might have.

After the birthday girls requested pizza for dinner she got to open some presents.  A few of her sweet friends from school mailed her letters that were such a blessing to her.

Since Easter day was going to be a wash out with rain, the Easter bunny delivered his easter egg hunt a day early.  

Following the egg hunt, Henley got her long awaited Dairy Queen ice cream cake.  

And really, if that wasn't enough, the birthday girl wanted nothing more than to have a campfire for her birthday.  Not a one of us was remotely hungry but mustered up the ability to eat one roasted marshmallow for Henley.  

Like I said, it was quite the day!  We had lots and lots of fun and enjoyed our time celebrating our sweet 6 year old.  And she didn't mind the attention one bit.  

Camping- Quarantine style

For Henley's Birthday (4/11), which fell on spring break and the day before Easter, we had a camping trip planned.  Well you can guess with Covid we had to cancel Henley's birthday trip.  Since we couldn't leave the house to go camping, Kevin and I devised a plan to do some backyard camping.  

We waited until the following weekend but got the camper all set up and surprised the kids.  

Our home picnic table is a little nicer than the normal campground picnic tables.  It was a beautiful evening to grill out.  After dinner, Kevin fired up the new fire pit he built.  You can't have camping without roasted marshmallows.  

 

Of course after Easter you have to use Peeps as your marshmallow for your S'mores.  Bryce preferred to eat his Peep just roasted.

This campground even had a trampoline for the kids to play on.  What a great place!

To end the evening Kevin set up the outdoor TV for some fun camping nighttime entertainment.  One plus about camping is the later bedtimes and we all were really enjoying the time "out of the house".  

After Breakfast in the camper we headed back into the house for a post Easter craft.  

We made some Sock bunnies and in moments like these Kevin and I really miss our kids teachers who are the ones that would normally do these kinds of things with our kids. They did well and enjoyed the craft.  I would say, all in all, our first at home camping trip was a success!