HAPPY SPRING!
The kids and I have been enjoying our sunny and warmer days here in TN. I even let Parker skip school one day to go with Gretchen's playgroup to the zoo. I know, bad mom, shame on you, what kind of example am I setting letting him skip preschool. WELL< it was sunny, 70ish, one of his buddies was going b/c he only has school on Tues. and Thurs. and I am the mom, so he skipped. AND IT WAS FUN! We also had a few egg hunts at schools. with friends, and at home. The kids wrote the Easter Bunny to let him know we were cutting out sugar at our house, so could he please only bring a little candy, which of course Mr. EB did. They got books, and a little candy and a couple of little toys. And DAD let them eat most of the candy before church, including Gretchen who ate a whole chocolate bunny, a SOLID one! Oh well, you only live once!

Great job Grizzlies! You ROCK! 

Dallin the basketball star, and his dribbling. 

A funny picute of Parker and Gretchen at the zoo. I just love being a mom. 

The garden fairy in her special skirt, and wings from Grammer and Papa, who said she needed to have a special and different fairy costume.  

Make a wish birthday girl! 

Bouncing balloons off the parachute, and then they decided to sit under it while the moms made their hair stand straight up from static. They just giggled and giggled. 

Having a little snack in the garden room. 

Dancing fairies. 

The fairies and elves posing. 

The birthday girl with her favorite boys. 

A funny fame of twister with pregnant Shalene, Grammer, Rebekah, and Dallin. 

Dale, Shalene, and Rebekah. 

Unwrapping the gifts. 

The twins, Elijah and Owen, in their bimbos, oops, I mean bumbos. 

Just for the record, I used bath tub tints in the water, yellow ones. I know it looks gross! 

I know, I know, I know....
I have been totally slack about posting on the blog. No one knows what our gang has been up to, but trust me, if you did you would need a nap just listening to it. Things are FINALLY slowing down to a managable pace. Although, I do not know for how long. The term stay-at-home mom is soooooo wrong. Someone really needs to come up with a better word to describe my life!

We have had many joyous occasions to celebrate lately. Our reigning princess Gretchen had her 3rd birthday, complete with 12 of her friends celebrating at a fairy and elf garden party. She was such a cutie, if I do say so myself, and had a blast with her friends, dancing, eating, and of course, GIGGLING! We were lucky enough to have all my family come the following weekend for round 2 of the birthday celebration, and some quality family time. The three of us kids like to live on our own, proving to mom and dad that they did raise us well, BUT I think I can safely say that we all love the family time. Lucky for us, and once again our good parental example and support, we all have awesome spouses which fit right in. Gretchen loved having the family here for her special day, and we loved the company.

We also had two basketball stars in the family. Although, one of our star's light burned out before the season ended. Dallin has really improved this year, and is a great little ball player in the making. He had a fun team that played well together. Parker's little team was adorable, but you could definately tell they were new to the game. Parker's arms were not quite strong enough, so he became the granny shooter. He did a good job at shooting, and running with the team up and down the court. BUT do not throw the ball, or pass it, whatever you may call it. He will move over and watch it go by. I do not blame him, it is weird to have someone throw a ball at your face.

We also had a NEW addition to our extended family. Dale and Shalene, and Rebekah, too, welcomed their new daughter, Leah into the world. She kind of snuck up on Shalene, but luckily not the Dr. And they were blessed to have had Dale still on base, so he could be at the hospital for the birth. He stayed one week, and left for Ranger School. We are all excited here for their family, and can not wait to come visit. My kids just love their cousins.

So, for now things are quiet on the Knoxville front. We are praying often for Uncle GI Dale to be safe, strong,& healthy and his family to be kept safe. The boys pray for him every night at bedtime, and it makes me tear up each time. I am so glad that they truly know what family unity and love is. Maybe I am not such a bad parent after all. They also always pray for their baby cousins and the moms. They want them to get big so they can play!

Parker, Gretchen and my rent-a-baby Jessica. 

We are still alive over here...
We have had several phone calls, emails, messages that we have not been heard from in a while. So I wanted to post to let everyone know we are alive and kicking. Since school started back, so did karate, basketball for both boys (2 practices and 2 games each week), dance class for Gretchen, watching Miss Jessica, playgroup, Mom's Morning Out, nursery at church, and anything else we could fit in each week, which is not too much. I used to make all my calls in the car on my cell, but lately Parker has been quite the chatty cathy. He gets in from Preschool and talks, talks, talks. When he isn't Gretchen is, and her favorite thing to say is "Mommy, look at me. Mommy, look at my face." So my time on the phone has been cut short. In fact, Richard said I only used 150 mins last month. Probably talking to him or listening to voicemails. Maybe I will get a second to call, or maybe the kids can call and talk to someone new. You all could come visit, too. The kids are really enjoyable these days. My life as a stay "near" home mom has been great, I am really enjoying my times with them. Even if we are busy little bees....