6 months old

With Olivia we actually held back on solid food until 6 months. So with turning 1/2 year old she also had her first taste of cereal and we HAD to document her reaction...

With all that hard work...she tuckered out with Dad on the couch. (Check out her hair!)

Just a few reasons I love Michigan in the Spring...

I love a lot of things about living here...but this year it seemed like we were enjoying ourselves with beautiful weather and sunshine while the rest of the country had snow...here's a little more of my April wrap up.

Thomas, breaking out the Harley!

Zac...love that grin!

Olivia testing out her wheels while I weed the garden.

A few snaps from my front yard...

Of course, there is nothing better than enjoying great weather with your FANTASTIC kids...

My Girls

My Boys...

5 Months Old and 5 Times the Fun!

Our little monkey is so much fun! This month has been a busy one to say the least. We are done Physical Therapy for now and Olivia is making the most of her little "vacation". She loves nothing more and chewing on her toes (something her sister and brothers find hilarious!).

She has started sitting up on her own. I sat her down to demonstrate how quickly she just tips over...but she just kept on sitting and sitting and sitting.

She is sure a happy little girl! Definitely prefers having her Mom close by though.

Not a huge fan of the grass but loves to be outside.

She has started rolling off the carpet, onto the hardwood floor and then pushes herself backwards to get around. I've found her under end tables and behind the couch a few times!

Still trying to figure out the awkward hair...

What a fun month! We LOVE watching her explore new things and try out her newly found talents!

I Spy a 7 year old!!

Well, this secret agent is now 7!! I can't believe it. We are so blessed to have Elise in our family. She is always willing to help out (especially with Olivia!), rarely gives us a reason for a time out and is always grinning! (with or without teeth...lately it's without!). Elise decided that this year she wanted to have a "Spy" themed birthday party. I was grateful to have a change from the usual "princess" party (although it would have been easier!). We did have fun though. We sent out invitations to each of our guests in the form of an "Assignment" to our secret agent party guests, complete with code names. It was so fun when all the guests called to RSVP in full character requesting "agent... to accept the mission". So FUN!

Here they are filling out their passports with their secret identity...a MUST before being able to enter the Secret Spy Training Academy (a.k.a...our basement).

Once in the secret hideout they were given instructions on how to complete the training. We had a very INTENSE obstacle course with a laser field (pictured below), target practice and rescue protocol. Followed up with a game of "telephone" to test their listening skills...which weren't the best actually. They were so worried about passing on the wrong phrase that they wouldn't say anything at all. We tried to explain that that was the fun of the game to hear what silly thing ended up being passed on...but they insisted on saying the right thing...except Zac (he just made up a new phrase when ever he wanted!).

Then it was time to sing Happy Birthday and eat our cake and ice cream. I had made cupcakes with a fuse coming out the top (to look like a bomb)...it was somewhat successful.

Then it was time for the gifts!

The kids were so excited to read the cards they had given...and they all thought that they had written something quite hilarious!

Well, it was a fun day and we couldn't be more excited to celebrate it with our wonderful Elise!

Bringing a little slice of D.C. home...

Early in March Josh was in Washington D.C. for a little work and it just so happened that we ALL ended up sick while he was gone. He managed to get a few little treats for the kids while out shopping (Godiva Chocolates!!) and he said that he had ordered a gift for me. I had NO idea what to expect...but when the UPS man brought me a box from "Filomena's Georgetown Bakery" I KNEW it would be good! I had a Cookies and Cream white chocolate Mousse cake with flourless chocolate cake on the top and bottom! All I can say is that it was AMAZING!!! You can tell by the look on Thomas' face how excited we were (what you can't see is that he already had a fork in his hand). Josh, you are too sweet!

This Little Piggy Has...

TWO tails! At 4 1/2 months we tried our first pig tails! SO CUTE!!

Just Take A Little Off The Top Please!

It's official! Zachary is the first kid in our house to cut his own hair. I noticed that the front was a little uneven when we were getting kids ready for bed one night. Josh didn't think it looked any different (I'm the one that usually cuts his hair and I'm pretty sure I would noticed if I gouged the front!). When I confronted Zac he smiled and answered "YUP! I had some scissors in Mckenna's room and I held it up like "this" and cut under my fingers". That's right, he cut his hair 5 days before we noticed... while we were in Vegas! What a Goofy kid....lets hope this was a "one time show".

Olivia is 4 months!

Olivia turned 4 months while we were on our Vegas Vacation. This little monkey was busy while we were all trying to relax...she even started rolling over while we were there!
Here are her stats:
Weight: 13lbs 6oz. 50%
Height: 25inches 75%
Head: 16 1/2 inches 75%

Here she is with Auntie Theresa.

The day after we arrived at home we had her well child checkup and confirmed a double ear infection and a SECOND case of Bronchiolitis. So, we were back on the breathing treatments 4 times a day! It's not fun trying to get a baby to keep a mask on but these pictures capture our little escapade pretty well..."what is this thing?!"

"I don't think I like this thing!"

"I REALLY don't like this!"

She sure is a sweet little thing and we couldn't imagine our home without her!

VEGAS!!! ( the LONGEST post ever!)

Well, it had been almost 3 years since we had been to Las Vegas. The last time I saw my sister Theresa was the weekend we put an offer on our house here in Michigan. I remember Thomas was so little, Zachary had just got his glasses and Elise and Mckenna were joined at the hip from the moment we drove up to the second we left. Actually, the last time we left I remember watching Mckenna hang her head and sob on the front step as we drove away, only for us to come back around the block to get the dvd player we left behind! It had been too long but since Josh had a conference there at the Mandalay Bay we decided it was the perfect time to take a family vacation!!
I LOVED seeing my sister! She always takes good care of us when we come to visit. I loved just being able to relax and chat while the kids played with their cousins.

Zachary found Uncle Sandy's lap to be a VERY comfortable spot to lounge while he "helped" them play their Lord of the Rings. Of course he took breaks to be a little silly with the rest of the kids. Elise and Mckenna had some very *interesting* costumes
and were playing games from sun up til sun down (and sometimes into the night!!)

The next leg of our trip was at the Hotel (which was BEAUTIFUL!!). We ran in to my friend Jenny while wandering around trying to figure out what to do all day (while Josh was in the conference) with 4 kids by myself. It was nice to have a friend to chat with while we walked around seeing some sights and getting a bite to eat. Elise was wanting to play photographer and snapped a few pictures. Later that night our friends the Woolley's met us at our room. We hadn't seen anyone since Graduation almost 3 years ago. It's strange how the only thing that was different was the number of kids we were carting around. I hadn't realized *just* how much I had missed seeing Holly on a daily basis (we talk on the phone all the time but face to face is so much fun). The picture was taken after one of our *lengthy* but failed attempts to see the lions.

After all of the running around and taking trams back and forth the kids all tuckered out in a matter of seconds!

While we were there my AMAZING sister was able to get us some tickets to go and see Phantom of the Opera!! We had never seen it and boy was it INCREDIBLE!! We took Elise and Holly with us and had a wonderful evening (Theresa even took the other 3 kids for us!). THANK YOU Theresa!!

We finally were able to get to the Lion exhibit at the MGM while they were open...but the Lions were asleep. The kids didn't seem to care and had fun climbing around and watching the lions twitch from time to time.

Next up was the Shark Reef. Holly and the Boys were able to join us, it was so fun to watch the kids "OOOH" and "AHHHH" at everything. Zachary was the only one of our kids that was brave enough to touch the rays

Then it was that dreaded time again! Time to say Good Bye to a dear friend...We sure miss you guys!

Well, we were thrilled to be back at "Hotel Dobbs" to finish off our trip. Olivia LOVED all the attention and the older kids had a blast playing with their cousins!

Sunday was spent (after church) watching Olympic Men's Hockey -Canada vs USA in the Gold metal game... a VERY exciting game. Of course once Canada won Josh had to go put on his Jersey and parade around.

When you think of Vegas you of course think warm weather and pools...it wasn't quite warm enough to swim until the last night we were there. The kids were trying to sun tan while Auntie Theresa was getting the pool heated up...as you can see (by their apparel) it was a little chilly out!

We had fun swimming and playing around for our last night. Then off to the airport VERY early in the morning!!

Zachary had mastered the "art" of schmoozing the flight attendants and came off of every flight with his backpack loaded with every treat you can find on the plane. Olivia would smile at all the travellers sitting around us and Elise and Thomas were full of questions.

We had SO much fun and can't wait to get back there again to see everyone.