AWANA Awards Night

Here's Lillian (second from left) with her fellow Cubbies



Mr. Wilson saying a few words about Cubbies

Lillian receiving her 2nd Year Cubbie Award

Proudly showing me her award. Next year Lillian will be a first year Sparky and Abigail will be a first year Cubbie!

Daniel talking about his 5th & 6th grade T&T boys. Don't they look like a lively bunch?!

Happy 5th Birthday, Lillian!!

Lillian turned 5 yesterday on the 28th! How did that happen?! She's had a fun couple of weeks celebrating her birthday. Last week we met my brothers and their families, my parents, and my grandma at Chuck E Cheese. We celebrated Daniel's, my mom's, and Lillian's birthdays (although I think Lillian's birthday stole the show!). Last year for her birthday she received an Island Princess Barbie doll from my parents (it's from a movie). Ever since then she's wanted an Island Princess birthday cake (just planning ahead!)... so that's what I attempted to make! It ended up being a big hit -- she loved it!

This is right after I had finished the cake. I wanted to make sure I got a picture (especially before it had to travel an hour in the van to Chuck E. Cheese!)!

The birthday girl with Cousin Mikayla at Chuck E. Cheese

Everyone eating pizza (well, except for my dad and grandma... they arrived a little late)!

Lillian received this vacuum, yes a real-working vacuum, from my parents. A while back, Lillian made the comment that she really wanted her own vacuum like mine; a vacuum that really worked. Mom found this at a garage sale and couldn't pass it up! She loved(s) it!

Happy birthday to you...

All that work!!

The only brave kids who would pose with Chuck for a picture

Time for rides and games!!

Too cute! Rebecca and Lydia lovin' eachother!

Lillian with Chuck

Rebecca's first time around went fine, but she cried going around the second time.

Here's Lillian at home the next morning (oh, around 7:30am) trying out her vacuum (like the high heels?)!

These next pictures are from yesterday (the 28th) on her actual birthday...

We gave her this bike helmet

Enjoying our only nice day to be outside this week. Lillian made a house for some worms she had found.

For supper (and dessert!) we walked down to Dairy Queen (Daddy's idea). After supper we went for a walk and played at a playground.

Happy 5th Birthday, Lillian! We love you!!

Minnesota Children's Museum

Last Sunday, April 19th, was Daniel's 30th birthday! Hard to believe he's the big 3-0!! To celebrate we went to the Minnesota Children's Museum down in St. Paul (only a parent would want to go there for their birthday!!). Every 3rd Sunday of the month is free for all visitors at the museum thanks to Target. So, after church we took advantage of this and went to the museum for our first time (well, I'd been there with school when I was younger). It was a super busy day -- there were kids everywhere!! The girls didn't seem to mind and they ended up having a really fun time!!

There were different rooms with different themes. There was a "town" with a grocery store, metro bus, restaurant, house, post office, hospital, etc. I think that was their favorite. There was a "water and bubbles" room, "habitot" room for the little ones, "earth world" room with MN wildlife, and a traveling exhibit that featured Clifford the Big Red Dog.

Everything in this museum was at kid level (obviously). Lillian loved this grocery cart that was just like the big one Mommy uses!



Lillian the friendly cashier

Abigail cooking at the restaurant

Postmaster Lillian (she's mentioned before that she wants to be a postman when she grows up!)

Dr. Birx checking her patient's x-rays

They could see themselves preforming on a TV -- like how she's playing the guitar?!

The girls with Emily Elizabeth

Lillian climbing Clifford

Going for a ride




Playing in ALL the bubbles!!

What a cute little turtle!

Happy 30th birthday, Daniel!!

Easter

The girls ready for church

I didn't even tell Daniel what to wear! I guess I missed the memo.

All the cousins ready to go egg hunting at Great Grandma Gumball's

(one of my brothers was with his wife's family so we're missing Alan & Delaney in this picture)

Rebecca found one!

Showing off their findings




Rebecca's thoughts...

Sweet success!

Fun Pictures

Watching a squirrel

Intrigued by the bird

Lillian looking very grown up

Abigail looking like a 3 year old

Watching a movie

Pretty in pastels

Rough Week

This past Sunday Rebecca took a tumble off a plastic toddler chair and managed to get a pretty good shiner. Then on Wednesday night while at Awana, Lillian managed to do the same! She ran into a boy (or actually, I think the boy ran into her) while playing in the gym. Rough week! They're both doing a lot better now, they just look really bad. I think we'd better not take them out into public at the same time... I can only imagine what kinds of looks Daniel and I would get!!

Daniel's comment, "This is what our children come up with when they put their heads together!"

We've also had some fun this week:

Painting eggs

Proud artists

Showing off their spring tree and painted eggs

(Daniel made the comment that he had never heard of a "spring tree" until meeting me. My mom used to put one up, and as a little girl, I loved looking at all the fun, small decorations... boys, they just don't understand!)