Polka-dot, Polka-dot, Afro

What a fun night!  Drive-In movie time for Madagascar 3!

Nothing like getting the gang together for a night of fun!

Of course, Mom knows nothing about the movie, since I kept getting "Mom", "Mom", "Mom".

Jillian fell asleep after she saw the "polka-dot, polka-dot, afro" part.

And, while the kids started out in their chairs, they were all freezing half-way through.

Nolan and Jillian finished watching from the back of the van.

Mom, on the other hand, was outside in shorts...  watching all the adults in blankets & wondering WHY am I the only one hot?!!

Nature Scavenger Hunt

A lot different then last year, where it was almost 100 degrees, when we participated in the Pioneer Park scavenger hunt!  Today, was a perfect 80 degree's!

This year, they incorporated many more things....

- Smell a flower

- Feel tree bark

- Look at poison ivy

- Listen for the song of a bird

- Find a Y shaped tree branch  (Nolan's were antler size.  Jillian's was tiny....and you can't see in pic)

Just a fun little outing, before our night at the Drive-In!

Garfield Park

We originally went to Garfield Park for a Rainforest Carnivore class for kids.  Unfortunately, we were 20 minutes late, by the time we arrived...  and the class was cancelled, since no one showed!  OOPS!

We still took the opportunity to explore the Garfield Park Conservatory.

Can you imagine the last time we were there, we were saying our "I Do's"!

Camp for Memorial Day weekend

We're at camp for the entire Memorial Day weekend...  and I only have pictures of the kids in the boat??  No worries, when the kids are steering the boat...it was anchored & not even a foot of water.

It was another great weekend of family time!  

It started off shaky, as John did not get home from work until 9 PM - and that's when we got to start our 9 hour drive!  The kids started fighting immediately.  The dog was whining, since he hates the car.  And, mom was a horrible co-pilot as usual, and fell straight asleep!  Ashley hopped in the car & took over as co-pilot.... and instantly fell asleep too.  John consumed many 5-hour energy drinks...  and only needed a cat nap around 2 AM.  WOW!  What a trooper, after working a 15 hour day!

Easter Blessings

Easter in June?

No!  Easter was right on time.  

My updates to the blog are not!

Easter service, an Easter egg hunt in the yard, a brunch just with us, a lunch with the LaBundy's, and a dinner with the Bishop's.

Yep - nice, relaxing and quiet.....  NOT!

BOOT CAMP! Lackland Air Force Base - GRADUATION!

No recycling here!  Ashley graduated!!  

So exciting to see her succeed and follow in the family footprints!!  

She was happy, vibrant, and filled with energy!  

It was wonderful to see her in her stride & get to share in her special accomplishment!

Our newest E-3 airman!

Spring Break - 2012

Spring break took us much farther away then normal!  San Antonio, TX!!!  Ashley's boot camp graduation date worked out perfect with spring break, so we took advantage!

Mom, Aunt Carol, Flat Stanley and the kids drove down.  We did short jaunts.  First, we stayed in St Louis, where I could say goodbye to one of my besties father.  Then, we stopped in Broken Arrow, OK.  Pool was too cold to get in above the ankles!  So, we hung in the hot tub!  On Wednesday, we finally arrived San Antonio.  As Nolan shared...  "Push me out of here, so I can kiss the ground!"

Lucky John then flew in later that night!

Although the majority of our time was for Lackland AFB and Big Sissy's graduation, we did squeeze in:

Walks on the Riverwalk every night.

Swimming at the rooftop pool.

Sea World.

River taxi - tour of 1 hour!

The Alamo.

AND - Time with CJ, Sheri and Bob!

No wonder that the 17+ hour drive on Saturday to get us back to St Louis meant the kids were quiet...  probably exhaustion!!

The Leprechaun Visited

Those crazy leprechaun's!  They visited the Canfield's again this year.

Every year....  it's the same thing...  

All things green are thrown around the house.

Little green footprints go throughout our house.

The leprechaun trap NEVER catches one.

But, they always leave goodies.

This year, I have to question that silly little leprechaun!

Silly string and green slime??  SERIOUSLY, what were you thinking?

Most of Nolan's string was all over Jillian within 5 minutes of sunrise!

Pinewood Derby - 3rd place

Someone won 3rd place!!  Can you guess who??

Yah - the photo is staged!!  Yes - Nolan did win 3rd place in the Tiger Division of the Pinewood Derby!  But, he was really ho-hum over the experience!  

He later shared that he was nervous because there were so many people there.

Well - mom, dad, and JJ were thrilled!  3rd place isn't bad for the 1st ever competition!!

BOOT CAMP! Lackland Air Force Base

For those of you that do not know....  Ashley did join the Air National Guard.  She will be based with the 122nd Fighter Wing Unit.  This is the same unit that her dad and her Uncle are in!! 

She left for basic training at the end of January and will be graduating at the end of March.  She calls weekly...  and we love to hear her spirits so high!!!  She is loving the experience, which is fantastic for us to hear!!

She was excited to be fit for her dress blues this past week!!  We shall be seeing her soon for graduation!

February Birthdays

You know our February!

It's a crazy month of celebration for us!!

First, Nolan...  we had a joint birthday party with his friend, Ike...  as they share their birth date.  Last year, it was tough to schedule both parties, so his mom and I just worked together on this one!  Had an Angry Bird party, where the kids got to sling slingshots at the cardboard pyramid, play AB bowling, and AB dodge ball.  What made the biggest impression???  THE CARDBOARD BOXES!!  One of these times, we will learn just to plan around large cardboard boxes!  It always works out!

With his bed buds!

Second birthday...  Princess Jillian.  She talked non-stop about her birthday, since Nolan's!  It was a long 16 days!!!  We made it though....  While she did not have a birthday party with friends, (She lost it... and did not earn it back in time) she did wake to her presents and a school party!  

Our last birthday of the month is Ashley!  She turned a whooping 22!!!

Unfortunately, we were not able to celebrate with her, as she is in BOOT CAMP!

Lots of cards were sent, however....  especially when she specifically asked us not to mail cards....  she feared she would be embarrassed....  so of course, I had to mail ONE from each member of the family!  Oh Darn - Just realized.....  I forgot to mail her one from Jet!