Busch Gardens!

So Busch Gardens lets members of the military and their families in for FREE once a year.  (For our family, that comes to about a $350 dollars "Thank You!"  I've never been to a Busch Gardens before, so I didn't know what to expect.  Just another amusement park.  Not sure how it would sit with little kids.  Let me just say, "WOW!!"  Wish we had gotten there earlier in the day so we could have experienced more of the park.  Kids had a blast.  Here's a few highlights in pic format.

Alex got to take Princess M on her first real roller coaster too.  We got pictures with the kids' favorite Sesame Street characters (where are those fotos?)  Had great pretzels and fun cotton candy.  And Alex got to ride some of the scarier rides, while we traded off watching the toddler and baby.  Good times had by all!  Thank you very much Busch Gardens for your gift!

High School Reunion

We spent the weekend driving out to Chatham, VA for Alumni Weekend at Hargrave Military Academy (Where Alex spent 3 of his high school years.)  They had some bouncy castles for the kids, but mostly we were there to walk down memory lane with Alex.  He showed us his old dorm rooms, and how things have changed from when he attended there.  The school grounds were gorgeous.  

We attended his old ward on Sunday, and one member actually remembered him.  We also just had a ton of fun staying in a hotel room with an indoor pool.  (Probably the girls favorite part of the trip.)  It was a really nice weekend.

Back in the Saddle Again

Nothing like a good computer wipe and the scattering of backup files to the four winds to knock me out of the blogging habit.  This week, I FINALLY got all my files back in one location, decluttered, and multiple backups deleted.  I'm ready to get back on the wagon.  (it's only been 6 months....again.  I wasn't even caught up again from the last time I fell off the wagon.)  So let's start with today...

Happy Easter Everyone!!!!

(If you're happy and you know it, open your mouth!)

To Hell (Michigan) and Back.

My brother's family decided to visit Hell, Michigan, for spring break this year; which meant staying a few days at my sister's home in Detroit.  We decided to drive out there for the week to go along for the ride, and to have a mini-reunion.  The drive was long, and I had to do it alone (Alex couldn't leave class for a week) and sick on the way back, but it was a great trip and it was soooo good to see my brother and sister and their families!

Actually, it was a pretty cold day in Hell.  Apparently it freezes over quite frequently, contrary to popular belief.

Look, they got Tombstone on this sign.  That's nearly home for us!

I don't know how my kids got the phone camera on double picture inset mode, but the shot of Baby X was too cute, even with the mom and sister giggling in the inset.  (He's crawling like a champ now!  Go Baby!!)

Most of the week was spent hanging out at home, jumping on the trampoline (and coloring on it as well), watching Frozen over and over, a day trip to the GM tower building, sharing a flu bug, and just having a great time.  Thanks for hosting Jared and Maryle!!!

We put it off a long time...

but we couldn't deny it any longer.....

Time for a new bike....

Much better fit, and room to grow.

Busy Week

Princess M started her first week of 2nd grade.  His a pic of her first day.

Funny Girl started swim lessons Mon-Thur for 2 weeks.

She's doing fantastic and is already swimming across the short end of the pool after only a couple days.

Both girls have started ballet lessons twice a week as well.  And Funny girl has started a preschool group 2 days a week.  So we're pretty busy every day now.  Alex took the week off to help me out with the new baby; this week would have been a lot harder without all his help.  He starts back to work on Tuesday and it's all me from here on out.  Thankfully, I'm feeling a lot better than I was a week ago, so I should be ok.  I ordered a baby wrap yesterday.  Can't wait for it to come in the mail.  Hopefully, that'll help me get a lot more done.

Funny Girl got a hold of the camera and took probably over 100 photos of her sister and random objects around the house.  I deleted most of them; however, she did get a fantastic photo of Monkey:

I just love her smile!

More swim lesson photos

Way to go girl!!!

Welcome Little Man!

He's finally here!!!  Baby X made his grand appearance July 30th at 5 mins before midnight.

The whole family with everyone looking fantastic (except for me of course).

He's exhausted.  It's been a long night!

Adored by all his beautiful princess sisters.

Big boy at 8 lbs, 2 oz, 19 inches long and a whopping 14 inch head.

He came at the perfect time too.  His sisters had just arrived back in town on Monday with my parents.  So we were able to leave the girls at home with their grandparents the night of the birth and they were all able to come see him the next day.  I was so relieved that Mom and Dad got to see him before having to leave on Friday.  We had so much fun with them in town; and they were constantly helping me out in one way or another before and after the birth.  What a blessing they are!  Thanks again Mom and Dad!!

More pics to be posted soon...