new years eve

Since we pulled an all-nighter on the Eve of Christmas Eve with Crew in the hospital (see this post).  We cancelled our annual New Year's Eve party with family and had a simple family night instead.  We played Pepsi Pong.  My boys are always begging to drink Pepsi or Coke so in celebration of the New Year, I bought caffeine free Pepsi and we really partied hard.  Along with our "drinking" games, we played some video games and went to bed by 10.  Happy New Year!

st. patty's day

Despite still not feeling like myself, I was able to pull off a few St. Patrick's Day surprises for my family.  The boys were a bit disappointed that the leprechaun didn't do near as much as he did in previous years.  As they gobbled down their donuts and chocolate milk, they certainly didn't seem to mind too much.

I found the cute fruit rainbow and jello layer salad ideas on this blog.  I've been trying to think of something nice I could do for Tim, since he's done SOOO much for me and our family while I've been sick.  As soon as I saw the recipe for the jello layer salad, I knew that was it!  Tim has been saying he wants this jello salad for his birthday for months now.  Since he's birthday isn't until July I thought it would be a fitting surprise.  I had it waiting for him when he arrived home from his trip.  He couldn't have been happier.  Tim is so easy to please.  Not to mention, my boys also loved the jello.  I guess I'll have to make this again! 

independence weekend

{Food, Parades, Friends, More Food, Family & Fun...Happy Independence Weekend!}

memorial day

{Sophia & Les}

We had a Memorial Day BBQ at our house with my family.  As you can tell, some of us enjoyed it more than others!

 

 {Harper & Grandma Chesnut}

We had so much fun loving on all the babies and were so happy to have Brian, Erika & Harper here from Colorado.  

 

{Parker & Grandma Patty}

These two are just silly together.  Who knows what they are up to?

 

{Coop}

Cooper was getting a little bit jealous of all the babies getting so much attention.  He started sticking his tongue out and grunting a lot.  Do babies do that?  I guess mine does!

{Les, Payton & Parker}

We also celebrated Les's Birthday.  How many candles is that?

{Parker, Harper & Grandpa Ock}

Parker didn't like sharing the attention with the babies either so he just jumped in the middle of it!

{My Mom}

Last, but definitely not least.  Our favorite moment of the night!  My Mom kept getting hit in the head by the basketball so she requested a helmet.  Request granted.  

Happy Memorial Day!

 

st. patrick's day

Our St. Patrick's day celebrations seem to evolve into something bigger every year. A couple years ago, my friend Lisa, introduced this fun tradition to my children. She told them that if they left a picture of a Leprechaun in their window that the leprechaun would know to leave them a treasure. At the time, I wanted to hurt Lisa for telling them this {as I, I mean the Leprechaun, had not planned to leave them any treasures}. However, this has turned into a super fun tradition that my boys love. I know that because they NEVER FORGET about it!

Here is the treasure the Leprechaun left for them
{including some money which they asked for in their notes...
Payton is getting awfully smart!!}

I've always done a typical St. Patty's Day breakfast
complete with green milk, but this year,
instead of just coloring the pancakes green,
I did something a little more fun...

RAINBOW PANCAKES!
This awesome idea can be found here.
I'm not sure who was more excited about these
pancakes, me or the kids.
They were so easy to make and so much fun to eat!

After the kids enjoyed more Leprechaun fun at school
I let the boys deliver some of these homemade
sugar cookies to some {not all...sorry} of their friends.

We were LUCKY {get it} to have my parents
come join us for a green feast.
Irish Shepherd's Pie!

I'm really starting to love this fun holiday. I figure that I only have about a 12-15 year time frame that this holiday will actually be really fun for my kids. I want to TREASURE {oh...another pun} it while it lasts!