Egg-stra Special

We had our second annual Easter Egg Hunt at our friends home with our small group. It was so unbelievably fun, despite the terribly cold/windy weather. 

Look at all the wonderfully beautiful babies in our small group....I love them all!
All of the children sitting listening to Jen (way to go, Jen!) as she made up stories to keep their attention while the eggs were being "hidden." 
Jen's daughter was the single one out of the bunch that wasn't thoroughly enthralled by the shinanigans of her mother.
Yep, most mommies and daddies (the good ones) sent their kids with coats. 
This mom, however opted for the cute spring outfits.....it's worth it for the "cute" factor, right? (I wonder why Rinn's nose is running like a faucet today).

We opted for an indoor photo versus the cute little front porch photo that I really wanted to get.
What it takes to get a good photo of these kids!!

"QUACK QUACK!!!!!"

It was awesome weather today, so we went to feed the ducks. 

Yes, of course, I made them pose for a picture (why is it that every picture I have them pose for is always this same setup? and Why, on a day like today do my children look miserable in this photo? They really were happy, I promise). 
Jude loved seeing the ducks and fish and kept YELLING (I mean YELLING) at them his own little version of "quack quack". 

Creed imitating a duck. (Have I mentioned that this kid is hilarious?)
Of course, Rinny wanted to hug the duckies. 

Side note: We are starting over on the sleep thing. It has really been an up and down for the little guy in the sleep department. Maybe our out of town trip is just now catching up with us? Pray for patience for mommy and night night for Ju-ju. He is really fighting naps and waking LOTS of times in the night. Man, that kid is cute and he knows it. He's a toot too, and he is well aware of that also. 

Havin' a ball...

Okay, we are being nice (mostly)....It's about to get ugly....
It's hard for Rinny to keep the mean look
Keep your eye on the prize, sis!
The reason I don't have very many pictures of Creed...he is constantly on the move. 
It was nap time for Jee Jee and so he slept at grammy's house with grammy while we were bowling.
After about 3 times up to bowl Rinny decided that all she really wanted to do at the bowling ally was eat.
She enjoyed her ice cream sandwich while we bowled. She seriously savored every bite for like 20 minutes while we bowled for her. 
The boys ended up winning :( However, I should tell you that it was not fair. When Rinny and I went to the snack bar (numerous times) Micah and Creed bowled for us and they put us in the gutter every time. So, the next time you see Rinny ask her about who won and she has her answer down pat "Sabotage" she says. 

Yum

What Jude enjoyed doing while we were enjoying our yogurt.Rinny enjoying her yogurt.


Creed couldn't even look at the camera because he was enjoying his so much.

This one really cracks us up. With a little help from her daddy, Rinny made her ice cream look like a Sanchez. We took this picture especially for her daga (uncle). 

Side story: When Daga recently had to get a new drivers license photo he chose to grow a Sanchez for his photo on his license. You just have to know daga to know really how hilarious this is. You also have to know my sister, Mika, to know how she did not find this idea funny. So, here is Rinny with her Sanchez in honor of her daga. 

This week we spent out of town while Micah was leading worship for an event. We were able to stay with his parents and had a great time. One fun thing we did was go to this frozen yogurt place that was similar to the pinkberry that my mom and I went to in NYC. Yum oh. 

Mud pies, donuts, and fruit loops

The finished product.....
The process....

The babies have planned to "trick" daddy into actually trying to eat the mud pie....This is what face each child is going to give dad right before he puts the pie in his mouth as they yell "Don't do it!!!!"

Umm....I thought Creed was my most mischeveous child....he has been knocked out of first place for that award...look at the face. I am in trouble-T-R-O-U-B-L-E
Jude's favorite part of making mud pies was eating the tin cake pan
Overall, I think I am a pretty "fun" mom, but it seems that sometimes I just lose my energy. Strangely,it seems that has been happening a little more frequently in the last two months (hmmm....wonder why?) So, I have been convicted about it lately. The quote my friend told me has been ringing in my head.

"Be the mom today that you want your children to remember tomorrow."

So, came to fruition in the following ways on the above day.

1. Fruit Loops (Yes, this is a HUGE, HUMONGOH deal for me). This is my first time to purchase fruit loops in my adult life. My kids LOVE them, and I knew it b/c my sister feeds them bowl after bowl when they go to her house and they think it is heaven. Granted: My kids eat cinnamon french toast sticks everyday and I have no idea why I think that is more healthy. All that is beside the point....I'm trying to be a fun mom and so I bought the kids Fruit Loops (Yes, they did notice that they are the reduced sugar kind :( )

2. Donuts....I let em' have them for breakfast....another big deal. I don't know what it is about my kids eating fruits and veggies, and trying to eat mostly healthy foods most of the time but I OBSESS about it. (Side note: I have been eating terribly lately and I think that makes me even obsess more about my kids eating healthy...go figure..you are finding all sorts of things out about me today aren't you?!)

3. Mud pies...They love to make them and I don't like cleaning up the mess. Case in point, they made these pies about a week ago (yes, I am just now blogging about it) and I have still yet to clean up all the kitchen utensils they used in the process (full disclosure, confession time, I guess)

All this to say the following: I remember watching a funny movie that most people might have not found as touching and life altering as I did. The movie was called "Jack" and it was starring Robin Williams playing the part of a little boy who was in the body of a man. It was the cutest thing but my take away was that I wanted to be a mom like Jack's mom was to him. The scene I still vividly remember was his mom having like a cape on, hiding under homemade tents and chasing Jack around with "guns" made out of her finger, like little boys love.

I think I was in high school about the time it came out and I still think about that movie. I still want to be a mom like Jack's mom even though I fall short many days.

What do you say we go have some fun with our kiddos today?

Wizard of Oz

Jude's first experience with live theatre....in the back of the auditorium with mommy....(yes, he is a bit young but we like to expose our kids early :) He fell asleep in Act 2 and so I got to go back and sit with the family.During the show, the scarecrow scene Creed recited the entire (word for word) scarecrow song...Hilarious. 
Remain calm....remain calm...remain calm...
Oh, I just can't do it...I can't handle it she says...and she gives in to the uncontrollable urge to hug the lion. Creed remains calm and collected. (Notice the hair color resemblance).

Rainbow cookies at intermission.The nice man who took this picture asked Creed and Rinn who their favorite character was, to which Rinn (suprisingly) responded "Glenda"....he said "Oh, that part was played by my daughter." Yes! Right answer. That'd a girl. 

Roosers is fun-nay

Umm...making chocolate covered strawberries for our buddies (Rinn was obviously wanting to make sure they were yummy enough for our friends to eat, busted)
A few pics of Rinny and her buddies.....

Norah bear
Kalen...
Clara.....
And Aunt Ang making no bake cookies
Pleasing her best buddy, her big brother on his half birthday (again, if you haven't noticed please take note of the outfit....this is important to remember as you will be seeing it often).
I really am trying to help Roosers know that we love her and that she deserves attention even though she may not demand it like her brothers do. 

So, I took her to the local library for a music class the other day. It's a fun class, the teacher is great, etc., but it's not like taking her to chuck e cheese or the salon.....Anyway, at the end of the 30 minute class as we are walking out Rinn grabs my leg and hugs it to her face tight. 

She says "Mommy, I am soooo happy." I said "Why are you so happy Rinny?" and she said "Because you are just so nice to me."

Sweet. Apparently she doesn't realize how much she gets lost in the shuffle :) Or maybe she just doesn't mind it at all. Thank you, Lord, for designing our children just perfectly for our family.