Easter and more

This year for Easter, we went to Grandma and Grandpa Riecks house. It was grueling 3 minute drive. :) We didn't get an official count, but there were probably 50-60 people there! It was very fun, and not nearly as chaotic as it could have been. We lucked out and had really nice weather, so everyone got to spread out a bit and relax.

Easter morning.


The day before Easter, Jenny and Shane and Avery stopped over. She's pretty used to getting smothered by the kids - it doesn't even phase her.


The dads were in charge of the egg hunt. Once everyone got the go-ahead, they were off!


Outside finding eggs together. I was impressed with how they shared and helped other kids find eggs.



Grandma hung a bunch of sheets and flowing fabric from the clothesline. It looked cool, and all the kids loved playing with it.


We had pictures taken last weekend for dance class. Here's a preview of their recital costumes.


Ah, ye olde homestead. We can't wait until it warms up a bit so we can plant the lawn! There are trees to cut and clear, wood to stack, retaining walls that need building, and the house needs to get painted. I look forward to posting before/after photos of everything we get accomplished this summer.


Lila is getting more and more into coloring and is good at staying in the lines.


March 17th, 7:33 p.m. It's about 70 degrees outside and the kids are comfortably watching the moon rise in their summer pj's from the front porch!

Early Spring

Feb. 29th, our backyard.


March 10 at the old neighborhood park. Lots of melting going on.






March 11th, walking down our road (our house is in the background).


A caterpillar, on March 11!


Behind our house, by the Sunrise river.



Best winter/spring ever. I could get used to this!

One day while Elsa was in school, Lila and I went to the thrift store in Forest Lake. She wanted to buy some toys, but I said no (because we're trying to get rid of stuff!). One of the employees overheard and told Lila,"It's okay, you can fill up a bag for only $1!" Then she opened a bag and started putting some toys in there for her, so really, how could I say no? Here are all the little toys we ended up coming home with. Also, I ordered one poster from Amazon and it came in that cardboard box. Seriously?!


This was the day Elton John got really mad at me.


Elsa practices dance moves in the living room.

Their last dance recital is coming up May 19 - teacher Sue is retiring. :( I don't think we want to go somewhere else and get into competitions, so we'll have to figure out some other activity. Karate kids?!

February 2012

Ahhh! I can't believe how lazy I've become about blogging. I was thinking I hadn't taken any photos at all this month because we didn't do anything, but lo and behold, I just checked my camera and there were a ton! Our days are busy and they're flying by.

For mom and dad's birthday, Jenny and I made the fam a delicious gluten-free, dairy-free, all organic dinner. It was insanely delicious.



The waitresses couldn't stop ogling the purple cupcakes.


The girls were so happy to get a chance to play with baby Avery! What a little dolly.


Lila and I get to have a lot of 1 on 1 time. She's really good about playing by herself while I'm busy. Her favorite things are dolls, ponies, and Barbies. Her favorite clothes are pretty shirts with leggings, only. Everything else she calls "floppy pants". Recently she's starting to like wearing pig tails and barrettes.


Making cookies one night.


Uncle John and Melinda went to Mexico and brought the kids back these awesome treats. Chocolate eggs with little toys inside! They were very excited. Apparently they have no concerns about choking hazards in Mexico. :)



I took a bunch of photos for our Valentine's day photo shoot. The kids behaved for quite awhile...


This is so cheese ball, but I love it.




...until Lila just couldn't take it anymore!


Tim went to Vegas last week on business, so before he left we took the kids to the Children's Museum.



Tonight we had Elsa's conferences. If I thought thinking about Kindergarten last year was bad, I almost choked when the teacher said that she's totally ready for FIRST GRADE! It's only Kindergarten conferences, but it's still nice to hear so many positive things, especially since she's one of the youngest in her class, with her birthday being 8/22.

January 2012

Two weeks ago was Family Night at Elsa's school. The kids danced to a DJ with their friends and had a blast. (Elsa, Lila, Gracie, Emmie.)


Last Friday Elsa went to a birthday party at Pump It Up in Ham Lake. Lila was sad that she didn't get to go to the party, but luckily, just a block down the road was Adventure Park. She had so much fun on her "special night" with us and loved running around the indoor play land. Elsa had a great time at the party - too bad I didn't get any pics of her with her friends. She's getting so big! She just turned 5, but all the kids in Kindergarten are of course turning six!


A few days ago we got a couple inches of snow, and that's been the most we've had all year! Still haven't had to plow or use the snowblower - I can't believe it. Lila was sick (poor baby... I blame Adventure Park),


but while she napped, Elsa and I went sledding. It was 45 degrees and HOT! We didn't need anything but gloves and snow pants, but we both wore all of our winter gear anyway. The sledding hill quickly turned to dirt, and while we were sledding we were running over nails, old cans, and barbed wire! We cleaned the yard up really good last fall, but with all of the warm weather that junk got pushed to the surface quick. Yiiikes! Luckily neither of us got hurt, but it was kind of rough out there in post-construction land.




Our snowman. How awesome that at the end of January, this partially dirt snowman is the best we can do. I love it.


Elsa wrote our names in the snow.


Lila, Tim and Elsa in the silo.



I get a lot of 1-on-1 Lila time while Elsa is in school, so after Christmas we busted out some of her new toys and tried them out. I built my first Lego set in...25 years?! Gotta love Sponge Bob.


Rockin' out down the basement.


Can you believe how big she looks?! I could cry.


A couple days ago we brought the kids to Celebration of the Lakes in Lindstrom. They do it every winter, but this is the first time we've attempted to brave the weather and go. They're supposed to have a big hot-air balloon launch, but of course this year it was too windy so they cancelled it both days! When we showed up to the park where it was supposed to be held, everyone was leaving. Luckily they had a few other activities at the time, including Dog Sled rides.

Here they are getting buckled in.


There they go!




After that, we stopped by Grandma and Grandpa E's house to visit and see cousin Avery, who will probably forevermore be known as "Baby Avawee". Lila doesn't even call her that anymore, but we still do! Here's the best photo of them together so far.