Mimi and Papa visit

Mimi and Papa came to visit! We love visitors and they were definitely our first since moving to Illinois. Of course we had to take them out for donuts at our favorite mom and pop donut place, Carmellas. YUM! I think it's safe to say we all enjoyed our donuts…poor Andy had to work the whole weekend…boo!

Nothing says Welcome to Illinois like a hot donut:)

Amazingly I didn't have a ton of projects planned for when mom and dad came. It was probably a good thing because the weather was cold and rainy. So we spent some time exploring the library, hanging out and doing small improvements around the house...

MC reading some books on her favorite chair in the library

documenting our trip to the library and our 63 book haul!

eating…another thing we do well;)

 getting in a little homework after snack

Andy also took us all on a tour around the football facilities

The indoor practice field

players lounge

The stadium

with all the rain and nasty weather, we looked like this for most of the weekend...

Dad and I were able to take off the shutters and paint them black (they were a horrid faded robins egg blue) and also stain our front door.

It was a quick visit but we were so thankful to have them out to visit us! Come back soon!!

Easter 2016

Once and for all

You offered up your life

For one and all

The perfect sacrifice

Atoning blood was shed

Love conquered when You said…

It is Finished

It is Done

To the world salvation comes

Hallelujah, we're alive!

Hell was silenced when you cried:

It is finished

It is finished

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Romans 10:9

Happy Easter!

Arkansas

Over Spring break we took a quick trip to Arkansas to visit Andy's family. We were thankful that both Andy's brothers were able to come and visit for a little bit while we were there. We always love spending time with family!

Sally playing legos with the girls

painting porcelain bunnies with G'ma

The weather didn't really cooperate with us while we were there, but we were able to catch some patches of sun and dry weather here and there. MC enjoying the great outdoors

enjoying some down time with G'ma before all the family comes over

Lunch snuggles with Uncle Todd

Twins! Aunt Joy and Kendall

Little Miss MC being all cute:)

My man

My three blessings! Love them so!

Sally and her two younger boys…I see a resemblance there!

Love these people!!!

 aaaaand the tickle game

more Easter crafts for my little Easter bunnies

Illini Gymnastics

After one of the Illini women's gymnastics meet, they held a clinic for the kids. The girls were so pumped about this opportunity. The gymnasts were so sweet and very helpful to all the kids. Our girls had a blast and have decided they all want to be gymnasts…

waiting patiently in line for the uneven bars

Kendall jump right on and did the flip she was told to do…Alley was slightly too tall, but after some encouragement and help from one of the coaches, she did it.

Kendall's dismount = nailed it;)

Alley finally getting the hang out it…literally

MC showing that she has no fear and is really strong!

I didn't get many pictures after this, but all three got to walk across the beam. Alley was a little hesitant but Ka nd MC practically ran it.

the two other events they participated in were the floor exercises (dancing as Kendall says) and the vault. We have some small coordination issues with running, jumping and landing…but at least they had fun! We ended a great night with some juicy burgers and fries;)

Kendall turns 6!

This girl is 6! She's still a smiley, snuggly, musical extrovert who needs her sleep. She's such a joy to have in our family. I love how God made each of our children so incredibly different yet so needed to complete this little family. I am so thankful for this precious little one. 

For her birthday, she got glasses;) Ha, just kidding…on the birthday part. She did have to get glasses, but she totally rocks them:) Isn't she a cutie!!

 She asked for a cookie cake this year and pizza for dinner…I love an easy birthday dinner!

 A little about Kendall now that she is 6; she is a fast learner, a perfectionist to a certain degree (if she can't do it right, she won't do it at all…uh-oh), loves anything musical, loves to put on shows for people, loves gymnastics or what she calls "ji-nast-ics"(even though she's never been in it), loves animals and the zoo, she taught herself how to read, loves math, thinks everyone she meets is her best friend and has never met a stranger. This child is so full of life and love. I am so thankful for her. We love you Kendall!

Snow…again...

So it snowed again…a lot more than last time. Did they cancel school? No. Did they plow the roads? No. Did they expect you to just drive normally? Yes. Welcome to Illinois! Seriously, they are saying this is a mild winter. Mild winter?!! Ummm, I am not looking forward to what they determine is a regular winter…

So I might not be on board with this winter weather, but the girls sure do love it!

we found a perfect sled at Goodwill. Jackpot!

So apparently every park is required to make a man-made hill. Why you may ask? Because Illinois is extremely flat and it snows a lot here and the kids have to have some place to sled. Its pretty awesome. We have a large park just a few houses down from us and it has a big hill that the girls loved sledding down.

Beautiful weather for pictures…but it was freezing!

Some friends came out to join us. All the kids had a blast together 

As much as I could do without snow, it is fun for the kids. Plus, its an excuse to overload your system with Hot chocolate and marshmallows. Sign me up!!

Ice Skating

When in Rome…I mean Illinois…you do things Illinois-ians do. Like Ice Skating...

I feel the same way Mary Cate! Just keep holding on...

After a few laps and freak-outs, everyone got the hang of walking on a thin blade. They even had lots of fun. Kendall and MC thought that if they moved really really fast, they wouldn't fall. It seemed to work for them, but it made this momma real nervous because there were so many people there.

a "fast" selfie…she slowed down slightly for this picture...

The only incident we had was Kendall body slamming me because she couldn't stop…too bad I didn't see her coming.  My tailbone hurt for weeks after that…ugh. I think I'll wait another year before I do that again;)