For Uncle Jose

The emailbox the military assigned you wouldn't accept a file this big, and I really want you to see this home video so i am posing it here on my family's page for you to watch...

We Love You!

CJ's Dairy Fieldtrip

Snells Preschool went on a field trip to a local dairy. CJ was so excited! It was the first thing he told people- even before he said hi "I get to go on a bus to a cow farm and see a baby cow!". The day of the field trip he jumped out of bed and rushed to get ready so we could go. He checked with me 3 times to make sure i paid for the trip and that i "put my name on the paper saying he could go". He jumped and danced in the line as we waited to board the big yellow school bus. When we got in and sat down he was so excited because there was no seat belts. (I mean how exciting is that?!?) When we got to the dairy he smelled the stinky cows, and looked like he might want to change his mind about wanting to get off the bus, but as soon as he heard a moo in the background he promptly forgot about the smell.

The kids got to pet a baby cow that was born just the day before. Most kids practically climbed over each other to touch the calf, not CJ, he was happy to stand about 3 feet from it and just look. He didn't want to touch it, either because he didn't want to put down his camera, or the calf was dirty, I'm not sure...

CJ loved learning about what the farmers feed the cows and he liked playing in the dried corn kernels. He could have played in the huge pile all day!

CJ wanted a picture of us from his very first time on a school bus... a very exciting day for sure.

The Best Mothers Day Ever!

For Mothers Day the kids wanted to treat me to a pedicure. They took off my nail polish and repainted them. Both kids used different colors for each toes. They worked really hard and took their time to make them perfect for me. It was such a fun thing to watch.

CJ & Ash picked their favorite colors, stickers, and sparkles. CJ painted my left foot, and Ash did my right.

CJ chose "hyper-color" polish that changes with temperature, and used a detail polish (one with a little thin brush) to make lines, dots, and "checker boards" on my nails. He added sparkles to several of them to make them "shiny". He even put clear polish on the top to make it last "forever".

Ashley chose cute pastels. She painted a "Hawaii flower with leaves and a palm tree" on my big toe and sparkles and metallics and stickers for the rest. She begged me to keep my nails painted by them for as long as i could. And how could i not??? My feet are beautiful and every time I look at them it makes me remember how lucky i am so have such wonderful children!

Mothers Day @ Ashley's School

Ashley's 2nd grade class threw a Mothers Day party. They worked on it for weeks learning new songs and memorizing mom-themed poems. They made fancy pink paper hats with tissue paper roses, and even made tissue paper rose bracelets for the moms. It was a very special day, and it was so fun to see Ashley get more and more excited as the party day got closer.

My Beautiful new hat.

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, pretzels, and grapes were a delicious treat.

The kids sang mom-themed songs and poems. Some of the songs even had sign language in them. All of us moms were impressed with all of the hard work the kids had put into this party.

Easter Egg Hunt

Ashley and CJ were really lucky this year and got to go to 2 Easter parties. The first was at my friends Erin & Casey's house where they got a yummy breakfast and then got to look for eggs with 8 other kids. The absolute chaos was wonderful! They loved it! After they ate as much candy as they possibly could we went home to make homemade dinner rolls (ok... partially homemade... frozen dough that we rolled into clover leaf rolls) and got the spiral cut ham ready to cook. At 4pm we had dinner at G&G Stone's house and then went Easter Egg Hunting again. After the kids found all the eggs and ate even more candy they decided they wanted to hide the empty eggs and have Grandma Stone and Brittany find them. They thought that was so fun.

We told the kids that they had to "hop like a bunny" the whole time they were looking for eggs... and they did it! It was hilarious! Especially when they saw an egg and started running then they would correct themselves and do a half run/half hop thing... it was so funny to watch!

CJ hunting at Erin's house. Great backyard for hiding eggs!

Ashley found the most hidden egg! A blue egg hidden up high on a blue wind chime! Good Eyes Ash!

Decorating Easter Eggs

On Saturday we went over to the Pittman's House to decorate our Easter eggs. Both kids had a blast. And believe it or not, we got through the whole process with no tears, fighting, or even a single spill of dye! It was a great start to celebrating Easter! Seriously, a mom couldn't ask for more...

Calin loved painting faces onto his "egg-people"

Calin's Eggs

Ashley loved dipping the eggs into multiple colors and then painting on them with sparkle paint. She was so sweet and helped her brother and ever shared her paint with him.

Ashley's Eggs


Beth and Taylor made a bunny cake and the kids got to frost him and add candy to him (with a little supervision... i mean if not he would have been completely "mosiac'ed" with candy...yummy to the kids.... sugar rush they would get from eating it.... bad for the parents...)

Grandpas are the best!

Calin got to do some "back porch gardening" with his Grandpa Stone. They planted carrots, beets, and radish seeds in the planter. Calin thought it was the coolest thing ever! He especially loved watering the newly planted seeds with the little ducky pail. CJ talked to me at length about what he and Grandpa did and showed me with his hands how the plants were going to grow and he informed me that he and Grandpa get to pick and eat them (but everyone else has to ask first...) Grandpas are the best!