Spring break 2013

We started off our spring break on Monday where we drove to Peoria and stayed with Shawn and Andrea and Tuesday we drove to see Grandma Trafton!  It is always wonderful to see and spend time with her.  

Tuesday afternoon we drove to Moravia to see Jamie's dad.  Wednesday we visited Lake Rathbun.  It was a windy and chilly day but the lake was really pretty.

The girls had so much fun running up and down the beach and eventually getting very dirty and wet!

They really enjoyed climbing up and sliding down the bluffs.

We had such a nice time relaxing with him.  That afternoon we met friends for a swim at Honey Creek Resort which the kids loved!  During the evening we drove to Des Moines for a very very brief visit with the Juraseks.  The girls had so much fun playing with their cousins.  We wish we had more time with them but they had school and sports keeping them busy.

And then on to Solon where we spent our last few days of break enjoying the farm life.  We couldn't get Isabelle out of the sheep barn and Juliette from wandering away.  All three girls had so much fun feeding lambs and spending time with family.  Juliette absolutely adored "Abby" the border collie.  She was often found "talking"and just laying with her.

Watching the feed truck deliver to the hog bins with Grandma.

We then took Juliette and Isabelle to the other farm to see some piglets.  Allie regretted her decision to stay back when she saw the pictures.  

Just 3 days young.

Isabelle is such an animal lover with a big big heart.  She was so very sad to leave all of her new "friends" behind.

Isabelle and her lamb, "Buddy"

The tire swing is such fun.

I saw a quote somewhere that said, "The grandparent's house is where cousins become best friends".  So fitting.  :)

Happy Easter!!!!

 another failed photo op...best I could get with them all in their beautiful dresses...Juliette was being less then cooperative...imagine that!

 the Easter bunny came!

Jamie was able to make it post-call to our 9:30 service at church and we were so happy to have him join us!  He took the big girls for a ride in his car and then we went for a bike ride and enjoyed the beautiful day.  We had a nice meal in the afternoon followed by more outside fun until the rain came.  

Happy Easter blog readers!  xoxo

{This is Our Life} 13.52 {In Motion}

 My bike load...:)

That is life right now...in motion...sometimes it feels like it is spinning out of control and I can barely keep up and sometimes it feels like it is me and not the kids... like I barely stop to get a breath.  This is why I love lifestyle photography so much...it freezes the motion...and I am all about slowing down sometimes.  :)  I marvel at the children...how they always have boundless energy and sprint everywhere they want to go...how they have so much to say they constantly interrupt.  I must have been like that once right?

We took advantage of our wonderful Easter day and took a family bike ride on the trails across the street.  The girls absolutely loved it!  

2nd annual Easter egg hunt

 The girls helped me dip some strawberries into carrots for the party!  Thank you Pinterest for the great idea!

 The Easter bunny didn't show this year so we decided to get a face painter instead, the very talented Tabitha from "Wacky Wilbanks".  The girls absolutely loved their butterfly designs and there were a few other kids that had amazing painted faces too!  

 The kids all lined up with Juliette getting a head start!  :)

 The best shot of all 3 I could get!

 I found Juliette in the house in her bed...all worn out and ready for a nap and requesting her "bubba".

On Saturday we hosted some great friends and their families for our annual egg hunt.  I had to admit I was pretty worried about the weather when we got 10 inches of snow earlier in the week!  We still had a few snow patches on the ground but it was a beautiful day and 60 degrees.  We had a face painter, food, outdoor fun and the egg hunt which contained over 400 eggs!!!  

Raegan came to visit...

The girls' cousin, Raegan came to visit for her spring break from Tulsa and we all had such a great time!  We went around to a few sites in the city, a Pacers game and also did a bit of shopping to round the week off.  The girls miss playing and hanging out with her!