Spring Has Arrived!!

On April 1st, the sun finally started doing its job and getting warm instead of bringing light to the cold winter days and then leaving. It got so warm, that the little kids put on their swimsuits and turned the sprinkler on. They even got popsicles after playing for so long. They played all day until the sun went down!

Preston and Dakota discussing their day...

Dakota, Fiona and Preston holding hands in the grass. :)

This flower was so pretty...it bloomed right by their mailbox!

After the kids came in from playing outside all day, the girls took a bath together in the master bathroom (notice Dad's back-splash job he did).

My Mom (Aunt Jill calls her Nanny McPhee) potty trained Sierra while we were there and she earned this pony named, "Pinky Pie". :)

On April 4th, Aunt Jill got her tonsils removed, so she was in bed for a while. Grandma got her this bouquet of flowers to cheer her up. :)

Before she got her tonsils removed, she took me to her hair salon so I could watch her get her hair done, but then she asked me if I wanted my hair cut too...what do you think I said?? :)

They took my picture on a chair, but Mom threw in some flowers. :)

 Uncle Jeff won a First Place belt at one of his horse competitions. We got some shots of him too! :)

Dad got in a few shots with him...

The Dad show-down....:)

Uncle Jeff bought a new TV for their bedroom the day before Aunt Jill's surgery.

Trying it out...

Grandma flew down from Seattle to help out with Aunt Jill. She took the little kids and I to the mall after we dropped Dakota off at school. It was quite dangerous, because we only go to the mall about once or twice a year, so they touched about every single thing there was in the mall. If only they didn't have hands.....:)

Playing around in Dillard's.

Sierra and Fiona loved the dress section....I did too!

This was my favorite dress.

I don't remember what store this was called but about every shoe in there was $100 and over! The kids somehow snuck in and we found them climbing on the displays. Apparently the saying, "only one finger" is NOT in their vocabulary!

Preston's Birthday Part 2

After we came back from Incredible Pizza, we invited Aunt Jill and Uncle Jeff's neighbors down for a birthday party. We had spaghetti and meatballs, salad and french bread. But the best part was saved for last......homemade ice cream pie!! After dessert, we opened Preston's presents. P.S. - Meatballs and an upset stomach do not go well together! :)

All of the kids eating dinner!

The adults: (clockwise) Mrs. McClean, Dad, Uncle Jeff, Aunt Jill, Mrs. Stephens, Sebastian, Mr. Stephens and Mom.

Preston, in mid-blow.

Say "Cake"!

Opening his presents...

The next day Uncle Jeff's round pen arrived so Dad and Mr. Stephens helped him unload.

These purple flowers grew by their driveway!

They set it up in the pasture.

It was huge!

The kids played with playdough outside on the porch because it was such a pretty day! Sierra with her playdough!

Dakota made a worm!

Preston made a snowman even though it was 80 degrees outside!

Fiona made a pizza!

They played for hours with their playdough!

That night we had grilled chicken with fresh cilantro from their garden on the top! It was SO good!!

Preston's 7th Birthday!

It's hard to believe that Preston was born 7 years ago on March 28, 2005! The morning of his birthday, I was sick, so I stayed in bed for the morning while Mom took the pictures. At around noon I got out of bed and took over the camera. Then at lunch time, we all went over to Incredible Pizza in Germantown.  A few days earlier, Aunt Jill got us a Groupon coupon that allows an all you can eat buffet including drinks.  We bought the gamecards separately and had lots of fun at the arcade. After our successful meal of stuffing ourselves until we could barely move, we rolled around the arcade and tried our best to function after gaining about 10 pounds. :) My favorite activity was the go-carts....anything that has a steering wheel and two pedals! I LOVE driving!!

It was a beautiful evening the day before his birthday so we played outside.

Fiona and Sierra riding Harmony.

The Birthday Boy!

Tilly loved to play in the sun!

Aunt Jill shaved Miller and the kids thought it was amazing!

Preston:  the new 7 year old!

Before all of the balloons got trampled...:)

March 28th--Caramel French Toast is the favorite Birthday breakfast!

Dakota, Fiona and Preston playing on the horse trailer.

Incredible Pizza!

The awesome buffet where you could eat until you almost popped!

Aunt Jill, Uncle Jeff, Fiona, Dakota and Matilda playing in the arcade.

Dakota, practicing her driving skills!

Preston riding on the motorcycle.

I tried out the motorcycle too...

My favorite part...the go-carts!!!!

#24--Bennett Roberts!

Before the game started.....

In the middle of the game...:)

Fiona rode the horse!

Sierra and I on the merry-go-round.

After digesting all of our lunch (!), we stopped at the buffet again to get some ice cream on the way out.

Incredible Pizza was incredible!!