Much sooner than expected

We only biked one time last year… and that was when I was 8 1/2 months pregnant… See? This is the picnic break on the Bike Ride!  Don’t I look like a true bike rider with that large tummy?!  It was a little complicated… I didn’t do that again even with a little prodding from Danny!

We love riding, but we really couldn’t go any where when I was pregnant and then just had a baby… where do you put a newborn when you ride?  So… we have been really excited to get the bikes out this year.  BUT… and this is a BIG BUT… we needed to have Grace riding a two wheeler – WITH NO TRAINING WHEELS!!  We needed to have her riding her bike so Caleb could be behind me and Hannah and Josiah could be in the trailer behind Danny.  Sounds complicated, huh?! 

Last summer we had Grace try over and over again at a church parking lot down the street.  She was doing well, but it just didn’t click.  We knew that she had to be riding before we could go out, so Danny brought Grace down to the parking lot last weekend – the first time it was really nice out this season.  He was anxious to get the process going.  To his surprise and my surprise and Grace’s SHOCK, she was able to do it… the first time!  Danny steadied her and  then she took off… riding the whole length of the parking lot on the first try of the season!   They practiced over and over and then again on Saturday.  On Saturday she even began to perfect her take off… which can be really tricky! 

WE ARE SO THRILLED!!  So we figured that we could go on a leisurely ride on Friday to give Grace more practice, make sure our equipment was still good and get the other kids used to their seats.  It was a BLAST!!  We had a great time on a simple trail along the DSM River.  It was woodsy and we hardly saw other riders…. but we did see a DEER and an EAGLE!!!  Before we turned around, we rode a little further to a park so the kids could play a little, stretch their legs and eat a little snack.  It was truly amazing!

WE CAN’T WAIT FOR THE NEXT TRIP!  Where will we go?

First time with his helmet…. I still was working at adjusting it!

I had an arsenal of graham crackers in my pocket if Caleb got fussy! 

My view on the trail… it was a nice wide trail, which was good for Grace!

At the park… ready to climb, jump, swing, etc!

We will have to check out maps and plan out our next trip.  I think we may go back to Water Works Park… we have loved it there before!  And… by the way…. my awesome husband does a great job getting us all packed up for the trip.  He always has a ton to do… from putting air in the tires to remembering everyone’s helmets to loading all the bikes and equipment , etc.  THANKS, DANNY! 

FINALLY FREE!!

There is so much freedom when we are finally released from our homes after a long winter!  Our home has expanded and the noise and rowdiness can finally be taken outside!  My kids have really needed to be able to run and jump and climb and swing and breathe that fresh air.  On Saturday we went for a little walk and had our first time at a playground for the season…. it was delightful!  EVERYONE had a great time and we loved being in the warm sun… it was good to get some vitamin D.

Letting Daddy do all of the work…

Our little man always needs a stick on a walk… is this just a boy thing?

Crazy swinging girl… funny Hannah!

Danny and son….LOVE THIS!

These next pictures will not really seem amazing to anyone… they are just a few of a two year old on the slides and climbing up ladders, etc.  BUT to anyone who knows Josiah, they ARE a big deal.  He did this all by himself without coaxing from us at all.  He had a blast on the playground… really for the first time ever.  He has always LOVED swings, but stayed away from  the climbing and sliding parts until the very end of the fall.  I am THRILLED that he is starting where he left off!!  GO, SIAH!! 

Is Grace in jail or is she in a cage?  That would depend… is she a person or an animal today?

Creative Snacks and lunches?

Do you get tired of the same old snacks over and over for your kids? Of course you do, you are a mom! We all get uncreative and pick the same 5 things over and over and sometimes we give the kids the same thing for a few days in a row. My kids don’t really mind that as long as they are eating, but I have challenged myself to be a little more creative lately with snacks and lunches.  I just sometimes feel like I am in a rut and I have to pull out the first quick thing that comes my way.  I may be in the middle of a lesson with Grace or reading to Hannah or feeding the baby or changing Josiah when the time for snack calls!  All I want to do is easily remedy the whiny children with some quick brain food! (Do your kids get whiny when they are tired or hungry or is it just mine?)

My kids love to help in the kitchen and they LOVE making their own food!  I have combined these two to give my kids the work of making their own lunches or snacks about once or twice a week….

Here are the kids just last week making “banana stacks” (I don’t have a name for them yet!) for snack time…. I gave them cut bananas, a glob of peanut butter, a few chocolate chips and a small knife.  They added the peanut butter to the bananas and topped them with a chocolate chip or two.  They were delighted to be making their own snack, it kept them busy for a while and overall it was really yummy and healthy!

So… try to be creative with your kids and let me know what snacks or lunches you let them make… you may be surprised how much or what they will eat when they make it themselves!

Yummy….. and I made it MYSELF!!!

Happy Resurrection Sunday

We had a great day of church and then time with friends this evening! 

A close up of the dresses that I made for the girls…

Happy Easter from the kiddos....

Thinking Spring….

Last week when the season changed to spring, we were doing some wishful thinking that this weather would indeed look like spring!  After reading some books about spring, I drew some pictures on large pieces of paper as the kids told me their favorite parts of spring.  Then we got out the finger paints and let them get messy…and paint their pictures!  They loved it.. well, Josiah likes being messy for a few minutes and then he turns into a grump….

I really like this kind of finger paint… it is actually washable, unlike some of the others that claim they are.  I may have to try a recipe that I saw on Pinterest about making my own….

The finished products….ready to hang in a gallery, well, our gallery anyway!