Vacation days

 Alpine Lodge - Branson Missouri...our destination that only took 5 hours and 5 potty stops to get to!

Are we going to Branson's house?  All 3 of them were quite confused....and kept asking that over and over.

It was a very nice cabin that could have slept 12....with a full kitchen and living room.  And a great view of a very flooded lake. 

Our first destination - SILVER DOLLAR CITY!

Ayden was sad we had just missed riding to the park in a huge bus. 

 Instead we were stuck on an ordinary tram.

Which was just fine cause it was a gorgeous day! 

I think this smile tells it all. 

The train ride!

The first go round Ava and I missed because I had to take a conference call and she had to go to the bathroom....but the story is that Alec (who was over the top excited about this train ride) fell asleep and Ayden got completely caught off guard by the "gunshot" during the train robbery! 

But the second time around - everyone was prepared and excited!!

(I know this is not a great picture - but I love Alec in Ava's sunglasses upside down

 and the total look of anticipation on Ayden's face.)  So fun. 

Flowers were beginning to bloom...gorgeous! 

This roller coaster ride....Ayden got in the front car by himself...

not having a clue about what was about to transpire....we barely saw his head the whole ride! 

Daddy was such a good sport and rode almost every kid ride in the park! 

Now this time we got some smiles! 

OMG.  Is this the funniest thing ever...?

 

Alec did not want to ride anything but the train and the carousel -

 but he was all about finding where we were on the map. 

And the final ride!!!  ALL SMILES!

Only one scary moment all day - Ava did get lost in Geyser Gulch..

and was a bit traumatized when Daddy finally found her. 

 Through her tears she told him she was very scared and she didn't even have a whistle!!! 

They traveled pretty well considering....and if they got irritating - we separated them!  Hehehe! 

We made a couple stops on the way home. 

The first stop was at an RV place where we toured some gorgeous campers. 

(I always knew I liked the way Airstreams looked -

 and they are so cool inside...but my gosh they are crazy expensive...)

Then next stop - Bennett Springs. 

We hiked around and checked it out. 

Flooding like crazy here too - so our hiking was a bit limited. 

Home sweet home by 8:30 - and I believe everyone is now fast asleep in their own beds.

It was a great "vacation days".

Sunday Spotlight - Easter of course!

 What a crazy fun chaotic weekend! 

 Today we made it to church in time for breakfast (much to Shannon's surprise) not quite by 7:30 -

but pretty darn close.  All of us!

 Breakfast was awesome, Sunday school and church were great...

I was so relieved we actually got to go...

at 3:30 this morning when Alec was sounding very wheezy....

I wasn't so sure. 

But we charged up his breathing treatments...grabbed a couple more hours of sleep....

and had a wonderful day. 

I love Easter. 

And this Easter I was sorely in need of a reminder that I have indeed been given a gift...

a gift of love and forgiveness.

And a reminder to cherish and enjoy each moment. 

And sometimes (like lately) when I have been pretty much

an outrageous crabby pants....

I need to be reminded just how blessed and loved I am. 

These beautiful little girls that make me laugh and keep me hopping....

each a special blessing. 

Hunting Easter eggs with abandon...and bare feet.  

Our precious gift...

who pats me and hugs me harder and more intensely

than any child I have ever known.   

And our next gift on the way....!!!  Only 6 more weeks to go! 

Hard to believe that my oldest daughter will be 26 this year...

and a mommy.

And this Daddy...who is such a mixture of kid and adult...

makes me proud to be his mom.....

soon to be 20 years old! 

I really don't know why I keep trying to get these 4 in a picture together...

smiling...looking at the camera? 

Lee...almost 16?  Does not seem possible.

Just a little pregnant ballet....? 

Yesterday evening we had a YUMMY meal at Barb and Jeff's - ribs, potato salad, and the fixins....

We had some exhausted happy kiddos when we got home!

I was so irritated I forgot my camera...(chaos all day? yes!)

we snapped a few with the cell phones...

but they just aren't the same. 

And this one really would have been FUNNY....

just look at Alec's face as he is being sat on by the pregnant woman!!!

It was a great weekend.

And it is going to be a great week.

The kids are on vacation before they start a new preschool...

and we are going to do some fun stuff.

And try to get a new sense of balance around here....

At least that is our hope.

Tonite I end this post with the prayer we hear from 

Ava, Ayden and Alec every night at dinner...

(which I will tell you is absolutely precious every time)

Thank you Lord for this day.

And thank you for this food.

And thank you for all those we love....

(insert list)

 (which always is a very long list..of people special to them...

and sometimes can include a race car or cupcakes)

Thank you for our family....

And for our church...

And for your love.

Amen.

Sunday Spotlight - Dandelion bouquets and tying shoes...

Dandelion bouquets. 

Are simply the best.

And learning to tie your shoes.

Makes a guy's week so much better.

Especially a week that Dad is out of town.

And your temper has been getting the best of you...

and has been for awhile.

And your mom is kinda sick..

(and Dad is out of town - did we already mention that?)

And Mom's patience is worn pretty thin....

and has been for awhile 

But each and every day after shoe tying was learned on Monday...

things seemed to get just a little better.

We all decided that being 4...almost 5 is just a tough age.

You want to be the big kid...but sometimes you need to be the little kid.

And it is very hard to find the balance.

Deep breathing techniques, allowing more responsiblity,

and acknowledging good choices made us all feel better...

and we all think this may have been one of our very favorite weekends.

In fact at one point this weekend

Ayden said to me in all seriousness....

"Mom...don't you think we are being good?

I think I am probably being the goodest....

cause sometimes I can be the baddest".

I agreed....with a smile and a hug. 

So the simple pleasure of dandelion picking.

Was extremely important this weekend. 

And exploring the new plants that have popped up overnight. 

We just spent as much time as possible outside.

(we did go watch Savana sing on Saturday when it was cold and windy -

which was an awesome way to spend the morning - Yay Savana!)

but mainly we just enjoyed being outside. 

Our house is a mess...and the lawn didn't get mowed.

But dandelions got picked...

And snacks got eaten. 

And daredevils on were crazy on the swingset.

Which meant LOTS of giggling...

And a few bumps and bruises...

But tons of fun...

And in bed before 8PM!

Sunday Night Spotlight - Baby Clark Shower!

Raena Joy baby shower #1 was VERY fun!

Thank you Sam for letting us borrow your house - it is such a great house for parties!

And it gave us a reason to give it a good spring cleaning and dive into a few new projects.

It always helps to have a deadline!

Ava and Korbyn thought Erin needed alot of help with opening all her wonderful surprises...

so that part of the shower went rather quickly!

Erin was thrilled to get so much fabulous stuff - it is time to get ready for this baby!

We had one game - in which everyone had to write a note to Erin - giving a bit of "advice". 

 I am so looking forward to reading those...I am sure there will be some very wise words indeed.

We think she is about the prettiest pregnant person we have ever seen. 

I certainly do not remember looking that gorgeous pregnant. 

I vividly remember looking and feeling pretty darn frumpy.

She calls these her ultrasound shoes. 

I think they are just totally the bomb.

(I am very jealous and I want some.)

It was fun having "our girls" only at our party. 

They enjoyed the special time too I think.

Daddy had our two boys and their friend Tristan playing at our house

They had a fabulous time as well....

Being boys and being rowdy!

Sunday Spotlight - on Monday

It was a very busy weekend...to busy for a Sunday post!

\

On Saturday

(after spending the night at Aunt Kristi and Uncle Shelbys Friday night!

YAY for date night!!)

Ava got a few belated birthday and gotcha day surprises!

She thought it was SO cool to get a package in the mail from the Clark family - 

 a watermelon swimsuit!

Alec said to me when she tried it on...."hey we eat those!"

And this shirt from Aunt Carol she thinks is amazing as well  

 Her reaction "Hey momma - we are holding hands to each other!" 

Saturday we worked around here all afternoon - raking and burning

and raking and burning some more.

On Sunday we roadtripped to The Clark household to install a dishwasher, hang out with our kiddos 

and meet the new addition to their  family - Miss Sophie!

(who is a rescued pup from one of the wonderful safe streets that Aaron patrols)

 

Erin was prepared for the wild threesome and had a pool for them to get crazy in. 

And I do mean crazy!

Sophie kept her distance while those 3 were being wild... 

And Claire just watched. 

But the minute they dried off - the attack was on! 

And Ava was ready!

Ayden of course screamed and jumped on the nearest chair.

Alec just ignored them.

The box from the dishwasher was great fun. 

When the older kids went shopping with Dad - Alec helped us finish up our landscaping project!

He must have made 10 trips with this watering can! 

Our end result was not perfection - but then again - it was an imperfect medium - and a pregnant lady and an old out of shape lady...and two dogs and 3 kids working on it - so not so bad when you consider that.

It will look really cool this summer full of blooming color!

This pregnant lady looks super amazing - due in just a couple months....

We are all just over the top excited to meet our newest family member

Miss Raena Joy.

Fun times indeed!