Time with Friends

Today was the day for play dates with friends.  This morning, we met up with Kimmee and Channing for some fun at Rebounderz.  The kids all had such a good time getting their extra energy out on the indoor trampolines.  Once they were all bounced out, they played some arcade games in order to win a few cheesy prizes :)  Then we headed over to Burger 21 for lunch - my kids are crazy about Burger 21!  We had such a good time catching up, but I didn't get any pictures!!!

After we came home to rest for awhile, we had another play date with Hannah's best friend, Ryan.  We met up at a local park that has several playgrounds and a creek.  It was a beautiful day, and the kids had a great time!

These two melt my heart - and I'm secretly hoping they get married.

So peaceful :)

Not quite as peaceful, but so much more fun!  Hannah was hanging out on the sidelines because she got a cut on her hand.

I mean, really.

Once we came home, the kids still wanted to play outside, so Jack and I played a game of HORSE with his new basketball hoop (he beat me).  We played ring toss with Hannah, and before we knew it - Daddy was home!

And just like my dad used to do with me when I was little, Hannah climbed up onto Brad's lap to drive into the garage.  Jack was very generous and let Hannah have a turn by herself :)

It was a great, fun-filled day.  And all that sun made me wish summer was here already!

A Trip to the Mall

My kids have been asking to see Boss Baby since before it came to the theaters.  One of my co-workers told me about a discount every Tuesday at our favorite local movie theater, so I decided that Spring Break would be a great time to take the kids to the movies (since really, when am I ever going to take my kids to the movies on a Tuesday night after work?).  We really liked the movie - very funny and a cute story, too.

Hannah loves to pose next to movie posters

Since the movie theater is at the mall, I decided to make an afternoon of it.  We did some spring/summer clothes shopping, and then we saw the Easter bunny. 

We stayed to have lunch in the food court.  My kids love to eat at the food court in the mall - I think because they can play and eat and play some more.  And then they get to ride the spinning cup on the carousel!  What could be better?

Since it was such a pretty day, and we'd spent most of it indoors, we decided to hang out at the park in the evening, and Daddy met us there on his way home.  We played some basketball and spent some time on the swings.

My boys, in their matching shirts :)

I love spending time with these three.  And I love Spring Break!

Down on the Farm

As is our custom on Spring Break, we spent the day on the farm.  This year, we decided to go to Great Country Farms, and it didn't disappoint.  The weather was gorgeous - maybe even hotter than I'd planned for!  I think we even got a bit of sun, which felt nice.

My kids love a photo-op :)

Pure joy

This boy loves the slides!

Me and my little lovelies on the hay ride

Summer freckles make their first appearance

Jack showed her just what to do and what face to make!

They were so excited about this ninja course - it's like it was made just for them!

That face she makes when I've taken too many pictures

Funny side story: While we were at the farm, we decided to play a round of mini-golf.  It was only the second time the kids have played, but they were so excited!  Unfortunately, there wasn't a score card and any of those cute, tiny pencils, so we had to keep track of our own putts which wasn't a piece of cake.  For most of the game, Jack was in the lead, and so happily content.  Towards the end, I started to gain on him and finally overtook him.  At the very end, Hannah announced her score, and I announced mine.  Then Jack proudly explained that he hadn't been keeping score; he was just playing to have fun!  There was a grandma nearby playing with her grandkids, and she chuckled when she heard that...

"Gotcha there, didn't he?" she asked.

"Yes, definitely.  He always does!"

Thankful Thursday

Today, I'm thankful that my littles get excited over new books - picked out just for them at my school book fair!

Wordless Wednesday

This girl steals my heart on a daily basis.

Missing: Turtle!

Tonight, Brad and I were reading to Hannah when all of a sudden, Brad popped up to examine the turtle tank.

I heard, "Well, that's not good," and assumed that maybe Spike had passed away.  But instead, there was not a turtle in the turtle tank.

That was when Tuesday night got interesting.  With Jack screeching and moving so his feet weren't on the floor (where a turtle could attack!), and Hannah crying because her turtle was gone, Brad and I began a full-blown search:

I was just about to explore the hallway and Jack's bedroom, when I heard Brad call out, "Found him!"  He'd found a snuggly spot behind one of Hannah's toy buckets.

Crisis averted.  Thank goodness!

Generosity Feeds

A few months ago, the mom that inspired this post, invited me and my family to join them in a charitable event called Generosity Feeds.

I happily agreed and explained that Jack and Hannah had never done anything like that before, and that I thought it would be a great experience for them.  I especially loved the fact that we'd be packaging meals that would go directly to hungry kids in our county.

When I explained to the family that we had early Saturday morning plans to pack boxes of food, they were less than enthused.  In fact, Hannah cried when I announced (happily!) that we would get to wear hairnets and gloves.  I explained that it would be a family adventure and that I thought it was important that we help those less fortunate than us.  We are very lucky, and Jack and Hannah live a sheltered life and don't know how lucky they are.

We showed up to Loudoun County High School early this morning, and while we weren't quite sure what to expect, we all ended up having a lot of fun.  We got to work at a table with my former student and his family, and while Hannah did refuse to wear a hairnet and had to do a job where she didn't come directly in contact with food, she was even smiling by the time it was through.

Our table team

Daddy and Jack on the food line

Hannah counting bags of food, five per rectangle

{Video: Jack rings the bell}

Taking a box of 20 meals to be quality-checked by Wegmans' staff

Happy Faces

The best part of this morning?  When Jack came up to me at the end and asked if we could do something like this again soon.

I love that boy and his big heart.