30APR11

The month of April they celebrated the month of the military child. All month long they have been doing "Movie Under the Stars." Every Friday was a different movie and they had a huge screen set up outside and had free popcorn and you brought your own chairs and blankets. We only went once (we saw Tangled again!) The girls thought it was great and I love that they were doing something for the kids b/c they deserve it! Last night was the last movie night and before the movie they had a traveling zoo! There was a white tiger, monkeys, kangaroos, ponies, camels and some I'm sure I'm forgetting. They even had a magic show, shaved ice, popcorn, and cotton candy and the best part? FREE! :) I really appreciate all the great free activities we have available to us! Their favorite part by far was riding the ponies and the camel. We didn't stay for the movie afterwards b/c it was Yogi Bear and I'm not sure my girls are the right age to really enjoy that one but we did get to go over to the Shomakers and play games and have a great Friday night!

I'm not sure if it's the sunglasses or the hair or what but I LOVE this picture of Alexis. She just looks so cute! (Her hair was curled b/c we had dance pictures right before. I'll post some of those soon when I get them back.)
Ry loving on the camel. This camel was SOOO gentle. He was just nuzzling and loving on the kids.

Lexi petting him. My kids so LOVE animals.

More Shomakers and McBride's. This time rocking the sunglasses. And I love Lex snuggling up to Wylie.

On the camel! (Ryan, Makayla, Lex, and Wylie.) Nicolai was not a fan so he didn't want to ride but we ran into our neighbor Makayla and they loved getting to ride all together.

Pony ride. Just the right size for Ry. :)

Alexis wasn't excited at all. Can't you tell??! :)

Great night!

25APR11

We have been SOOO busy lately which I really do love but we were all ready for some downtime. Easter was the perfect day to stay home and just be together. The girls and I went to church and the Easter Bunny came while we were gone. We have 9 AM church and I knew it would be a little much to add in Easter basket searching in to our crazy Sunday mornings. After church they looked for their baskets and then Ryan took a nap. Once Ryan woke up we colored Easter eggs, had an egg hunt, and Travis helped the girls plant some plants that Mary gave them while I made dinner (ham, bacon wrapped asparagus, and hashbrown casserole.) We had a great day.

Their gardening bags from Mary! THANK YOU MARY! THey LOVED them!

Ryan found her basket in the oven!

Getting it out.

Lexi doing her happy dance when she found hers.

She needed a little help. That is one tall Easter bunny!

Lexi getting help from Travis coloring her eggs.

Ryan multitasking. Coloring an egg while eating one!

At Christmas I had bought these dresses for the girls but when Grandma Kerry sent some other cute ones I decided to save these for Easter. So we had a photo shoot. Half with Travis, half with me! :) Once again I LOVE dressing up my girls! :)

16APR11

We loved going to the Eggstravaganza last year on post so we decided to go again this year! The girls loved doing the Easter Egg Hunt and both of them went by themselves this time and did a great job! They are getting so big and independent! We loved meeting up and playing with all our friends, sitting with the Easter bunny, jumping on the bouncy castle, making a bracelet and necklace and enjoying the BEAUTIFUL weather (even after a tornado scare last night!) Alexis also had a dance performance in between the activities. She did a great job and a HUGE thank you to Melanie for getting pictures so I could take video AND Joanna for holding Ryan so I could move and get better video!! Lexi did a great job and we had a great day sunburns and all! :)

Yay they BOTH sat with the Easter bunnies with no crying!

Okay seriously I say girls smile and they make 500 different poses! They are little camera hogs!

Ryan picking up her eggs!

Very proud!

Lexi's turn.

She was pretty proud!

Ballet dance!

First position after the dance!

My sweet Dancer.

10APR11

The Atlanta temple has been going through renovations since before we got to GA. It's finally done and we got the chance to go with our ward to see it before it was re-dedicated. What a beautiful peaceful place to spend our Saturday with our friends. It was a nice day. After we went through we spent some time just sitting in the grass and taking pictures. Shomakers and McBrides! (Nic, Wylie, Alexis, and Ryan) It's fun to have boys around the same age as our girls.

My girls really enjoyed the temple. Alexis was slightly concerned that we weren't all wearing white but I was able to explain that was okay. :) Wylie and Lex.

Me and my girls.

Everyone from the ward that was able to go.

Ry and Nic (totally NOT posed.)

Ry loves holding hands!

08APR11

I have great neighbors here. It's great that we can just go outside and they have people to play with. When my next door neighbor asked who was up for a sidewalk chalk day we were in!!! I even left Lex outside when I came in for Ry's nap (and so I could clean a little bit!) The kids all had a blast and the moms got to hang out and talk. Thanks for the great idea Keri!

Ryan running to hug Joanna (she LOVES those neighbor girls!) Pow wow.

Lex and Makayla.

So fun!

Dillon, Ryan, and Alexis.

07APR11

Nate had to go to Atlanta for a few days for work so he made the drive down to Columbus just for the night so he could see us (okay maybe more so he could see Trav but he loves us girls too!) We had a blast going to dinner, playing games, and LAUGHING while texting back and forth with Cristine. It made us SOOO excited for July when the McGrewe's will be reunited for 10-12 days! :) Thanks for coming Nate and next time I promise to have chili cheese dip here waiting! :)

04APR11

Travis got a fluke day off today so we decided to spend the morning doing yard work (YUCK but at least it was nice out so the girls just played.) That afternoon he decided it was time for Lex to learn to ride a bike without training wheels. We headed on post to where the soccer fields are with both kids and our dog. There is a great park right by the soccer fields and a dog park right next to that so something for everyone! Trav kept Lex on the field so when she fell it would be softer and I walked Ryan and Tucker over to the park. Less than an hour later he told me to come over and watch (I'd been watching a little bit but trying to pay attention to Ryan and Tuck too.) My little girl was totally riding a bike! No training wheels! She was so proud and so was Trav. As soon as I got over he informed me we were going straight to DQ after that! She totally earned it. (And Travis was SO proud!) The video is not the best b/c it's with my cell but I got a GREAT video with our regular camera. This girl has always been so quick with the physical stuff!

Getting started. The push off.

Totally doing it on her own.

You could tell SHE was proud too.

04APR11

Oh how I love this man. I have to acknowledge the fact that I am guilty of being that mom and wife that puts her kids ahead of everything. I know this isn't always a bad thing but I do find that I have to be very careful to make sure that I put my husband first sometimes too. He is important too and I love him like crazy!! I am not eloquent in writing (oh how I wish I were!) But I do want Travis to know how much I love and appreciate him. He does SO much for us. I am so proud of all he has done being in the Army. I'm so glad he is the dad he is. Yesterday was Trav's thirtieth birthday. We are BOTH officially in our 30's. It's funny how old you think 30 is when you are 16 and then when you turn 30 you realize it's not so bad. I have now known Trav for officially half my life. We met when I was 15 although we weren't exactly friends. He actually came to my 16th birthday party with his girlfriend! :) I guess I grew on him. Yesterday he had a lot of homework to catch up on so we hung out at home (after the waffles and strawberries of course) and then ended the day with some family time, steak, potatoes, and asparagus and finished it off with some Spring Fruit Trifle (the man is NOT a cake or chocolate fan!) Happy Birthday babe. I love you!!!