Easter

Our family had such a great Easter weekend. We were able to spend some fun time with Brent's family and some friends.
Of course the day started with baskets, or as Emmy calls them.....bassek. Super cute. All of the kids were so excited, and could hardly wait to check out the Easter goodies.
Each of the kiddies got a rockin basket, and some awesome clothes. Hayley and Emmy especially adore clothes, but even Hunter was excited. How fun, he actually tells me what he wants. YEA! He also got some cool DC shoes. Gaona found this darling hat for Hayley. She looks amazing in it, and thinks she is quite the girl for having it. Emmy was so excited. Everything she pulled out of her basket, she had to ooh and aahhh over. I need to remember some of her silly faces. She is so easy to please.After church on Sunday, we went for a Picnic at Red Rock Park, which is our favorite Easter activity with Brent's family. If it is a warm day, it is so wonderful to let the kids play, wander and eat.
Hayley on the hunt. She was zooming all over, picking all the prime goodies.Emmy was finally big enough to understand what she was up to this year. She was almost as fast as Hayley, most of the family was showing her how to scout for eggs. I think she will hold her own next year. Watch out!This is Emmy's idea of smiling. It really cracks me up. What a grimace!Hunter and his cousin Trevor, dishin' on their goodies. These two are wild and crazy fun.Hunt and Hay took of with their Aunt April and cousins on a long hike, so with Emmy to fend for herself, Brent and I took her on a little "hike". Here we are soaking up some sun. It was a gorgeous day.Okay.......Brent is the one that took her hiking. I coordinated pictures, and held the rendezvous point. She is quite the little adventurous girl.Playing peek-a-boo with her daddy. Brent is so talented at finding some very amazing shots.Emmy spend most of her day playing with these cute furry callipiter. I am unsure of the number that were given a park burial. She loved them. They climbed her arm, lived in her Easter bucket (under the candy...ouch) and went hiking with her. I was so surprised that she would even touch them. Brent and his gift of photography. He staged this shot, and was at it forever. I do think this little guy might have survived, unless Emmy later folded him in half. Yuck.



And for my post favorite. I can't quite get inside Emmy's head for this picture. I have no idea what she might have been trying to tell me, but what a goofy picture. What do you think she is Thinking? Maybe she just ate the poor catapiller. Blah!I am grateful to have such a wonderful family, I love my husband and children very much. I am also blessed to have Brent's family as my own, and am thankful to have another amazing Easter memory to cherish.

Climbing the wall

Taking a lazy day this Easter Week, my sister and her 4 kiddies visited, and so my family, hers and my mom headed for the Washington Recreation Center. The pool was great, Emmy even had water just deep enough for her, plus slides, fountains and playgrounds. It was a blast. After we were pooped from swimming, we were also able to do some indoor rock climbing. Most of us were trying it for our first time.This is our pre-climb rally. I was positive I wouldn't make it to the top, so I had to rib my sister that she wouldn't make it either.Check them out...... Leslie and Aubrey slithering up the wall.
Here my nephew and I are trying our best too. This is harder than it looks. Yowzah!Two other little monkeys. Dang these kids are strong.This is the only picture I was able to snap of Hayley, she was to the top of the wall so quickly, it was almost a blur.The two boys hanging out. Literally!

We had a great time. You've got to try it out sometime. It will be amazing especially with the warmer weather coming.

Hunter and Brent took a fun boy's getaway to Washington D.C this past week with Grandpa Mitch. It has been so fun and interesting to hear all of the amazing places they saw. Hunter has been learning U.S history at school this year, so it was fresh in his mind, and he now has seen places, and has pictures of these wonderful sites.Here are the Capital Kids. I never knew the Capital was so tall, but of course there would need to be a ton of floors. Cold and rainy day. Brrrr...Hunter is in the very center of Washington D.C. This is under the Capital Building, and the city spreads from here. Cool Shot Hunter!
Hunter pondering the Lincoln Memorial? What a fun shot. Brent is so handy with his camera.Hunter by the Supreme Court.All I can say..... Boys and their toys. Silly!This is the original Smithsonian building called the 'Castle'. It is so picturesque, and one of my favorite shots.The boys checking out the Botanical Garden. It looked absolutely amazing there. So many beautiful colors and plants.
Brent is so amazing at planning trips, so of course he knew the Cherry Trees were in bloom. The trees line the mall, and seem to go for miles. It was the Cherry Blossom Festival, who knew?Gorgeous view of Mt. Vernon, the estate of George Washington. Brent thought the setting was amazing. It looks like they lived pretty well for 1799 huh?
I think this is such a meaningful place. The headstones are lined precisely and it has such visual impact. I loved learning about the Civil War, but can't imagine the overwhelming size of the Arlington National Cemetery. Udvar Hazy is an extension of the Air and Space Museum. It was amazingly huge, so no....the aren't toy planes. There was so much to look at here. Is it weird that I had a favorite plane growing up? Well.. it was the SR-71 Blackbird. Brent was able to stand right in front of one on the trip. Jealous!The boys standing in front of the shuttle 'Enterprise'. Brent said it was right by a huge American flag. Such a patriotic image. The inside was tight, not as roomy as we think.
The Ford Theater looks exactly like I had imagined. Just like a movie set. It is disturbing to think that Lincoln was shot here. History blurb: Did you know that Lincoln didn't die until the next day, at the Peterson House which is directly across the street. People always say that this is such a Majestic temple. It is so beautiful.Of course this would be the highlight for my kooky boy. He adored the subway and was especially excited to be able to track his own ticket. Brent said that Hunter was outgoing with the local performers, and was sad that he had to leave his 'peeps' behind.

The trip was amazing, and the boys had so much fun. I am so grateful that Brent, Hunter and Mitch were able to spend quality time together, on a trip they will never forget. We are so happy that they are home though.
I could hardly pick any pictures, there are so many. So if you want to see more D.C fun, come on by for a slide show.
Chow!

Growing Up

This week hit me hard. My little family is growing up. Hayley Starr lost her very first tooth this past Wednesday. I walked into the kitchen and Brent had a pair of pliers in her mouth, yanking as hard as he could. When I was young, I was to afraid to let anyone near me, and was surprised at her show of bravery. She is one tough cookie.I forgot to put this picture in Emmy's birthday blog. Hayley made a darling Easy-bake cake for Emmy. She cooked and decorated it all by her lonesome. Way to bake Hayley!

I would like to request that my children quit growing.

Two and Terrific!

This month marks Emmy's 2nd birthday. I am absolutely floored that the time has gone so quickly, and she is growing up so quickly. We had a great time celebrating with family, and playing over a few days. Good partying always takes time.
We were lucky to get to go to Maggie Moo's for a treat on Emmy's birthday. We each were able to choose our own confection, and gobble it down. I was only able to get a few pictures because lately, Emmy has no smiles for anyone with a camera.Emmy LOVES dolls. Any kind, barbie, baby, dress-up......you name it, she adores them. She got a fun new barbie for the tub, and a dress-up bratz doll that she can snap her clothes on. (This saves mom the stress of having to do it for her.)
By the time an hour was up, Emmy was petered out. She was cuddling Grand-ma, had her new hair on ( see curlies above) and was holding her barbie. This was a cue for bedtime.Saturday we headed out to our favorite park in Coral Canyon, to play and party. The kids had a great time skating, scooting (I am unsure of the plural use of scooter.. ing?), running, basketball, and crazy playing. Emmy loved all of the attention, and was the craziest of all.
The kids always love to play with cousins, and we are happy to let the kids keep each other busy and entertained. Down time for us.Grandma and Grandpa Schoppmann also threw a Tea Party. Each of the cousins were able to bring their favorite stuffed animal, and have fancy munchies.Emmy, being the cutie that she is, decided to bless her tea.. I guess these little ones pick up something worthwhile every now and then. She is so smart.What a fun girly time. I would never have thought of these old time pink cookie wafers, and am glad Grandma Schoppmann helps me with these things. These cookies were gone the minute they were opened. I guess it is an acquired taste. Em got some very fun headbands. Anyone knows she is obsessed with hair additions, wigs, silly headbands and curlies. But not anything that should be showcased, like barrettes or bows. Goofy little girl. Picky Picky.She absolutely loved everything she was given. A cool kitchen play set (thanks to Mitch for putting it together!) a few darling outfits, pajamas, and a baby high chair for her...what else, dollies.

We love you Emmy, and are so happy to have you in our family!