Easter Adventure

Our Easter ended up being a little untraditional, but I will say a good effort was made, our hearts were in the right place, and the Easter bunny knew exactly where to find the Wright kids.

So when asked what we did on Easter here's how I answer in the form of pictures.

The kids got up and saw the Easter bunny had left them Easter baskets.

Owen and Carson going through their "goods."

Stella found her Pez.

Isaac with his bunny ears.

It was a very long walk to the church. There was a road that was closed so we had to walk over a dirt road, across a field, and up a hill. When we finally got to the church it was standing room only. We were about ten deep. We had seats saved in the church for us, but couldn't get to them.

So what do you do with six kids (our four and two of our nephews) and four adults when you can't get into church on Easter? Well, this is what we did.

We took our traditional Easter pictures of the kids and an attempt of a family picture.

The three boys.

Stella and her brothers. Our only good picture of the four kids.

Our family.

After pictures of the kids were through we let the kids run. And when I say run, they ran!

Luke, Owen, Isaac, Carson. Stella and Jake ran all the way to the trees and back...a couple of times.

Running back up the hill.

Jake and Stella going back down the hill.

The adults (Carson, Papa, Uncle Klay and myself) started to get cold so we encouraged the kids to run back to the van so we could warm up. It was the only car that was unlocked. Mark has his car keys with him. He actually made it though the crowd to the seats in church. So the Kluver boys and Papa were locked out of their car. On the way to the vehicles we found this.

And why wouldn't the kids all go in the dirty loader to get a picture in their Easter clothes?

We finally made it to the van. The kids watched Scooby-Doo while waiting for church to get out.

(F) Isaac, Jake, and Stella, (B) Owen, Luke and Carson

Luke and Jake watching a movie in the van.

We finally make it back to Mark's and Amy's house. The kids shot hoops.

Isaac talked Papa into his "nice shot."

Hunting for eggs.

Counting the loot.

Stella wearing the beautiful barrette my friend Dina made for her.

Stella loved playing with the stacking cups with Pa. So sweet.

Baby Will was tuckered out!

We all had a wonderful Easter. It was a bit non-traditional, but it all turned out okay and was a lot of fun. We were able to spend it with family and that is very important to us. We wouldn't have had it any other way!

Our Weekend in Nebraska

We went to Omaha, Nebraska to celebrate "baby Will's" first birthday. Will is Mark's (my brother) and Amy's son. Friday was Will's actual birthday. We all headed to the Henry Doorly Zoo. We had a fantastic time and love going with the Pattersons. Here's a few highlights from our zoo adventure.

Will, Carson, Owen, Isaac and Stella at the zoo.

What's not to love about this?

Carson looking at the gorillas through the bubble window.

Hello. Isaac, are you there? Lunch was in a bucket. Isaac was in heaven.

The aquarium was very cool!

Daddy, Carson, Uncle Mark and Owen

Uncle Mark, Will, and Aunt Amy

After the zoo we all came home to nap. Then Will got to open his birthday present from his Wichita cousins.

Opening the present we gave to Will.

Will trying out his new Mickey Mouse airplane.

Saturday was Will's birthday bash. There were so many kids, adults, family and friends at the party. Here's a peek of the party.

Bubbles!

Singing Happy Birthday.

Will got lots and lots of help opening presents.

The tablecloth I made for Will. He got a near perfect handprint, especially for only being one year old.

Thank you Mark, Amy and Will for a fun weekend!

Our Perfect Day

It was a perfect day. 70-something degrees in the morning with a slight breeze. All the kids were happy, well behaved and excited to be playing outside. There were no arguments, just smiling faces, laughter, running, riding, swinging, sliding and climbing.

Can you beat a smiling face like this?

A view from where I was sitting. Carson, Owen and Stella racing down the hill while Isaac was swinging.

Isaac and Owen climbing the rock wall.

Owen rode all the way to the pond from the top of the hill. He sat there for a while looking at the fish.

The boys on the slide.

Owen thought it was fun to swing like this. Ouch!

Hi Carson.

My "baby" boy is growing up before my eyes.

Down the Slide

After moving into our "new" house Carson and I agreed that the kids needed a swing set. We moved in October and thought spring would be a good time to get a swing set. Well, it's spring and guess what? We've got a swing set. The company we ordered it from called Monday night and asked if it would be okay if they came Tuesday to install our new swing set. I of course said it would be fantastic to have it a week earlier than scheduled. So, Tuesday morning two twenty-something guys rolled up in a pick-up truck with our swing set boxed up in the back end. After seeing each individual piece of the swing set laying in the back yard I was thinking to myself, thank goodness we are not trying to put this thing together by ourselves. It may never get done if it were up to us. It took over eight hours to assemble the swing set. I believe Carson and Owen watched six and a half hours of the assembly process. I made them come in for lunch and our hair cuts took an hour. After six hours of observation Owen and Carson got tired of watching and decided to help the process along. The workers thought it was funny that they were so willing to help out. If they only knew...

After eight long hours of watching our swing set starting out as pieces of wood, hooks, ropes, pipes, hardware, chains and plastic, it transformed into a beautiful piece of play equipment that our children can play on for many, many years. The looks on the kids' faces were priceless when they finally got to play on the swing set. They were full of excitement and wonder. We were blessed to have our swing set put up on such a beautiful day (72 degree and wind free.) It was a perfect day, especially for four little Wright kids.

Let the process begin.

This is how far along they got by lunchtime. Carson and Owen made an obsticle out of the swing set while the workers were at lunch.

Isaac was very concerned that the slide was broken.

Owen lending a hand.

Yea! It's finally done!

Carson and Stella on the swings.

Owen and Isaac climb the ladders.

Looking yonder.

Isaac going "down the slide," head first and very fast.

Carson testing how high the swings really go.

Swinging on the bar.

So much fun to be had.

Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?

We took the older boys to Sesame Street Live on March 07. It's the second time Carson and Owen have seen Elmo and the gang. Before going to the show (little) Carson asked me if I remembered how it rained the last time we saw Elmo. Thinking back he was right. It was a chilly rainy day two years ago when went to see the show. This year the sun was out and we got to see it in the new arena. Both boys loved their first Sesame Street experience so much. I think it had a bigger impact on them than what I realized. The things they remember about their first show amaze me (and they weren't even two and a half years old.) Two years later, they liked it just as much. The show was fantastic. Some of the highlights for Carson and Owen were the characters, songs and dancing, Elmo lights, cotton candy, fries, and lemonade.

Carson and Owen before the show.

Owen working on his cotton candy beard.

Mmm ... sugar!

Carson, Daddy and Owen enjoying the show.

Heading home.