More Eli's Birthday

Yes McDonalds was the dinner choice...surprise, surprise!
Eli was pretty excited about Thomas movies and Cars game!

I am always amazed at the amount of fries Eli can stuff into his mouth. He is a 2 handed McD's eater! Talent I know. We are happy that he now eats the chicken nuggets also (hey we take protein wherever we can get it).

The big present was a "ka-chow" bike! It doesnt matter how many times his brothers tell him the cars name is Lightning McQueen, he still calls him kachow. Gotta love it. What a blessing Elijah has been to our family =)

Eli is 4

Here he is the birthday boy!
He was on a Thomas kick at the time...it varies from Cars to Mario to Thomas

Cant believe he is 4 already.

Easter Sunday

Our Easter tradition
Saturday Easter Bunny
Sunday is for celebrating our Saviors Resurrection (and new Easter dresses)!

Booty

Brooklyn checking out her spoils!

The crew dumping their booty out to start the all day feast on candy and a few hard boiled eggs!

This is Kates basket filled with jellybeans from her eggs

Kate promptly put on her easter dress...over her jammies no less, and wore it like that for most of the day. Oh and the majority of the candy was gone by Saturday night.

Easter Bunny Day

Kate found her Easter basket first and was on the move to find the most eggs!

Shekynah found hers and wasted no time started the sugar rush.

Colby and Serph had a hard time finding their Easter baskets...the Easter bunny was so tricky this time

Serph was the last one to finally get his basket (after a few hints)

camping experience at the museum

We tried out the canoe

and tent

and had an encounter with some wild animals. (children in the photos are much more ferocious than the furry ones)

Chicago and Lake Michigan during Spring Break. Not the best time to visit the musuem (every other parent within 50 miles had the same idea) but a good time none the less.

Note to self......never leave teenagers alone for the day during spring break...every friend they know will be at your house, eating your food, running around your home and yard, riding kiddie bikes, trikes and wagons down your grass hill, thus confirming to your neighbors that you ARE crazy, wacked out Mormons with way too many kids and complete lack of control over them.

Trip to The Shedd Aquarium

This was all the kids we could talk into coming with us!
The other "teenagers" were much too mature for going to the museum.

This may look like a leafy plant but it is really a sea dragon. The kids thought these were awesome!

Colby with the Sears Tower growing out of his head

Kate was fascinated with the fish and bubble jets. She was the only one that thought it was cool.
The rest got bored and wanted to go eat. Priorities!

Masey "the traitor"

Doyle took this picture to use as blackmail...imagine the horror when I view this picture online!
One word "traitor"!

Brayden 15th Birthday

Brayden found his present hidden in my closet. He had a pretty great day...His friends (boys and girls) surprised him by decorating his room and covering him in whip cream. We had Chinese take out and his favorite ice cream cake.

I just cant believe how much he has grown up this past year. He is such an amazing kid. So smart and spiritual. He is a wonderful example to his siblings and parents.

Kate is 5!!!

Kate is officially 5 years old! We celebrated with her choosing her favorite restaurant...drumroll,,,suspensful music playing....hold your breath for it......McDonald's!! I know- Huge surprise. We were accompainied by a few extra teenagers who wanted to celebrate with us. Kate loved the extra attention.

Those very same teens were responsible for picking out the cake and gifts and I think Kate was very pleased. She got exactly what she had pointed out to us each time it was shown on TV and told us she getting for her birthday for the past 2 months. Hate to disappoint the official queen bee around here. We might here about it for years to come.
WE LOVE OUR KAKES!!!