Easter

Cody looking for eggs.






Braden thinks he is to old to look for eggs so he decided to help his cousin Braxton.



Brooklyn and her cousin Kennadi i.




Our Eggs!

The weekend started out with a Easter party and Egg Hunt with the "Friends". An annual event that the kids really look forward to. Then later that night we colored the eggs. For you stampers out there we did these eggs with the shaving cream tecnique. The kids loved it! Then off to bed so the bunny could come.

Cody woke up at the crack of dawn. Logic caught up with him this year, so he knew the secret. The bunny always makes finding the baskets lots of fun. He hides clues in special plastic eggs. Braden ejoys this every year. We then had our traditional holiday breakfast, Swedish Hotcakes.

Then off to visit the grandparents. At Grandma and Grandpa Hooton's house they had an egg hunt with all their cousins and lunch. At Grandma and Grandpa Graham's they had to hunt for their baskets and then we ate dinner. All in all it was a great Easter.

Happy St. Paterick's Day!
The kids woke to find a pile of chocolate gold coins that the leperachan left them. Honestly, that is what they ate for breakfast (bad mom, I know). I packed the boys a special lunch of a sandwich on green bread, a bottle of green water and a couple of green sweets. Dinner is a tradition that has been in my family since I was little. This year I decided to try some real green food. The menu was pasta with pesto sauce, green garlic bread, green beans and a green drink.

Well, here I go. I am very new to blogging. My sister-in-law started blogging about her family, so I thought this would be a great way for the family and friends to keep up with all of our doings. Keeping up with our crazy lives will be the tricky part, but I promise to try.As most of you probably know, we moved in December. It was quite unexpected. We found an amazing deal and jumped on it. We hadn't really even talked about moving and all the sudden we had made an offer on a house that we had always dreamed of. Everything happened so quickly that we didn't even have our current house on the market, and still don't. We are working on it though. We all couldn't be happier, even the dogs (lots of deer to chase). The boys are anxious for the snow and ice to melt off of the fishing pond so they can start fishing.

Braden is eleven going on 25. Can you believe he is that old? We just attended his Jr. High orientation. He is so excited. Baseball season is quickly approaching. He decided to change leagues this year, which will be good for him. I will post his baseball schedule. His sport of choice is football. He lives for football season. His team this year went undefeated until the playoffs. As parents, we even love football (except for the long, every night practices). Braden is very politically in tune. Just a few weeks ago, Troy was able to take him up to the capitol. He met a few representatives and actually sat on the floor of the legislature while they were in session. I really think we have a politician on our hands. How many 6th graders watch the presidential primaries by choice? He is a great kid and we know he will accomplish many things.

Cody is now eight years old and in second grade. He is a very energetic kid. He loves everything to do with big trucks or heavy machinery and loves to spend as much time at Tesco with his dad as possible. He is so loving and genuinely cares about everyone. Cody has decided to play hockey. This will be a learning experience for the whole family, as none of us know much about the game. He has become quite a good skater and will be taking classes on the rules and moves in the next couple of months. He will then be able to be in a league in the late fall. Cody loves to be outside and can't wait for the weather to change so he ride his bike and maybe even the little 4-wheeler in the empty house lots behind us. When he can't be outside he is usually drawing pictures of trucks, he is very creative.

Brooklyn is daddy's little princess. She dances about the house all day long. She is in ballet with 5 year olds and is doing quite well. This is great considering she just turned 4. She can't wait for her recital which her dad gets to be in with her. She is starting tee-ball this year and gets to play on the same team with her cousin Kennadi. She goes to preschool two days a week and is learning a lot. She is quite a little lady. She loves clothes, shoes and any accessories she can get her hands on. But on the other hand, she has no problem getting dirty with the boys.

Troy is busy as usual. With his businesses and teaching at Westminster College his schedule is full. Then comes the kids. Some how he always manages to make time or them. They know that he works so hard, just for them. They always come first. He has been traveling quite a bit lately and will continue too. He has a fishing trip planned to Alaska (work of coarse). I just wish he would go to Maui for work. He has really cut back on doing taxes, which makes this time of year much nicer. We actually get to see him.

I am busy taking care of the family. Running kids here and there. I have also started school. Things have been crazy with trying to settle in to the new house and getting the old one on the market. Troy and I are hoping to have a little get away for our 13th anniversary next month. Maybe our first long trip on his Harley. I am looking forward to spring so we can start working on our yard. If anyone knows what plants that deer won't eat, let me know.