Camping Trip Spring Break 2011

We went to Fall Creek Falls for Spring Break this year. We were planning on staying for 2 nights & three days. Instead, we stayed for one night & 2 days. We didn't bring enough food, equipment, or supplies. FAIL. This was our second time camping, so you would think we would have our routine somewhat set. Ah, think again, my friends. We went grocery shopping the night before we left & we did it hastily & distractedly. Way too much junk food & not enough healthy stuff. Bleh. We already have a master check-list made for next time, complete with griddle, stove top, dutch oven & steaks. We're so excited for all the yummy food we will make at our next camping trip! All that to say, we still had an awesome time. We hiked through the falls, had a wonderful family picnic, skipped rocks in the creek, walked over rickety bridges countless times (what an adventure that was for the boys!), told ghost stories around the campfire, roasted marshmallows, & all laid in our tent together talking about our day. The boys had such a great time, we were sad to leave! We would have loved to stay there another night. But not to worry, we're already planning our next trip. Soon, very soon.
Here are tons of pictures documenting our trip.






Nekked camper:


Happy Spring Break,

Gorilla Mystery Reader

Ben went to Lincoln's class yesterday as the Mystery Reader. He had the idea of wearing a huge gorilla costume, & then reading a couple books about gorillas. When he walked into the classroom, there were a few shrieks from a couple girls, but the rest of the class was amazed & so excited! When Ben said hello to the kids, Lincoln said, "Hey! My dad talks like that!" Then, when Ben was reading to the kids, Lincoln looked down at Ben's shoes & said, "Whoa! My dad has shoes just like that!" He still didn't put it together. Then when the big reveal happened, Lincoln screamed, "Daddy!"
Hilarious. Ben said that it was such a fun day, & that Lincoln will remember that for a long time. And when dinner time rolled around & we all did HIGH/LOW, Daddy the Gorilla was definitely Lincoln's high.
Here are some photos for your enjoyment:




until next time,

Happy Birthday Levi! 3 Years Old!

Hooray from the highest! My camera is finally fixed & I've gone a little crazy the past few days taking pictures of the family because I've been without it for so long. Thank goodness I got it fixed before Levi's birthday yesterday, and I was able to document his celebration & party. My in-laws are in town (yay!!!) & they have been such a huge help. I'll put it on record right now. I have the best in-laws in the universe. So yesterday Levi woke up to his first present, the Mobigo. My parents got it for him, & he loves it. Here are a few pictures of that. And PS, why was all that blue & underlined? Me no likey.

Here's Levi waking up Sherry, his MeMaw, on his birthday morning. He was sooo excited to tell her that he is now 3!


So proud of his new game:
And of course, Lincoln has to show him how to play it.
Levi & I:

And this is what happens when 2 brothers get together with a sled when there's no more snow on the ground. The sled comes indoors, & they pull each other around on it. And also down the flight of stairs. Awesome.
Here are some other random shots throughout the day of Levi opening up more presents & just having fun before his birthday party.
Happy boy.
Playing with MeMaw with all of his new Hot Wheels tracks:
Then that evening, we had his birthday party at McDonald's. It was awesome for so many different reasons, the first one being that each child was well-confined inside the building & things were done for us. All the parents loved just hanging out & visiting while the kids were chaotic & insane. Job well done!
Can't forget Lightnin' McQueen:
LOVED his birthday crown!
I just want y'all to look at this picture right quick. This sweet girl is Ainsley, & we are in her parents' community group at church. Lincoln & Ainsley are big buddies, & when I told them to turn around for a picture, Linc's arm went right around her shoulder. Then he came up to me & whispered, "Gentleman, right?" I nearly died. Then I cried. We have been working so much this past year on respecting girls, always putting them first, never harming a girl, always sticking up for them, always protecting them, & always giving them compliments on their hair, dresses, & shoes (this is a taught-thing, I am sure of it, & I would be doing all girls out there a grave disservice if I wasn't teaching my boys to do this). This quick moment in time when he put his arm around Ainsley was such a vivid picture I will forever hold in my mind as a moment of such innocence, & really wanting to be a gentleman to his sweet friend.
Here's Lincoln with his friends Palmer & Anderson. The sweet girl Palmer is Levi's "girlfriend"...ha! Love that.

Corralling the herd into eating.
When we got back from the party, we had Levi open up all his presents. Lincoln was so excited for him to open up the one he got for his little brother. He had told us last week that he wanted to give Levi a boom-box just like the one he has on his night stand that he listens to music to when he goes to bed each night. So he was overjoyed when we told him that we had gotten one for Levi, & that Lincoln got to give it to him for his special gift. Linc was standing right there when Levi opened it up, & the pride on his face when Levi saw it...ohmygoodness, it was priceless. (Sorry that Levi looks a little stoned here)

And here's Lincoln, telling Levi all about the boom-box.

Happy Birthday, sweet L-Train. You are my rough-and-tumble wrestler, my independent spirit, my laughter when I'm stressed, and my singer of the good-night songs. My heart is thankful that you are mine. Love you bub.

xoxo