our spring break so far

Well, we are halfway through our spring break. We didn't plan anything big for this week, but Matthew did decide at the last minute to take a couple of days off. Since I work on Mondays and Fridays, he took off yesterday and today. Yesterday morning, we went fishing. He and the kids have been waiting for it to get warm enough to go. I didn't do much fishing, but did take quite a bit of pictures. No fish, but we all had fun anyway.


Matthew wasn't very into taking pictures. :) He was concentrating on his fishing!

After we left the lake, we went to a park where Matthew continued fishing and Ally and I took some fun pictures.

Today we planned to get out and take some family pictures. That didn't happen. Instead, we slept in, then made omelets for brunch and ended up renting a movie and just spent time as a family. It's been beautiful the past couple of days, so just being off from school and work, and enjoying the weather together has been great!

Noah found a ladybug and made it his pet. He named it "Marley". He really loved Marley. He panicked when he thought he had lost "her" (Ally says that she thinks it is a male because of it's color). Anyway, they both searched for Marley for several minutes before Ally Grace found her on Noah's shirt. Whew!!! Noah was very happy....but not for long. We found Marley on the kitchen floor and Noah confessed that he had "mooshed" her. Bye bye, Marley. I'm sure it won't take him long to find another pet. :)

Ally opened her own store. "Stan (stain) And Fix". Her bedroom door is covered in homemade signs. Matthew and I both attended her grand opening and received several discounts, freebies and a $100 coupon for our next visit. :) That's a lot of stains!! I mean "stans"! She loves playing store and office.

(if you click on the photos above, you might be able to read her signs)

enjoying the weather

This week has been beautiful!! The kids loved playing outside in the warmer weather! I can't wait for it to stay that way!

Ally starts posing whenever I pull out the camera! She is growing up way too fast!!! She is such a sweet and special little girl!

Noah and I spent all afternoon outside yesterday. We played baseball, played with sidewalk chalk and he got several wagon rides.

An exciting week!

This past Sunday, Matthew and Ally were baptized! Matthew realized a little over a year ago that he was not really saved and got it settled after a Sunday morning service. Ally was saved this past summer at vacation bible school. It was extra special for them to be baptized on the same day.

Also this week, Noah memorized his very first bible verse. This is his first year in AWANA and he is a little Puggle this year. He came home with his papers on Wednesday night and I noticed the verse on it. I asked him if he learned a verse and he said yes. When I asked him what it was, he said "God is Love". Then he said Jon & Kate Plus Eight (a show he and Ally both love). I wasn't sure at first what that had to do with his verse, until I realized that on his paper, right below the verse, it said I John 4:8. It's funny how little ones hear things! :)

Fireproof your marriage

Wow! Matthew and I watched the movie Fireproof last night and LOVED it! Like most marriages, we have had our ups and downs. This movie, along with the "love dare" that is mentioned in the movie, are wonderful for any married couple, from newlyweds to those who have been together forever! We started a "Fireproof" class at our church on Wednesday nights and last night, we watched the first half of the movie. Matthew and I couldn't wait until next week to see the rest, so we stopped on our way home and rented the movie. If you haven't seen it, you need to!! We also started the 40 day "The Love Dare" journal a few days ago (not realizing at the time, that this was in the movie) and I also highly recommend it! Learn to lead your heart, not follow it.

Noah's turn

The next night, Noah helped me make a few goodies (Ally Grace was asleep again.) I think the chocolate covered oreos were his favorite to make. His part was to drop the oreo into the chocolate for me. I allowed him to make one on his very own. He did a pretty good job with it! He actually dipped it, covered it, put it on the wax paper and sprinkled it with oreo crumbs all on his own. I was going to at least supervise it, but when I came back with the camera, he had already gotten started.

Ally's school party

Ally and I made sugar cookies for her class Christmas party. She fell asleep while they were baking. :)

Ally and her teacher, Mrs. Powell. Ally LOVES her teacher!

This is Ally Grace's seat.

Merry Christmas to you all!

Merry Christmas, everyone!