Spring Game

We are never quite sure how the first "game" of the season will turn out but like usual Spring Game was awesome. It really is the best of the season for many reasons including less of a crowd, shorter lines and strollers in the stands!! TJ and Andi absolutely loved last year even though it was raining and this year all 3 of the kiddos loved it which made us SO glad that we went!!

This year was even better (crazier) because we got to bring Gina and Kale down too!

my little Coop ready for his first game!

the kids ready to go!

The Belts with Truman

Andi waited all morning for this- face painting!

not sitting so still...poor TJ is so ticklish!

poor Coop might be even more ticklish- there was no chance with Cooper!

opting for whiskers instead of a paw print :)

let me here those tigers roar!

Sisters and our kids :)

My Tiger Princess

me and Andi

mommy and Cooper

Daddy and Coop

Now we are having trouble trying to explain to our kiddos that the next game won't be till fall...until then M-I-Z!!

Awesome April Day

Even though not everything went perfectly today it was a pretty good day! It started out late last night when all of my husband's trapping and game cam experience finally paid off. We caught the skunk that had dug a hole underneath our sidewalk and shortly after that it was over...well all for the smell that of course lingered through out the day. But the good news is that it is over with!

This afternoon we were outside most of the day soaking up the sun.

Cooper does not like being contained and can only stand the wagon for so long. Being on the ground does not bother him, he loves to eat rocks and grass but crawling is a different story so he has adapted his crawling style into this...

another shot of my "bear crawler"

Everyone enjoying the sand and water table.

Cooper trying to figure out what that sand stuff really is...Of course after this picture he ate a handful so he was done for the day. :)

Shaniqua came out later tonight...TJ was so proud of himself for finding Andi's clothes and dressing up in them. He kept saying "me like Andi" over and over. Ohh TJ what are we going to do with you? lol

This picture was taken a few days ago but I still wanted to add it in. This is our first time seeing turkeys this year and it was from our deck. How awesome is that?!

another photo from early but I thought that they were too funny not to share. This is Andi being a "monster" Not really scary but it made us all laugh! What a goofball :)

and another shot...she kept saying "I am a monster!"

Day after Easter...

The day after Easter was like usual a day of scarfing down chocolate and playing with an Easter gifts. The favorite toy of the day was the tiny tea set that came with Andi's Easter basket she won at the Leonard Egg Hunt.

having a tea party of their own

TJ enjoying some tea

even TJ's alligator enjoyed some tea!

Also I decided to log back on to facebook. Of course as soon as I sat down with my computer I hear Andi telling me about Cooper.....maybe it was a sign? nah.. :)

Cooper caught in the act!

what mom? I dont have anything in my mouth!

Before I could pick Coop up out popped a little chocolate egg. When I was carrying him to the kitchen sink out popped another egg and when I was washing him up out popped another egg. Just for good measure I felt in his mouth and found a 4th tiny egg!

Easter Sunday

Easter morning was an exciting one as Andi and TJ found their baskets full from the Easter Bunny. Andi was the first one awake (besides her mamma who was waiting for her to wake up) and TJ and Cooper were quick to follow.

All 3 of the kids were excited to see their very own gardening tools and packages of flower seeds...sure to come in handy this spring as we are needing to do some landscaping!

Andi with her basket full.

TJ (so sweet looking) with his basket

Cooper excited to get in his basket too!

Andi and TJ were also surprised with 2 new Easter/spring dvds.

and Cooper got a neat new book from mom and dad too!

After exploring the baskets we headed out side for our very own egg hunt. This being their 3rd hunt in less than 24hrs they were really starting to get the hang of it and enjoy it!

before the hunt!

Andi found Ricco's egg

(Ricco is our new "pet" bird. He is stationed on our deck all day long and who, to put it nicely, needs to work on his singing!

TJ showing off his eggs as well.

Easter Sunday (Part 2)

After egg hunting we headed to mass where we were able to snap our only 2 family pictures of the day. Again, it is getting harder and harder to capture a "good" photo but like I said- at least its documented!

After mass we headed to Middletown. I think that that was the last time that TJ was in his outfit because as soon as we got to Middletown he wanted to go see the sheep with Papa Tom!

posing with Cooper

The Eckler kids- all grown up!

Well almost Kyle graduates this May :)

Gina and Kale hunting eggs (conveniently located so not a lot of bending over!)

Papa Tom helping TJ hunt eggs.

What a princess- a cute Easter dress and boots to match! Not really but they did come in handy since it was a little soggy still!

Andi pulling Kale and Coop around in the wagon.

Still hanging out...the boys did a great job of being content in the wagon!

After hunting eggs TJ decided to try to mow...luckily he did not get this one started!

Later that afternoon we headed to my Grandpa Tainter and Granny Dots house where we were treated to yet another delicious meal and egg hunt (of course)!

Andi still excited about hunting eggs and still in her dress! She was in it until we got ready to leave.

TJ finding another egg on the front step.

They both spotted this egg at the same time and had a race to get there...luckily no fights!

Counting their eggs.

Cooper giving Travis a nice Easter kiss! :)

Cooper excited to get an Easter bunny of his own.

Around 7pm that night we were ready to leave so we got the kids in their jammies and headed for home. We had just got the movie started when we turned on the radio and heard storm warnings and then came to a road block in Gazette...We had a family pow wow in the middle of the road and decided that since there had been tornado's spotted between us and our destinations we had better head back to Grandma's house.

During our 2 plus hour stay they kids were very well behaved especially considering it was bed time and we had loaded up and tried to go home two different times! We kept ourselves busy by playing some ping-pong in the basement. A fun but um interesting time had by all! (Only the Pollard family was able to escape the storm since they were headed in a different direction)

Andi playing ping-pong.

Something tells me we will be back downstairs next time we are there. :)

Travis playing too...I felt bad that he had to drive home late that night so I let him win at the end of our game.

Oh and I forgot to mention the lovely hail storm that we got to hear and experience! Luckily it didn't last too long but the balls were about the size of the ping-pong balls that we were playing with. We were also unfortunate enough to come home with those dents in our vehicles too! An Easter night to remember for sure! Thanks to grandma and grandpa who let us crash at their house until late that night!

Some of the hail that had been brought in (and thrown on the floor)

I tried to get the kids to hold it but as soon as they got them in their hands they threw them on the floor- I guess they thought that they would bounce?!