Because the girls just love our neighbors flowers and they are always in them and picking them, I decided to play with the camera a little and get some cute shots of the girls. Of course I took a lot of pictures and here are some that were kinda cute.
Samuel cracked us all up when he appeared around the corner wearing a helmet on his tricycle. I guess he just wants to be like his big brother.
Mancala is now the kids favorite game. Daniel is all about winning and the girls just like to make up new rules as they go along. They have played it so much since they got it for Easter. 
Every Thursday morning we change the sheets on all the beds. I have until 9:00am to get them all washed and then dried. So the kids usually wake up around 6:00am and then I am starting the wash. They are extremely helpful with taking off their sheets... but putting them back on takes much effort.
You can see that it takes a lot of coaxing to get some help! Sometimes it works but mostly it is complaining the entire time.
So when I came downstairs... this is what I walked in on. Some crazy kids jumping all around the room, on beds, and the barbie house... giggling the entire time. I have to admit that I was a little mad at them but just thought to myself that I need to seize the moment, laugh with them, and get it all on camera for all to see. The sheets can wait but memories cannot.
eAsTeR mOrNiNg... Look at all the great things that the EaStEr BuNnY brought!! Swimming Towels, jump rope for Kaylea, dominoes and mancala for Daniel, chalk eggs and bubbles for Claudia... along with lots of candy and treats from the neighbors. Our kids are the only kids on the street and we are blessed to have such wonderful sweet neighbors. They seem not to mind all the noise and screaming that goes on around our house. Our neighbors Tom and Barb, who are major animal and plant lovers... can hear Claudia morning, noon, and night since they are outside almost all day long. They call her laugh, cry, and scream the "Claudia Call." So, on Saturday they both heard "the call," knew we were home, and came over with a hand full of treats for the kids. They also gave us a children's book written by their friend about the condors at the Grand Canyon and had the author sign it for the kids. Sooo thoughtful!! This morning we wake up to five different baskets on the front porch filled with wonderful goodies and then last week Ms. Carol brought over a fantastic play dough set with cut outs and everything. Ms Julie and Ms Kari sent over some great toys that they thought the kids would love to have in their baskets. Our kids are spoiled! The kids made Easter Chocolates for the neighbors along with an Easter card and they took them around to hand them out!
On Thursday, some moms and I got together and had an EaStEr EgG hunt at the park with the kids. There was a great turn out and everyone had a blast especially Samuel who discovered chocolate in an egg he found on the ground. Needless to say that it was 85 degrees and of course the chocolate was melted but delicious from what Samuel was able to shove into his mouth... paper and all. AND that wasn't his only chocolate candy bunny. Somehow he managed to find another one and he got more of that one on his clothes instead of his mouth. But most of the time Samuel just sat on the park table eating the ice that I had packed in the cooler for the drinks.
One morning I hung up the blankets on the clothesline outside to dry. Well, Samuel had discovered them and started crying and pulling his blanket down at the same time. He was not at all happy. It made me laugh because my mom has a picture of me doing the same thing but I was a little older. Apparently I couldn't go to sleep without my thumb and blanket... and now I have passed that on to Claudia and Samuel. Sorry kidos!
Here is the sweet little boy I know soo well... happy now that he has his comfort!
2c cooked and chopped chicken
1 pkg cream cheese, softened
1T chopped chives
2T milk
1/2 c crushed crouton crumbs
2pkgs. crescent rolls
salt to taste
1/4 cup melted margarine
Mix chicken, cream cheese, chives, milk and salt in a medium bowl to make
filling. Unroll crescent rolls and pull apart. Place about a spoon
full of chicken mixture into center of of crescent and then fold dough over
filling and pinch edges to seal tightly. Dip each packet in melted
margarine and roll in crouton crumbs. Place packets on a baking
sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden
brown. You may need to flip for another 2 min. Packets are good
either hot or cold.We ate them with delicious strawberries. There were seconds from every little person. So... we have made them every third night for the past two
weeks! We hope you enjoy them too.The first night that we made them, Scott had called to tell us that he was on his way home and asked what was for supper. Well Kaylea had answered the phone and told him that "we had eaten the most beautiful dinner ever!" Scott laughed the rest of the way home and couldn't wait to see what was waiting for him.
Daniel is always building something... his imagination is going constantly and who knows what he is thinking next. The other day, Daniel came running in the house and was yelling for me to see a surprise that he had made. I always hold my breath when I hear the word surprise and just hope for the best. Well, I was amazed at what he came up with... an obstacle course. He set up all of the things that he found around the yard and put them in a course for a golf ball to go through. 
First when the ball was rolled it tipped over the Frisbee to knock over each milk jug in one row. The last milk jug in the first row had a golf ball on top and after it was knocked over the ball rolled to hit the boat which started the second set of milk jugs to fall down. Again the last milk jug had a golf ball on top and when it was knocked over it rolled through garden labels and last into the blue bucket.
I just loved it and loved him for inventing such a great game! But... Well... it did work okay, but Daniel had to help it along a little. Great idea, just needs a little tweaking. Back to the drawing boards Daniel! Maybe next time it will work for ya!
Daniel: (sounding out the word marching) mm aaa rrr ,mmm rrrr ccc, mm rrr chchchKaylea: (loud) marchingDaniel: Kaylea stop!Kaylea: (smiling, feeling great that she said it before him)Daniel: Do NOT do that again or you will not be able to listen to me read again.Kaylea: okay Daniel. (feeling a little sad) I won't do it again.Daniel: (sounding out the next word along) aaa lllllll ooooaaa lllll oooo ggggKaylea: alongDaniel: I said stop! (very angry) Mom, that is not fair that Kaylea said the word again before me! I don't want her to listen to me reading.Me: Well, Daniel, I guess you need to sound the word out a little faster next time.Daniel: (determined to not be interrupted)Kaylea this is your last warning, do not talk or you are leaving.Kaylea: (really sad now but agreeable) okay!
Claudia loves to play dress up... you never know who she will be dressed like from one minute to the next. Everyday when we pick up Daniel from the bus stop she is dressed as a different princess. I'm really not sure what Daniels bus driver thinks... So on the way home last week she decided to stop and pick flowers out of our neighbors yard. I have many wild flowers in vases all over the house and don't need any more... BUT who can resist a princess with flowers?
