Civil War Re-enactment at Fort Steilacoom park

Tom's family is from Lakewood and every year they re-enact a battle from the Civil War. I remember going to see this the first time I went up to meet Tom's family. It's pretty amazing. The people involved in the re-enactment sleep in tents there, cook over fires and wear the appropriate clothing. The battle scene was pretty awesome and very LOUD!
After seeing the battle, we went around to all the different tents and watched them cooking dinner. A nice gentleman showed Granddad, Ben, Rebekah and Tom one of his guns. Ben thought that was pretty cool!

Ben's first field-trip to the Zoo

Ben had two field-trips to the zoo this year. This was the first one. I was able to go with just him (thanks to Aunt Kimmy for watching Emery!) and it was so much fun! Here he is with his friend Ryan who just happens to live in our neighborhood. Here they are running around like boys do...
Benjamin's favorite spot and pose...Spiderman fingers on the web at the zoo!
We got to see one of the zoo employees in with the spotted leopards. Benjamin was very impressed. He said he wanted to do that someday!

Just a little bit of catching up...Spring Break

Our family decided to go to the Great Wolf's Lodge for Spring Break. It is a very large hotel with an indoor water park. We didn't get any pictures while swimming but we did get some in our room. The kids really liked having their own separate "log cabinesque" room.

With their own TV nonetheless....

Ben got to sleep on the top bunk for the first time in his life. Luckily, he stayed put all night long....

Happy Easter!!

We had a great Easter this year...this is the kids finding their baskets!

Ben picked out a monster egg coloring kit this year...the kids had a blast and are still playing with the eggs!! (Obviously, these are uneatable now!!)

I said that the one with the high orange hair looked like Marge Simpson. Esther asked me who Marge Simpson is. (We don't have TV!)

This is my first live plant that I have ever brought home. It is an "easy-care" plant so let's pray that it's really easy to take care of....but I thought it was really pretty!

The kids colored eggs yesterday and it went smoother than it has ever gone before!!

We also had Easter dinner at Tom's sisters house and had an Easter egg hunt and dessert at our house afterward! Ben was the egg-hunting king!! He actually found three more after the hunt was over. Here he is lining them up....

Emery found eggs, too!! She loved the chocolate!!

Some of the eggs were really high...gotta' be grateful for that height, Esther!!

Here's Rebekah looking cute as always!
We also did an Easter egg hunt at the church...it happened so quickly that I only got pictures of Emery!! She thought it was funny to find candy on the ground...in plastic eggs, nonetheless!!
Here's the family in our Easter attire...I decided to try to do the matching thing!! It was fun...and I think we'll try to take family pictures in them so it'll be worth all the time and headache.

Jump-rope Club

The girls participated in jump rope club these last few months. They enjoyed it so much...Rebekah is always doing it at home now. I'm very grateful for such wonderful activities our school does.

Trip to Utah

Emery and I recently made a trip to Utah to visit with family. Emery has a cousin who is only four weeks older than she is. They had not seen each other since they were young babies. They had a lot of fun. The P.J.'s are "Where the Wild Things Are..." and Emery was taking it literally.

Two very cute "..wild things..."

My mom and sister bought Emery a tutu with leggings and a ballerina shirt complete with a denim jacket with sparkles. Emery actually enjoyed dressing up.

Looking at the huge dinosaur exhibit in the front of the Dinosaur Museum. This Museum has given my kids such great experiences...making dinosaurs a favorite toy in our house from the very beginning.
Emery and her cousin playing with the sand...

Let's go back..go back..go back..and catch up with the Fellers!!

So...for New Year's, we went to Ocean Shores. There was one day where we were able to go and play on the beach...with coats, and hats, and gloves...it was FREEZING but FUN!!Flying kites with Grandad!!
Rebekah does the whole wind-blowing-in-the-hair thing quite well.....
Emery did NOT want a kiss.....
We did sparklers on New Years Eve...always a BIG hit!!

Making sand-castles!!

Time for a little squeeeeeze....

Emery got a little splattered with mud...did NOT phase her one bit!!

There is no fear in those eyes...which scares me a little...only--I WANT TO TOUCH THAT BRIGHT SHINY LIGHT!!
We also went sledding at Paradise one Saturday in January. The older kids had a blast but Emery was not so sure of the cold, white stuff!!
Until...Daddy let her borrow his gloves!! YEAH!!
Esther and Rebekah....
Mommy and Benjamin....