Earth Day Project

This year, we decided to plant flowers for Earth Day. Each of our kids got to pick out their own pot and seeds.

Makenzie went crazy poking holes in her soil:P

Dannen had more fun holding the pot and saying CHEESE!

Kaylie was very careful to water her seeds:)

Hopefully, we can keep these flowers growing! Last time we attempted to grow something, the cat ate half of the leaves and I tipped the Christmas tree pots, breaking them all over the floor. FINGERS CROSSED! :)

Welcome Home Daddy

William traveled to Tennessee for a General Manager's Convention for Phoenix Adlabs... his movie theatre management employer. This was the first time he had been away from all four of us!
While in Tennessee, visiting headquarters, William met a lot of upper management and learned many things, mainly about upping the customer service experience. One of the best parts of going, was seeing his old General Manger from the AMC Theatres in Missouri. (It's the same place and manager we shared when I first met William!) Talk about a small world... the two of them are now both GM's for the same company! Catching up on the past 11 years and sharing thoughts made for a great trip.
The best thing our kids and I enjoyed, was using the Skype website to live chat with William. With only a few clicks, we were able to talk and see each other! The girls enjoyed dancing and singing, and of course showing Daddy their homework. Dannen kept waving "bye-bye" and blowing kisses:) His trip may have only been for three days, but having the chance to see and talk to one another really made it interesting.

To get the kids involved and understand that Daddy was coming back, we had project time. All three kids helped color letters that spelled "WELCOME HOME DADDY". It was really neat to watch them concentrate so hard and do it together, laughing and talking about how much they missed their Daddy.

Dannen did great at first, but then decided eating the crayons was more fun:P

Kaylie became camera shy and kept wanting to focus on staying in the lines

Makenzie had way too much fun showing off her letters

The final project...

So glad to have him home. The saying, "Absense makes the heart grow fonder" really stuck for this family:)

DANNEN...

Yes, Dannen is now in the "I can do it!" phase... It all started when he climbed up the dining room chair, and then onto the table. William and I were sitting together at the table, when Dannen made it known that he wanted to be apart of the conversation. Once on the table, he started to jump, like dancing. It was really funny, but at the same time, scary to think he could attempt it again when we're not around.

My little daredevil just kept going from there... He decided to hang out in the refrigerator when I turned to get breakfast started... Dannen figured out how to get behind the love seat (He loves watching the ducks in our lake)... and he also learned how to climb up the rocking chair. This Mommy is bracing for quite a few "AHHHH!" moments to come:P

Off to the Beach!

Finally... a day at the beach with Daddy:) William's been working his butt off, so with a free afternoon, we headed over to the beach. Dannen was still sleeping, so Grandma hung out, waiting to play with him.

Kaylie and Makenzie ran for the water! Talk about brave little girls... the water is still a bit chilly. They really enjoyed playing with William. I was thankful to have free time to do my Bible Study homework to the sound of my girls laughing:)

Kaylie walked up to me and gave me "the look"... I swear she was looking through me with her eyes!!!
Makenzie loves running... she could have gone for miles!
Of course, what's a beach visit without a sandcastle? All three did an awesome job helping each other. I think William had the most fun!

Barbie House

Our girls LOVE Barbies!!! I brought the Barbie house out into the living room for a change... you would have thought it was Christmas... They went nuts, grabbing all the Barbies, furniture, clothes, car, carriages, etc. Just like big sisters should, they invited Dannen to play along. He gets a kick out of their voice changes and making them move all around. And yes, my son does play with Barbies... monkey see, monkey do. Kaylie and Makenzie try their hardest to make sure he gets either Ken or Bob.

Dannen playing Peek-A-Boo

Makenzie posing for Mommy

Kaylie crawled through the doorway

I love this one... all three kids playing together:)

Park Playtime

We love going to our local park. It's either a 2 minute van ride, or 15 minute walk! I took the kids out to enjoy our beautiful weather...
"Hey girls, wait for me!"
Tons of pine cones everywhere!!!
Playing "Princess and the Pauper"... Makenzie is the princess:)
Dannen helping make a pile
Kaylie... just relaxing:)
Kaylie and Makenzie found a stash of bird feathers
Growing up so fast!
Let's go for a walk...
Kaylie building a "memorial to Marley" (from Marley & Me)
Dannen loved the freedom of walking everywhere!
"Ummmm, Mom, I ran out of juice!" :P
Best part of my time at the park.... My kids can cause grey hairs to grow, but when they play so nicely and enjoy one another, it definitely makes me thankful to be a mom:)

Hair Cut #4!!!

I swear my son grows hair faster than the other four of us combined!!! I cut his hair for the fourth time the other day... He knew what was coming, so with a few wiggles and whines, then lollipop to calm him while I buzzed, he was looking all clean cut...
The next morning, while making a quick trip to the grocery store, the bagger said, "Hey Army dude, you look awesome!". I burst out laughing, then said, "Oh no, you mean Air Force!":)

Beach Trip

For the first time this year, I took all three kids to the beach. Not to go swimming, but to hang out at the playground, have some lunch, and "test" the sand...
Girls sporting the same toothless smile:P
Dannen braving the playground for the first time!Ahhhhh... sisterly LOVE
Yup, that's my bunch of love there!!!
Watching the dolphins swimming by...
Dannen wasn't too sure about feeling the water!
Much better... hanging out on the sand.
They sure are growing up way too fast...
Dannen LOVED playing in the sand!

Can't wait to take a trip back to actually wear bathing suits and go in the water! That's definitely a "Daddy must go" trip:)

Church Surprise

A few weeks ago, the K-6 children's ministry sang one of the opening worship songs at church. What a great surprise!!! Kaylie was so excited...
She's so little, especially way up there in front of everyone! What an awesome way to begin our packed Sundays!

Since our church is held in William's movie theatre, he goes early with Kaylie to set everything up. As the coordinator, he has to make sure the different theatres are ready for the church-goers. I usually get there with Makenzie and Dannen just in time for our morning prayer (the church team members pray before everyone shows up). Kaylie goes to the K-6 theatre, Makenzie the Preschool, and Dannen the nursery. I volunteer in the children's ministry 1-2 times a month:) After church, we usually hang out as a family together, eating lunch and enjoying time without distractions. In the evening, we drop the kids off for fun and dinner, while we attend our Life Group at our Pastor's house. At the Life Group, we go into more discussion about the morning's message... AWESOME!!! I absolutely love Sundays:)

William and I are also busy Wednesday nights with church events... he helps with another member (singer and musician in the band- wonderful artist!) in the youth group. I enjoy the Beth Moore Women's Bible Study, lead by our pastor's wife/co-pastor. Wednesday's are my second favorite days:P

Bath Time

~*~Dannen Michael~*~
13 & 1/2 months