Building a dreamland

When my parents moved here, they took one look at their new back yard and began imagining how fun of a play land they would be able to set up for all the kids! It started with a trampoline and as of a couple of weeks ago my dad has finished putting together a amazing play-set! We went about a month  ago and bought one from Sams with the intention of having them set it up! They wanted $500 bucks for assembly and my mom and I simply refused! My dad ( with help from Gavin) has managed to put the entire play set together in just 5 days( it poured rain one of the days so technically 4 days). All that is left to buy is the sandbox Gavin so desperately wants and the backyard will be complete. I see a lot of trips to Grammy's backyard on Daddy's days on! Here are some pictures of my dad's hard work! I have been so sick lately that  I haven't been over to my parent's house to get pictures of the kids enjoying the new play set!

 My dad building the frame

 Putting the climbing wall together

 Looking good!

 Taking a little rest

The kids sliding down the slide

All done! It has 2 swings, a rocky thing that terrify s me, slide, climbing wall, ladder up to the clubhouse area and a little house-restaurant area with a bench...some much fun to be had

First Trip to the Park

Last week, before this terrible cold hit, my parents along with Gavin came over to help me take the kids to the park. It was Benjamins first official trip in which he did more then sleep! He went in the swing, down the slide and had so much fun! One of the best things about our house is that its a stones throw away from the park, I can't tell you how many times we just hop over there for 5 or ten min just to run off energy! I look forward to 100 more trips to the park before the weather gets too cold!

So happy! He loved the swing, just like his big sissy!

This was Elias' first trip to the park...as you can see he was less then thrilled!

 Annie wanted to swing with Benjamin

 My mom helping Benjamin down the slide for the first time

Thanks grammy...that was fun!

Down and Out

I am coming to realize that I do get sick quite often! My parents moved here on April 1st and they pretty much pulled into town and to my rescue. I caught some nasty stomach bug and ended up in the ER...2 times in 3 days! They let me rest, watched my kids, cooked, cleaned etc. Basically just saved me from pure misery. Well here it is the end of may and I am sick again! This time with a really high fever( which I haven't had since having mastitis back in October of 2009) and a wicked awful cough to go with it. Once again my parents swooped in to the rescue! In a 40 hour period I spent 33 hours of it sleeping that is how sick I was! It was miserable but thank goodness my mom, dad, skyla and gavin were around to entertain the kids.I should mention that every time I get sick it seems to be on Brandon's days on and everyone I know is out of town...I really need to start timing my illnesses better!

Anyways, today when my mom came to kidnap my kids so I could rest, Elias looked at me and told me to stay home and sleep that they were going to Grammy's house and would be good! I have a hard time accepting help but knowing my kids were having so much fun made it a lot easier. I haven't said "thank you" or"I appreciate you" nearly as much as I should have these last 3 days so here it is: to my wonderful mom, dad, niece, nephew and husband. THANK YOU for letting me sleep!!! I very much APPRECIATE IT!

Brandon was either working of sleeping during most of the last few days but he did manage to find some time to take the kids out in the front yard on a may day when the temperature reached 92 degrees!! He set up the sprinkler and with the kids NOT in swimsuits, let them run...I was too sick to care and they seemed to have a blast!

 Annie checking out the sprinkler

 YESSS I love you!

 Pure delight

 Elias was not so sure at this point....

 Annie had no doubts!

 My cautious boy

 Having so much fun

 OK Here I go!

 My crazy girl

 All smiles

 Time for some love!

 Now Elias was really liking the water!

 Such a big boy ! I can't believe this is my "baby" tear... anyways back to the water fun

 Why yes Annie, I do think the stroller needs a bath

So fun

Getting all dried off! Thanks daddy that was fun!

Happy Anniversary to you!

May 17th marked my parents 32nd wedding anniversary! They celebrated by taking Brandon and I out for dinner at the very delicious toasted frog!(Thank you Grandma Mim for watching the Eberhardt kids so we could enjoy a nice adult meal!) We tried the fried cheesy pickles and I have to say they were a hit with everyone but my mom. After dinner my parents went to see the avengers and came home to a empty house since everyone was partying at my house for the night.  I can only hope that 26 years from now Brandon and I are as happy in our marriage as my parents are! Thank you for being such wonderful role models!

 May 17th 1980

 Cutting the cake!

 Look how skinny they both are! And this is 2 months after my mom and a baby..lookin good!

 30th anniversary vow renewal

 Listening to their pastor during the ceremony

32 years!!!

Happy Mother's Day

Mothers day this year fell on Brandon and I's anniversary. Brandon worked the night before so he slept until 3 that day(which is waking up early for him), so I could spend part of my mothers day with my mom! I rode my bike a whopping 1.4 miles to their house and we went and planted a garden! After some motherly bonding I got home in time for a quick shower then back to mom's house for her amazing spaghetti!!! I stuffed myself so full I literally couldn't move after. The best part about the entire day was I got to eat my meal in peace! The men handled the babies while us women folk enjoyed our meals without refilling anyone's milk or cleaning up the dishes. Five years ago I would have been pretty bummed that my anniversary and mothers day were 1. a combined holiday and 2. uneventful. I have learned ( from being police officers wife) to just enjoy the day with my family even if its only for a few hours. 

 Happy mothers day to the bestest mother a girl could ask for!!

 Uncle Jordan hanging out with the kids outside so we could relax inside

 3 generations of girls

 papa and his benny mary

 Happy Anniversary 6th to us!( Not sure why I look so uncomfortable... but whatever)

After the mothers day festivities were done: Kellie helping Skyla with her Biology homework...Skyla likes Kellie's help better then papa's and who are we kidding Kellie loved it!

Growing a Garden

I have never been big into eating a lot of fresh veggies but since I am on this Organic kick I was thrilled to pieces when my mom told me she was going to plant a garden. She rented a community plot from the city and we went on Mothers Day to but the seeds/plants in the ground. Its in a wonderful location and just a quick bike ride from their house. Gavin came along to help, he has been helping my mom garden for a few years now. We got the whole garden planted in about 2 hours, it was a lot of fun! We planted several tomato plants, butternut squash, zucchini, cucumbers, carrots, onions, pumpkin, and beans. We plan to plant other veggies as the weather gets warmer, then cooler in the fall. I am so excited to be able to make Benjamin baby food out of our garden fresh veggies! My mom said that when the plants are ready for picking, that we will take Annie and Elias along to help which I know they will both just love! Here are some pictures from our Garden adventure.

 Gavin standing in front of our bare plot

 Grammy and Gavin planting the tomatoes

 All done!

 Grammy and Gavin admiring their work

My mom teaching me how to garden...pretty fun if I do say so myself!

Silly Kids V

My kids just keep coming up with funny things to say! Here is the latest and greatest

*Brandon and I were in the front of the van having a conversation about something and Annie just starts yelling from the back seat "WATCHA TALKING ABOUT, I don't understand what you are talking about. Whatch talking about I don't understand your speech. Watcha talking about daddy!!!!" 

We just looked at each other and died laughing.

*Elias was taking a unusually long nap one particular afternoon. Annie had woken up and was playing with some plastic bracelets( which Elias calls Jingle bells) and they can be a tish loud I suppose. Elias came down the stairs and with a great big sigh said "Annie is so loud, she plays with her jingle bells and I was trying to sleep!!Annie needs to be quiet so Elias can sleep , OK Annie?? No more jingle bells!"Then he walked back upstairs, shut his bedroom door and didn't come back out for about a hour.

* I was getting ready to go for a run outside when Elias gave me a good laugh! 

Elias "Where are you going?"

Mommy "I am going for a run"

Elias" Are you going to run errands?"

Mommy "No I am going running to get in shape"

Elias " OH!! Are you going to get a triangle?"

We often have water cups all over the house and Annie grabbed one dumped all the water out of it, looked at me and screamed" What's the big idea!"

This pretty much sums up my Annie!

Day with Friends

This last week I had the pleasure of watching Mr. Logan and Carter for a couple of days. We had a total of 5 kids roaming around this house and it was pretty dang fun( although I do have a new found respect for moms of multiples!!) Annie and Logan are the same age and so are Carter and Benjamin so it was kinda like taking care of 2 sets of twins and then Elias. The kids kept me busy but I had lots of help in Brandon and my mom. We spent the days playing and even did a couple of projects like baked doughnuts and went outside a few times. Benjamin liked trying to eat   playing with Carter on the floor and Annie loved having Logan around to flirt with. Elias was a pretty big fan of being the big helper and did a great job at it! It was chaos at points but overall a fun couple of days!

Benjamin and Carter hanging out on the floor

Grandma Judi helping make doughnuts...which the kids LOVED

Brandon having a little story time with Annie and Logan

Logan and Annie playing in the morning

How cute is this! Everyone was playing with toy story toys, they were playing together acting out some plot that they all appeared to be in on... then you have Benjamin just rolling all over the place( Carter was napping)

Coloring time!! Please note Annie is the police officer uniform...

Brandon and the 3 older kids went across the field and played soccer..Oh ya Cassidy, I forgot to  tell you Logan is a soccer stud! Remind me to show you the video!

Time for a little walk to the park..saftey first, find your buddy's hand

Annie was in absolute heaven holding Logan's hand!!