A Little Spring in Our Step

At last, spring is here! Not that it hasn't felt like spring, or even more like summer for the last two months nearly. We are loving the warmer temperatures and longer days. It brings us outside more often and to the lakeon most weekends. Our spring has been filled so far with birthdays and sports.

Dutch has started playing both t-ball and soccer every week. He seems to really like t-ball and I think he will warm up to soccer. DJ is coaching his soccer team, which I happen to think is great! These kids are so cute out there playing, running around like little ants with no clue where to go and then it clicks and they are great little players!

We spent our spring break this year at the lake with the Lucas'. Unfortunately, the few days this spring that were a little on the chilly side occurred this particular week, but that didn't stop us from boating, wading and fishing. The boys had a lot of fun fishing with the dads, while the girls ventured off to the great town of Seneca for some shopping at the local Wal Mart. You read that right.

We wrapped up our spring break with Easter that was filled with church, family, egg hunts and good food. Now, it's back to the grind to finish out the kids' school year and get ready for a few fun vacations this summer. Today, however, we are off to watch DJ and some friends participate in the Mud Run. Pictures of the run to come soon!

One of our many nights of cooking out

The Iron Birds!

1st Hit

Always a lady in her tutu, even while fishing (below)

A day of fishing over spring break

Happy Easter!

Sweet Lane is TWO!

Today, our sweet girl is two! Lane has had three days of birthday fun - starting with a party at school on Friday, a party with family yesterday and today we will celebrate with friends. She has loved every minute - especially the sweets and presents!

We love our little woman so much! She has brought many smiles and laughs into our house and we couldn't ask for more.

Happy Birthday Lane!!!

Skiing with Friends

So, I have once again been missing in action when it comes to blogging! I can't promise anything, but I will try to do better.

In January, we went to North Carolina with friends to do a little skiing. All of us decided to take our oldest (and by oldest, I mean our three year olds) kid with us so that they could experience it as well. We had such a fun time sledding and skiing. I think all the kids really enjoyed it. As for the adults, it was kind of nice just taking it back to the days where you only have one child to care for - and with them being a little older and a little more self sufficient, we were able to have a little adult fun too ;)

DJ and Dutch all ready to ski

The smallest trio - Bradley Lucas, Katy Cox and Dutch

Dutch practicing skiing before tackling the slopes

DJ and Dutch on their way up to the first slope

Brad Lucas and son, Bradley with DJ and Dutch

Let's go back...

So, I am just now realizing I have not updated in quite some time, so let's go back a little and do some catching up!

Every weekend, we watched the Gamecocks try to pull out a win - some times successful, some not. Here are the kids, cheering their team on.

If DJ and Dutch weren't home on the weekends, they were out hunting. Dutch has enjoyed going with him. Even if it's just going to the woods, he loves it! He comes home to tell me all about what he saw, how he sat in a tree and was really still and really quiet.

We visited the pumpkin patch with my sister and nephews. The kids had a ball and we brought home a few pumpkins too.

We dressed up for Halloween. DJ and I went to my sister's party dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head. Yes. Really. Dutch went with me to the costume store and picked out our costumes for us. Dutch and Lane went trick or treating this year and went as Buzz Lightyear and a cat.

Well, that at least gets us to Thanksgiving, which we spent in Florida with DJ's family. It deserves a post of its own because there are too many pictures to post!

Manners, Shoes and Such

Some funny things happening in our house lately:

-Lane throws about 2-3 temper tantrums a day - and by that I mean screaming/crying, throwing herself on the floor or sofa, running in another room to pout and cry kind of temper tantrum! And to top it off, it's usually over wanting a particular color juice cup that she didn't get, or not enough juice in the cup or the latest, not enough ice cream in her bowl. It's no surprise the little lady loves food, so it's no surprise that this is what the fits are over!

- Many of you may know that Dutch actually has REALLY good manners - better than most other kids and adults I know! He's always saying please, thank you, you're welcome, etc. The most recent is 'yes sir' and 'yes ma'am'. He still gets a little confused as to when to say them to whom, but he's saying them nonetheless. He also believes we should say 'yes sir' to him all the time, so be sure when you come over to direct that him as well or he may call you out on it. Also, if you're looking for reinforcement, he throws out "great job" about 20x a day!

-Both kids are talking and talking and talking! ALL DAY! I love it, especially since Dutch can be very quiet most of the time and Lane's vocabulary is growing so much! Dutch really likes to talk in the car and laying in bed at night. He'll call you out if you are "hmm"ing him along with his story. He knows/interprets that to mean that you are not really listening to his story and are not talking to him. Smart fellow! At night, I usually have to make him stop talking because some nights I really think he may never fall asleep!

- Lane and Dutch both love their shoes. Lane in particular, likes to wear hers all the time, whereas Dutch likes his "running shoes because they make me really super duper fast." Just yesterday those same running shoes that make him super duper fast caused him to run smack into a corner and split his eyebrow in two.

Some other things: they both have become attached to their blankets so I've just acquired two extras in case something happens to the others, Dutch is OBSESSED with Toy Story and dives on the sofa daily yelling" to infinity and beyond", they both love their daddy and beating him up, Lane loves to dance and "sing" - which is more like humming.

Lane goes today for her well check, so I'll post stats a little later!