Easter

Just a few pictures from Easter morning.  Chase got his favorite toys, "squinkies".  These are tiny little plastic toys in his favorite characters.  He carries them around with him day and night.  He sleeps with them and takes a bath with them.  They are so tiny, we are always hoping they don't get lost or we end up on our hands and knees searching for them.  But the Easter Bunny knows what that little boy loves more than anything and got him some.  Here he is so excited.    

 The girls were excited for their baskets too.  Pencils, papers, books, hair supplies, chapstick and some candy.  Who can be upset with that?

Cassie thrilled to be up so early in the morning (thanks, Chase and Madeline!)

 Madeline

 Chase lining up his beloved "squinkies"

shot at

I was minding my own business on the freeway going to pick up Chase when I car came up very quickly behind me.  Already speeding, I opted not to go any faster and with cars  next to me, I was not able to change lanes.  The car eventually moved over and then later as it passed my car I heard a loud noise.  I thought for sure my window had been hit by a thrown rock, but the noise was so much louder.  I couldn't see any damage however.  I noticed at that moment the car pulling past me with 2 young males looking at me with their tank tops on and baseball caps and their car window down.  Once home, I told Mark the story and asked him to look at the spot on my car that I thought the passengers of that car threw something at my car.  After looking at it, he told me they didn't throw something at it, they shot it with something.  In the middle of the day (4pm).  Obviously we called the police, who came out and took pictures and had me write out a statement.  I knew as that car passed me something wasn't right, so I had happened to write down the license plate number...just in case.  Never a dull moment at our house :).  thankfully they hit right below my passenger side backseat window.  Had they hit the window it would have shattered.  Also, thankful no kids were in the car at the time.     

Seattle

Mark and I decided to take a weekend mini-vacation to Seattle, Washington.  We headed out on Thursday after work and drove a few hours before stopping at a hotel to swim, rest and eat dinner.  We then headed out Friday morning for a few hours of drive and then went to the Seattle Zoo.  We had a great time checking out all the animals and the beautiful weather.  The next day we went to the aquarium and had great food (that is one of the best parts of Seattle).  We met up with my brother, his wife and my niece for a big seafood feast at a restaurant called The Crab Pot.  Yum!!  We also took in the 3D version of the movie the Great and Powerful Oz.  Great movie, fun family time, relaxation, good food, being together.  Nothing better!!

Here was a bunch of snow that had been piled high on the mountain summit going into Seattle.  Crazy tall!! 

 Zoo pictures

 Chase could spend all day swinging on grandma and grandpa's swing.  He thought it would be funny to go hands free as he was over the edge of the rock...our hearts stopped and he was quickly lectured on the importance of not letting go.

 Chase wanted a picture of him with "Nemo"

Madeline got burned

Madeline wanted a new curling iron.  She received a gift card for her birthday and asked if we could go to the store where she wanted to purchase a new, hot curling iron like Cassie's and a bike lock so she can ride her scooter to school and lock it up.  I agreed.  We had a long talk about having to be careful with curling irons.  The can burn and they need to be turned off so they don't set the house of fire, etc.  Next day, I walk into the bathroom as she is getting ready for church and she is holding a wet towel to her arm and Cassie is curling her hair.  Upon me asking what happened, she showed me her arm and explained the curling iron fell when she was using it and she caught it between her arm and shirt before she was able to grab it with her hand.  

It looked bad.  I made some phone calls and determined it was best to put cold water and ice on it, so that is what we did.  Friends brought over creams and oils, all of which helped following the initial few hours.  Here are some pictures of it the next day.  It was HUGE.  It hurt badly.  It is still there nearly 2 weeks later, but doing much better.  

She told me yesterday she attempted to curl her hair again for the first time yesterday, however was very scared.  We had another big talk about being careful and how if she still wants help doing it, Cassie and I are both OK helping her, but she wants to be so independent...I just hope for no more big burns like this one.  

Happy Birthday, Mark

On March 3, Mark celebrated 42 years.  We had a weekend of celebrations.  Started with just the 2 of us going out for date night on Friday, then we went out to dinner as a family on Saturday and then on Sunday he wanted dinner of prime rib.  We had his parents over on Sunday and they enjoyed dinner and cake with us.

Here is a picture of Chase helping with the jello for dinner.  All the kids were excited to help make dinner for Mark

 Mark opening his birthday presents

 These are some shin skins he wanted for his cross fit.  This will help protect his legs when he climbs the rope from getting cut and burned. 

 Chase being goofy as dad opens presents

Mark surprised and sung to at the Mexican restaurant

 Look at all those candles

 He got them all blown out in one breath...pretty impressive

   

Dr. Seuss Birthday

Every year for Dr. Seuss' birthday, St. Luke's Children's Hospital (where I work) does an event at the local Barnes and Noble.  The store is filled with tons of different stations for kids to walk around, have fun and hopefully parents will buy books,and proceeds will go back to the hospital.  My clinic did a fishing pond this year.  Mark brought the kids to check out the stuff and here are a few cute pictures of them.

This was a photo booth

 After they made hats (Cassie was too cool to wear one)

 learning to milk a cow (maybe that is only an Idaho thing...)

 Riding the horse (or at least posing for a picture)

They also had real miniature ponies for the kids to pet, and tons of other things.  It was a fun day for all!

Chase got a haircut

This is a picture of a grumpy bear after church.  What I wanted to show was that our little man got a haircut. He had longer, bigger hair and we decided due to his hate of haircuts we would just buzz it short.  He is still handsome, but it really changed his look into a bigger boy (that makes a mommy sad that he looks so much more grown up these days...)