Late April '06

Here are a few pics from our family life in late April


Krystin giving Dad kisses. Precious :) (Krystin leans in to your cheek with an open mouth)


Ethan feeding Krystin her rice cereal with peas. Krystin now eats rice cereal mixed with some baby food at supper time. So far she has had peas, green beans, squash, and sweet potatoes. She has liked them all, but I think peas and potatoes have been her favorite.


Kaylin feeding Krystin some sweet potatoes with rice cereal. She has shown a huge interest in helping out with feeding Krystin - and she does pretty well, actually. ("TI-nee BI-tes")


4/24 - All 3 kids playing dolls. It has been a favorite past time this week.


Train 'em while they are young..... (I think i will show Ethan's future wife this picture some day) And just so you know, Ethan even did the "sniff test" to verify his doll needed a poopy diaper change :)


Kaylin changing her doll's diaper


4/25 - Krystin can now do the "slouch sit". Here Krystin just noticed me watching her play the "piano".


”I have an audience?! Watch what I can play, Mama!”


Oops! Guess I got a little too excited :)


Saturday, April 29, 2006. Britt decided the minivan needed a washing. She enlisted the help of her 2 and 4 year olds. Kaylin and Ethan did a real good job of being diligent workers. (especially at dumping the bucket and using the hose) :)


Britt and Ethan washing the back end


Hey! Is anyone gonna help ME?!


There. Now we're all together!

Easter Sunday 4/16/06

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!!! What good would Christianity be without a risen Savior, Jesus Christ? We are so thankful to know that Easter Sunday is about more than an egg hunt (although that is fun). It is a celebration of what Christ did for us on the Cross. Because of HIM, our sins are forgiven and one day we will LIVE with HIM in Heaven.
Our family celebrated Easter by going to church. But first, I (Britt - and Krystin) had to go in early to help out in the Nursery for first service. Then Dan brought the other 2 and we ate breakfast, did an egg hunt, and went to church. Dan was requested (last minute) to sing his solo "Rise Again" that he had performed for Good Friday Service. He did SUCH a great job! After going home for lunch and a rest, we went over to our friends, the Macrae-Smith's, for fellowship and supper.


The Easter Sunday Family Picture. Did Mom get her way of jackets off and everyone at least looking at the camera? No. But at least it shows we were all there :)


Here is a better pic of Krystin in her Easter outfit.


Ethan eating breakfast. An ex-lumberjack from the congregation traditionally makes sourdough pancakes. They are SOOOO good!


You may wonder where Krystin was.... she was on the floor in her car seat sleeping.


After breakfast there was an Easter egg hunt for the kids. It was windy and cold.... thus explaining Ethan's jacket and hood as he awaits the start signal.


Kaylin ready to "hunt". Do YOU spy any eggs???


Hmm... this looks like a good one


One more before going inside.....


The kids' full baskets and Mama's happily full arms. (picture is taken in the Nursery - I coordinate the nursery team at church)


Our friends, the Macrae-Smith's invited us over for Easter Supper. There was ham, potato casserole, rolls, salad, corn, and black olives(a favorite of all the kids) Pictured (LtoR): Nora, Kaylin, Megan, Bill, Bonny, Marci, Ethan, and Dan. Not pictured is the picture-taker, Britt. But as you can see from my full plate, I was there :)

Kaylin's 2nd Birthday

Wow! Kaylin is now 2. Maybe that is why her favorite saying is "I do it! I do it NOW. I do it self" :) Sometimes she will just walk around saying "I do it", not meaning anything in particular! On the other hand, she HAS been a bit more cuddly lately, so I'll take more independence if it also brings me reassuring cuddles! :) She has a lot of gusto. She can throw a big fit, but just as big of a grin or laugh when happy. What a sweetie :) On her birthday - the day after Ethan's - Dan got home a little early and she opened her gifts. A Scooter, an "I spy" book, and Bible Stories with corresponding Songs CD were the main ones. Then, While I read "I spy" several times to Ethan and Kaylin, Dad made supper. After supper we sang happy birthday and had cake.


Kaylin helping make her birthday cake. She chose strawberry cake with strawberry icing. As for her using the mixer.... well, YOU try arguing with "I DO IT!!! I DOOO IIIITT!"


The finished cake. (with a few added steps by Mom) The kids like to watch "Dora the Explorer" a couple times a week - usually on laundry mornings while I sort the loads.


I OFFERED to make pancakes (like I did for Ethan) for her birthday breakfast, but she chose Oatmeal to go Bars - the raspberry kind. (Not that I complained about the much easier prep and clean up)


Dora the Explorer Scooter. I tell ya, it's a good thing she got a scooter, too. She practically took over Ethan's the night before when he got his! (although she mainly SITS on it and can't really "scoot" - maybe by summer she will be riding it)


Kaylin chose Grilled Chicken, Rice Pilaf, and Broccoli (brockee) for her birthday supper. In this picture she is waving and saying "hi Mama".


Blowing out the 2 candles. Note how helpful Ethan is being :) I finally DID have to help on the 3rd try. She could get them to flicker, but not extinguish.


Dad helping Kaylin select her piece of cake... she chose "Boots" - the monkey from "Dora the Explorer"


Ahhh.... that's my girl


A very happy birthday girl...and not so happy piece of birthday cake!

Ethan's 4th Birthday

Well, hard to believe, but Ethan is now 4 years old. We celebrated by opening gifts as soon as Dad got home early from work. Then Ethan (and Kaylin) got to play with his new toys while Dan made supper (and I refereed fair play of the new scooter and paddle ball. Cake and ice cream followed supper.


Ethan helping to make his cake....and eat the batter too!


The finished product. (with a few steps added by Mom!)


Birthday breakfast of wheat pancakes with honey. Ethan of course got a pancake in the shape of a "4" :) The mug contained Hot Chocolate - a favorite of Ethan and Kaylin's (ok, and of mine, too). Ethan was excited to see balloons on his chair and also balloons on the LR wall with a banner reading: "Happy 4th Birthday Ethan". Kaylin was excited, too, but noted she didn't have any "boons" on her chair. We explained she got them tomorrow on HER birthday. Ethan was real sweet. Whenever I would mention something about his birthday, he would quip something like "Today is KLaylin's last day of being 1" or "Tomorrow you get balloons on YOUR chair, KLaylin".


Opening his "big gift". Inside was a helmet and wrist/knee pads. Ethan wasn't sure what to make of it. Dad told him he had to get something out of the garage and came back in with the pre-assembled (by Dad).…....


…..The big gift - a scooter!


Ethan chose Hamburgers, Corn on the Cob, and Baked Beans for his birthday meal.


Blowing out the candles.... See the supportive mother on the sidelines "helping"?! :)


Dad helping Ethan choose his birthday piece of cake. Ethan decided he wanted a triangle piece... so dad cut a triangle with the "E" on it. All in all, Ethan had a fun Birthday turning 4. Hard to believe it was that long ago he was born…….(sniff, sniff, hooray, hooray, sniff sniff….) :( :) :(

We now RECYCLE!!!!! I know, we are a little slow on the uptake, but hey, better late than never! Besides, we at least have been doing the REDUCE and REUSE thing. We have REDUCED the number of diapers with Ethan now being toilet trained!!! And we REUSE items all the time. Paper towel rolls become ta-ra-boom-taray batons, Oxy-Clean tubs become a home for Hot Wheels, and Film canisters filled with popcorn kernals become egg shakers!

3/12/06 - "Super Kaylin"

3/30/06 - "Super Ethan"

3/18/06 - Tea Party. This is how I found Kaylin this morning. When Kaylin wakes up in the morning (and also several times when she is supposed to be napping) she likes to play with her toys. Sometimes on the floor, but often she drags an exhorbatant amount into her bed :) Ms. Bunny and "Woody" (on pillow) are her constant side kicks these days.

3/21/06 - Krystin is working on teeth.... guess what her favorite teething ring is?!

3/27/06 - Father-Daughter Bonding. Dan pitches right in to help with bath night.... OK, actually he does MOST of bath night :) I usually wash Krystin and he dries her off. Then he gives Ethan and Kaylin their baths while I feed Krystin.

3/4/06 - "Super Ducks" This long-standing after-bath tradition was first started by Grandma Collingwood. :)

3/29/06 - Krystin crashed for the night. She typically goes to sleep by 8:30 now.

4/3/06 - Ethan in his "dog house"

4/3/06 - Kaylin in her "dog house"