Spring Sprung

Spring is here...

Spring Break








We had a very nice visit to see family friends in Texas...










Above, Julia enjoying choc chip pizza then enjoying some live music...

Then on to our Cousins...

Of course, we can always find a way to fish on the way home...







And this Easter, Julia learned that "Jesus had a boo boo on his leg"



What are they teaching them in Children's Church? Her innocence is bliss!

Snow n Sun

First came snow...about 6 inches. We were really hoping Julia would get a spot of snow to enjoy this year. And down she came...

William and Julia made a great big snow man

John tried to walk in the snow, but it was a bit to difficult for a beginner. Atleast he had Ashley's nicely knitted hat on to keep him warm.

Grandma and Pa made it town for an evening .We had a fun evening relaxing at home except for the part where I am straining to make a part of a part of a granny square. Think we should leave the crochetin' to grandma!

Julia and Mommy went to a dance party on sunny Sunday with DAN ZANES & FRIENDS

Julia meets the friends: she is now wants some "drummer" sticks to be just like Colin.Here she is in her new band

LYDIA turns 2 party at the zoo

CHEESE

Daddy don't make me ever have to leave the zoo

Weekend with Bob

Never did I call my father Bob until Julia began as soon as she could utter the words...Now she calls him Bob, Bobbie and Oh Bobbiee. He always answers quickly and plays so well with her. It was a lot of fun having him come up to play.

Thursday, we had a fish fry. Yumm, Crappie, with The Whites. Great times!

On Friday, we went up to Tipton Co. to do some genealogy research (our newest obsession). We met with some distant relatives of Williams and explored a few cemeteries. That night we had the rare opportunity to go out seeing as our chief babysitter was in town. We met up with Jen and Brian for Brian's Birthday Bash at Happy Mexican. Then on to Flying Saucer to see if Brian would drink #200 and get his plate on the wall--boy, I am getting too beyond g able to handle all the smoke in bars (I almost needed an oxygen mask).

Saturday, Bob got the fever. Not the one going around with the flu, but "Yard Sale" fever! Yip, the look on his face and the confidence in his walk as he carried his antique leather Mexican chair back to the Tahoe ("only, fifteen bucks, can you believe that" he said with pride)...oh, he's hooked! Not as if William is not already hooked enough, he got a hot tub for a dollar! Unbelievable yet true. Spa party here next weekend--and I don't mean Arbonne!! We just had to get it home, so the U-haul trailer we rented made the hot tub cost a grand total of $36 and a bit of elbow grease to clean 'er up.

My version of 7up cake --it was tasty.

Seven-Up Cake

3/4 lb butter, softened

3 cups sugar

5 eggs

3 cups flour

2 tablespoons lemon extract

3/4 cup 7-Up soda

Lemon glaze:2/3 cup powdered sugar1 tablespoon lemon juice

Cream butter and sugar
Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition.
Add flour and lemon extract.
Fold in 7-Up.
Pour into well-greased 12-cup Bundt pan or tube pan.
Bake at 325 degrees for 1 to 1 1/4 hours.

Make Lemon Glaze - mix powdered sugar and lemon juice together When cake is cooled, dribble with Lemon Glaze

John's walking !

He got the bug Tuesday and hasn't sat still since.

He is very proud of himself and thoroughly enjoys cheers and applause after each long walk he takes. His grandpa Bob is visiting this week and bought him his first pair of little red Ked's today--lucky boy!

Three

Three was the age my dad still recounts to this day as being the sweetest age a daughter could ever be! An innocent nature, a spirit so free and smiles and giggles so full of fun.

Three candles
on
Julia's cake.

• She is convinced that she wants to stay two and I have told her she can be two as long as she wants because I know that all too soon she will be wishing she's 16.
• We celebrated this birthday 4 times..once in Arkansas, once at her school, on the actual day itself and then the day after. We feel so blessed to have her in our lives!!!!!!!

Birthday fun

Although birthday celebrations seem to have consummed us lately, there actually has been life outside of cake and candles. Things like Valentines Day, crappie to catch, Diego at the zoo, a crawfish boil at Dustin's, the usual laundry dishes laundry routine, John discovering the joy of playing with cottonballs and taking steps, Julia chilling on her Dora bed watching a bit of Steve Green (Hide Em In My Heart ) her 'barn' favorite dvd. February's been good thus far.

The first in a series

We had a wonderful weekend in Arkansas.

Julia's first 3rd birthday party was great fun!

Lots of family and a few good friends and you can't go wrong.

A couple of cute little bellies starting to show as well, as Hope and Pam are carrying their little buns til summer comes. Julia on cold medicine doesn't bring out her best personality traits, but she hung in there for the party at what she likes to call the STAR place. We had pizza until we could hardly throw the skee ball again and then time for cake. William and Julia decided on a Dora cake , half n half chocolate n vanilla with whipped icing. It was brightly colored (quite hideous looking) but tasted divine on all accounts! Then of course, an almost 3 yr olds fav part--the pressies. She dove in like an athlete. Ripping and tearing through them. And there are always the funny comments from the nearly 3 yr olds, like upon opening her new Ken doll Julia said "It's my prince, my prince." And he has real hair too-I only had the plastic hair Ken. All in all, a great party...Steven even wore a party hat(we did miss Jodi who I am sure would have worn one as well!)