field trip

Sam's field trip to the aquarium

Sweet faces

zoo

This is how we roll in the rain! Poor girls (or should I say- poor Caroline) had to be covered up so they didn't get soaked- Emerson was laughing and giggling so I'm sure she was somehow torturing Caroline!

The girls love the double stroller!

Bluebonnet Pictures

I made the mistake of telling them to kiss baby Caroline~ Poor baby got bombarded in the bluebonnets. She recovered from the tackle but still was not real happy about her mommy sitting her in a field of flowers with bees buzzing around.

We took the kids to get their pictures made in the bluebonnets last night after Kirt got home. It seemed like a great idea- just sit them down take the perfect picture and leave! WRONG! I opened the car doors and the bigger kids ran out and stomped all over the pretty flowers. It was almost impossible to get them to sit by each other- let alone smile at the same time. There were bees buzzing around, but luckily the kids didn't notice. I ended up bribing them with Sprite to sit for one nice picture! Out of the 40 pictures I took this was what we got!

American Girls

We went to the American Girl store today with Brooke and Jailee. We had a wonderful time. The girls both got the sweetest baby dolls- they have named them Julie & Maggie. What a fun time we had- the store is amazing. The baby dolls got their hair fixed at the baby salon and they even have a place to get their ears pierced (the baby's not the girls). They have so many fun accessories and clothes to dress like your doll. Emerson wanted a potty chair for her baby and she also wanted the double stroller but Mommy said "no". I remember when I got my first Cabbage Patch Doll, her name was Bunny Brianna and Tracey & I carried Stacy Billy & Bunny Brianna EVERYWHERE with us. I hope the girls have as much fun with their baby dolls as Tracey & I did!

Baby Dedication & Easter lunch

Easter Sunday- it is hard to get 3 kids to smile at the same time or to get their thumbs out of their mouths.

Everyone did great at Caroline's baby dedication this morning. We were so excited that our families could join us as we celebrated Easter and our commitment to follow Christ as we raise our children.

Third Annual Egg Hunt

We had our annual Easter Egg Hunt at the park. We had so much fun. All the kids were so cute and excited to hunt eggs and break the confetti eggs- thanks to Tracey & Cecile. Apparently the city also had an egg hunt planned for noon that day so we were having to ward off the trespassers from our private egg hunt. The kids were not real fond of the "real" eggs they would look at them and put them back down to find the "plastic" ones with candy. Then everyone went home with bags to make their Easter "Resurrection" cookies last night. Happy Easter!

Teacher gift idea

I found this cute idea for a teacher gift. Just thought I would pass it along.

Coloring Eggs with The Greenwoods

Brooke Max

Sam & Brooke

Caroline

Emerson

We had a great time coloring eggs- luckily I thought ahead and we did it outside this year. Good thing too because Max grabbed one of the dye cups and spilled it all over him! We hope the color comes out of his clothes! The kids had a great time though.

Baseball Season Starts

Easter Cookie- "Resurrection Cookies"

Easter Cookie Story

• 1 cup whole pecans
• 1 teaspoon vinegar
• 3 egg whites
• a pinch salt
• 1 cup sugar
• a zipper baggy
• 1 wooden spoon
• scotch tape
• Bible

These are to be made the evening before Easter. Preheat oven to 300F.*** (this is very important --- don't wait until you are half done with the recipe).

1. Place pecans in zipper baggy and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested. He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read: John 19:1-3
2. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegarto drink. Read: John 19:28-30
3. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read: John 10:10&11
4. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read: Luke 23:27
5. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that thesweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us toknow and belong to Him. Read: Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16
6. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read: Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3
7. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoon onto waxed paper covered cookie sheet.Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.Read: Matthew 27:57-60
8. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read: Matthew 27:65-66
9. GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read: John 16:20&22
10. On Resurrection Sunday (Easter) morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read: Matthew 28:1-9

Sam

We were on our way home from dinner tonight and Sam started telling us the story of Easter. He started at Palm Sunday and talked about Judas, & Peter, and was told us how the people yelled "Crusify Him" and about the empty tomb. Kirt and I were in awe! He has learned SO MUCH at church this year. He is truly a little sponge and he just soaks it all in! He called Grandma Peggy and made her day by telling her the story of Easter!

Are you Tracey?

Recently Emerson is VERY confused about her mommy & Aunt Tracey being twins. She asks me about 10 times a day "You Tracey?" She has been doing this for about a week now. I remember Sam getting confused about this age too. One morning I went to wake him up and he said "Aunt Tracey, did mommy go to work today?". Poor kids!

Girls Night Out

Tracey & Shelby

Stephanie, Ashlee, & Meredith

Stephanie, Amy, Stacey, & Tracey

We had such a fun time Tuesday night at the Brittney concert. And NO we were NOT the oldest ones there! Kirt was so good to watch 5 kids for a few hours until Josh got home! He was WAY outnumbered but he survived. We had a great time though!

Murder Mystery Dinner

Tracey & I were so excited to go to my friend Judy's suprise birthday celebration. We went to a murder mystery dinner at The Gaylord.

Austin spring break pictures

Grandma Dottie made a dessert that looked like a potted plant. Sam was really impressed

Tiffany met us for dinner the last night we were there.

Boys Day

Kirt took Sam golfing with his Dad and Tyler today. They had a good time. I think Sam spent alot of time filling in the holes that he made in the ground with sand. He loved driving the golf cart though. The girls and I had "girls day" today too. We went to Sweet and Sassy and Emerson got her toes painted then we went to Chick-fil-A. Fun day- we will head to Austin in the morning- guess I should be packing before Kirt notices that I am playing on the computer instead of doing laundry!