California

We only stayed for about a week in California this year.  It was a better amount of time for the kids to be away from home, even though I could have stayed a few more days. ;)  Like usual, we spent a couple days at grandma and grandpa's to get adjusted to the time change.  We walked to the park, school playground, or just sat outside and watched cars go by the house.  On our way south to Asilomar, we stopped to go on the train the kids love so much.  However this year we drove to Santa Cruz and took the diesel train up to Roaring Camp.  We had time to walk in the redwood forest to stretch our legs and then hop back on the train to take it back down to the beach at Santa Cruz again.  It was a nice ride and the kids enjoyed the different scenery - - tunnels, bridges and Santa Cruz!

Our time at Asilomar was wonderful as always.  The kids loved playing with their cousins, going to the beach, playing in the sand and exploring the tide pools.  Erin especially liked to play with Faith.  The both took some warming up to each other, but pretty soon they gravitated toward each other.  Alex and Adam loved having the older boys around to play with.  They never can seem to remember their names, but they lovingly refer to them as "those boys" or "the big boys".    Can't wait for next year! 

Erin and Faith

great-grandkids and Grandma G and Papa G

Biggins family

Phil and Chelsey

Amy-Savannah-Freddy

The Neffs -- sorta :)

The Barron family --big boys on the left :)

The Mowells

The boys

Memorial Day Weekend

Summer is off to a busy start!  Alex has tball games on Saturday mornings thru June.  We went to this one and then headed straight to the lake after it was over.  Tball is always entertaining to watch, but Alex was more confident this year than last.  It also helped that a boy from his class was on his team too.   :)
The lake felt surprisingly pleasant despite having ice on it not all that long ago!  The kids had lots of fun with the kyacks and playing in the water.  Erin doesn't get in too far, but enjoys the snacks that Nana brings. :)

Also, Erin decided to be potty trained.  My plan was to do it after CA trip, but she wanted to wear underwear and be done with diapers.  So be it!  I'm certainly not going to fight it! :)

CAT and Dunes

May has been pretty busy.  Emily has worked all but one of the weekends, and yet we managed to take a few trips here and there.   We went to Peoria and visited Pete and Kelli (or to see Casen, as Erin says).  We had to make a return trip to the CAT visitor center.  They had a few different machines this time, but most of it was the same.  The kids enjoyed it, but they had lots of fun playing at Pete and Kelli's house.  Kelli has a few rabbits living around them and they've eaten her shrubs and flowers to the nub!  So Alex wanted to make a rabbit trap.  :)  Who needs toys to play with when all you need is a box, some string, and a wooden block!    It was a beautiful weekend and a nice trip.  We cant wait to see them again!

Hail on our back deck-- it was about pea sized

Erin talks alot about skid steers--probably because Pop drives one.

The machine simulators

Alex and his rabbit trap

We spent Memorial Day at the beach!  We went to the Indiana Dunes State Park with some friends.  We just drove up and spent the morning, had a picnic lunch, and then head back home when it's nap time (and the beach is hot and super crowded!).  Can't wait to do that again! 

Spring planting

In the last couple weeks farmers have been hard at work in the fields.  The boys enjoyed watching the field in front of our house get plowed (and even got a ride in the tractor!) and then planted a few days later.  These are pictures of them planting and then spraying the field.  The other tractor is a field next to us that a different farmer owns.  They had 2 tractors disking and one planting.  They got that field done in an afternoon! 
Andy took the kids to the Rummels last weekend while I had to work. They got to help chisel plow and disc a field for Pop.  Adam was very disappointed he didnt get to help plant though. :)    

My spring flowers and a Magnolia tree/bush.

Easter

We drove up to Nappanee on Easter weekend this year.  Erin was excited to see Casen and the boys were happy to hear Jeremy would be there too.  :)  We took the opportunity to take a few pictures of the kids with their cousin, Casen.    We also did an egg hunt in the yard.  This year was kinda fun because they all were old enough to understand what they were suppose to do! 

We really only spent Saturday with everyone, then on Easter morning got dressed for church and drove down to the Jackson's.  We went to church in Mentone and then spent the afternoon playing with Papa and Nana.  We were so busy, I didn't even take the time for any pictures there!  Guess I'll do that next time. :)

So the kids love the Despicable Me movies, especially the minions.  And of course we all had to have minion tshirts!  The boys even talk in "minion" to each other (for those of you who dont know, it's just gibberish)!

Minion Family Photo

Such a good picture of the boys, even if Adam's eyes are closed!

Easter morning