lost time

i haven't blogged all month long...in over 2 weeks! there's so much to catch up on. i was out last weekend with a stomach bug, and it reminded me how miserable it is to be down. i stayed in bed from mid-day saturday until monday morning, and then came home from work early to get back in bed. it was awful! but i'm fully back now, and onward full-steam ahead!

we've spent much of the spring outside in our backyard. we are so thankful to have one again! ellie's house (which kaleb has taken over on several occasions) is on the back patio with a couple of rocking chairs, but that's just the beginning! ellie's been blowing bubbles, and chasing them into the yard to pop them. here, she poured out some of her bubble solution into the yard, and kaleb thought it a good idea to stick his foot in it. not such a hot idea, but they both got a kick out of it!

ellie's also taken to playing horseshoes. the first time we played, she asked if she had to take off her flip flops. to put on the horseshoes, of course! no, dear, just throw. or frame your face:

she hasn't quite gotten the full hang of how to throw - andy's been pegged a time or two - but she has so much fun playing!

we celebrated eric's birthday last week, and how else to celebrate than with a german chocolate cake?!? and with a line of candles - ellie was so proud of her line of candles! kaleb got to try cake for the first time, and i think he ate more than i did - needless to say, he's a fan!

kaleb's really taken on a crazy little boy personality lately...all about eating bugs and grass and dirt outside, and all about wrestling and pouncing on his sister when we're playing inside. he gets in the middle of the wrestling on the floor and laughs right alongside everyone else! it melts my heart to see them having so much fun together!

this weekend for easter, we made a last-minute trip to garland after eric was given saturday off from work. friday night, we drove up to meet all of my family for dinner and hung out saturday with both families before heading out sunday morning and getting home about lunch. last night, we got to go to church and then hunt easter eggs afterwards. before church, we had a couple of minutes in the backyard for a few pictures: