Hodge Podge of Pictures

Here are a bunch of random pictures from the last couple of months!

This was from March when we were staying at my parents house. The kids liked pulling out the toys and climbing into the cupboard.

I got these Dora shoes for Sydney in March. She wears these shoes almost constantly. She loves Dora!

We've tried to get outside at every sunny-day opportunity!

Blogger thinks it's smarter than me when it turns the pictures the wrong way! I thought it was cute when, during quiet time, Wes tucked his dog under his blanket.

These fun foam mosaics were a gift from the kids' cousin.

Sydney LOVES to swing!

This is a fun toy at the park that spins around. The kids enjoy it!

Teeter-totter!

One day I used this idea to make frog tongue party blowers. I used a magnet and paperclips instead of velcro and flies. I also joined an idea from the same site and the Family Fun Magazine to put upper case and lower case letter on the lily pads and have the kids "race" to a letter as I called it out. Then, I'd have them catch the "flies" (paper clips) with their "frog tongues". They had fun!

After Grandma Hanks was here, I blew up the Aerobed in our living room and we had some group reading time on the bed. The kids also spent a ton of time walking across the bed, but had a really hard time not running or jumping on the bed.

Grandma Hanks Comes to Visit

For Grandma Hanks' birthday this year, she received a plane ticket to visit us in Seattle (from her husband). It was so fun to have Grandma here for the weekend and we were all blessed with beautiful weather!

On Friday, May 20th, we went to pick up Wes from preschool and then played at the park for a bit. Sydney loves the swings and was obviously having a great time with Grandma!

Wes was enjoying the sand. See his shorts? Yep, it was a great Seattle day!

Dad got off work a bit early so he met us at Wes' preschool/the park and we had a picnic lunch.

Then we let the kids play some more (with sidewalk chalk) before we went home for quiet time.

Later, we went to Pike's Place Market just as it was closing, but it was actually nice because it wasn't so busy!

If you look really closely you can see Mt. Rainier in the distance, to Wes' right, above Safeco Field.

We had a nice little stroll along the waterfront and the kids got to make wishes in the fountain.

The kids were so spoiled! They even got to ride the carousel!

Over the weekend we also ate at Red Robin (mmmmm...), played games, read, went to the Temple, went to church, and talked and talked and talked! Thanks for coming, Grandma!

Mother's Day 2011

I'll be honest, sometimes I have rough days as a mom and my kids drive me nuts. But really, I am so grateful that raising these two kids is my full-time job. I really appreciate Brian working so hard everyday so that I can stay home with the kiddos.

Mom and kids on Mother's Day!

Wes colored the wrapping paper. It's a rainbow. (Brian helped to wrap the gift.)

Kids love opening presents.

A homemade rainbow ring! It was all Wes' idea. When I asked Wes what he was going to get me for Mother's Day he said, "Maybe just a ring." I told him that was a great idea. Then, somehow he decided it should be a rainbow ring. I told him he should have Dad help him make one for me. I think they did a great job!