Visiting my Family in New Hampshire....

Our first full day in New Hampshire was spent visiting my family.  We went and had lunch with my Uncle Conrad....

my Aunt Nancy....

My cousin Michael and his girlfriend Lisa....

My cousin Tommy and his two sons Greg and Cody

(didn't get pictures of Tommy or Greg :( ).... 

I got to see the house my mother was born in.... 

This is the garage my grandfather built for his Model-T Ford - my mom has a picture of my grandfather standing with his Model-T by this garage....

My grandfather was a brick layer, and this is the house he built for his family, and the house where my mom spent a lot of her childhood.... 

These are other houses in the neighborhood that my grandfather built.... 

This is the pool where my mother and her brothers and sisters would spend their summer days.... 

My Uncle said that this cliff was frequented by all the kids in the neighborhood, and that there were many times that the fire department had to be called to rescue some kid who climbed up and then was scared to climb back down....

This is the building where my mother attended school.... 

Aunt Nancy introduced my children to Whoopi Pies - PURE SUGAR - 

and Aunt Nancy gave Elli her first little Barbie doll - even though the boys have banned them from our house ;).... 

I am so thankful for the time I got to spend with my family, and so grateful to my Uncle for driving me around and showing me where he and my mom grew up.



We're Back....

We had such a great time in New Hampshire!!!  I have tons of pictures to post...but... it will take me a few days to do it.  However, before I begin posting about Easter and our trip, I have to begin by asking you to go to my Sister-in-law's blog to check out another giveaway...Three Little Angels Giveaway...Every time I see the little faces of the kids my sister-in-law posts in her giveaways my heart breaks...I have to ask you to just go look and get a face to pray for!!!

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Ok, first order of business....Congratulations Brandon on your promotion from Cadet Kopp to Lieutenant Kopp, and Congratulations to you and your Color Guard team for placing 2nd in the Regional Competition!!!  I love you and am soooooo proud of you!!

Easter was a blast...Coloring Easter eggs, Easter baskets, Easter egg hunts - yes hunts, we had 2!!!, handsome young men in ties, a pretty little girl in a dress, and going to church....you can't beat that!!!

We went over to our friends, the Williams', after dinner for dessert and another egg hunt... 

Tomorrow...pictures from our trip to New Hampshire!!!

Catching up...

Today's post is all about catching up.  I have a bunch of pictures that haven't made it to the blog yet...sooooo....ENJOY!!

The twins bought Daddy a kite for Father's day last year, and they finally got to fly it with him....

You may laugh at me for these pictures....I am a pretty big recycler, and I love to recycle other people's garbage....especially because these are the things we have picked up lately...and yes, I have gone and asked people "are you really throwing this away?"....CRAZY PEOPLE!!

Battery operated cars for the twins (just need a charger cord according to the people who threw it out)

and one for Elli too - hers works, we just have to teach the twins and Elli how to steer - hahaha... 

This table and chairs had a sweet matching kitchen....however, I couldn't fit it all in my van at one time, and when I went back to get the kitchen the garbage truck was crunching it up into little pieces - I KID YOU NOT!!!

This beautiful toy box bench was sitting out in the rain and had garbage piled on it.  We cleaned it up and look how beautiful it is!!!  It matches Elli's crib and dresser perfectly - a match set!!! 

Why would someone throw this out?  Chris asked me the same thing - the safety hinge in broken.  So we are going to take a trip to Lowes and buy one!!!  Jason and Reagan love the bench - even though it is in Elli's room ;)... 

Grandma Pauline went to Hawaii on vacation.  Grandma's never forget their grandchildren...even when on vacation....we got a huge box with all kinds of treaties for the kids.

Elli got a sweet red Hawaiian print dress....

With bloomers.... 

The twins got ukuleles....(notice how Reagan is holding his).... 

Elli also got a hula skirt.... 

The older boys all got pocket knives, and Chris and I each got Hawaiian attire.  Thank you Grandma Pauline you totally spoil us - and we love it ;)!!

As you recall from my post on 2/15/2011 - "Derby Time" - Joshua and the twins participated in the Cub scout Pinewood Derby and each one won 1st place for their age group, and Joshua won 3rd place all around.  Well....we finally got the trophies.... 

What we didn't know is that they also won awards for their great car designs.  Joshua won "Most Awesome" for his $100 car.... 

The twins won "Most Lovable" for their Valentine car....(yes, they spelled lovable wrong...see Joshua, spelling is important ;)!)....

And now we come to my last batch of photos.  Elli was combing her hair, watching me blow dry mine, when she got bored and fell asleep.... 

This may be it for a while.  I may get some Easter Egg coloring photos posted, but we leave on Monday, the day after Easter, for New Hampshire, for Spring Break and Brandon's CAP Regional Color Guard Championship.  We will be staying on a cattle ranch where Chris' cousin Glenn works - which should be soooo fun, and we are going to see my Aunt and Uncle.  I haven't seen them in 16 years, and I have never met their children, so I am pretty excited.  I will post Easter pictures, Spring Break pictures, and pictures from the Color Guard competition when we get back.  Until then, I hope everyone has an incredible Resurrection Sunday!!