Fun with Face Paint!

It all started with Dom asking for a mustache to go with his mullet!

Of course the girls joined in and wanted hearts and stars!

Reading Spots

The kids made their own spots for reading.

Dominic was all settled in, reading his books.

At first G was reading in the chair that is behind her, but as you can see she became more interested in figuring out how many books she could pile on the chair!

Both kids had their blankets, waterbottles, and pillows all cozied up in their "reading spots" and when Vince asked if he could sit with them, they told him he needed to make his own spot!

Fun Times in Olympia

Grandpa and his helpers! Grandpa is so great with the kids-this weekend he took them on a "walk" that lasted over an hour and had all four grandkids hiking through the hills around Summit Lake! As the hour got later and later, Grandma decided to go looking for them (she was concerned that the kids did not have proper warm attire on:)) and as she was driving on the lake road, here comes Grandpa with Gianna on his shoulders, Kaden in his arms, and Nick and Dom right behind him from the woods of Summit Lake-they had gotten off of a trail and were making their own! They all piled in Grandma's car and the boys LOVED sitting in the back with no seats! Such Fun!

Gianna can't wait for Baby Cash to "come out!"

Uncle Dan was very pleased that Gianna would let him hold her!

"I da boss" she says! (and she really does try to convince Dom she is!)

While all of the parents were out partying the night away and celebrating Jared's new film, Grandma and Grandpa had the grandkids dying Easter eggs! Thanks mom and dad!

Opening Fishing Day at Summit Lake

Does this smile say it all? Dominic caught his first fish ever this weekend, and then caught two more as well!

Nick, the seasoned fisherman, caught SEVENTEEN fish over the course of 2 days! AMAZING!

Grandpa and Uncle Jared helped to get all of the fishing gear ready for big day!

Dominic did not want to leave Uncle Dan's side! Uncle Dan has been the "magic factor" in our boys catching fish!

Vinny was ecstatic that he caught five legitimate fish over the weekend! This was a big year for him in the fishing arena!

Nick's First Track Meet

Running for the long jump event

one of Nick's jumps...wow!

Proud Daddy!

Nick and his buddies

There was a lot of this (the above picture) at the track meet...chatting! Nick is quite the social bug-here and there-chatting everyone up!

We were able to go as a family to watch Nick participate in his first track meet of the year. He competed in the Long Jump and the High Jump. He thinks he would like to try a running event for the next track meet. He is only a fifth grader, on the middle school team. Nick goes to school in the Pioneer School District and it is a K-8 district. There were only a few fifth graders who were able to be on the team. We can't wait to see what he tries next!

Gianna's quote of the day...

"My budder (brother), he's awesome dude" while giving Dominic the thumbs up as we are driving to preschool this morning!

Fun in the Sun

The kids had so much fun this afternoon...admiring flowers, racing, drawing with sidewalk chalk, blowing bubbles, racing, and playing in the sandbox!

Hunting for snakes

Snake hunters, yes we are!

We're gonna catch a snake!

Look! I think I saw something moving! RUN!

Dominic and Pryce spent much of their afternoon hunting for snakes, among other creepy crawly things! When I called them in for lunch they came in chanting- "We are men, We are men, We hunt bugs!"

Father-Son Pancake Breakfast

Dom with his finished bird house that he and Vinny built

Dominic and Pryce, proud of their building!
First, I did ask Vince to take pictures at the breakfast and of him and Dom together, but of course I never know what I will get when he is in charge of the camera...that is why he is missing from the pictures! (We had a little lesson about types of pictures to take at events!) I am sure his picture taking skills will be better next time!
Second, Dominic's preschool had a Father-Son Pancake Breakfast where they also built bird houses together after eating! What a special morning for Dominic. He had a great time with his daddy eating pancakes and building a bird house. As soon as he got home from preschool he went around trying to coax birds into the fabulous house he had built for them! "Here birdie, birdie"

Hiking with the guys...

The fearless leaders...but where are they leading the pack of boys?

The fearless pack...ready to hike up on the Olympic Peninsula.

Pit stop...

Awww...the rewards are endless! The view is priceless!

Vinny and Nick took Shawn, Arnold, Jack, and Joe on a hike that starts at the casino and ends up at this point, overlooking Sequim Bay. The hike is very challenging, but from what I hear, everyone did amazing! Mind over matter!

Our little family is growing up...

Having a picnic at Railroad Bridge Park before the big family bike ride-the first one where Dom is riding on TWO wheels!

And we are off...a BEAUTIFUL, warm, scenic day riding along the Olympic Discovery Trail.

Dominic and I showed the rest of the family our little secret fort area along the trail...you duck under some trees, and there, right before your eyes is a little creek, big trees covering the spot, and rocks for throwing!

Nature calls...

and it calls again! Silly boys!

As we were riding along the trail, Vinny looked at me and said, "our little family is growing up! I love it." As much as he loves it, I feel kind of sad...my babies are no longer babies. He loves being able to do so much more as family, and I miss the baby stages. Of course we were not as mobile, but that time never comes again once you are done having babies. (and he is done! )

It's starting to work!

YEAH! Weight Watchers is working for me! Lost 2.4 lbs. this week, even though I had a GREAT time at Jared's Wakeboarding Video Premiere this last weekend AND my mom made her delicious breakfast casserole for Easter! (I actually gained weight at the beginning of the week, but was able to take it off by following the points system for the rest of the week.) I just need to keep strong this next week...day by day.

Easter Morning at Grandma and Grandpa's

The kids could not wait to search for their baskets! They ran all over looking for where the Easter Bunny had put the basket of goodies!

Uncle Dan is a favorite for the kids-the boys are always jumping on him, trying to wrestle, and Uncle Dan wants to hold Gianna, but she won't have much to do with it! Dan-we need you to add some of your own kids to the mix! Start contributing!

Unfortunately we did not make it to church, we ended up sitting around talking with everyone after breakfast and so we never made it out into the rain! Rain rain go away! Gianna had the cutest Easter dress, and she wore it around the house, but she would have been cold and her tights would have been muddy had we stepped outside! "I pincess" she ran around saying all morning in her dress! Dominic and Gianna are enthralled with the movie Bambi...here they are watching it with intense thought.

Hunting for Eggs in Olympia

Dominic bravely sat on the Easter Bunny-Gianna would have nothing to do with it!

The Kissels + Logan family pic! It is hard to get everyone facing forward at an Easter Egg Hunt!

Auntie Marissa and Ana ready for fun...even if it is raining!

Gianna ready to run!

Gianna ran past tons of eggs, straight towards a big pink one! Then that was all she wanted. She held it up like it was a gold medal with a huge smile! I had to convince her to pick up more, and even then she would only pick up pink eggs!

Happy with all of the loot!

"Bamma" came to watch and help with all of the fun!

Vinny was very proud of Dom- they talked strategy before the hunt- run out to the farthest place in the eggs and work your way back! (He got some dirty looks from some moms as he and Dom decided on the plan of attack!- Get over it ladies!) Dominic and Samantha were in the same age group and collected tons of prizes!

The whole gang of kids-we could not get everyone looking at the same time-oh well!

By the way, the Easter Egg Hunt was at my old elementary school, McLane!