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!

Journaling

This is such a BEAUTIFUL sight for me! Here we have an 11, almost twelve year old boy, which means he is pre-teen, and well that stage is coming on fast and a little scary for us parents...anyway here we have Nick writing in his journal, yes, a journal! Nick has a many emotions, but as many preteen boys do, he holds them in A LOT! So when I had mentioned I was going to buy a journal and start journaling Nick mentioned he would like one too! I was floored but so excited! Now at the end of the day he writes in his journal and Vince and I are so happy that he has a place to explore his feelings, ideas and thoughts. Spending the last two years as a Writing Specialist for my district I know how important journaling is for kids, and the best part is- we did not suggest it! It was his idea!

Weight Watchers...I am back

So I joined Weight Watchers again. Since having G I have just not been able to motivate myself to get to where I need to be regarding my weight- you would think that each time I look in the mirror and scowl, or try on 5 outfits before finally settling on one that will do- I would get motivated, but no...so since WW has worked for me in the past and keeps me honest I have joined up again! I think I need the threat of stepping on the scale in front of another human being to do what I need to do...

"Livin' Like No One Else So Later We Can Live Like No One Else..." Dave Ramsey

This has been our mantra for the past year and a half...we have followed Dave Ramsey's steps to becoming DEBT FREE and we just reached our goal! We made our last debt payment at the end of March and are so elated to say we have paid off $50K ! By no means is our journey over-we move on to the next phase...saving for our 3-6 month Emergency Fund and our next car...but we now know we will pay cash for the car, something we would never imagined possible before! Our way of thinking about money has changed drastically and our days feel so much lighter!
THANK YOU to all of our friends and family who have supported our journey in getting to this place!

"It is only possible to live happily ever after on a day-to-day basis"

Enjoying the sun at Port Townsend on my birthday afternoon!

Ready to explore the bunkers at Fort Worden!

There are many small places the kids can get into for fun!

What a cutie!

In the bunkers...

Loving the windy beach!

Playing in the sand

My little lovebug!

Brothers, getting ready to dig!

Hanging out in the hole that Nick dug...

Ahh-the 6-Pack enjoying another birthday dinner! Therapy anyone?!

I am for sure living happily ever after on these days!

You Never Know When You're Making a Memory...

Life can be simple-trampolines, friends, jumping contests!

Hugs

Sunlight on our faces...and laughter too!

A swing...easily a memory maker!

I find such joy in watching the kids enjoy one another...they could sit, lay, bounce on the trampoline for hours-just cracking each other up! I love it when I remember to enjoy how simple and happy life really is...

Nerf Wars!

Nick is waiting to ambush Dad! Pretty sneaky!

Dom is waiting too, but he always has time to smile for a pic!

The boys have really been into using their Nerf guns this break...so fun to watch them play together!

Polka Dots!

So does Gianna LOVE polka dots? She just got this new bathing suit and LOVES it! She wore it all afternoon and wanted to sleep in it...when that plan was foiled she decided she would sleep with it!

I heard "Mama" from Gianna's room and when I looked in her room she was posing on her new polka dot sham that Abby got for her!

Our Trip to Vancouver...starting Spring Break off with a BANG!

Our family took a long-awaited trip to Vancouver, WA to visit my best friend Abby and her family. Spring Break started and we were off! What a crew!

Cookie baking and decorating for Easter...although most of the cookies did not make it past the first night! YUMMY!

Gianna and Halle, or "Eddy" as she is referred to now! (Gianna pronounced Halle as "Eddy!")

Dom and Cash were great buddies and we didn't hear from them most of the time! Nerf guns, dinosaurs, magnetix, you name it...they pulled it out and played it!

Guitar Hero Rockstars!

I LOVE Guitar Hero!

Vinny wants to get one NOW! Nick was incredible on the guitar!

Jordan and Nick rock out seriously!

Gianna and her "Eddy"...G could not get enough of Halle and Halle was the most patient, sweet older friend to G!

Sittin' by the dock of the bay...the boys were fishing if you cannot tell! Branches and ribbon work amazingly for catching fish!

What a cute group! We had a great visit!