Family Vacation and May Updates

This May we took a vacation in Seaside, Florida with my family.  It was definitely our favorite spot so far for these extended family vacations.  It was so convenient and lots of fun for the kids, without the stress (didn't hurt that Kiki and Emmy scored a nanny to help out with the kids so the adults could have some relaxing time too!).

Before we left for vacation Mackenzie's class was doing a baseball week so we had to take a picture for her Brewers pennant.  "Go Brewers!"  Sorry family and friends from IL.  

Here are the pictures from our vacation.  Unfortunately I had to reset my phone a couple of months ago and lost a bunch of pictures.  I had a great picture of Andy and Kiki riding a tandem bike together...they were kind of the hit of Seaside on that thing.  We're going back next year, so maybe I'll be able to get another :)

You'll notice a lot of our pictures are at the local ice cream shop!  Are you surprised?

One night on our way to dinner we came across this fun picture opportunity...so perfect...

 Noelle had a very special birthday while we were on vacation together.  She was so excited to celebrate her birthday with cupcakes on the beach.  How could we resist?!

Happy Easter

April updates...Sophia's been doing a great job learning to read.  She loves to read to Mackenzie!

We had a busy Easter weekend in Peoria.  On Saturday the girls colored Easter eggs with their cousin.

Then we did an Easter egg hunt outside at Mamaw's.

Sophia got to use my old Easter basket...can you believe that basket has lasted 34 years?!

Saturday afternoon we took Sophia to one of my favorite places in Peoria.  It's called Bicycle Safety Town and is basically a mini city with various roads, street lights, ramps, etc.  It is meant to be an environment for kids to learn the rules of the road and bicycle safety.  Sophia loved it!  She loves anything that involves pretend play!

And of course then we celebrated Easter on Sunday morning!  The girls were excited to see what the Easter bunny brought them.

I Lost My First Tooth!

Sunday March 23rd while eating a tortilla chip! :)

About a week later Andy and I celebrated his birthday with a special date night; dinner then off to see the Milwaukee Bucks play the Miami Heat.  It was a great time!

The next day we celebrated with a family party at Grandma and Grandpa Herbst's.  Since Grandma and Grandpa were in Florida for Sophia's birthday they made it a belated celebration for Sophia as well....and what's a combined birthday without two cakes...even better if they are Grandma's famous eclair cakes!

Happy 5th Birthday Sophia!

Five years old already?!?!  My baby is growing up too fast!

Her birthday part at the gymnastics place.  It was a hit!

When the instructor took the kids inside to wash up Andy just couldn't resist having some fun himself.   

And Derek couldn't resist joining in as well...the 2 biggest kids at the party :)

Mackenzie and her cousin Jackson lounging around.

Winter Fun

Apparently this is what a 4 year old considers fun on a snowy day.  Dress up in mommy's work clothes.

And here's what a 1 year old considers fun!

Having fun being mischievous when we turn away.

Family sledding day one afternoon...

In January I had to travel to Florida for work and since my mom was there for the winter I took the girls down with me to stay with Mamaw and Tita for 2 weeks.  I think Mamaw and Tita were sufficiently worn out by the end!

This was a new trick Mackenzie started at Mamaw's condo.  She discovered she could open the cabinets and climb inside.  She had a great time hiding and playing 

"Where's Mackenzie?"  Then she discovered she could climb on the shelf inside.  Unfortunately she wasn't sure how to get down and this was the result.

Loving her fruit!

In February the girls' cousins came up for a visit.  

"Can I see? Can I see?!"

We went to a water park with all the kids and had a fun time.  They all love the water!