Greats and Grands

Jessica took Storm and Snow over to my folks house this past weekend for some playtime. She showed me a couple of photos that she snapped and I just had to share them.

There's a special bond between Greatgrandparents and their Greatgrandkids!

Papa and Storm having fun on the floor

What a sweet photo!

Papa and Gigi and Storm

Sixty!

I have several blog posts to write today, but I'm going to publish the one that's most important to me - my birthday!

Last Wednesday was my 60th birthday. I can't believe that's my age because I don't feel anything like I thought 60 might feel! I'm not a person who is bothered by my age. I'm proud to be 60 and when you consider the alternative, well, you know.

We held my birthday party yesterday and it was a blast. Thanks to all in my family who made it a special day for me. I love you!

On my screen the color looks blue, but it was a gorgeous deep purple

Adam, Jessica, me, Zach, Katie, Gabe

JD and Janel are on the tablet. I didn't want to have my 60th birthday photo without them in it. So we Skyped them in!

Dawn, Shelby, Matt, Shawna, Summer

Dawn is Shelby's mom and Shawna is her sister visiting here from Minnesota

Four Generation

JoAnne (my mom), Jessica, me, Snow

I wanted a photo with all of the grandkids, but that can be challenging these days. Both boys are in the "photo avoidance" stage of life. This was the best of the worst! Skye, Sunny, Thunder, Storm, me, Snow

Tio Zach helping Storm with his swim shoes

My mom with her 6th Great-grandchild.

My SIL, Kelly with her first grandchild.

Summer!

Tia Katie and Snow

Storm and Jessica

Another example of the best of the worst photos, haha!

Snow and Summer, what a difference a few months makes

Family Easter Celebration

As usual, we held our family Easter celebration the Saturday before Palm Sunday. We usually have it in the morning (I don't want the candy in the Easter Egg Hunt to melt) but this year we had it in the afternoon. Thankfully the weather wasn't too warm, in the mid 80s - just perfect!

All of the kids but Snow participated in the Easter Egg Hunt. She'll be right in there with them next year I'm sure! They did all get an Easter Basket.

The three older kids have been asking for umbrellas so I bought them this year. I was just going to stick them in their baskets, but Katie sent me a photo using the umbrellas as the baskets. It was so cute I tried it and it turned out great! They were so thrilled to get their own umbrellas and can't wait for it to rain. I haven't had the heart to tell them that they'll probably have to wait until July.

Since we were celebrating in the afternoon we served dessert and appetizers. It was so much easier than providing a full meal. Maybe we'll stick with afternoons from now on...

Skye and Sunny

Showing off their haul

Storm really got into cracking the eggs open

They love the umbrellas

Dan being a good sport while Zach decorates him

Snow's first Easter Basket - I don't think she's impressed

Gigi and Papa with all of their great-grands

Family Easter Fun

On Saturday, we held our family Easter celebration. The food was terrific, the Easter Egg Hunt was a huge success, and a good time was had by all!

I have no idea why Skye is making a "snarly" face!

It's impossible to take a photo with all of them smiling, but they're still cute!

Skye and Sunny - the hunt is on!

Skye and Thunder

Storm's first Easter egg hunt

"Ooh, look how many you got!"

The confetti eggs that Gigi brought are a big hit

Discovering their baskets

Another first for Storm

NOW, she smiles!

Gramps, the Greats, and Storm

Gigi and Storm

Ahh, Grandkids, is there anything better?!

Here are some recent photos of cousin fun at my house:

Storm and Thunder cuddling

Thunder "sharing" his cars with Storm

Gigi getting some smiles from Storm while Sunny supervises

Papa and Thunder

Papa steals a kiss

Sunny and Storm

They just love to hold Storm

Awww

Yesterday we made binoculars so they could "investigate"

Gramps, Thunder, Sunny

Three

Today is Thunder's third birthday. His party was this past Saturday. Thunder is totally enthralled with trash trucks. On Wednesdays when our trash is picked up, we run out when the trash truck picks up our recycle can, we run out when it picks up the recycles across the street, we run out when it picks up our garbage, we run out when it picks up the garbage across the street. The drivers are great guys and they always wave back at us. More often than not they also toot the loud trash truck horn. He turns every truck at my house into a trash truck.

He's also completely into horses and anything horse related. When I have an empty gift wrap tube, he turns it into a horse and gallops around the house on it. When we go to the library, he always wants to check out a book on horses.

He loves puzzles, books, playing outside, cars, trucks, and "Sheriff Callie's Wild West" on Disney. He's a sweet, thoughtful, loving little boy. I love him so!

A cowboy hat!

Turbo DVD

Tool box

Cowboy boots!

Sunny, Thunder, Storm, Skye

Showing Uncle Mark how the trash truck works

Aunt Kelly and Storm

Uncle Mark giving Skye some golf pointers

Gigi and Papa