A Girl and Her Dad

 Leila and Chris looked so cute in matching Red Wing garb that I couldn't resist taking a few fun pictures!

I love these two with all my heart! I am blessed!

Fan Mail

 We spent a Sunday afternoon, a week ago, watching hockey and writing a fan letter. Leila loves the Red Wings' Todd Bertuzzi! Her first official favorite was Brian Rafalski, but he retired last summer. We thought she was going to be super sad, so we started talking about how cool Bertuzzi was in hopes that she could throw her support towards someone else. It worked! This entire season she has waited and waited each game to hear his name and see him skate. She decided that she wanted to write a letter to him. Here's to hoping for some sort of reply...

(If you click on the picture, it should make it larger and easier to read.) 

Daffodil Parade 2012

 The last few years we have skipped out on the Daffodil Parade, but this year I really wanted to go. Leila was under two the last time we went so this parade was like a whole new experience for her. The weather was GORGEOUS! We actually came home with sunburned necks. Luckily, I had grabbed a sun hat for Leila before we left the house! We aren't much for waiting around for hours prior to the parade, so we took our chances and got downtown about 30 minutes before the start. Just enough time to scope out a space and enjoy an elephant ear before the floats and bands started moving. Perfect!

LOVE the bagpipes! Always!

 Leila had two specific things she wanted from the parade experience: 1. To see Wyatt (a former daycare friend who is now in junior high and no longer at Sandy's). He plays drums for Ballou Jr. High. 2. To see the ERHS band (several of Chris's students are in the band).

Here is Wyatt with the band.

I love the uniforms for Eatonville High School's band.

 Here comes ER!

 Taylor! We are so proud of her!! It is so fun to see her lead the band!

 She saw us too:

Leila was thrilled to see Josh play his trumpet! She feels rather excited to know so many of Daddy's students. She cheered extra loud for Wyatt, Taylor, Josh, Maverick, Mr. Fry, Mrs. McRill, and Mrs. Hickman!

We drove home with the windows open enjoying the sunshine and Leila feel asleep as soon as we hit the road. A fun day!

Counting the Days

If Chris could pass this job to Leila today, he would!

Happy Easter!

 Easter Sunday was a very relaxed morning. When Leila woke up, she checked her basket and saw that the Easter Bunny had left some Starburst candy, a few Strawberry Shortcake dolls and some Peeps. She was very excited to taste the Easter Bunny's favorite candy (Peeps)! She also opened the Muppets movie from Chris and me as well as a Strawberry Shortcake summer outfit and the second set of Bob books from Grammy and Granddad. Then we headed to Gramma and Papa's house for brunch.

I wanted one smiling picture of Weed before we left, but....

 At Gramma and Papa's house we had Starbucks, fruit salad and donuts for brunch. Lovely! Then Leila got her rain boots on and headed outside for her very first outdoor Easter egg hunt! In the four years of her little life it has not been dry enough to hunt for eggs outside until this year. So much more fun outside!!!

 Checking out her goodies. Lots more Starbursts...or as L calls them starburrs.

 Papa noticed during brunch that their flag was in need of replacing so Leila and he worked on putting up the new flag. Gramma was thrilled!

Happy Easter!!

Egg Huntin'

Saturday of Easter weekend, we went to the Hickman's house for an egg hunt. Aimee had a great idea! Rather than participate in one of the over-crowded, chaotic community egg hunts, her and Jason hosted a smaller get-together with friends. We all dropped off eggs the night before so Jason could hide them early Saturday morning before we all arrived. The weather was gorgeous and we had a wonderful time with friends watching the kids run around the yard. Thanks, Hickman Family!!! 

Leila and Alivia (I could not get her to smile!)

Aimee's Dad and Damon

We wanted to get a shot with all of the kiddos, but that wasn't gonna happen. Once they finished finding the eggs they couldn't be bothered to take a break for a picture...they were too busy checking out their loot.

Good Friday

 For the second year in a row, we invited Gramma and Papa over to the house on Good Friday for dinner and Easter egg dying. They brought pizza and the boiled eggs. We had dessert and the dyes. The hardest part is waiting for the dye tablets to dissolve!!

 Still waiting!

 And even more waiting...

 After the eggs were finished (you can see some of them in this picture) Leila and I made sugar cookies. She is a master with the sprinkles! It is often hard to tell if you have more frosting or sprinkles on the cookies.  :0)