The weather is FINALLY getting nice here.

We decided to go to the school playground and teach our 4 year old "baby" how to ride a bike without training wheels...

he said he wanted to learn...

but was too worried about the people around who might be watching

he gave it a try but we'll have to try again when NO ONE else is around

Jad played basketball...

the girls had headstand contests...

then Jad joined in...

and Royce too...

I love when my kids get along and play together.

So glad it's Spring

Hemsey

All week Ashlee and Jad have been patiently anticipating the upcoming school carnival.

Apparently there are some pretty big raffle prizes that the kids have been so excited about.

Jads favorite, a big tub of thousands of Legos.

Ashlees favorite, a guinea pig equipped with all the necessities.

Ashlee has been visiting the library each day this week to peek in on the guinea pig of her dreams.

Game day came and Ashlee managed to win 2 free raffle tickets.

Against all the deterring comments given by her parents, Ashlee decided to go for it. She excitedly wrote her name on the 2 tickets and dropped them into the bucket along with hundreds of other children's tickets all wishing to win this fun little pet.

A few hours later, I received a phone call from the school saying that Ashlee had won the guinea pig.... John and I just looked at each other in disbelief then started laughing... we were a little in shock and even though we DID NOT WANT IT, we knew how thrilled Ashlee was going to be.

Then, a few minutes after I hung up, they called back and told me that they had made a mistake. Ashlee was actually not the winner but runner up, (in case the winner didn't want it).

Even though Ashlee didn't know about the phone call of her almost winning the guinea pig,

John and I both felt a little crushed for her.

Well, at least we THOUGHT she didn't know about the phone call...

Later that day she asked me if someone had called earlier to tell me that she had won the guinea pig. I couldn't lie to her so I said "well, someone did call but they said you didn't WIN you were RUNNER UP. That means if the person who won doesn't want it, you get it"

her big eyes just stared at me, she didn't blink.

I said "that's kinda cool though that out of all those tickets yours was pulled as runner up... you ALMOST won that guinea pig"... she squinted at me "ALMOST! ALMOST! That still means that I didn't win!" she said.

Her hands flew up over her eyes, she ran to the couch and she started sobbing...

It was then that I realized that in her little mind I had just told her that she had almost won the lottery.

I walked up stairs and told John what had happened. And of course, all of this is now my fault for telling her the painful truth.

To make a long story short:

John takes Ashlee out for a little pick-me-up date to LOOK at pets at the pet store and comes home with this little guy.....

meet Hemsey

I don't think he ever gets set down except to go to sleep.

The things we do for our kids happiness

Last month John and I enjoyed 4 days visiting friends in beautiful, warm Arizona while Scott and Erica Brenay watched our 4 kids.

This week was our turn to pay them back by watching their 4 kids while they enjoyed 4 days in Arizona.

The first two days I was feeling awesome.... got through all the drop off/ pick up madness.

The weather outside was actually nice so the kids ran and played outside with the neighbors after school... no biggie, I can handle this!

But then we had 2 days of crumby weather... freezing rain, snow, and COLD wind... no one wanted to go outside. So what do 8 kids and 1 mom do on a Saturday snowed in...

We had already worn out the play doh, coloring, Legos, and wii soooo we

PAINTED ROCKS... had to get real creative.

found out that the Brenay kids all have slippery fingers.

One by one each Brenay kid (except Owen) dropped their rock

and of course it had to fall from shirt to pant to sock to floor...

I tried scrubbing it all out, sorry Erica:)

I'm not clapping because I'm so happy...

I'm actually rolling balls of pb cookie dough together in my hands

gotta feed the animals...

shocking how much food it takes to feed 8 kids

Ashlee made registration forms for the other kids to sign up for daily activities taught by her.

Today was Karate with Ashlee

imagine 8 kids doing karate in your living room, each one trying to be the loudest;)

So glad we have this fun family living so close (love them to pieces) but so glad we live at different houses!

Don't know how my mom and dad put up with 8 kids on a daily basis...

I have a new respect for them.

Valentines Day Cruise

We had the opportunity of going on a Royal Caribbean cruise

with all of

my married siblings and my parents

over Valentines Day

we met up in Miami

first stop.... JAMAICA

some Jamaican dreads for the bald man... i just love my dad!

climbing the falls, maan...

we all had the song

"don't worry, about a thing, every little thing, is gonna be alright"

stuck in our heads all day long

such a show off

i love this picture... all the bro in laws helping John up...

love how Jeff is working so hard to hold up the tree

lunch at an out door Jamaican restaurant

next stop... Labadee, Haiti

everyone was a little uneasy when we heard we were going to Haiti

but it turned out to be one of my favorite places

Labadee is a gorgeous private island off of Haiti...

our own little private cabana...

perfect for curling up with a good book

or soaking up some vit. D

the water was nice... yes, i got in

i'm a super big wimp when it comes to cold water

but i braved it

when we arrived on the island all dad wanted to do was have some time

rowing around in his own canoe

he was so excited to see a canoe sitting right by the water in front of our cabana.

we were all busy situating our beach towels and rubbing sun screen on when

we heard our Haitian waiter yell out "heelllooooo, Kiiimmm... come baack....

that's my rescue canoe"

we turn around, dad is already 10 yards out

he shamefully turns the canoe around and paddles back to shore...

such a rebel

last stop... Bahamas

we loaded a sail boat and sailed out to a snorkeling spot

just chillaxin'

i have to admit i did not get in the water here.

it was a little chilly out and the water was even chillier...

sorry, couldn't get myself to do it.

i loved on sweet baby Heath instead.

back on the boat...

so much to do... shows, ice skating, swimming, flow rider,

mini golf, arcades, shopping,

rock climbing, playing cards, food, food and more food

modeling their stylin' rock climbing shoes

preparing to try out the climbing wall...

a game of volley ball while waiting for his turn to climb...

lookin sweet in the helmet

johns favorite activity on the boat... riding the flow rider...

nice posture

wipe outs were the funniest

waiting so patiently for his next turn

the view from our balcony...

this picture doesn't do justice for the amazing sunsets that we saw.

Great vacation but glad to be

back home with the kiddos...

thank you uncle john and uncle caleb for taking such good care of our babies...

they are all missing you

little added treat:

just a sample of what we had to deal with on the boat...

no shame makes for some excellent people watching

yes, he is wearing socks and shoes and yes, that is an ice cream cone in his hand