We've Got the Whole Wide World in our Yard to Explore....

We spent some time in the backyard today. I'm really enjoying my new Mother's Day present - a new swing! I can sit in the backyard and relax while the kids play and daddy waters the flowers. The past couple of days we noticed that we have a very large amount of tiny tiny frogs. They are as small as pumpkin seeds (if not smaller!) We really aren't sure where they came from. We've done some research and they have to have a water source for the tadpoles but we don't know where the water source is. There are so many of them and they are all around our flower beds! The kids love to find them and catch them. I tried to take a picture of some that we caught in this bucket but I'm not sure the picture really shows just how small they are. Does anyone know how they got in our backyard??? The other pictures are just some I took while we were outside. Madeline is exploring the mud puddle that was created when daddy drained the pool - She's very inquisitive. I know she'll be a scientist or something :) The other pictures are of the girls playing with the water hose while daddy cleaned out their pool. Summertime is such a fun time of year!!

The Gymnastics Little Olympics...

Madeline participated in her first gymnastics "Olympics" tonight. She has been in gymnastics for a little over a year now and tonight was her big performance. She was VERY excited! She is a "Shining Star" in her class (the 4 and 5 year olds) and they all performed together. Basically, they showed off all of the different types of skills they have been working on in their classes - the mat, the beam, the bars and the trampoline. Madeline's favorite is the trampoline - she loves to do "seat drops" :) She practices on the bed all the time. Well, tonight, she really had fun. Each child was even given a medal and of course, Madeline LOVED hers! She said it can go right next to her Chuck E. Cheese birthday medal and that Susanna can't touch it! Susanna had a lot of fun watching and next year she will get to participate in the Olympics herself!

A Fishing Trip with Papa and Dylan

Today we went with Papa and Dylan and took the girls fishing. Madeline and Dylan were really the only ones fishing - Susanna doesn't have a pole yet. Both Madeline and Dylan caught one fish each. Dylan caught the first fish and it was so funny! I think this was the first fish he's ever caught and he DID not like catfish!! Madeline caught the next fish and it was pretty big! The biggest she's ever caught. We threw them both back into the lake. I think the girls can't wait to go again!

Fun at the Lake

We decided to take the kids to lake Arcadia after church on sunday. It was a really nice day and the lake wasn't all that crowded for a holiday weekend. It's a pretty nice lake. Mommy found a nice shade tree to sit under and just listen to a radio and relax. We really had a fun time!

Several New Posts...

This has been a very eventful week! I have lots of pictures of our recent activities. Spring is a busy time for us!!

A Birthday Party!!

We also celebrated Dylan's 5th birthday this weekend. We went to Pump It Up, one of the kids favorite places. They really enjoyed themselves! Here are a few pictures of the fun...

Getting Ready for a New Baby Boy...

I had my baby shower this weekend. It was a very nice shower, hosted by two very close friends. They really outdid themselves and made it a very special day for me. I was lucky to have some of my closest friends and family there. (thank you to those who could only be there in spirit - May is a busy month!) It was so different....I'm so used to getting pink this or flowery that with my two girls. Now that we're expecting a boy I'm getting used to the color blue and puppies and dinosaurs. I received so many nice and thoughtful gifts...this baby is going to have plenty of new clothes and toys! I don't know who all we've told, but we have decided to name him Philip Matthew Kendall. (That is, if we don't happen to change our minds before we fill out the birth certificate.) But, I don't think we will. We're pretty set on this name. Thank you everyone who made it to the shower!! Thanks to my two awesome friends who provided the fun and games and the yummy food! And thanks to T for the beautiful diaper cake!!!