Easter

Coloring Easter Eggs

The finished eggs and I must say that the house is still sparkly.

Donny left flowers for the Civil War soldiers on Easter Sunday. 

Donny didn't want to go to church on Easter morning.  He did request that we buy flowers and visit Grandpa and Grandma's grave before we went to Aunt Kee-Kee's for Easter Dinner.

April Update

I asked Abigail to put the case of seltzer in the cabinet.  About a half and hour later she was still putting can away.  She was very quite and working hard so I didn't bother her.  It wasn't until later that night when I wanted a seltzer that I realized what took her so long.  She used a Sharpie and wrote a love note to Big Daddy and I on every can.

Big Daddy and I were having a cocktail when Donny ran in the room jumped on the back of the couch and posed just long enough for me to snap this photo.  Love those legs.

Abigail put this note on my bedroom door. :-) 

The kids ran outside to play on the first warm day in April.  They were out playing for hours.  I was finally called to see their creation of wildlife in the yard.

Hardware

Donny went to the orthodontist yesterday to have his spacer removed.  We were told in October if the space between his two front teeth was still there Donny would need braces.  By December it seemed as though the spacer was doing the job because the space between his teeth was almost gone.  I dropped the idea of braces since things were going well. Imagine my surprise when I received a text at work from Big Daddy telling me the orthodontist was putting braces on Donny's teeth. I can't believe my little man is even more handsome with the new hardware.

Clothes

Big Daddy asked Abigail to go to her room and pick out an outfit to wear to school tomorrow.   She called us into her room about ten minutes later to see what she choose.  And this is what we found...

Feed the Cat

The four of us were enjoying a nice Sunday breakfast when Lovely scratched on the window.  Big Daddy asked Abigail to feed and water Lovely and Abigail went right to the task.  Abigail cannot reach the faucet at the kitchen sink so she used the bathroom sink.  By the time she arrived at the front door she had water all over her shirt.  "I gave myself a shower,"  she said with a laugh.  I thought the way she said it was so funny I said, "No she didn't."  Her reply, "Yes I did."  The belly laugh coming from Donny was music to my ears.

Antique

Donny and I went antiquing last weekend and had a wonderful day.  We were looking for a dresser for Abigail's room.  I was surprised by the thought Donny put into each piece we found.  We had so much fun we brought Big Daddy and Abigail along with us on the second trip.  The photos below are what happened when the girls went their separate way.

The piece we bought for her room.

Missed Time

This is what she will do for a piece of candy that she enjoyed in a warm bubble bath.

This is what happens while I am at work.

Donny requested this photo as his birthday picture.

I snapped this without them knowing.  Donny was reading to Abigail.

Finally getting a new kitchen floor. 

Happy 8th Birthday to my boy.

I found this note Donny left for me on the kitchen floor.

Decorating Christmas cookies.

The last night in the castle bed.

Last Abigail and mommy photo in the castle bed.

The cheese was not vegan so off to the hospital.  He is such a trooper.

The hives on his back were so bad that he scratched himself and left these marks.

Donny earned his Bobcat Badge.

Snow Day!!!

I will never get my dress back.

Making the Fella Cake for the Blue and Gold Dinner.

The Fella Cake.

Abigail's new dresser.

Another snow day.

The Christmas Spectacular.

A trip to see Big Daddy.

Character Day at school.

Here are two videos that Abigail made.  I have tried every possible way I could think of to transfer from my phone and nothing worked.  Unfortunately, these links must be used to view the video:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152091209982779&l=3593789773962552337

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152111873572779&l=180358004949470545

She's Five

Abigail asked if we were going to make her cake on the grill. After two birthdays without power, I guess she thinks it is normal. I decided to make her a little ice cream cake. Donny went out of his way to make her happy which wasn't easy because the past few days have caught up to her and there were many tears tonight.  If you look closely at the photos you can tell she just finished crying.

For You

Big Daddy suggested Abigail mix her cous cous with the mashed cauliflower,  "Daddy, I'm only eating this white stuff to impress you."

Surprise Trip

Big Daddy and I spent Sunday the 25th packing for a surprise trip to Ohio. I rented a travel trailer and had it delivered to my father's house. The kids had no idea we were doing anything.  In fact, as we packed around them they didn't seem to notice.  They finally caught on by the end of the day but thought we were going back to Jellystone.

We pulled out of the driveway around 5:30 the next morning.  I gave Donny a map and told him to follow along and he might figure out where we were going.  He lost interest and six hours later read the Welcome to Ohio sign.  "Since we are in Ohio can we visit Grandpa?"   We spent the night two hours from our final destination.  I realized the last time we took the trip Abigail was only six months old so we made quite a few stops making the trip much longer. 

The kids were so happy when we pulled in the driveway at Grandpas and when they found out we were sleeping in the travel trailer it was pure joy.  Donny was able to spend a lot of time with Grandpa and even got to ride in the Model T to a car show; no car seat or seat belt.  Big Daddy, Abigail and I met them at the car show.  Donny walked up to us and told us we could go.  I was so glad they could spend that time together.  Donny is going to remember his outing with Grandpa for the rest of his life.

Grandpa joined us for a trip to Wright Patterson Air Force Base which has the best airplane museum in the county.  (my opinion)  Donny was beside himself and both of the kids were afraid of getting crushed by the aircraft hanging from the ceiling.   We attended the Heritage Festival on Saturday and I was so excited because I have not been there in years.   I wasn't happy about the heat.  It was hot!  When my sister and I were little we camped in the encampment with Dad.  I couldn't wait to show the kids the encampment.  A man dressed in mountain man garb walked passed us as we were entering the festival and I heard Donny say this is going to be awesome.  We spent the day with grandpa, Aunt Steph, Uncle Derrick and the cousins.

Our plan was to leave on Sunday but the cousins had such a good time together we decided to stay an extra day.  We spent the last night at Aunt Steph's and the kids played for the entire day.  We had two very tired little ones on the plus side they slept a lot on the drive home.

Abigail cleaning the Buckeyes we collected.  Grandma Barb helped the kids make Buckeye necklaces.

Donny helping Grandpa fix the lawnmower.

Grandpa and Donny leaving for the car show.

Grandpa's old house.  I love this house.

Donny eating his new favorite food an omelet.

Wright Patterson

Grandpa's Model T

Abigail wanted to know why the man was getting scolded.

Only in Ohio.

Need I saw more?

Outside of the museum.

Inside of the Indian Museum at the Heritage Festival.

Abigail skipped the magician to watch the Elvis impersonator.  She told Big Daddy that he wasn't the real Elvis because the real Elvis is dead.

Cousin Riley and Grandpa on the canal boat ride.

The pond behind the Johnston House



Grandpa and Grandma's beautiful deck was perfect for Abigail's photo shoot.

Our home for the week.

Piqua Heritage Festival

Johnston Farm