And a Canine Makes Seven

Bobby went to get his bi-yearly dental cleaning and the next thing I know we're talking about getting a puppy. What just happened?? Our hygienist, Erica, come to find out, is a regular breeder of registered Labs and she just happened to have a litter of puppies. Bobby and I both have a soft spot for labs so we got suckered in:) The kids and I went out to her house to pick the one we wanted when they were about 5 weeks old. Good gracious that was tough. They were all so cute! We ended up picking this gal because she crawled up in Cade's lap and fell asleep. 

About three weeks later we were able to pick her up. She came home to much fanfare. Can you say "overstimulated"???

We all agreed on the name Annie. 

She really is just as cute as can be. Right now she's pretty good and doesn't do much whining. 

 And she's pretty good at napping when the kids are swimming:)

The next time Bobby and I have 18 minutes of free time in a weekend and we decide to do something crazy, tell us to get a fish. There's no potty training involved with that! 

Some Four Year Old Pics

I took a few pictures of Elaina before her birthday party. Here are a few of my favorites:

FOUR

Today was Elaina's FOURTH birthday. Four years of sugar and spice and everything nice:) She woke up to her most favorite breakfast of donuts.

Birthday song, 

candle blow out, and then we were off for our day! 

 We spent the day at the ballpark which thankfully is the place she loves most! 

That tank top was brown at the end of the day and she was dirty from head to toe. I think she would say that that qualifies this as a great birthday:)

FOUR!

Elaina's fourth birthday day was full of things she loves. The first: Doughnuts! 

And second, baseball! We spent her actual birthday day watching brothers play and honestly, she couldn't have been happier to do so:) 

Sugar and spice (more spice than sugar:) ) and everything nice (unless you make her mad), that's what this little girl is made of! 

It's a Paw Patrol Party!

Every year Elaina wishes for a pool party but the weather just doesn't cooperate! It was still a bit too chilly to be swimming. We had the balloon guy come instead and he was a total hit! 

She wanted Paw Patrol to be her party theme since it's her most favorite cartoon show. I'm no crafty mama but I did put the food in dog bowls (yessss, they were clean!) and put "puppy food" in them. 

Elaina spent most of her time racing her friends. She's always up for a good competition! 

There was also a lot of bootie shakin' going on around the pool:) It's always fun to have the music on when the kids are there. Rhett pulled out moves no one even could've topped if they tried!

Elaina and a handful of her party buds:

Elaina and Garrison...two peas in a pod:)

Henry:

Cake time! Make a wish and blow out the candles! 

Presents! 

Her "big" present from us was a bike this year. Hopefully we can find some time to start learning without those training wheels! 

Happy Fourth birthday, Elaina! 

Celebrating Easter!

I love Easter celebration. Along with the joy we have knowing that we serve a risen Savior there is also the promise of spring sunshine and warmer temps. Easter means summer is even closer...and I LOOOVE summer:) The kiddos posed for our yearly Easter photo after church. I used to get all fancy-like with their clothes when they were babes but now...eh. Let's dress up in what we've got and roll on. They're handsome/beautiful either way! 

Elaina did our church's yearly egg hunt and she let Pastor Bunny hold her for a picture. We've come a long way since it wasn't too long ago that PB made her cry:)

Elaina met up with one of her bffs, Garrison. 

And, off to hunt! 

Sunday after church is always our cousin egg hunt. This year it was warm enough for Elaina to change out of her church dress right into her swim suit! 

I never have gotten into the tradition of doing easter baskets from the bunny. I think it probably stems back to me forgetting one year and no one made a fuss so I figured from then on I'd just make my life a little less complicated and not even fool with that. What we do do is hide a bunch of money eggs and the kids go nuts about that. 

Rhett made off with the $10 egg this year! 

This is probably one of my most favorite pictures of all time. Look at little Sugar Sweetness in her suit with all of those colorful eggs!  I just think she's beautiful:)

G counted up all of his money. I think he ended up with around 30 bucks when all was said and done! I think that's pretty good for an egg hunt! 

And, here's my Cader Tater. He's growing up...sigh. 

His stash wasn't too shabby! Pile o' money, pile o' rolos. What more could you ask for? 

Another wonderful Easter celebration in the books. I'm thankful for these kids of mine that run amuck and hunt eggs, for sunny days of spring, and for my Jesus that loved me enough to die for me but could not be contained by the grave! 

Is It Time Yet?

These kids are dying to jump in the pool! Not much longer!!