Easter 2010 ( a little late as usual!)

Thank goodness for digital cameras to help me remember the special events in our lives since I can't seem to get them blogged very efficiently! We had a super fun Easter weekend with my cousin Patty and her family. They were down from Minneapolis so we had to show them a good time . We started the weekend off with a visit to Living History Farms for their Family Easter party. Usually I try to avoid crowds but it was a really fun time with lots of activities for the kids. They had some good food, egg coloring, a toy hunt, a pancake relay, a bonnet relay and of course the Easter Bunny. It was a beautiful day to be outside. Carter went to Grandma and Grandpa's for the night with Patty and Paul, so I just had to hide eggs for Claire. Although this was the first time she had hunted for eggs, she instantly knew what to do and tried to open them! We went to Grandma and Grandpa's for an Easter feast and more Easter baskets. We all headed back to Des Moines to stay at the new indoor water park. It was so much fun! Paige and Carter had a blast playing together and Claire showed NO FEAR! I initially helped her down the small waterslide, then she mastered it on her own, going down no less than 200 times. Then she slyly pointed to the pirate ship wanted to go down the bigger slide. Again I helped her at first until she waved her bye to me as if to say, " I've got this mom" She went down the slide with her arms up in the air smiling the whole way. She then pointed to the HUGE water slide indicating she wanted to try it. So, Jeremy and I took turns taking her down that. She NEVER held on! Carter even commented on how brave his sissy was! We were all exhausted by the end of the night! What a fun time!

Claire throwing a tantrum telling us she did NOT want to get out of the pool!


Showing off her Easter basket goodies!

The pancake race is on!

Carter trying to convince 2 older girls to let him in front of them in line!

Wrestlemania, spring and 30ish

Okay, I know it is April, but I am just catching up with March so bear with me! We celebrated St. Patrick's Day in style, green hair, green beads, green clothes and green milk and mint chip ice cream to top off the night.

Jeremy's brother and his family were "back home" for a few days a couple of weeks ago. Jeremy and his brother have started a tradition of going to the NCAA wrestling tournament each year and this year it happened to be in Omaha. Carter had a blast playing with his only cousins and Claire held her own with all the boys! We all got to enjoy some wrestling action during the 3 day tournament even though the stomach flu hit the house! Uncle Al even got to escort one of the weight classes on the final night and hand out the trophies to the winners. We had so much fun and hated to see them go!

The kiddos plus Uncle Al playing a mean game of twister!

The Freeman Five

Sam and Carter checking out their new flashlights!

Our view from the nose bleed section!

Amazing Pizza Machine ROCKED!

Claire enjoying her ice cream after loading up on pizza!

Spring has finally sprung in Iowa and the kids and I enjoyed our first picnic of the season last week. It actually got a little too warm ( I can't believe I am saying that) for March with the temperatures hitting 84 here on Wednesday! Carter was able to dust his bike off and has set a goal for himself to get the training wheels off this summer. Claire can almost reach the pedals on Carter's old John Deere tricycle.

Lastly, I turned 30ish at the end of the month. Jeremy and the kids took me out to dinner and my co-workers spoiled me with treats. I spent the weekend scrapbooking at Walnut Place retreat in Valley Junction with some friends. I couldn't have asked for a better 30ish birthday! Here are some photos of me through the years, all I have to say is what was I thinking?

3 months

4th or 5th grade I think? I must have been in love with Elvis??

8th grade

Gotta love the rolled jeans, rolled shirt and button flys! Funny, my hair still looks the same in this picture as it does today!

We are spending Easter weekend with my family. My cousin and her family from Minneapolis are coming to town for the weekend. We are going to hit up some Easter egg hunts, dye eggs and spend the night at the new indoor water park in town. Claire tried on her swimsuit to see if it would fit...think I can get her out of the snowboots before she hits the pool? Happy Easter!