So Tyler had a work trip to a United Way training in Orlando and we were lucky enough to be able to add me on to his trip- work paid for my plane ticket and 2 nights of hotel, and we got the corporate rate for our extra nights too- so my WONDERFUL Grandma and Mother took care of the kiddos so I could go! We have not had a vacation just us in about 6 years!

So here we are tired on the bus to the hotel

Here is Tyler with Tony! Yeah they're tight like that ;)

Here is the view from our balcony- the resort had 5 pools! I LOVED it!

Here is Tyler at the pool, trying out my nook

We are the most evil parents and went to Disney World without our kids...I KNOW! But the training was right in the park at the resort and we couldn't go all that way and not go!

So here we are posing with a Buzz statue at Downtown Disney

And me kissing a pirate- I knew Kaden would get a kick out of this.

The pic in front of Cinderella's castle at the Magic Kingdom

It was really fun and good to get away with Tyler. It also made me REALLY want to take the kids to D-Land next year...hopefully we can make it happen!

Ok I haven't had much to blog about lately- we've been enjoying the intermittent good weather and hanging out- but I DO have lots of cute pictures that I MUST share! So here's is a smattering of pics from the last few weeks:

Mom sandwich!

Fun at Grandma Carolyn's

Grandma spoiled them and took them to Chuck E Cheese

Iron-Mia

Happy Kaden!

Mia LOVED this and cried when we had to go without it :)

We hang out with Grandma a lot while Kaden's in school

Happy Mia reading a book in my bed

Mia took a tumble at a friend's, but she's OK!

Tyler trying out a sweet ride...

I have SUPER kids

SOCCER is here again! With Grandpa Kent- who almost never misses a game :)

It's so funny, Kaden sprouted up the most out of his team over the winter...

Some cool games at first but it's getting nicer...

Mia vanquished her enemies! She has to do whatever the boys are doing.

We have been busy lately- Mia took her first swim lessons, Kaden started soccer, Kyson exited speech therapy and will soon turn 3! Darci and Ty had a getaway/work trip...so excited for the rest of summer!

We returned from our trip on Mother's Day and I couldn't have been happier! I missed my kids a lot- even if it was nice to relax. They were SO excited to see us and when I got home they had the cutest gifts for me- Nana and Grandma helped them each pick out some gifts- earrings from the boys and a wallet from Mia (thanks!) and then Kaden had made this paper "me" at school- it was SO adorable! The card says, "Best Mom: She helps me reach what I can't reach. I love her sooo much because: She is beautiful! Love, Kaden" It was nice to know the kids love and appreciate me :) I also got my Nook for mother's day- but got it early to take on my trip!
It was also a blessing to be able to spend Mother's Day with MY mom! I have not done that in about 10 years since she lives so far away...I'm so happy she was able to come out and help and spend time with us all! I'm so glad we are friends, mom- you have always been there for me no matter what and I always know I can talk to you about anything.
LOVE YOU, MOM!
I also have to say I have a pretty great Mother-In-Law too! She is not mean or scary like I thought Mother-In-Laws were ;-) We like spending time with her. She loves my husband and kids and is a great mom and grandma. We LOVE you too, Diana!
And finally my Grandma Carolyn- she does SO much for us all- we will never be able to repay her. She is such a great example of service, patience, and love. She has been my stand-in mom for the last 10 years and I don't know what I'd do without her sometimes!!! We LOVE you, we LOVE you, we LOVE you GRANA!

Easter was SO fun this year- it started out with a couple of Easter Egg Hunts-

(Here's Mia, the boys wouldn't let me get a pic!)

Here they are on Easter Morning: Mia is not sure why it's such a big deal

The boys

Kaden all dressed up in his Easter clothes- very dashing:

Kyson wouldn't sit still for a good pic- actually Kaden was the only cooperative one. Here he is looking dapper:

And of course, princess Mia. She always loves to get dressed up but wouldn't smile because she was too tired:

She finally smiled after church because Daddy snuck her home to have a nap in between :)

Happy Easter, everyone!

Mia had her 15 month well check today- we waited about 45 min for the Dr. and she was so hilarious the whole time- rearranging furniture, finding left-by-other-kid toy cars and pushing them around the room (in her diaper), opening and closing every cabinet 3 times, getting spun on the Dr.'s stool (Yeah I know that's how Ky broke his arm- we were careful!!!), and when the Dr. finally found us she was laying on the tile floor- out of ideas and energy.

She certainly keeps me busy- luckily I have her brothers to entertain her a lot of the time. She always has to be doing what they do- she plays 'fight' with action figures, swings swords and 'shoots' lasers (she says"pshew, pshew, pshew!"), she has this weird and constant affinity for stuffing all of the zu-zu pets and toy dog into the toy kitchen's washing machine. She is also very girly- she LOVES putting on and taking off jewelry & hair bows. She LOVES shopping for clothes and then wearing them- especially dresses.

She doesn't say too much that we understand, and isn't a fan of repeating after us, but she understands what we say to her about 90% of the time (i.e. where's your baby? let's go bye-bye, get your jammies on etc...) She babbles to herself a lot and does say "mama, dada, yes, that, doggie, hi", and some animal noises. And the other night Tyler asked her if she was going swimming and we swear she said, "swimming, mom!" as she grabbed my legs to pick her up and go.
We love her to pieces- she is so sweet and snuggly all of the time! She is our little princess and she knows it :)
Her stats:
Weight: 21 Lbs 3.5 oz (25%)
Height: 31.25 Inches (75%)
Head: 18.75 (90%)
Dr. says she looks beautiful and healthy (though we will keep an eye out to make sure her body grows into her head...)

Mia's lunch today:

3 chicken nuggets
8 oz milk
1- slice peanut butter & jelly sandwich
1 cup strawberry yogurt

Growth spurt maybe?

Oh yeah, and she's on the move too- full on walking all the time. Watch out, world!

February was pretty boring around here- I'll just post some pics I took!

Lola is now pushing 50 lbs! She is still the calmest puppy we've ever owned and doing really well with obedience class!

One of MiaJolie's favorite foods is PIZZA.

After that messy meal she needed a bath. She kept asking to wear this silly bathing cap.

She also likes to help clean up the dishes...

We LOVE us some MadBrook Donuts!

Kaden is getting so grown up lately! He is doing great with school and can't wait for soccer to start again!

Mia is growing up too- her hair is WAY longer even than her 1st birthday a month ago and she has gotten so toddler-sized all of a sudden- I think it's the extra protein she's getting now she eats more and drinks whole milk.

Sharing a book with brother in the basket!

Kyson loves her too!

We did repaint our room and bathroom- I LOVE it- it's so peaceful and relaxing now. I don't know what I was thinking when I did the "mustardy" (supposed to be a soft gold) paint before.