Happy Birthday Caleb!

We celebrated Caleb's 8th birthday last week. God truly blessed us with a wonderful first-born son. He's got his Daddy's blue eyes and his Mommy's freckles. He's very tender-hearted and cares deeply about others. Happy Birthday Caleb! I always try to make my kids' birthday special by making their cake. I included a few snapshots of some of them. If I find the missing one's I'll post them too. They may have been pre-digital camera days.

Where did my baby go?

Isaac started walking a couple weeks ago. The first day he stood alone he took his first step and has not stopped. He thinks he's a pro now and really gets into all the claps and cheers! He is growing up too fast.

IKEA

Welcome IKEA! Ohioans just got our first IKEA and it's only minutes from us. We took our first trip this week and of course had to blog the excitement. If you've never been to IKEA you've got to go. It is a Swedish home furnishings store with incredible prices. You browse through rooms and small homes and can purchase anything from the floor, the window coverings, the furniture, the appliances, the cabinets, and the salt and pepper shaker in the cabinets, and the dish towel hanging on the stove. It is 344,000 square feet so take your walking shoes. We ate at the Swedish restaurant/cafeteria in the store. Kids meals start at .99 including drinks! Every product has a funky Swedish name that you have no clue how to pronounce. We had so much fun the first time, we went back the next day with Grammy and Michele & Nate!

IKEA here we come

Looking for a parking place

Isaac loves IKEA!

Notice the flag on the cart advertising their kid's meals (IKEA prides themselves in being very child-friendly) they even have complimentary diapers in their family restroom!

This is SMALAND, a supervised children's play area where they can play while you shop!

Our purchases, Caleb got a PLUTT for his stuffed animals, Ella got KALAS plasticware, Abby got GLIS containers -- total $5.31 -- I love this place!

Easter Sunday

I love Easter Sunday morning. I love the miracle of the resurrection and the hope that it gives. It seemed a bit chilly for Easter Sunday but we had some beautiful sunshine. I love Caleb's smile in this picture. He is really giving it all he's got!



Isaac got his first real haircut at Great Clips last week. He looks so big and handsome! Here he is showing off his neat trim.

Happy Birthday, Ricky!

Happy 27th birthday to my baby brother, Ricky. And a HUGE congratulations on ace-ing your MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer). We are so proud of you!! He has been in Texas for the last 9 days working on his certification and just got back last night. He is a faithful lurker on my blog and threatened to hack my blog if I put up a picture he didn't approve of, but here it is. Love ya, Ricky!
Uncle Rick trying reverse physcology on Ella telling her NOT to smile for the camera.