Full Spring Ahead! (Or Rather "Behind")

The calendar may say that spring will last for another whole month, but in this household spring is almost over and summer is right around the corner- next week in fact! And this year we went full steam- or full spring- ahead. And what a full spring it was!

This spring was full of love.

We went on dates. A few months ago we made a deal with Nichole and Connor that we would take turns watching the other's kids so that we could go on date nights- and it's been so great! Our kids get to play with some of their best friends, and mom and dad get to have some much needed grown up time. 

We loved up on our siblings. And when I say siblings, I mostly mean Allie. How can you not love up on a face like that!? The bigs are just smitten with her, and she feels the same way about them.

This spring was full of family.

We met our newest cousin. The kids are swooning over Anna, even if they don't always remember her name still. She might always be known as yay-yay's baby, but we sure love her!

We celebrated Easter. It was a beautiful weekend celebrating our risen Savior. We hunted eggs, ate all the food, and had so much fun.

We celebrated Mother's Day. We wouldn't be here if it weren't for our moms, so we enjoyed showing them a little love, myself included.

We played with cousins. With our date nights, we now also have cousin nights too! I love the bond that these guys have. 

We welcomed our niece Anna to the kingdom of God through baptism, and Eric was privileged enough to stand up by her side as her godfather.

This spring was full of fun. 

We flew kites. The twins got kites for Christmas and have begged pretty much since opening them up on Christmas morning to go outside and fly them. We finally had some warmer windy days and busted them out. They are fans!

We jumped on the trampoline. It has been a staple of our outdoor play since we got it, and I don't see that changing any time soon.

We rode the four wheeler. Looking for deer, heading to the pond to fish, just a joy ride around the block or to the woods. The kids love going for a little ride.

We played at the park. It's always fun to play on things that we don't have at home, and the kids love when we surprise them with a trip to the park to play!

We planted trees. Brayden and Ashley got trees at preschool for Arbor Day in April and Eric helped them plant them in the yard. We just saw this week that they've started putting on little pinecones, and the kids were really excited about that.

We went to a Cardinal's game. Eric and I had been talking about taking the kids to a game this year, but the summer can get so hot, and there's always so much going on. So when a free Saturday afternoon popped up this spring with a beautiful forecast, we bought some bleacher seats, loaded up the kids (sans Allison), and headed to St. Louis. We learned new vocabulary- overpass- which was often said as an "overbridge" or an "underpass", but we'll get there. Their favorite part was the train ride to the game, Katie might have yelled "Go Eagles" every chance she got, and we might have lost most interest in the game by the 3rd or 4th inning, but we managed to stay for almost all of the game and the kids walked away with smiles on their faces, so I'd call it a successful day. 

We celebrated Brayden and Ashley finishing up their preschool year. These two LOVED school. Miss Kimberly and Miss Pam were so great to them, and they already talk about how they miss seeing them every day. We were able to watch them put on the cutest little program and get their graduation certificates. And then we had to do a little celebration for their official last day of school this week- on to Kindergarten we go!

We went camping. The weather has not been on our side this spring. It cancelled one weekend of camping, and almost cancelled another one. We waited for the storms to roll through before heading to the campsite last weekend. We are huge fans of camping, so I'm so glad that we were finally able to get out there and enjoy some relaxing time. I was a little nervous about Allison and sleeping in the camper, but she was the definition of perfection and napped and slept like an absolute champ. How she manages to sleep through all the crazy of the big three is beyond me, but we are thankful for it! Nichole and Connor even brought their kids over for the afternoon that Saturday for extra fun!

Spring was so full I'm just now thinking to write it all down. But like I said, summer is just around the corner- and it's looking to be even more full than this spring. Here's to all the fun to be had!

Spring Fever

Illinois weather has been crazy so far this spring- warm, then cold, and then warm again. I'd moved all our long sleeve things to the back of our closets a few weeks ago only to have to reach back there daily again when that last cold front came through. But I'm hoping this warmer weather we've had the past few days is here to stay for good- we are definitely catching the spring fever!

We started the month with a little egg coloring with our cousins. Getting these guys together is always so fun!

Up next was Easter! The Blievernicht Easter saw the kids meeting the Easter bunny. It was Brayden and Ashley's second time meeting him (or her?) since the EB came to daycare that week as a surprise. So they warmed up pretty easily to him.

 

Katie on the other hand, clearly not a fan. But, such a classic first Easter Bunny picture ha!

Brayden and Ashley had the best time during the candy hunt. 

 

I don't know who bought the candy for that hunt, but man oh man they bought a lot! Brayden filled his basket to the brim, and continued to fill it until candy was falling out of it. Uncle James even snuck him some candy out of his pocket for him to put in his basket. 

Ashley decided to be the nice sister she is and filled up both her and Katie's baskets. Once carrying both baskets was too heavy, she happily finished filling hers to the top. We won't be running low on candy for a while!

That afternoon we made our way back to Dan and Theresa's house for the Flood Easter. The winner here was the bouncy house. Brayden and Ashley played in that thing with Emmy all afternoon. The bond these three share is so special, and I love watching how they play each time we are together. 

Easter morning the kids saw that the Easter Bunny visited after we got home from church. I think Brayden and Ashley are pretty excited about their new big wheel bikes, even if they can't quite reach the pedals yet.

And Katie was just excited to be included in on the fun.

That afternoon was the Wolf Easter and we attempted a decent family photo in front of the giant Easter Bunny my grandpa had made. Maybe one day we will get better at family pictures. Also, don't mind the crocs- that was one battle I wasn't fighting that day ha! 

The kids enjoyed an egg hunt outside, and we all soaked in the fresh air.

 

When it got a little too cold to play outside, we made the most of our time indoors. We danced to "Rolly Rolly" (Rolex), jumped on the bed, played peek-a-boo, and even built a blanket tent.

 

But when the weather has been nice, we've been outside as much as humanly possible. A blanket in the front yard (where the dogs can't reach us since Katie is terrified of them) has been our home base on nice evenings. 

 

Balls, bubbles, bikes, flowers, truck rides, fires, and s'mores has been the tune to our spring so far. And I hope it stays that way all spring and summer long.