It's gettin' hot outside!!

Hamilton has a pretty fun Memorial Day Parade. This is our 3rd year of going and it's great. it's near our house and easy access. And the kids scored some candy.

Most of the group. We went w/ Meyerson's and our friends the Gruber's and Carpenter's. Our other friends the Simmons showed up and sat by us too. It was fun! But oh so hot!

Eliza w/ Ali. Look at the red cheeks! I also now have about 5 million frisbees!

Later that week we got the pool up. The 2 little ones had so much fun playing in it that I didn't make them get out when they got their clothes drenched!

Since our neighbors huge tree dropped a limb on our bush and killed it we've got this lovely hole in the ground. It's been therapeutic for Chase so I've just left it. This is where you'll find the kids most of the time now. And of course Chase is always in some new ensemble!

I was sitting at the computer and Eliza started making this face at me. It was a hoot!!

A promised getaway in a hotel

I've gone through a serious cleansing and purifying stage of my home. i can't stand any clutter or extra broken toys, or clothes we don't need. So to encourage the kids to part w/ toys they didn't want I bribed them. I told them if they sold them at our garage sale then we'd use the proceeds to stay in a hotel. They were eager and our garage sale was a success!

So we took them a mere hour away Memorial Day weekend and stayed in a Marriot Residence Inn and we had a blast! (We went west-AWAY from the shore!) Lexi came too-she's our rent-a-daughter.

We swam, jumped, flipped, played ball...

Snuggled up and watched a movie.

See-so snuggly!!

Our room was great. Lexi had the pull-out couch to herself. Eliza was in the same room in a pack-n-play. We had our own room w/ king-bed (oh, how I want one!) and the boys shared another room. It was great!

Chase chillin' out.

The next morning we went to Round Valley State Park and it was great! They have a sandy beach at the Reservoir and we didn't swim b/c there were some nasty people in there-but the kids loved the sand.

Digging and generally working hard.

We sat in the shade and chilled.

She is drinking gatorade and not urine. Felt the need to clarify.

This was serious work. They loved it.

Then we drove to the other side of the reservoir to picnic and fish. We caught nothing, but had fun anyway!

She's obsessed w/ grabbing the camera!

I just love this picture of them swinging. Good, clean fun being had here!

Something about Eliza's legs in this pic freaks me out. Had to share.

She felt so important carrying this tackle box everywhere!

I love the contrast of all the colors. I love being outdoors!

The girls! And I swear I did Lexi's hair-something mysterious happened between that and this point. Wow!

She's still having a good time! As we all did!

Misc. from May

Phil took the boys to a Trenton Thunder game. He had "fun."

Chase has decided he loves cherry tomatoes! Someone besides me likes them-hooray!

Here he goes!

He was concerned at first-then decided it was a hit!

Ninja-boy. he's wearing my dad's ski mask and Lexi's karate uniform. ha!

Dad reading w/ the kids. Little Black Sambo to be exact!

Chase's friend Tessa was coming over and he was sooooo excited. He and Eliza sat here at the door for almost a full hour before they got here!

Eliza is so different than the boys. She will sit quietly and do most anything. This is the Tag Reader which she'll do for 30 minute stretches. Loooove that!

My yard this Spring. The tire swing is a new addition!

I love when it all turns green again. Good-bye winter!

Easter-A holiday celebrated months ago

Miss Lexi w/ her carrot patch creation

Little Chase who later had a fever which is why he looks a bit off.

My beatiful patch.

Jackie is SUPER excited about hers!

She had fun munching as she worked.

The whole crew dyeing eggs too late at night!!

Poor Chase's neck was hurting. He's so pampered!

Sacked out on the couch!

I can't remember if Lex was really asleep-but a cute pic anyway!

Easter Egg Hunting

It's now totally cut-throat w/ the 3 older kids!

Gone are the days of lazily helping like I am here w/ my girl!

Lexi means business.

Miss Addy enjoyed a front row seat during the action.

Easter Morn. We did all the festivities the day before b/c Doug and Jack had to head home after church.

Cute little bunnies!

She looks snobby and it makes me laugh.

Who is this beautiful gem blowing bubbles. Heaven help me.

Oh, here we are back at the hunt. Blogger doesn't make moving pics easy so I just won't!

Doug is our special uncle. :)

Later Chase took the gals for a ride.

He's pretty proud, not so sure Addy liked it. Lucy is dying to get in!

Little bathing beauties.

3 clean, pink, binky-loving, thumb-sucking, lovey/taggy-loving babies. So cute!!

Eating our Easter Feast. YUM!

Um-Happy Easter a few months ago!