Easter

Daddy helping Parker with his tie before church

 

Parker exclaiming "I got cash!" upon opening an egg in the backyard after church.

Egg hunting 

On Grandma/Grandpa Stecher's steps after Easter photos at Portrait Innovations a few days before Easter.

Easter Photo with two boys....enough said! :)

Dying Eggs

*Note to self* Prepare egg dye before bringing everyone to table saying "It's time to dye-Easter eggs"  

Egg dye takes a significant amount of time to dissolve and prepare..especially in the eyes of a 1 and 3 year old! 

AT LAST!!!!

The finished product!  The Easter Bunny hid these 12 eggs around the house to be found before church, and Parker and Carson found all 12 in record time.  Even the tricky ones!

Egg Hunt

Saturday before Easter we took the boys to Naibi Zoo for their egg hunt.  It was early...like 8:30AM early!  It was also chilly for the day before Easter...

As we were waiting for the "hunt" to begin I randomly looked over and who do I see?  My cousin Brandon's wife and 2 kids!!  It was so good to run into them I made them all pose together for a photo!

 Once the hunt began it was all business!

 Parker was very kind and gave a little boy who didn't have a "golden" egg one of the gold ones he was holding.

He also "conqured" a fear and agreed to let "The Zookeeper" take his photo with him... 

His brother however, that's a different story! 

You will also notice there are no pictures with the Easter Bunny...The "Zoo Keeper" is one thing, but everyone has to draw their line somewhere! 

Grandma/Grandpa Chloe endured the chilly temperatures with us and enjoyed watching the boys run through the zoo!

Last dose of Winter

Well it happened.  I had my first bombardment of: "Mom, can I go to ________ to play after school?"  

This happened as I was literally walking into the babysitter's door to pick the boys up one day after school.  We had just gotten a few more inches of snow the night before and the weather was close to 40.  Perfect for a snow play date.  

Parker had a RIOT on the swings with his buddy!  He was taught how to pump his legs and swing high as he and his friend sang made up superhero songs...priceless! 

Being pulled on the sled is almost as fun as going down hill on one! (and it gave all adults a good workout ;))

I'm glad I accepted this impromptu invitation!  The kids had a ball!

So Big!

Parker has just realized he can now reach the light switches to turn the lights on...all the lights...every light in the house....he think's he's hot stuff.

His brother has also discovered the wonderful world of the bathroom...what is it with boys and the bathroom?  I thought is was funny to see this picture and remember back to when Parker was about the same age....

Strangely similar, yes?

St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day brought my dad's 65th birthday.  For his 65th b-day, mom, dad, Justin, Sara and I went to the condo at the lake.  We had a nice visit, and a great time shopping.  Dad and I even braved the lake for a boat ride.  BRRRRR! is all I have to say about that, but I would do it again in a heartbeat! :)

The Original Vancil Family

...we're missing a few people in this photo now.....

 Parker, Carson, and Travis spend some time with Grandma/Grandpa "Chloe" that weekend.

They certainly had the Irish spirit with them! 

They thought it was really cool to spend time in Travis' room and have a slumber party with daddy! Everyone slept all through the night.   

 There was plenty of play time too!

Everyone had a great St. Patrick's Day weekend!

Snow Day 2013

Today Carson experienced his first snow day!

Last year was an exception to the Illinois rule of all schools have at least one snow day ;)

This year we are back on track.  It started snowing this morning about 7AM and other than a short break around 5PM it hasn't stopped!

We made the most of the day playing inside, but by afternoon, and seeing neighbors down the street having built a large snowman, we couldn't resist joining in the fun!

You will notice our snowman has two faces, thus you can see him from the street and our front window. 

Front yard snow fort always a plus, you never know what to do with all that snow you shovel from your sidewalk...well Travis found a great use of the snow!  

Watch mom!  I can be a snow plow for the slide!

 

 He shoots...He scores!!!

A Hot Chocolate warm up...really a luke warm warm up due to our power being out for a few hours this afternoon....while we were playing in the snow...and coming in cold wanting to warm up...

After the power came back on, a tasty dinner, a warm bath, footie PJ's and snuggle time in BaBo's bed, we were ready for snow day 2013 to come to an end. 

Happy Snow Day 2013!

Superhero Valentine

Parker loves superheros.

We found these super cute, easy valentines to make for his buddies. Parker was delighted to add the face mask to each hero...although I was told repeatedly that 

"Flash does NOT have a cape mom!"

The coveted Batman valentine goes to his "best buddy" Sawyer. 

We printed the symbols and wording at Staples on card stock

We got the stiff felt, ribbon and suckers at Wal-mart

 Tah-Dah....

A bevy of superheros 

 

Carson took Toy-Story, Buzz Lightyear valentines with stickers.  We'll go homemade next year. He didn't mind.

Early Valentines

Will you be my Valentine?

Sickness

We have been sick FOREVER! or at least that is how it seems.  We have been sick long enough, I don't remember the last time we had a full week of someone not being ill at our house....maybe Christmas?!?

We have had influenza (un diagnosed), viruses, ear infections, colds, influenza (AGAIN, different person) (not A or B, although screened twice,"but some other strain", is what we were told), bronchitis, and most recently, a 5 day all inclusive full family (including my mom) stomach flu, YUCK!

All sickness is now BANNED from our house for the remainder of the season!  That being said, the boys are finally feeling better, and are happy to be feeling good at the same time!