Dinner with the Bonnett Family

Our friends the Bonnetts moved to New York last May. They came into town for a wedding that Kenneth will be doing this weekend. What a blessing it was to get to spend the evening with them. We had dinner at Texas Roadhouse and then a photo shoot behind the restaurant! I was reminded tonight how much I miss my friend Kristen. She was the first friend I made when we moved to Seminary and I am so thankful for her. I wouldn't have adjusted to life in Seminary as we knew it without her and her friendship! Kenneth and Kristen's kids have always been special to us. It was a joy to see them too! Hayley and Elijah have grown so much...Ava had a blast with them. The Cox family joined us for dinner also and their son Owen is just precious. Emet enjoyed dinner as usual, but was a little scared of the Happy Birthday song they sang to Ava and Kristen! (Ava and Kristen share the same birthday!)

Elijah, Hayley and Ava

Elijah, Emet, Ava, Hayley and Owen

"Bubby" (as Elijah is often called) and Emet

Bubby and Emet again!

Ava, Hayley and Owen

Kristen and Ava

Hayley, Kristen, Elijah, Kenneth, Shannon, Jeremy and Owen

The Bonnett Family

I miss them so much!

Spring Fling

The Academy had their annual Spring Fling today...what a fun time! Horse rides, inflatable slides, a bounce house, snow cones, a strong man, crafts, fun with friends and so much more! Did I mention it was 90 degrees here today? The kids were coated in sunscreen!

Ava's first ride (ever) on a horse!

Caleb

Addi on the slide...

and Ava too!

My favorite photo from the afternoon!

Piper

Strong Man...5x World Champion

(You saw it right...he is bending a frying pan!)

Tootsie Pop

Cupcake face!

Fun Meet

Ava has loved her gymnastics class this year! She gets excited to go on Tuesday evenings. Today was our Fun Meet at her gym. She got a new leotard and was able to show off the skills she has learned throughout the year. This was the first time she was on all of the equipment without me or Jon. We do her class with her each week. It is a parent and tot class. Today was different, she went with her teacher and some older gymnasts that were helping. I was proud of how hard she worked and how well she did! She had a blast!

Ava, Janet and Emet...Janet is a dear friend from church who came to watch Ava and take care of Emet so I could be the photographer!

On the rings

Spider Hang

Tumble Track

Smile

Jumping in the Pit!

Rope Swing

Whew! I am tired!

On the medal stand, and so proud!

Ava and her teacher Miss Kristen

Tractor Ride

We had some friend over to play on Thursday. Addison, Piper and Candace came to play with Ava and Emet. I enjoyed hanging out with Laura and Mariah while the kids played. When Laura and her girls left, Ava and Candace wanted to play outside. We ended up getting the tractor out and the girls took it for a ride...Emet just posed for the picture!

Playdate

We always enjoy getting together with the Richesons...and today was no different. We missed them last week. They went to Florida to visit Melissa's family! Today they came to our house and it was great to catch up and enjoy time together. Ava, Isaac, Melissa and I enjoyed a tea party and cupcake treats (thanks Isaac and Melissa for bringing the cupcakes!)! Ava and Isaac had a blast playing today...a little more active and silly than usual...but they had so much fun. Caleb and Emet will get there one day, but for now they pretty much just crawl around on the floor. I think Melissa and I enjoy the "playdates" as much, if not more than our kids. She is a great friend! I treasure her friendship and our time together!

Caleb...future hoops star!

"So Big!"

Say "Lightning McQueen!"

(It seriously took us thirty shots before we got them both looking and smiling...thank goodness for digital cameras!)

Being Silly

Laurel Hills Park

We met the Murdocks at Laurel Hills Park in Raleigh this morning. It was great to see our friends. Ava enjoyed playing with Connor, Mary Elaine and Madeline. And, as always, Emily and I enjoyed catching up. The kids played on the playground and we enjoyed a picnic lunch!

Ava on the playground

Emet and Mary Elaine

Ava, Mary Elaine and Emet

Connor, Mary Elaine, Emet, Madeline and Ava

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz....

Monday evening we had a Sweet Sisters meeting at church. Jon took the kids out to Ruby Tuesday to get his free birthday burger. When they got home he had bedtime duty all by himself because I was still at church. This is what I saw when I got home!

Jon and Ava asleep in the chair...Ava wanted to snuggle...they had fallen asleep watching "animals," aka Penguins of Madagascar! So sweet!

Backyard Bliss

A couple of weeks ago Jon dug some flower beds and mulched them. So, this morning I headed out with Janet, a sweet lady from our church, to get some plants and flowers for our yard. We shopped for a couple of hours and as soon as I got home I got to work. Everything is planted now, Jon finished weedeating and mowing...and now we can enjoy our beautiful back yard!

Emet loves the swing...he'd stay in all day if we'd let him!

Ava is really enjoying the swingset!

Our flower bed around the tree...

and the one next to the house!

If you can see the tall light things, those were a gift from Janet and Larry. They receive solar power during the day and light up at night! So cool! We enjoyed looking at them this evening. What a sweet gift from a very special couple!

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

We had a great day yesterday at the museum! I took Ava, Emet, Caleb and Logan to the Natural Science Museum in Raleigh. Christine, Zack, Xander and Pooja met us there. The kids had fun looking at all of the animals and playing in the discovery room. What a fun day!

Zack, Caleb and Ava in the tree exhibit!

Ava as a ladybug...Caleb as a raccoon...Zack as a fox!

Emet is looking up at the butterflies in the butterfly exhibit!

All the kiddos

Happy Easter and Happy Birthday!!!

We had a wonderful Easter celebrating the death and resurrection of our Jesus Christ! How blessed are we to serve a risen Savior! We were also able to celebrate Jon and Amy's 28th birthday on Sunday. We went to dinner with Don, Scarlet and Amy at Maggiano's, headed to Duke Gardens for our traditional Easter pictures and finished out our day with birthday cake!

Ava, Meredith and Jenna in their matching Easter dresses...so cute!

After Church

Ava at Duke Gardens

Ava and Emet

Our Family

Ava, Emet and Amy

Emet

Ava, Nana and Emet

Me and Jon

We gave Jon his birthday present early. We made a card and gave him a gift certificate to a golf course. He was able to play golf with one of his friends on his birthday!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Jon and Amy, Happy Birthday to you!