Dying Easter Eggs

 For the second year in a row, we have been able to dye Easter eggs with Aunt Colleen and Aunt Anne.  Ladies, I think one more year in a row and it becomes a tradition!!  But this year, we had a few more to "help." 

Isabella and John Paul are pretty excited to see how it will turn out.

 Grandma Sue perfecting her two toned egg dying skills.

 Joseph very meticulously (well, as meticulously as a 15 month old can be) dyed his egg.

 With help, wrote his name on his egg.

 And definitely did not want to stop with just one!!  I think it was his hand in the purple dye that ended this party.

Easter Visitors

We were really excited to be hosting Matt's family for Easter.  It started with his parents and two sisters coming down.  Then Great-Grandma decided she would like to make the trip from Fargo to Nebraska.  With Matt's amazing coercion skills, he convinced two more siblings, their spouses, and their children to join in the adventure.  Coercion must run in his family since after everyone was here, a couple of them talked his brother, Chris, into making the 6 hour drive!  If only Kitty, Blaise, Stephen, Jake, and Frankie were able to come, then we would have been complete.

To add to the fun and craziness, everyone stayed at our house.  So here is the math:  Our 5 plus 12 family members =17 people in our house from Thursday night to Monday morning!

I caught this video of Grandpa Frank playing JP's harmonica and I think it features everyone.

Oh Grandpa!!  Feeding donuts to the babies like only Grandpa's can do!

Naomi was really excited about everyone and did surprisingly well with all of the commotion too.

 Of course, some of us went to the zoo.  It was Uncle Chris' first visit!!!

 and we saw the fish....

some natives in the Jungle...

 walked like an Egyptian or hieroglyphics of some kind...

 and had a great time!

First Solid Foods

I was going to wait until 7 months to start solids, but she was just being a bit cranky at supper time so I mashed up a banana to see what happened.  And she loved it!  Didn't eat more than a few bites, but it was encouraging enough that I have started feeding her some food each night at dinner time.  The only down-side---stinky diapers!!

Giggles, Squeals, and Brotherly Love

It's not that Naomi dislikes Ethan, but she LOVES John Paul.  She lights up whenever he walks into the room!  During an Ethan nap, I caught these two interacting.  Notice how JP eases his way into the picture too!

I had to add this one because JP is so funny in it!  Of course he would say something like this.

This one was filmed the next day and really what I wanted to show between them.  BONUS:  This is how our house usually looks.  The others were recorded on a really odd day when the house was actually clean.

6 Months Old

We've got a growing, giggly little baby on our hands!!  Naomi is up to 17 lbs.  May sound big, but she is 5 pounds LESS than JP at 6 months!

 Her giggles are precious.  Especially when her brothers come around to play with her, she just lights up!  That and her daddy coming home from work.

 Her personality is shining through!

Here's the Scoop!

 My boys LOVE these things!!  Scoop it here. Move it there.  Always a favorite at the park

 The construction site manager....

 Such beautiful weather.

And beautiful little boys!

Zoo with Grandma

Of course we took Grandma to the zoo!  I have only been there once since Naomi's birth, so the boys were really excited to go too.

 Life with three kiddos.

The Jeep!!

 

Naomi hanging out in the stroller.

Tent Building With Grandma

When Matt, Naomi, and I returned from the hospital on Wednesday, we discovered what the boys and Grandma had been up too.  Tent Building!!  This is John Paul and Ethan's absolute favorite thing to do lately.  The problem is that the tears pour on when we have to put it away.

 

 They invited me in to their tent to eat a snack.

 

 Oh, boys!!  At least that is what my expression is saying!

 Grandma peaking in on the action.

Proof that I NEED a pedicure!!  Toe-out much, Julie?

Grandma's Visit

We just finished a wonderful time with Grandma.  She came to stay with us for four sleepovers as the boys have termed it. Very fun times!

She enjoyed playing with Naomi Therésè.  But who doesn't enjoy Naomi?

And with somebody holding the baby, I got to spend some quality time with my little boys. (Oh and someone else was taking pictures so I actually made it in a few!)

  

Part of the reason she came to stay, was that Matt had hernia surgery on Wednesday  All went well and he is recovering nicely, but taking it easy.

So here is Ethan's belly button the night before Matt's umbilical hernia surgery.  ;)

A little family picture before bed time.

Sunday = Funday

 Sunday was BEAUTIFUL!!  We rose early and went to 7:30 am Mass.  We picked up some Apple Fritters and eggs and had a scrumptious breakfast.

Matt set up the boys' tent in the back yard for hours of fun.

 

Baby enjoyed sitting in the grass and feeling the grass on her baby toes.

 We washed and vacuumed the van.

 

 The afternoon started to cloud over, but that didn't stop us from trying to fly our kites.

 Ethan on his solo flight.

The stroller ride home and then we grilled some delicious chicken.

  Baths all around and then off to bed!