April

On April 16th we took the kids to the Peach Cluster Dog Show at the Perry Fairgrounds. It was free to attend, and we spent over an hour walking around watching the different competitions. There were several buildings full of rings and an outside pool for a jumping competition, so there was plenty to see. It was neat seeing groups of a bunch of the same types of dogs. I really liked seeing the giant schnauzers, which I didn't even know existed. The puppy beagles and golden retrievers were adorable. Gavin liked the funny little maltese with long hair and also a great dane we sat by. Amelia liked all of it but got a little bored after a while. Jake got a kick out of some of the dapper fellows in bow ties walking the dogs around. 

 After that we went to check out the new walking trails in Perry. Gavin brought his scooter, and had a wipeout at one point but quickly recovered. Amelia ran, walked, and meandered.

 We only walked some of the trails since we didn't have a stroller, plus it was getting to be lunch time. We ate at Wendy's. As soon as we sat down the kids looked out of the window and noticed our great view of the Burger King playground next door. So we went there for dessert.

 The next day it was still uncharacteristically cool out so we went on a family walk after our after-church naps. We walked around the pond on base and the kids played a little at the playground. We enjoyed seeing the baby geese.

 Random picture of Amelia eating chicken nuggets:

 The next Saturday Jake had to work. The neighborhood across the street was having its annual yard sale so the kids and I walked over to see what we could find. The kids each got a book, and we bought a new game. Then, as we were on our way home, we happened upon the find of the day. At home the kids played in the water to cool off and wait for it's delivery:

 Ta-da! I bought a shuffle board-type bowling game. $40 delivered! I got it for Jake but Gavin really enjoys it and asks to play it often.

 Other April happenings:

tantrums

 New shoes! Aleita loaned me another box of shoes for Amelia, for which I am truly thankful, and Amelia had lots of fun trying them on too!

 These are just the ones that currently fit!:

 Between Aleita and consignment sales Amelia is pretty set on dresses too:

 Found a use for the retro yellow nightstand I bought for Amelia's room last year:

 Any chance she gets she sneaks into the bathroom to "brush teeth!"

 3-4 of our trees are leaning over and need to be removed. They've been leaning a little for awhile but that last big storm (the tornado one) did them in, with one lying on top of the swing set. One Monday a couple weeks ago Jake decided to pull out this tree with his bare hands (and a shovel):

 We also removed the pool fence so we can install a new liner:

 And I trimmed up the peach tree. It's full of peaches this year so hopefully some will survive to ripen:

 Amelia started climbing out of her crib so we brought home the toddler bed from MeeMaw's house. She is doing well in it. She wakes up 30 minutes to an hour earlier, but sleeps through the night and goes to bed ok. She is also still napping, for now anyway.

 It is my favorite time of year in Georgia - lots of days that are warm but no too warm yet. Perfect weather to sit on the back porch and watch the kids play.

Spring Break

 

 This was the Sunday before Easter. We had a family movie night, watching the new Pee-Wee Herman movie (better than I expected) while the kids ate waffles, popcorn, and smoothies:

 Amelia wears these accessories at some point almost daily:

 Friday evening the kids dyed Easter eggs:

 The Easter Bunny brought a bowl of goodies for the kids to wake up to on Saturday morning:

 

Then Saturday afternoon Jake, Gavin, and I went to Carleigh's baptism while Amelia napped at Meemaw's house.

 

 Happy Easter!

 Sunday evening we had our usual Easter dinner with friends, around 20 total including kids. It was a rainy Easter so the kids had to play inside, but we still enjoyed eating on the porch:

 Monday morning, first official day of spring break. Eating cheerios in front of cartoons, then pulling out lots of toys to play with:

 Monday afternoon Amelia wouldn't nap so we all went to look at new chairs for the patio. We ended up buying 2 rocking chairs. Amelia got in this one and sang "we will, we will, rock you:"

 

Tuesday we played in the park with Carleigh and some other friends, then the kids stayed the night at my parents' house.

 

 Wednesday and Thursday the kids stayed at my parents' house while I had outpatient surgery to have my varicose veins removed. They didn't look too bad on the surface but burned and ached when I stood for very long or exercised, getting a lot worse in the past year. I thought the procedure would be no big deal, but it turned out to be incredibly painful. Jake observed the pre-op numbing of my right leg and described it looking like the nurse was crocheting my leg. Felt like it too. Must have been around a hundred or so needle pricks and injections. Then, I expected the actual procedure to be painless after all that numbing. Not so much. The part where they cut some of my veins out wasn't too bad, but the laser surgery aspect was some of the worse pain I've ever been in. I could feel the catheter being inserted into and moved around inside my vein. Apparently they can only numb the part of the vein they see on the ultrasound before hand, not necessarily the whole thing. Once they find it it is numbed (also painful) before the laser is used. Fortunately the right leg (done first) was worse, so the second day wasn't as bad (but still painful). Afterwards my legs are bruised and cut up, but no major pain. Hopefully in a couple weeks I'll be all healed up and glad I had the procedure. This picture was taken Wednesday night, after my right leg was done, with my left leg all marked up ready to go:

 

Friday we woke up to a rare tornado warning. We got the kids out of bed and hid in our closet for about 30 minutes until the danger passed. They weren't all that scared, and enjoyed the granola bars I grabbed on the way. Fortunately for us the storm went north of us, doing a little damage on base and in the northern part of town. No injuries. It rained and stormed all day Friday.

 Watching our church's General Conference Saturday:

 

 

 And Sunday:

 (I got out the camera quickly to catch them being quiet and well behaved)