My Little Bruiser

So yesterday Rick and I go to pick up the kiddos after work at Miss Candi's house. Just like any other day...no big deal. We walk in and Candi looks so worried and says, "Please don't hate me!"

I, of course, laugh because I love Candi and I know how much she loves my little monkeys. Then I see Caleb! Oh my goodness! I just had to giggle at him. Poor little guy with a huge road rash on his head and a bruise too.

Candi went on to explain that they we all outside playing together, which I know my little Caleb and Emma both love so much. They just scream bloody murder when it is time to go inside. Anyway, Caleb was trying to be a big boy and use the stairs to the deck all by himself. Candi kept moving him away, but Caleb was determined! HAHA! Yes, stubborn...hmmm! My kids get that from me...not always a good quality...I admit. So, one of the times he successfully made it up the stairs when Candi was helping one of the other daycare kids. Not such a big deal he can go up very well. But coming down is another story. Caleb thinks he needs to walk down the stairs like mommy and daddy do. Short legs and not 100% great balance equals wipe out! She said that she looked over and saw him standing at the top of the stairs. She raced to get to him, but couldn't get there fast enough. Mr. Man feel down the stair on to the concrete. Caleb cried like he had never cried before and then was over it. She felt so terribly bad!

Rick and I both told her that she had nothing to worry about. Kids do this stuff. It was just a matter of time before it happened to one of them. We just always assumed that Emma would be the first to skin something up...she is a huge klutz!

It doesn't seem to hurt or bother Caleb at all. It seems to bother Emma more. She keeps looking at it and pointing at it. We just have to laugh.

Miss Candi is a great day care provider!!! We love her and Caleb and Emma adore her! They run to her in the morning, wanting hugs and kisses. We trust her completely! Accidents happen and now we will just have to call Caleb - Little Bruiser! HaHa!

Easter

We had a simply wonderful Easter! It is always such a happy time of year. I hope Emma and Caleb will have many happy Easter memories in their years to come. The weather was so beautiful this year. We got to enjoy so many great things that day!

We headed to church early because I am now singing in the worship team. So I had to be at practice early. When I got there, I found out I had a solo! YIKES!!! No notice...but I guess I did okay because I got lots of compliments. Lots of comments like "Wow Katie, I didn't know you had such a great voice!" HAHA! Surprise surprise! :)

Then what a blessing!! One of my dear friend that I work with at Dressbarn asked if she could join us for church!! I was so excited! Lisa is a sweet young woman, but is very lost. I have invited her several times and I try to be there for her with anything. I am there as a friend no matter what she is dealing with or choices she makes. I love her so much. It was a big step for Lisa and I am so proud of her. God put me in her path and He did the rest. If you could keep Lisa in your prayers I would appreciate it! I know that she will come to know the Lord very soon. And I feel very honored that the Lord choose me to tell Lisa about Him. I have never experienced that before. But something I have learned from this is that you just need to love like Jesus has taught...nothing else really matters.

Emma and Caleb got to enjoy their very first Easter egg hunt and church carnival! They had so much fun!!! Emma was all about the Easter egg hunt. She and daddy were all over the church yard hunting those little eggs out! She would find them and then drop them in the bag then it was off to find another one. Caleb on the other hand...well...he had fun, but he was happy with his two eggs. He found one for each hand and then decided that was enough. I tried my best to get him to put the eggs in the bag and help mommy find more, but instead he just sat down and played with the two he had! HAHA! We laughed so hard at him!

After church we went to the park and had a picnic with some friends from church. I found this much better than cooking a big meal! Emma and Caleb loved playing and running around. They played with a big rubber ball, went down the slide and swung on the swings. By the end of this mommy, daddy, Caleb and Emma were pooped out. We came home and all of us took naps! YAHOO!!!

After naps it was dinner time and then they got their very first chocolate bunnies from the Easter bunny. Eating those chocolate bunnies was very messy, but fun to watch too. They sure enjoyed themselves. The Easter bunny did not go over board this year!! Thank goodness. They each got a chocolate bunny and a big ball to play with outside. Plus, Grandpa Randy and Grandma Sheri gave them each another $50 savings bond! This makes 3 each from Grandpa and Grandma Benke. It is a great gift and someday they will be so happy they have them.

We hope you all had a blessed Easter and are enjoying your spring!! I love you all!

Spring Break Fun

Spring Break came slow and went fast! Why is it that when you want to relax and enjoy your family the times flies?!

Just the same we had so much fun hanging out with Caleb and Emma during spring break. We really didn't do anything too exciting. Actually, we had a surprise visit from Ryan the first weekend of break.

We were excited to have him home for the weekend. Caleb and Emma sure enjoyed playing with him. We spent time at home playing and we also all went to the Discovery Center in Boise. That was so interesting. If you like science then you would really enjoy going there. Even Caleb and Emma watching different things with wonder! HAHA! They look at most things with wonder and amazement so I am sure this was just way too much for them! HAHA!

We got to play outside a couple of days otherwise the weather was not that nice. Most of our time was spent inside playing, watching our favorite sing a long shows and cartoons and wrestling with mommy and daddy on the floor.

Uncle Ron and Aunt Karin sent them the cutest rocking horse, so that entertained them a lot! They enjoy new toys and of course, fight over them a little! :)

This spring break we worked on teaching the kids some sign language to help them communicate with us! Wow! They have caught on so quickly! As of now, they know the following signs: more, please, light, and eat. They are still working on cracker, cookie, thank you, blanket, apple, milk and baby. I hope that this will help lessen the frustration of communicating with us. I know I am thankful for it! It means less crying and fits, because they can tell us what they want.

We are counting down to summer! Only 38 school days until summer vacation. We are going to sign Caleb and Emma up for swimming lessons in July. We planning a trip to the zoo. Also, I am hoping to get to go play at lots of different parks in the area. We are not traveling anywhere, but maybe a couple close camping trips. Camping will be a whole new experience for the kiddos. I hope they love it as much as we do! They love being outside, so I am sure it will be fun.

I am going to start checking out garage sales for some outdoor climbing toys for the backyard. Caleb and Emma always want to climb on stuff in the house and we don't let them. And outside we already have a small slide, which they LOVE!!! So hopefully I can find so more outdoor toys. Until we can afford a nice swig set for the back yard that kind of stuff will have to do.

Enjoy the new pics!