Kamdyn's Birthday

My sweet April Fool's Baby woke to her door decorated with balloons and a poster documenting her ten years in photos.  I don't know where the past ten years have gone, but I do know that every second of those ten years has been better with Kamdyn.  She is such a special little lady and has made our lives so much better.

My birthday girl was following me around on her birthday morning before school.  I just thought she was excited about her special day.  Turns out she had been plotting an April Fool's joke for me.  Several neighbors helped her plan this joke and even gave her a rubber band to help.  Anyway, I went to turn on the water in the sink to clean up the breakfast dishes and the water from the sprayer sprayed all over me and the kitchen.  Colleen told her to rubber band the sprayer so it would soak me!!  She told Kamdyn that I couldn't get mad at her on her birthday.  Even Richard knew!!  They all cracked up when I turned on the water.  

Kamdyn wanted to go skating for her birthday.  Karcie had never been, but I knew it would only take her minutes to get the hang of it.  And, I was right!  She clung to the wall for a while with me and was comfortable enough soon after to take to the big rink with Kamdyn and Campbell.

Later that night we went to dinner with The Kirks.  Kamdyn chose Mexican...surprise, surprise.  

Then we came home so that she could open presents and eat her cookie square cake.  Mrs. Colleen made cookie squares for Kamdyn because she loves them.  I decided to arrange them like a cake a put a few candles in them instead of buying more cupcakes or a cake that we certainly did not need.  My little prankster forget that paybacks can be worse.  I bought candles that kept relighting.  She has never had those before so she had NO IDEA what was happening.  It really freaked her out.....to the point that she almost cried.  Richard told her that a ghost was relighting them.  Anywho, I shouted "APRIL FOOLS" and she knew I had gotten her back from her joke earlier.  SOOO funny!!

It was a fun night for Kamdyn!  I hope she continues to know how much she is loved!  

Kamdyn and Cade

Children's Museum

The kids were out of school the week after Easter.  We spent half of the week at the lake and the other half doing fun activities for the kiddos.

Our first stop was Marbles Children's Museum in Raleigh with The Kirk Family.

The kids loved it!  It wasn't super crowded like I thought it would be either.  

After the museum we had a yummy lunch at Panera in Apex.  I was reminded of their expensive sandwiches.  They are proud of those things!  :)

Final Easter Lake Day

Nanny left relatively early that morning.  We made our way to Lowe's to purchase some boards for Richard to attach the swings and such that the girls had gotten for Christmas.  (We have since had to make some adjustments on the design)  They have really enjoyed having a little more entertainment there when we aren't able to boat or swim.

We roasted marshmallows that night and they fished from the dock.  My view was pretty sweet!  We have definitely been missing the lake.  It's a place of relaxation for all of us.  It's our calm.  Our place without a schedule.  It's wonderful and I am so glad that it's lake time again!!

Karcie got a hula hoop for Easter.  Her sister was using it and Karcie tried to "take" it from her.  She ended up with a terrible busted lip. Lesson learned!

They love their new orbit swing!

Even Mommy had a bit of fun on the swings!

Kamdyn enjoyed flipping on the trapeze bar.

I think she flipped over 100 times that day!

Roasting some marshies.  

Sweet girl!!

Beautiful view!

Easter Morning

The Easter bunny almost gets out-done every year by their baskets from Nanny and Georgia (ha!), but the girls still enjoy going on a scavenger hunt to find their baskets.  The Easter bunny had his work cut out for him at the lake house.  There weren't nearly as many places to hide baskets.  He did ok though!  

Karcie's class made Resurrection Eggs at school this year.  My heart was full when she came home telling me all about how Jesus died on the cross for us and how the tomb was empty on that third day.  She loves Jesus with all of her heart and I am so thankful to Apex Baptist Preschool for giving her such a strong foundation in faith.  

Kamdyn also has a store bought set of resurrection eggs that Nanny bought her many years ago.  She told Karcie the story of Jesus' journey to the cross in her own words.  I love hearing her sweet voice and she explains those horrible, but wonderful moments in her own words.  Precious, precious moments!!

Nanny Visits the Lake for Easter

Nanny came to visit us at the lake for Easter Weekend.  We started our weekend "dyeing" Easter Eggs.  I decided to cut a corner this year and I bought fake eggs so I didn't have to transport two dozen eggs to the lake, boil them, cool them, etc.  They said on the package that you could dye them just like regular eggs.  I'm not very good at following directions so I mixed the dye incorrectly and it didn't stick to the eggs.  OOPS!!  Luckily, I had also purchased paint.  We spent the afternoon painting eggs and soon discovered why people dye them.  It's much easier and faster!  Lesson learned!

Nanny brought lots of big plastic eggs filled with all kinds of goodies for the kids.  The golden eggs had large bills of $ in them.  I wanted to join in the hunt, but I was only allowed to hide them not find them.  This was our event for Day #2.

After finding their eggs they divided up their loot.  They were most excited about the squishy pops that Nanny brought.  If you are thinking lollipops, think again. They are in those surprise type eggs things.  They are ponies that had a suction cup on them that would stick to surfaces and make a popping noise.  Crazy the things that will entertain kids these days!!

Eggs #1 for each of them.

Can you tell how tedious this was?

Kamdyn had a pimple on her nose and thought the band-aid made it less noticeable.  Ha!

Check out the photo bomber in the background!

Sweet picture of all four of my faves!!  Even the one on the couch!

Sweet girl wanted two french braids.

How did they get so big???

 

Sorting the loot and happy as can be!