Upcoming Trip to Virginia

As we look forward to our upcoming trip to Viginia, to visit Jerod, Kristen, Isaac, and Samuel...it reminds me of the great time we had, the last time we visited them!

Easter Time

Easter time has officially begun, for our family. This morning we hunted eggs in Indiana, w/ Gma and Gpa Engle. The kids were a lot more comptetitive, this year, than they were last year...keeping a count as to who found more eggs and racing around to hunt them down. Last year Bryton helped Avery hunt, and this year she was a serious threat! She's got an eagle eye for colored eggs :) Sooo...Now B &A are high on sugar, and they are playing w/ their Easter toys. We'll run them around outside in the woods, so we don't have to deal w/ kids hyped up on sugar, all the way home today.
Bryton has a short school week, w/ his Easter party on Wednesday afternoon, and then Easter break making for a long 5 day weekend, next weekend. And this Easter bunny better get her butt in gear, this week!

Irish Blessing...

Sleep, my babe, lie still and slumber,
All through the night
Guardian angels God will lend thee,
All through the night
Soft and drowsy hours are creeping,
Hill and vale in slumber sleeping,
Mother dear her watch is keeping,
All through the night
God is here, you'll not be lonely,
All through the night
'Tis not I who guards thee only,
All through the night
Night's dark shades will soon be over,
Still my watchful care shall hover,
God with me
His watch is keeping,
All through the night

don't watch the video (its annoying)...just a good song :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hsHBsK30eU

Avery's Favorite Song this Week

Avery belts out this song, when she hears it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bap-oZI-Grc

It never seizes to amaze me how much the word "stupid" is used these days. Our kids aren't allowed to say it, so when they hear it they tend to make a surprised gasp-like sound, as if they can't believe its on the radio or the TV. Anyways...the word is in this song. Avery made the usual gasp-like sound, when she heard it yesterday...and then she explained the following:

"Mommy...I know why that girl said the naughty word." (Avery)
"Oh, yeah? Why?" (me...smiling)
"Cuz she has issues." (Avery)
"Yes, you are right...that's what she said, wasn't it?!" (me...laughing hysterically)

I think she's going to be a singer...or a psychiatrist!

Family Update

I've been slacking, so I think its time for an update. The kids are doing well. Nobody is sick, knock on wood, and being able to play outside in the fresh air will only continue to help that. Brian is busy with work, and is looking forward to his annual fishing trip w/ his Dad this May. This year they'll be sticking close to home, fishing on Apple Canyon, off our boat. Turkey season is right around the corner, which we are both anxious for. That truly means Spring is here :) We plan to take a trip out to Jerod and Kristen's this April, since the kids and I didn't get to go as planned a few weeks ago. I'm very anxious to visit their growing family! Work is going well for me, as I continue to work on a good balance between it and the responsibilities that go along w/ family and home. Somedays are easier than others, but all in all its going very well :) Avery likes going to the babysitter's house, the days I'm in the office. She is quite the social butterfly, acting like she's 13 rather than 3, w/ some of the comments she makes and looks she gives. Bryton is doing well in school, and returns home every day with very dirty jeans...which sometimes have holes in the knees. He plays hard at recess, which tells me he's a very healthy, typical little 6 yr. old boy! No loose teeth right now, for him. Both kids have grown taller, as their pants are getting too short. Guess its time to do some Spring shopping! Bailey and Jake are doing better w/ listening, especially when Brian is around. When he's not, they know I'm a pushover...and Jake tends to act very naughty :) He is getting better, though, as he gets older and grows out of the puppy phase. And somedays we wonder if Jake's stupidity filters to Bailey...either that, or he's getting old enough that he truly is losing some of his hearing and his eyesight. I think that may be the case :(
The sun is shining today, and the weather is beautiful. Won't be long and we'll be getting shorts and sandals out~ yahooo!

Quite A Crew

Look out, here comes the pack...Bryton, Isaac, Caden, Avery, Samuel, and Addison. This pack of cousins had great fun together, out at Nana Cheryl's house.