And that was April...

Wow! April has come and gone in a flash. The weather has been fabulous and our month has been filled with celebrations...birthdays and more birthdays and a birth! The pics aren't actually in order - backwards more less, so maybe start at the bottom and scroll up if you like chronological order. Anyways, here's to a spectacular MAY!!

APRIL 17th

Trent and Maggie turned 5...I'm still in shock - I have to stop calling them "the babies" already!! Happy with their scooters!

Cakes # 3 & 4 - Just because they're twins I don't feel they should have to share everything....SOOO...I let them pick out their own individual cake design. Needless to say that by my birthday on the 19th, we're pretty "caked" out!

The twins had a family birthday celebration with Oma, Opa, Papa, Aunt Nicole, Wade and us. The cousins came on the weekend for the final hurrah...but no pics!! Oops!

CHEESE!
APRIL 3rd

Connor turns 10 - Cake #1 - on his actual birthday. Kelsey alerted me to these amazing self lighting candles...you light the first one and voila...the rest light up on their own! No more burning your wrists!

The birthday party - one guest still on his way...

Cake #2 - the party cake - Detroit Red Wings/Hockey theme - filled with mini-sticks matches, target shooting and decorating their own goalie mini-stick

Cousins - Connor, Jordan and Matthew - faithful attenders each year

Our first meeting with our newest nephew - Joshua. What a cute family eh? So thankful that all went well and everyone is adjusting amazingly!!

Spring Hike

Sunday afternoon was sunny and crisp - not cold - (YAY!), so we ventured out on a family hike...checked out the maple trees being tapped - it was running like crazy! Most of the buckets were overflowing. It was such as nice walk loaded with fresh air and great conversation!

Kids checking the sap collection

This is a really old forest as you can see by the size of the trees! Amazing!

The little dudes...5 this month!!!

The bigger dudes...10 this month and 13 this fall!

Thankfully there was still some snow on the ground in the woods, otherwise we would have been up to our ankles in mud.

Easter Weekend

He is risen! Indeed He is risen!

After celebrating this wonderful truth at church Sunday morning we followed it up with our family Easter tradition...turkey dinner and activities...

Mags decorating her egg

Dad and Mom - dear Mom...always happy but unfortunately unaware of time or season...how quickly life changes. Regardless of the circumstance - she enjoyed the afternoon and we still remember her for who she was...a loving, kind and godly mother!


The men....

The women...

and the kids!!! Too bad Kev and Carole were unable to attend due to the condition Carole is in...9 months pregnant (+1 day)! Hope to see you soon...with one more member in your family!

Easter Egg Pinata...last minute decision - I had it left over from a birthday party, so the kids painted it up like an Easter Egg and had a blast...I think the adults were just as entertained watching the kids swinging wildly at it!

The spoils....
And onto the hunt...

Games, Family, Hearts & Snow...

Connor in his element...

Another snow day...gotta love our Canadian winters!

Enjoying our "Snow Day"...yep school had been cancelled and as you can see the weather was terrible...it was truly dicey that morning but the afternoon turned out to be beautiful!

The ramp we made...

In January we started a monthly games night...host provides supper, dessert, snacks and a game line up. On the menu that night was Tacos, Taco Salad and Banana Splits. We started the night out with shuffleboard then onto Cranium Family Fun (boys vs. girls) and then the kids headed to the playroom. The adults (+ Kels) continued on with Wizard and ended the night with a furious game of Dutch Blitz! It was so much fun@! See ya'll next month!

Assembling their tacos...

Good old shuffleboard!

Enjoying their banana splits!

Valentines Day....

Family Day enjoyed at the Holiday Inn with the cousins...Awww aren't they cute?

The motel had a huge indoor playground right beside the pool that the kids would go from one to the other constantly...they had a blast! Maybe an annual event?

It's been almost 4 years...

I went to see my mom today...and boy do I miss "her". What more can I say?

Opa's Birthday and more...

Our dear Dad and Opa...portrait by Maggie. We hope and pray for many more years of health and happiness Opa, we love you!

Opa with 1/2 of his granddaughters

Oma (as usual) provided a delicious dinner along with cheesecake for dessert...always a wonderful hostess!

Surprise shot...not his sunglasses...but sometimes you make do with what's in the vehicle! I still think he lookin' mighty fine!

Connor and Kelsey - enjoying one another's company...Kels took Con along with her to tubing with youth group...what a sister!

Our recycling box pyramid...now we just need some more snow to make an entire fort.

Our four beautiful babes enjoying a cold winter night!

Mags skating like a pro...at age 4!! She has unbelievable determination! Since taking these pictures, Trent has heard all the praise Mags has received and has learned to skate as well!!

The new Trent!