It's Finally Spring!

Just a quick post with a St. Patty's Day picture and then on to some Spring fun. We spent the day at Grandma Chris and Papa's house when Ben and Julie were in town - just look how big Zach is getting! The kids had a blast outside! Then we got another gorgeous day later that week. Enjoy the pictures!

Chris and Chuck's

Fun at home!

Fort Rapids

This past weekend, we made a trip down to Columbus to stay at Fort Rapids Indoor Waterpark with the entire Ginter clan. We left Friday after Bethany got home from work and didn't return home until Sunday afternoon. At the hotel, we were all staying in 1 suite. It had one bedroom, a loft, and 2 additional queen beds (along with a pull-out couch that we didn't need to make into a bed). G'pa Gary and G'ma Nola got there 1st and checked in. Next was our family and shortly afterwards the Gurtzweilers arrived. Uncle Benny was in California on a LONG business trip (7 weeks to be exact) and took the red-eye flight leaving California around 11 pm and arriving in Columbus around 9am Saturday morning. Needless to say uncle Benny was pooped! He still managed to swim with us all for awhile before napping. We all enjoyed the waterpark on Saturday and our meals consisted of tacos-in-a-bag and a crock of meatballs - with hotdogs for the kids. Saturday evening, Papa Gary took Benny home (since his car was still in Cincinnati). I think Benny enjoyed his own bed and some much-needed sleep. The rest of us chilled in the room and just spent time together. Sunday morning Papa Gary and G'ma Nola left bright and early to make it to Columbus Grove in time for church. The rest of us packed up and suited the kids for one last swim. After a quick bite at Steak-n-Shake we headed for home. A huge thanks to uncle Andrew for staying at our house with Banky! Enjoy the pictures.

Febuary (in a nutshell)

The last weekend in January, Brittany and Maely brought the kids to visit along with G.G. Eileen and Gra-Nola (for the day Saturday while Papa Gary was at a motorcycle convention in Cleveland). Maely and Brittany bundled up the 2 older girls to have some fun in the snow. I think they really enjoyed being young and free with the sled and building a snowman! Then Febuary just flew by for us. We had a lot going on for a winter month. Matt and Bethany worked 3 out of 4 weekends this month. The one weekend we had off was Kyle's 1st birthday party - which Lexi and Matt didn't make it to (Lexi was sick). Earlier in the month, Gra-Nola and Papa Gary brought their puppet skits to Lexi's preschool on a Friday morning and then did an encore skit for the kids at church on Sat. evening. The kids loved the puppets! Nola's cousin Mike and his wife Heidi even helped out on the Saturday performance. So fun! Throw in Valentine's Day and you get a pretty busy month. Enjoy some pictures!

Brittany and Maely's visit


Puppet Skits


Valentine's Day Kyle's 1st Birthday

Keeping Busy

This past weekend, Matt had a "Fantasy Football" End-of-the-Season Party. Quite a few guys showed up to celebrate the past football season. We also had a few women and children in the house full of guys - thanks to Abi and Jen who kept me company. Abi and Brett also brought along their 2 girls (who are very close in age to our girls). It is always great to see them and let the kids play together. Looking forward to more "play dates" in the future!

Then today I decided it was time to get Jill's bangs out of her face. I ended up getting her hair chopped! It was very thin and I guess you have to keep it short in order for it to get thicker (length weighs it down). We will see if it works! Will take some getting used to, though. Enjoy!

Fun in the Snow!

The girls and I decided to go outside this afternoon so mommy could shovel the driveway before daddy got home from work. Jill wasn't so sure about the cold wet stuff at first, but by the time we pulled out the sled she was grinning from ear to ear! Lexi did great holding on to her on the sled while I followed them down the driveway. So glad the girls got boots for Christmas from Gra-Nola and Papa Gary! Thanks!

Christmas 2010

I know I am slow at posting this year. Time has just flown by! Christmas is over, the tree is down, and all the new toys have finally found a home. I think I am ready to get back into the groove of every day living (at least until the next holiday). Christmas Eve day was spent at Chris and Chuck's house. We did manage to get our traditional family picture taken in front of their fireplace. After dinner, we came home and let the girls open their gifts from us. They are so spoiled! Then we had to set out cookies, milk and carrots for Santa and his reindeer. Bright and early Christmas morning, Lexi bounded into our room and wanted to know if we had seen Santa. We said we hadn't seen him, but that he probably left the gifts and ran to get to all the other houses in time. We came downstairs to find that Santa had indeed come in the night! The girls loved their gifts from Santa. After lunch at home, we left for G.G. Eileen's house. We got there around 3 pm and opened yet more presents. After dinner at G.G.'s we finally made it to Grandpa Gary's house. The kids were tucked into bed and then the adults opened their gifts. That was a GREAT idea! Then, after church and lunch on Sunday we let the kids open their gifts. They all had so much fun and loved their gifts... thanks everyone! The next weekend (New Year's Day) we set out once again for Grandpa Gary's house for the Ginter Christmas. Good to see everyone there! Enjoy the pictures!!
Our Christmas

Saris Christmas

Thomas Christmas

Ginter Christmas

New Year's Day

Preparing for Christmas!

This month has been full of Christmas things to do! First, Lexi's class met one morning at Pat Catan's Craft Store for all the kids to make candy jars to sell at their Christmas Program. Lexi sat beside her best buddy Logan and they both made wonderful snowman and penguin candy jars (I ended up buying both of Lexi's jars). The following week, her whole Preschool performed a Christmas Program. I wasn't sure Lexi would take part - thought she would cry and not go up front - but she surprised the heck out of me and went up there with no tears and sang her little heart out! She knew EVERY SONG! Maybe the present sitting at home that I promised she could open if she didn't cry helped a tad?!?! So proud of my big girl. We even got a picture of Lexi with her teacher Miss Sharon. The next morning was the final day of Preschool for the year and they had a Birthday Party for Jesus - complete with 2 bouncy houses. Even Lexi's teacher got in one of the houses. She couldn't wait to wear the Christmas Tree shirt she had made at school.

With school being over for the year, we must have other things to look forward to... like grandma and Papa Gary coming! They came out so Matt and Bethany could both work on a Friday evening. I think they have a lot of fun when they visit - oh yeah, the kids do too! Last Saturday night (while grandma and Papa Gary were still here - Marc and Jen came over and Matt and I went out to eat with them. Thanks for babysitting again g'ma and Papa! When Marc and Jen showed up, they had 2 gift bags for the girls! Books and dress up clothes!!! They loved the gifts! Thanks so much! Anyway, last but not least was the preparing for Christmas weekend. We were in charge of taking a shrimp ring and Krazy Krunch to G.G.'s house this year for Christmas dinner. The girls - especially Lexi - had to help mommy cook in the kitchen. I think Lexi would rather eat than cook, but she was a great little helper. Jill still needs some practice! Enjoy all the pictures and Merry Christmas!