Happy 9th Birthday Callie!!

My beautiful, smart, strong, athletic and elegant daughter! She gets more beautiful inside and out every year! I love you with all my heart!

Gabe wasn't tired

He NEVER is. Isn't that amazing! Gotta love this little boy!

Spring Break (Part 2)

Let’s see, we ended on Tuesday when Damien learned how to take off his pants and diaper. Why don’t they ever learn to take off their shirts first?? I forgot to post some pictures from our fun bonfire on Tuesday!

Marshmallows yum!!

Wednesday, April 3rd

We walked while the kids biked on the Roanoke River Greenway.  Again, Gabe amazed us all by getting on a two wheel bicycle with training wheels for the first time in his life and biked at least 2 miles, maybe a little more! The trail is paved and not too hilly, but there were some hard parts that he just breezed through. In fact, he even had to follow Callie and Gustav “off road” a few times. There are 2 parks along the trail that we stopped at both on the way there and back. That breaks up the ride and gives the kids a chance to play. The weather was perfect and we all had fun.

We did have a funny incident with Gabe… it still makes me laugh every now and then. The trail has a few bridges that go over the river and one of the bridges was actually a road that they divided so bikers and walkers can be on one side and cars on the other. Well, Gabe was riding along and an adult biker was coming up behind him. I called out “move over for the guy on the bicycle Gabe!” Well, at the same time, a car was going over the bridge and I think he must have just heard “move over!” so he got off his bike and ran to the side and started CLIMBING OFF THE BRIDGE! (don’t worry, it’s not a high bridge – he would have been fine) Gus and I are yelling “What are you doing!!!” and he started crying and telling us he thought the car was behind him. Poor baby! He was not about to stay on a bridge with a car!

At one of the parks.

Thursday, April 4th

It SNOWED that day! Yes, in April. I believe it set a record. The meteorologists were predicting a ton of rain and all of a sudden, it starts snowing like crazy. And kept on snowing. We ended up with only about 2 inches, but they canceled Callie’s gymnastics class and everything. I read on the news the next day that even the meteorologists weren’t expecting that.

We started the day by going to the skating rink. We had tons of fun, but I didn’t get any pictures. Then we headed to barnes and noble to get the kids the Harry Potter wands they earned during the week. We gave them tons of extra chores and opportunities to earn the wands and they did a great job. Here’s a pic of them in the snow with their wands:

We played some wii games that night and Damien played in the “ous” (House) that he got for Christmas and we finally put up in for him to play with. He LOVES it. Speaking of Damien he is talking a lot now!

That brings us to FRIDAY.

Friday, April 5th

I had to teach a class at 4:20, so Gus offered to take the kids to see “The Croods” at the movie theatre that afternoon. He even offered to take their friend Gracie so her mom could teach class with me. However, when they got to the theatre, they SOLD OUT the movie to the people right in front of them! Gus panicked at first, who wouldn’t with 4 kids who were now upset about not seeing a movie? But, being the father of the year that he is, he quickly recovered and took them all out for ice cream and to the park. I think they had an even better time than they would have at the movie.

Saturday, April 6th

Gus and I did some yard work in the morning and then Gustav decided he wanted to watch Callie’s gymnastics class. Gus took Gabe fishing alone that afternoon and they had a special time together.

Fishing with Daddy

Hanging out watching gymnastics

And kind of like the Very Hungry Caterpillar … On Sunday, we at through one nice green leaf and, well… rested.

Then End!

Spring Break! (Part 1)

Is over, but we sure had an awesome time! It all started about 3 weeks ago when I asked Gus if there was any chance he would take the week of spring break off. His answer at that time was “not a chance.” Then, the end of the week before spring break he announces that he is going to take the week off and we are going to have fun. He did, and we did. Gus even made an excel spreadsheet with our week “itinerary” so we didn’t forget to have fun each day. I however, was not able to take that week off from the gym at the last minute, so I got a little extra exercise that week. I’m not complaining though!

Here are some pics of our spring break mostly in order. The only thing pictures I don’t have are from the day we went to the skating rink!

(I am going to split this into 2 posts because it started getting so long!!) Look for part 2 tomorrow!)

Saturday, March 30th was an active and fun day! We started with making Easter cookies and selling our truck! This presented a little problem, because some of our activities depended on having a truck to haul around bikes and boats. Luckily, the people that bought the truck agreed to let us keep it to use the week of spring break and then they came to pick it up on Monday.

After lunch we went hiking up Read Mountain (the back of the mountain we live on.) Callie and Gustav have hiked up that mountain on several occasions (from the time they were 4 and 5), but this was the first time Gabe (just turned 4 in February) hiked up and down the whole way without being carried at all (about 4 miles!) After that we earned a dinner out with our friends the Mick’s at Nawab. We ate some incredible indian food!!!

Cookie Making

View from the top (Buzzard Rocks)

Gabe is in a thumbs up phase…

Hiking up Read Mountain

Sunday, March 31st (Easter Sunday)

We went to mass and just played inside. It was a rainy and cold day. Perfect for indoor activities.

And walking around with a (play) knife apparently. The 3 of us are digging for gems in a kit Gustav got for Christmas.

Needless to say, we never got that “perfect” Easter picture this year…

Monday, April 1st

It was little chilly that day, but Gus took Gustav and Gabe fishing and Callie, Damien and I did what girls (and babies who are dragged along) do best – shopping! And eating out.

 

Tuesday, April 2nd

Indoor Rock Climbing!! A new place opened here in Roanoke and we decided to try it out. Callie and Gus thought there was nothing better in life than climbing to the top (I still don’t know how high it was) of a wall over and over again. And racing to see who was faster. Gustav and I also enjoyed it… just at a different level. We climbed to the top, looked down in awe and carefully belayed ourselves down… a few times. Honestly, I was so proud of myself, er… I mean Callie and Gustav. They were awesome! When we got home, I had to run to the gym to teach a class, but when I got back they all surprised me with a bonfire! We love bonfires and marshmallows!

Yep, that’s me at then end!

 

The Professionals.         All 3 at the top!

 

AND… In other news… Damien was apparently upset that he didn’t get to rock climb, or he was just trying to help his daddy out while mommy was away at the gym… in any case this is what Gus walked in on while I was gone

 

Hi Daddy!                          “oh, where ARE my pants?”

 

Bye for now! Part 2 coming later!