Easter fun

The Easter Bunny was too kind this year and the kids had a blast.

Julia got Princess roller skates and Jude got a couple of trains. Both have played with their gifts non-stop since, so I think they were a hit. The family also got some candy.



We had an Easter egg hunt at my parent's house for all the grandkids. We had to break it up into a section for the 4 older ones and a section for the 3 younger ones. It worked out great.





Jude figured out what to do really quickly.




Trying to get a group picture of all EIGHT grandkids. They are all age 6 and under! (My youngest sister was also on the porch.) At least you can see everyone!

Easter Outfits

The kids got fancy new outfits to wear on Easter. I wanted to try to get a picture of them in their new outfits.

First shot, not bad, but a full body picture would be better.



Picture 2, Julia wants to act silly and Jude is paying attention to Julia's antics.



Picture #3, Julia is now teasing with me and Jude decides to hide from Julia.


Picture #4, as I press the button, Jude decided he wants on the other side of Julia.


I decide that what I have is good enough.....

Playhouse!

The playhouse/swing set is BUILT!!!! It is AWESOME!!! I cannot thank Jerry enough for building it. I know the kids will enjoy it for many, many years. I think it is the envy of the neighborhood. The neighbor girls are always wanting to some over and play on it and the other neighbor with small kids said that her kids have been watching it being built with much excitement and jealousy. It is definitely the biggest one in the neighborhood!

The kids loved watching it being built. Jerry could not build it fast enough for them!

Julia helping with the first part.



Her job was to hand the screws to Bapa.





Halfway done! Both platforms are built and railings installed. The slide also just went on.



We waited to put the steps on until all the railings/sides were on. That way the kids could not get up on it and then fall off.


Julia testing out the slide.


Jude testing out the slide.


The stairs are on! The kids love the "tower". They are really into the movie "Tangled" right now, so the "tower" is the tower Rapunzel is trapped in.


The finished product!! The sandbox is in and the swings are on! Next year we will put a tire swing where the baby swing is now.


The blue tarp attaches to cover the sandbox when not in use so the stray neighborhood cats don't use it as a giant litter box.



The playhouse turned out better than I could have ever imagined! Julia keeps begging to sleep out in the "tower".

Outside play

The kids have been playing outside a lot lately. A few weeks ago I took my camera out with me.

Playing in the sandbox. (The bigger one got built today!)


Blowing bubbles.



Jude trying to catch the bubbles.




Jude trying to copy everyone else and use the sidewalk chalk.

Big Boy Bed

Jude started climbing out of his crib last week. It started as an occasional thing, but soon became something he did numerous times a day. After several times of falling in his attempts to climb out of bed, we decided it was time to move him to a big boy bed.

I was not ready for this. I was hoping to keep him in the crib for almost another year. Julia did not start to climb out of the crib until she was 2 1/2.

As I was taking apart the crib, I was holding back the tears. Jude is my last baby and he is growing up to fast!

Jude, on the other hand, LOVED the new bed.

Here he is trying it out right after we get it set up.





He realized he can climb up to his shelves now.


Bedtime was a little difficult. He got out of bed many times, but finally fell asleep.




Jerrod checked in on him this morning and found him sleeping on the floor, so he either fell out or got out and just slept on the carpet.

Is it raining?

Jude is prepared!

Hearing loss

I must have mis-understood the audiologists on Thursday. I thought they had said Jude only had hearing issues with his left ear. I received a report of the results in the mail yesterday. After looking over them, I see that Jude failed every test with BOTH ears. The report did say it was mild hearing loss, but it is still hearing loss!

I am really hoping that the loss of hearing was from the congestion behind Jude's ears from still being sick and not anything permanent. We will retest as soon as he gets well again.