Spring has Hatched!

I L-O-V-E-D yesterday.

We started the day by heading to the Tulip Festival.  Quite a drive, especially when I had no idea what to expect and get a little nervous tackling these types of outings alone.  Oh my goodness, it was just wonderful.  The kids had so much fun and we were among the first there so it was incredibly easy and enjoyable and beautiful. 

Tyler/Carter

Tyler on the horse swing

What Tyler calls posing

What Carter calls posing

What together ... they call posing.

They can't take their hands off each other once they get started.  It is truly hysterical.

My sweetheart

 Then after the boys' naps, Anna was still sleeping and they begged me to set up a pool.  I told them it is spring and we don't have pooltime until summer.  But they insisted "Auntie Rhonda gets a pool when it's spring at her house!"  We settled on a sprinkler.   But just a fun day.  The sun is welcome in our life, any day. 

Tyler taunting Maizy with her ball.

Carter taunting me.

 We have been spending quite a bit of time up at Grandpa and Grandma's cleaning it out and up.  Travis especially so I have brought the kids up for some visits.  They love setting snake traps, looking for cows, exploring.  It is beautiful. 

Carter "Cooling you off Mama!" with one of the many limbs Travis has cut down.

They think its a huge treat to hang out in the pickup.  Super funny. 

 Every night lately has ended like this.  Annamarie without hesitation jumps into Carter's bed pulling the blankets up over both of them and he cuddles up to her, both wanting to sleep together all night.  Very sweet... but then it of course ends with one upset girl and me wondering what would happen if I just gave in and let them sleep together.  I know, bad idea!     

Easter

We had a wonderful Easter weekend... from egg dying with Uncle Zan and Aunt Janna (and talking baby names, eek! so excited for our new cousin coming) to our morning Egg Hunt and then a big Buck Easter, it was one for the books!

Tyler, Annamarie, & Carter

The Dyers

Aunt Janna and Annamarie

Uncle Zan showing Carter some tips

Tyler & Carter

Note the Alligator egg by Zan, the flower by Janna, and all the blue ones by Carter& orange (red) of Tyler's.

The boys snuck downstairs early early Easter morning.  And when I called them out from upstairs I could hear Tyler scold Carter "SEE Carter- I TOLD you" (that he was too loud)... 

Daddy had to help finding the baskets Easter morning

Carter finding the Last Egg

Carter is my puzzle boy- he really is good at them and the bunny brought him an extra hard one.  I couldn't believe how well he tackled it.

Annamarie in the beautiful dress Gigi made for her

Maizy getting some love.... and giving it.

We went to my Aunt Janet and Uncle Mike's home for the Buck Family Easter... a beautiful day and they had a great hunt for all the kids.

Anna and Lani- they are just too cute together.

Popi and Aunt Kylie - love those happy smiles.

Nana (who just days before celebrated her 89th birthday!) with Tyler (right) & Carter (left)

Nana and Gigi with the girls

The great-grandboys with Nana and her twin sons (Uncle Mike & Jim)

Remembering Ron

Travis and his dad on our wedding day.

They say time heals... but after 5 years of a world without Ron, I think there are some things time cannot heal.  The hurt in your heart of losing, missing someone so dear.  

It makes me smile when I see Ron in Travis.  An every so often "Atta Girl"... the pure commitment of watching golf and cheers for the ol' timers ... the working hard to make a dollar, and more importantly only spend a dollar... the comments I know could only have been implanted by a father himself... it goes on. 

For me, our lives, marriage, everything changed the day we devoted ourselves to caring for Ron in his last months.  The world took on another light.  For a girl who once fought every tear, I have turned into one that will cry on a whim.   I recently read a quote which defined it perfectly: 

 She said she usually cried at least once a day, not because she was sad, but because the world was so beautiful and life was so short.

We miss you Grandpa... oh, and give Grandma a kiss- or better yet, an "Atta Girl" for us.