Let's start with March . . .

I've been putting off bloggin FOREVER because I am so behind . . . so we'll start and see how far we get:)  Over Spring Break, our family took a short trip out to St. Louis.  We decided to make our "big" attraction the City Museum . . . and it was PERFECT for our family!  We went several years ago when Tyler was just a little guy, and the place isn't exactly stroller friendly!

 This slide was a big hit last time, and it was again this time!  The pics don't do it justice, but it is a crazy  high, long slide!

 And there's Kayla!

There are tons of unique tunnels and places to climb.  Let's just say if you tend to be claustrophobic, you might want to think twice!!!  

The younger two enjoyed the train!

So there's this crazy bowl/slide thing -- it's a pretty steep drop:)

I even got the nerve to try it!

 A little action shot . . .

And Tyler is not one to be left out . . .

 More crazy slides . . .

Last time we went this ball bit was the favorite . . . but we only spent a little bit of time there this time!

 This was the fastest slide -- Kayla made a friend while we were there.

Daddy and Tyler about ready to zoom down . . .

They also have an outdoor play structure -- it's pretty intense!  Climbing through the suspended tunnels/walkways can be a bit daunting . . .

Joshua managed to lose a tooth while we were there . . . it's funny how the Tooth Fairy 

can always find where you are!!!!  

The trip didn't quite go as planned, though.  The reason we chose St. Louis as our destination was so that we could swing by and spend some time with Great Grandpa as we've done many times in the past.  However, as we were gathering things up in the hotel room to go see him, I got a message from Aunt Marilyn.  Great Grandpa was on his way to the hospital in an ambulance . . . he had a stroke earlier that morning.  I was grateful that I was able to go and see him one last time at the hospital.  

Great Grandpa had an amazing 97 years on this earth and we are so grateful that we will be able to see him on the other side of Heaven!  He missed Grandma so much -- definitely a bittersweet thing.

We were grateful for the weather -- after many rainy/snowy days, we were blessed to have a sunny, bright day for his funeral.

Uncle John, Aunt Susanne, Mom, Aunt Marilyn

 Tyler's birthday was just around the corner, and he was telling EVERYONE at the funeral dinner that his birthday was on "March Firty-First" -- so Judy (one of the dear, dear ladies from Grandma and Grandpa's home town) found a candle and gave Tyler his very own piece of cake.  He was very proud of it.

Beginning of March

As usual, I'm way behind:)  Several weeks ago we took advantage of a day off the kids had on Friday (B's day off too) and went down to visit Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Varner.  As you can tell, we really treated them right . . . lunch at McDonalds!!!!

Tyler handing with Great Grandma back at their place!

 Bryan and Great Grandpa chatting.  Notice the puzzle set up on the table . . . that proved to be inspiration for us in the week to come!

 Joshua finished his basketball season several weeks ago.  It was kind of a bummer as he was really starting to get in the "groove" of playing, when he had to take several weeks off because of his wheezing lungs that just refused to get better, so when he started up again, there were only two games left, and it was hard to jump back in the saddle.  Nonetheless, he really improved from last year.

His height advantage is good in basketball!

Yep -- number 7 is ours!

Didn't ever get great pics -- lighting was funky in there!

So, we're in that part of the winter where we're trying to be creative inside . . . 

and this is building a fort . . . "a la daddy style!"...

 . . . and teaching the kids what a human pyramid is . . 

  . . . second attempt was much better!

Remember the puzzle from Great Grandma's???  That idea came in handy when we got our mega snow storm!  Unfortunately, Kayla was sick that week and so every time I attempted to get pics of the kids in the snow, I had a sick child that needed attended to . . . therefore no pics.:(

Several weeks ago I had my camera at Sparks and Kayla said John 3:16 for opening ceremonies . . .

Yesterday was our "Sparks-a-rama" -- a day of fun games/competition associated with 

our AWANA club.  This was my "Hey J & K -- smile!" picture.  

We took two teams -- this was the team that J & K were not on.

Getting lined up for the Sparky crawl.

Kayla ran the first leg of one of the relays --

  . . . coming around the circle!

 Joshua getting ready for the first leg!

All lined up for the Sparky Train.  

Balloon Pop -- Kayla was the girl representative who was to pop the balloon at the end. She was so psyched for this . . . she literally talked about it for 2 days straight!!!!

You have to give the girl an "A" for effort -- she used her fingernails (that was her method she thought of on her own!), bounced up and down LOTS, but that crazy balloon just wouldn't pop!  

We ended up getting 1st place on our circle, and the other team got 2nd place on their circle.  

Lots of fun for everyone!

New Feb Stuff

Kayla is our "teacher in residence" -- 

The whole right-handed vs. left-handed is sometimes confusing . . .

 . . . but we persevere!

 A little father/son bonding time over an airplane . . .

I just HAD to document this pic.  Last week, I was giving piano lessons on a Thur evening (B is gone for rehearsal).  The kids had already had showers before the students arrived.  Tyler bonked his head (I think) the last 10 min or so from the end of the lessons and I told him he couldn't cry near the piano, so he went upstairs.  After the students left, I went upstairs to get things moving for bedtime .  . . and found him fast asleep on his bed.  Guess he was tired:)

 This is a norm right now at our house . . . J has been fighting wheezing lungs for the last two weeks so we've had lots of nebulizer time (and DS).  He's had steady improvement, but the improvement has been small, so the dr. has been upping meds and restricting physical activity.  I think we've been in 5 times to have the dr listen to his lungs and we're hoping we're getting close to the end of this.  Just thankful we live in a country where we have access to this care.

This was K last week at gymnastics --

I forget what you call these . . .straddle jumps???  

All I know is that we have a great cartwheel path in our living room!!!!