My parents were here last weekend for Easter and we had a great time having them here to visit.  We dyed some Easter eggs, so of course I have to share some pictures.  Hailey wasn’t too sure about the whole thing when we first started, but she ended up having fun.

Not too sure about this whole egg dyeing thing.

Once “Pa” sat down to help Hailey with her eggs she loved it.

I promised Brooke if she’d just let me get one picture of her that I’d leave her alone with the camera.  So, here is Brooke enjoying dyeing some Easter eggs.

Adding some glitter to the eggs.

Yay!  Now this is definitely fun!

I’ll be back later with some pictures from Easter.

We spent last weekend visiting my parents and as always we had a wonderful time.  While we were there they got some snow, so my dad and Rich convinced me that it was time for Hailey to go on her first toboggan ride.

Hailey and Rich are ready to come down the hill.

Rich and Hailey stop to smile for a picture.

Now it’s Pa’s turn to take Hailey down the hill.

Hailey thinks about making the long trip back up the hill.

Hailey gets ready to throw a snowball.

Hailey loved playing in the snow and we had a great time this weekend.  As always it felt sad to leave to come home.

I am thankful for the wonderful time we spent with our family last week.  We spent several days staying at my parents house and had a wonderful time.  It was great to eat my mom’s awesome cooking (I gained 2 pounds while we were there) and to have extra help with Hailey.  Mostly though it was just so much fun to spend the time there.

My dad usually has a project going on somewhere in the house and he is currently working on remodeling their kitchen and dining room.  He’s been promising my mom he would do this for 22 years, so it’s about time.  Anyhoo- Hailey loved helping my dad (or “Pa” as Hailey has recently started calling him) with whatever he was working on.

Hailey helps Pa with some sanding in the dining room.

Hailey helps Pa set up a new stereo.

Hailey helps Pa play the guitar.  (I don’t think my mom will be very happy that you can see that green door in the background.  It leads to the kitchen that is being remodeled, so I assume that one day it will be painted a different color)

Anyhoo, I am so thankful for the way that my parents are with Hailey.  I absolutely love watching them together.

We were also finally able to celebrate Christmas with Rich’s side of the family.  We had originally planned to do that the weekend before Christmas, but then Hailey was sick and we didn’t think it would be a good time to travel.  So, this weekend was the first chance we have had to get together with them to celebrate Christmas.  It was a wonderful time and I always enjoy the time we get to spend with them.  Hailey enjoyed herself while we were at their house with all sorts of new things to explore.  And, also a different dog to play with make very nervous.  I am thankful for the nice time we had with Rich’s side of the family and I am thankful to have these wonderful people in our lives. Would you believe that we didn’t take any pictures while we were there?  Well, believe it- so I don’t have any pictures to share with you. 

Lastly, I am thankful that the DVD player worked on the way to visit our family.  Because it did not work on the way home and it was a bit unpleasant.  Because Hailey?  She did not sleep, not one little wink, for the entire ride home.

Stop by Sting My Heart to see more Thankful Thursday participants.

Well, my parents and my brother and sister-in-law left earlier this afternoon after our fun weekend together.  So, here I am, in a house that is much too quiet, smiling at the memories we made.

They arrived on Saturday evening and the fun started right away.  After we went out to dinner we came back here and exchanged our gifts with Matt and Ellie.  We spent the rest of the evening talking and laughing.

Rich’s employer gave him a turkey for Christmas- a 12 pound turkey.  It seemed a little silly to make a 12 pound turkey on Christmas day for just the three of us.  So, we saved it and had it for dinner this Sunday.  I have no idea how to cook a turkey, so my mom did it- and it was delicious.  The fun was when we were preparing it.  The turkey had a mind of it’s own.

Tom, as we reffered to the turkey, did not want to lay down in the roaster pan.  And so- here is Tom dancing and waving to all of you.   

After he was cooked, there was even more fun.  We could not get Tom out of the roaster pan.  It took three of us to get him out and about seventy-four spatulas.  I didn’t get a picture of this happening because I was one of the ones trying to get Tom out of the roasting pan.  I think Ellie got a picture, so if she sends it to me, I will share it with you.  (Could you please send me that picture, Ellie?)

After our lovely turkey dinner, Rich got his new Wii set up and the there was much fun to be had with that. 

Ellie works on her bowling game.

Rich tries for a strike.

Later on we played some games.  As you can see, Ellie and Matt are very excited to play Fact or Crap.

On Monday we had to do a bit of shopping, so here is Hailey all ready to go- modeling her new hat from Aunt Ellie and Uncle Matt.

 Of course, there was more Wii to be played.  Here Matt and Rich enjoy a few rounds of boxing.

 Ellie and Rich had been planning to box each other since Ellie’s arrival on Saturday evening.  It was so much fun to watch. 

 Later on we played some Pictionary, which was also a lot of fun.  (By the way- lest any rumors get started- those are all sparkling juice containers.)

We had lots of fun and lots of laughs at our New Years Eve party.  We missed my brother Mike not being able to be here because of work.  We were able to ring in the New Year with him on the phone though.  After our games, some more laughs and cleaning up all of the food (which probably could have fed more than double the number of people we had here) we crashed into bed. 

This morning Matt made us some yummy pancakes for breakfast. 

My dad took a little snooze on the couch while he waited for breakfast.

By the way, not only did Matt make breakfast- he cleaned up my kitchen afterwards while I layed on the couch and possibly took a little nap.  Thanks Matt!!!  After breakfast there was more Wii playing, more talking, more laughing, more fun and of course, more eating as well. 

Then it was time to say goodbye

Unlce Matt and Aunt Ellie give Hailey a hug goodbye.

I had a great time having everyone here this weekend.  I really was very sad to see them all leave.  I hope they all had as much fun as I did.