Then we got to met Frank Wycheck and Blaine Bishop (former Titans players) and get their autographs. The State Parks were also a part of the plan and they brought along a bald eagle to meet. The ROTC was there and gave the kids dog tags and water bottlers. Kroger gave out cake!

The kids found it to be quite intriguing. I had fun and got my grocery shopping done too!

Here’s all the fun titans stuff we got. Funny thing, I put up the signed poster, bumper sticker, and the picture of T-Rac in each of the kid’s rooms. Natalie promptly pulled down the picture of T-Rac and I have yet to find it!

We headed to Manchester last weekend to campout at Old Stone Fort Park with the Williams, Harrisons, Gates, and Hawkins. We had a blast. This had to be the easiest camping trip for Darin…I did all the packing, he showed up after work and our tent was already up fire going. He left in the morning (he had to work) and I had to take down the tent, clean up, and prod my two whiners on the hike. I unpacked and cleaned up everything when we got home. Easy peasy camping (except he can never sleep well on a campout and he had to work all day and Sunday too…maybe not so easy).

The kids loved roasting hot dogs, marshmallows, playing with glowsticks, and just running around with their friends. Luke and Emmy just chat away as they explore. Natalie couldn’t get enough of her Ellie. all during the hike she kept telling me she loved Ellie. Ellie was her favorite friend (she loves to use favorite to describe things these days).

They did enjoy parts of the hike: checking out the flints and arrowheads, seeing a snake, playing in the water at the falls, and eating Skittles along the way. But boy did they whine… I carried Natalie on my shoulders and hip for quite a bit of it. Luke complained that he couldn’t walk anymore because he feet were falling asleep. Lanie even carried him for a bit on the way back.  We did walk over 2 miles total and they didn’t get much sleep so I guess I was setting myself up for a difficult time. But I still enjoyed it. Next time, Darin has to stick around for the hiking too!

Funny story: When Luke woke up (sort of) he realized he had moved off his sleeping mat in the night and away from his glowstick that was in the tent pocket. He grumped, “I hate camping, I’m not where I’m supposed to be.” So Darin scooted him back over and he grabbed his glowstick and curled back into his sleeping bag and fell asleep. haha, so silly.

He is sleeping in sleeping bag tonight and he so excited to go on the father-son campout this weekend with Daddy, so I guess he likes camping after all.

I didn’t even know they recited the pledge of allegiance at school, but he just busted out with it when we were playing on the square! I love how kids just absorb so much! Oh and this is the day that the paper took Natalie’s picture for the Southern Standard.  Thankfully, you can’t see her yogurt stained pants in the pic.

They had face painting, temporary tattoos, decorate a shell/starfish, get your picture at the “beach,” and color a fish hat stations. We did them all!

They had yummy Hawaiian treats. The kids especially loved the umbrellas on the muffins and the blue jello.

And of course we got to play on the playground..a LOT. They pretty much didn’t want to leave. 

He also got a few gifts (whistle, thanks guys, book, and bracelet) from the teachers as well. All the teens in the class are really sweet and do a great jobs with the kids. And the teacher teachers are fabulous. I’m glad we decided to participate!

Natalie is so thrilled she gets to join in the fun in the fall!

HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Last week, we headed up to Circle S Farm for some good ol’ fashioned fun with friends. While Natalie stuck close to me picking berries, Luke disappeared with his best bud Emme…

They chatted away as they sped up and down the rows looking for “mostly red” ones.  Everyone was having a good time eating and picking!

They had some swings and toys too. And the most awesome thing was an old corn taker-offer and grinder. I think Luke would have played with it all day. It was awesome.

and the strawberries were YUMMY!

and hello to a new one!

and boy, do we love the “tuck” according to Natalie. they often want to ride in the truck to church or the store or wherever!

but sometimes she just can’t hold out!

We are working on some bald spots in the yard,

flowers for the front porch,

a garden around back…

excavating bricks from the corner of our yard…

and finally enjoying Darin’s Christmas present! We are finishing closing off the tree house too.

I guess I better get a few pictures of some finished projects!

Saturday, we headed out for a little egg hunt with our friends, the Kominos family. (We play with their little girl every week!) Their church hosted an egg hunt with games for the the kids, hot dogs, and an unforgettable lesson about Easter. They shared the Easter story and the importance of the Savior’s atonement as the way for our sins to be forgiven and then they lit a cross covered with paper sins on fire. Natalie still talks about the fire. “mom, member the fire at the Easter hunt?”

Then the kids had egg hunts in age groups. Darin went with Luke and I went with Natalie. She was in the 3 and under. The were so cute. Most of the kids would run past several eggs just to get the one they saw. And several kids just ran to the swing set instead! It definitely took the group at least 20 minutes to gather all the eggs.  Luke came over to play before they had all been picked up!

At home, we dyed eggs! We talked about how people used to dye eggs just red to remember the Savior’s sacrifice. Now we color them many colors just for fun.

Sunday, started with resurrection rolls for breakfast, and Easter surprises in their baskets. Then they got dressed in their matching outfits (cause I still have energy for that, but I’m sure it will run out!). They were pretty cute, and they were actually excited to match.

Church was fabulous and really gave us a chance to remember the amazing sacrifice of the Savior and the significance of His resurrection.  I am truly grateful for what He does for me. I loved talking with my Primary class about the reactions of those who He visited with after His death. I loved hearing how they felt about the Savior and our Father in Heaven’s love to let His son suffer so much.

Then we headed to the homestead for family dinner. Mom and Dad, it was delicious! and I was the lucky one to take home most of the leftovers. The cousins had their annual egg hunt! They love it!!

Then we had a little adults egg hunt with cash prize. It was a premeditated set up and Dawn was not falling for it, but Marissa did an excellent job at finding the $100 (which was promptly returned to mom’s secret savings stash) and we all ate plenty of treats from the adults-only baskets!