We can go outside

Good news...it's been warm enough for the past few days that I think it's safe to say playing outside is an option. So we've been digging some holes and planting some plants. We always seem to have a helper with us whether we want one or not. I was just saying to Daniel that I can't believe Henry and Max haven't tried to destroy our plants yet. Then 2 seconds later they started ripping leaves off of our barberry plants. Those are supposed to have prickers. The lady said if you have kids you won't want these...well even the prickers on those aren't enough to keep Henry and Max away...oh well. We also have plenty of knockout rose bushes...which also have prickers...good luck with those boys. ;) Here's one of our little helpers.

Another fun family outing is when we all go to Menard's...the local hardware store. There's something for everyone. They have a big play area with all of their outside playsets in their greenhouse seasonal building. All the kids love it and Henry and Maxwell expecially seem to have endless amounts of energy as they climb up the ladder on the big playset and go down the big twisty yellow tube slide. They are so brave...I'm sure I would have hesitated at their age. The kids also love to jump on the trampoline....Ash can do a flip(glorified sommersault)...which is pretty cool. The twins like to get on there too....just to give me a heartattack while they run towards the edge. Henry especially loves the trampoline.

Also, can I just say that on October 28, 2009 two soccer stars were born. These boys love to kick the ball and run...if they really do have any athletic talent...they didn't get it from me and word on the street is Daniel used to pick flowers at his soccer games. So, it's a mystery.

Last week Andrew's class had a spring music concert. They all sang lots of songs about frogs, bugs, monkeys, and other spring things. He didn't want to wear what I suggested but he did anyway...what a trooper. Doesn't he look handsome?

Finally, here's Ashley who insisted on getting a picture by the flowers. Love her.

yet again

Scene: Ashley and I on the way home from a friends house. Ashley sees me unbuckle my seatbelt right when we turn into our subdivision.

Ashley: "If you are going to do that(unbuckle my seatbelt early) then I'm going to do that. And, if you don't want me to do that then you'd better not do that. As long as you're going to get unbuckled early then so am I. If you want me to stay buckled then you better."

Maybe I should start a blog just about Ashley. She has a good point about me living the way I want my kids to live....but really?...who is the parent here?! She really gets her point across with all that repitition too.

Where did THAT come from?

Scene: Daniel in the car with our 5 children going to get frostys from Wendy's

Ashley: "GOOOO DADDY!!"
Daniel: "I can't...the light isn't green."
Ashley: "Oh so you have to wait till it's green?"
Daniel: "Yep...then we can go."
Ashley: "Would it be really mean if when the light turned green we waited to go until the last possible second so only you get to go through the green light?"
Daniel: "Yes...yes that would be mean."

I'm not sure where Ash gets these road ragey ideas...could it be from her Grandpa Darrell...or from her less than "go with the flow" mother(I don't think of myself as having road rage...until someone else is in the car usually just staring in horror as I yell left and right at other cars)....we may never know. All I have to say is....if she's coming up with ideas like that at the age of 5...watch out world!