The other birthday boy

Just a quiet celebration at home with oreo pie for number 3-1, but Ryan is taking off this weekend for a NASCAR race with his brothers and friends, which will be anything but quiet.

April Showers

Lots of fun racing straws down a river following a major thunder storm.

Two in one week

A quick follow up to my previous post. Elizabeth lost another tooth (on her own accord) on Friday. Now with two whole dollars from the tooth fairy, I took Elizabeth to the Dollar General and she picked out a bow and arrow set.

Term of Endearment: Pumpkin Face

When Elizabeth was two she crashed into the coffee table, damaging her two front teeth. She cracked the root on one tooth and damaged blood flow to the other. Hence, the green tooth that many of you have seen. Still the teeth stayed alive and caused no problems for the next three years. We were very thankful that they didn't have to be pulled, so they could serve as place holders for her adult teeth.

Now she has reached the age where kids start to lose teeth. She is on the earlier side with FOUR loose teeth, two top and two bottom. Unfortunately, the green tooth started to decay a little faster than the others and was causing problems. No pain, just an abscess, but we didn't want one rotten tooth to mess up the whole mouth. So out it came via the dentist.

Before

After

Ryan took her to the appointment, she had the tooth extracted without sedation, was touted as the model patient (they must have some really terrible kids at this dentist), and was back at school within the hour. She told me she didn't even cry.

Elizabeth is so excited to look like jack-o-lantern. There is one other kid in her Kindergarten class who is missing a tooth and she told me she is now his twin. In exchange for her tooth, the tooth fairy brought her a $1 and a lollipop, which she took to school today to show all of the kids in her class.

Birthday Boy

The birthday masterpiece. The singing.

Make a wish...

The first cupcake. The second cupcake!

Big Wheels Action Shots

I think you can tell by the photos and the movies, that we all had a lot of fun with Gina-Mom, Michael-Dad, Katie and Austin. We can't wait to visit again. Thank you for making our trip so special and memorable.

Happy Easter!

While Ryan was working in Ohio, we took the opportunity to join him up there and visit family. The weather was absolutely beautiful for Easter, and the kids got to wear their new Easter outfits from Gram. In the morning, we went to Easter Mass. The kids were actually very good during the service, but still thought the best part of church was the playground out back.

After church, we headed over to Billy and Annie's house for lunch, a family reunion, and an Easter egg hunt. It was nice to catch up with some of the Melink crew that I haven't seen in a couple of years. Nana Melink is still going strong, and enjoys watching the flurry of activity that kids, grandkids, and great grandkids bring to her old house. Katie and cousin Lily are the best mother's helpers that I have ever met. I was ready to pack them in my suitcase and bring them home. Dan and Janine are as sweet as ever, and they brought their youngest daughter Eva with them. Eva is not so young any more. She has graduated college, engaged to a Marine, and ready to start the next phase of her life. Gina and Mike have more energy than any parents I know and were able to give Ryan and I a welcome break as they chased after all the kiddos.

Lots of love, laughter, and chocolate, it was a good day.

Hope everyone had a Happy Easter!