Happy 18th Birthday, Roland!

It's hard to believe that 18 years have gone by since Roland was born.  I remember my mom and aunt telling me at the time to be sure to cherish these years, because they would go by so fast.  I remember wondering how in the world 18 years could go by fast - well, now I know!  We have mixed emotions at this time in his life - excitement for his future and sadness at his childhood being gone.  But, we know there are many great things to come!

Then

Age 4 months

Now

Age 18 years

  

Happy Birthday, Roland!  We love you!

Happy Birthday, Ellie!

Ellie turned 9 yesterday, and we celebrated with a Chinese buffet at home (her request), Pepsi, and checkerboard cake (recipe courtesy of our beloved Aunt Debbie).  Here are a few pics of the big day:

Enjoying wonton soup and Pepsi

Pot Stickers, fried rice, and green beans!

The cake!

The inside is a checkerboard design, but Aunt Debbie did a much better job on ours when we were growing up!

Checkerboard cake on the inside

Ellie's favorite game - Scattergories!  Note to self - never give Caden Pepsi again :)

The beautiful flowers Daddy brought Ellie after work

Ellie absolutely adores dogs at the moment, so although we couldn't get a real dog this year she appreciated the card.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Ellie!  It's hard to believe you are 9 years old already.

Chickens

We have decided to raise chickens and have finally put them outside in their "new" (recycled swing set) chicken coop.  I'm so proud of Michael's ingenuity in putting this together!  It is a coop with nesting boxes attached to a run so they can stay "cooped" up in the run if need be with the option to roam freely around the yard if it is a good time for them to be out.  Here are a couple of pics of the process from beginning to end:

The beginning Stages

To this!

and look how the chicks have grown!

about 2 weeks old

now at 9 weeks in their run

It will still be awhile before they lay eggs, but they are great entertainment for the kids and are their beloved pets already.  

One of their favorite things to do is feed the chickens fresh kale.  The chickens absolutely love it!

Always trying to catch a chicken

It's kind of like a playhouse

feeding their favorite treat - kale!

Hopefully we will have eggs soon...we'll keep you posted!

Happy Easter!

Before mass on Easter morning

Can't stay still for long!

Happy Easter!

We enjoyed having lunch with Nanny and Charles after mass

Nanny and the girls

Ellie and cousin, Celine

Bubbles and Easter Egg Hunts are fun, especially when Granddaddy is there!

Cousins together at Granddaddy and Judy's house

Just before the whole bubble container was dumped on the deck :)

Stella enjoying her Easter candy

Swimming in Granddaddy's small heated pool

I love the water!

No fear Stella!

Jonathan is such a nurturing big brother

Caden jumping into the hula hoop

We took this picture, because Stella was very intent on playing certain notes on the piano - she loved it!