Maddie's First Holy Communion

This weekend we headed to St Francis to celebrate Maddie's first Holy Communion. She looked so pretty in her dress!  We then headed to lunch at Casa San Carlo to celebrate.

Oak Island

We headed to the beach for a short 3 day vacation.  The weather started out a bit cool but warmed up by the middle of the first day.  We enjoyed our time and the kids really had fun on the beach.  They played so well together and had so much fun that it was hard to leave. 

Thomas teaching Sam how to dig

Crabbing at night was not successful

Don't know who showed her how to pose like that???

Hope she holds his hand forever

The pattern of shells they made on the back porch

 

Heading for the ocean

Aniela trying to coax Thomas towards the ocean.

TAX DAY!!!

FINALLY OVER!!

Easter

After our baskets, we headed to church for a wonderful service with some great music.  Then we had our traditional lunch at the Arwoods.  Lots of friends, family, another egg hunt and beautiful weather made for a great day.

Our Annual picture in front of the Arwoods bushes

The best I could get of all 3

Aniela and Mamaw

Checking to make sure it was one he wanted

Sammy found the one he wanted

Easter Morning

We woke up to find the Easter bunny had visited our house!  The kids were excited to find all the hidden eggs and open their baskets.  Aniela was quick to find the eggs but was nice enough to make sure Thomas got his share.  They each got new flashlights which was the hit of the day.

Craning to find every last egg

Excited

Sammy raced after them as fast as he could!

Sammy's favorite was the peeps ... just like his mommy

Egg Dying

We dyed our eggs the night before Easter.  The kids had a good time mixing the colors and seeing what the got.  They were even more excited that they got to eat them!

Strawberry Picking

Suzy and I took the kids strawberry picking, yes strawberry picking!  Our local farm already had a good crop of organic berries ready for picking.  It was a bit cold when we got there but warmed up after awhile.  

Finding the right berry!

Grace helping Thomas pick the berries 

(she forgot her jacket so she is wearing Sammy's shopping cart cover :)

 The berry picking crew!

 Sweet

NC Zoo

Kim and I decided to take the kids to the zoo during Spring Break.  It was a beautiful day, not too hot with a great breeze.  It was however, very packed since it was Spring Break week.  After taking 5 hours to go through Africa, we decided to call it a day. 

Doesn't look it but they all had a good time

 

Giraffes

Zebras (not bad for an iPhone picture)!

Elephant

The one kind of animal we know Aniela is not afraid to pet :)

Birthday Party

Sam had a great time at his party!  He was so happy and all smiles.  We had fishy cupcakes and the kids all got a bag of Swedish fish. Our plan to have it at the park was foiled by rain but we made the best of it and everyone had a good time.

Sam was a little scared by all the singing but he dug right into a cake all for himself.  He might have finished it if we let him!

YUM

Sam loved opening presents.  He oohed and aahed at every card and every gift.  It was very sweet!

 He loves all the new books he got

 Ride on toy from Grandma and Grandpa

His own jersey from the Arwoods

 SO HAPPY!!

Enjoying his ride on Mr. B.

 

Playing with Grandpa

One Year Old!

Sammy is ONE!  For the third time I am amazed at how quickly a year goes by!  It has been bittersweet to celebrate my last baby's first birthday.  He has been changing so much in the last couple of weeks and really turning into a big boy.  He weighed 21 pounds 2 ounces and was 28 inches at his doctor appointment.  He loves to pull himself up and then fall down and he has learned how to get to the second stair!  He loves to babble, make sounds and most of all laugh at his brother and sister.  He is such a happy little boy and has the sweetest smile.  

The Midhas came over Thursday night to celebrate his big day.  He got his SAM chair and loved climbing on and diving off of it.  He dug right into his first birthday cake and loved every bite!