He's back.

Mike has traveled for work quite a bit this year.  I'm not complaining - it's been a good experience for both of us.  He's gained some valuable work experience and I've learned I'm capable of much more than I thought I was on my own.  

Well, now Mike has a new position at work and he won't be traveling much anymore.  YAY!  

Since his travels are coming to an end, he decided to swing by Columbus on his way home from his last trip to visit the fam.  The kids and I were super jealous, but happy he got to see them.  

He got the spend the day with his dad and siblings doing some landscaping work.       

Left to right:

Mike's little brother Scott, Mike's little sister Kate, Kate's husband Chad, and Mike.

Then dinner with the rest of the family... Here's the Seymour group.  Our kids miss their Ohio cousins sooo much.  

And the kids were so upset when they heard dad was with Grandma and Grandpa Dehner.  We miss them all terribly.  

Another one with Kate, Chad and Scott...

Then just to made me feel bad, Mike went to some of my favorite places to eat in Columbus... He went to Piada and and then to Graeters for ice cream... 

Kate and Chad rubbing it in.... Whatever guys...

But don't worry about us back at home.  We were having our own good time without daddy.  The Shannon's boy, David, crashed in the basement for a couple days before heading back to school.  The kids loved having a big kid around to wrestle with.  

Meg had a friend over to play...

Will took care of me during the day.  He makes me a happy mama because he's always doing this to me.  He tells me everyday that he wants to marry me and he's constantly giving me the I Love You sign.  He makes my heart happy.

Mike brought us all back Ohio State shirts.  Good thing, my other shirt has 3 holes in it.  We will forever be buckeyes at heart.  

Best Night Ever! (According to Morgan and Miles)

Yesterday Mike called from work and said he was given 4 seats to the Jazz game that night.  Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa who played with the little ones, Mike and I were able to take Morgan and Miles to the game.  Best part  - ROW 6 baby!  

Actually that wasn't the best part for Morgan...  Her favorite part (besides licking all the salt off her ginormous pretzel) was that the Jazz dancers sat right by her.  She asked to get her picture with one of them and it made her night - especially that she got to hold real Jazz Dancer pom-poms!  

Miles favorite part of the night was when the Jazz bear pulled him out of his seat to shake his hand....

And then gave him a ride on his shoulders...  

And then gave him and Morgan each a little ball and autographed his forehead...  (With a sharpie of all things....  Hopefully it comes off someday...  I don't know if it will come off yet, Miles wouldn't let me wash his face - he may never shower again :)   I told him he could keep it today only to show his friends at school, but then it has to go somehow).

We were so close to the floor and Miles just couldn't resist touching it.  Morgan was a nice sister and went with him to see what a real NBA basketball floor felt like.  

Thanks for taking us babe.  You always show us a good time!  

Spring Break

Last week the kids were on Spring Break.  We stayed close to home and tried to play as much as we could.  I wasn't good about taking pictures,  but here's a few...

Meggie doing superman on mom's feet in the backyard.    

Meg and Matthew on a little dinner date.  Don't worry, they were well chaperoned the entire time.  I think I saw them feeding each other bites of food and sipping out of the same sippy cup.  They are good sharers already.

Spending the afternoon at Boondocks with the Hesses is always a good time.  In fact, anything that involves the Hesses is a good time.  

Unless you get caught sitting down while watching the fam play arcade games, and the Hesses are nearby to take secret phone pictures to tease you about later on.  That's when the Hesses aren't so fun.

One day we got together with our Ohio peeps so the kids could play.  The older kids were toddlers together in Ohio and they spent about 5 days a week together.  It's fun to see them all getting older - and now there are a whole bunch of new little ones added to the group.  

(This is the kids watching the youtube video of the Louisville basketball player that broke his leg in the NCAA tournament...  So gross... They kept watching it over and over...)

The boys had some luck in the field again...  Remember the lovely Easter present I wrote about a few posts ago... At least they tried cleaning them this time around.  

We killed one day by going with a bunch of neighbors to our friend's cabin.  We played in the pool and just hung out.

Meg was being a little shy - she like to play sleep when she wants you to stop paying attention to her.  It's pretty cute!     

Easter 2013

This year the kids had the traditional cousin Easter egg hunt at Grandma & Grandpa's house.  What kid doesn't love finding Easter Eggs...  

I was in charge of hiding Meg's eggs...  I dumped them in one spot on the grass and put her down in the middle.  She was in heaven!  

We had this stuffed Easter bunny while I was growing up and my mom still has it.  Every year she takes a picture of each grandkid with the Easter bunny.  

Our family tradition for Easter morning is to give the kids new church clothes and a little easter basket.  Not much candy since they get so much at the egg hunt at Grandmas.  One chocolate bunny and a few eggs.  

Then we are off to church... I couldn't decide which picture I liked best of the kids, so here's a handful of my favorites.  

Happy Easter!

The Real Meaning of Easter??

After playing in an open field by our friends house, the boys came back with this deer leg - hoof and all.  GROSS!  Don't worry, we made them run in and wash their hands a few times.  

Miles left it in the dirt in front of their house - which we should have known was a terrible idea...  

This is what we found on our doorstop Easter morning all wrapped up with a sweet Easter card quoting the scripture found in Alma 40:23: "The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame."

We are so blessed to have such great friends to remind us of the real meaning of Easter.