We caved and got the kids a sandbox. W put it on our deck to keep the neighborhood cats out.

With that we get sands tracked inside the house.

Ah well, a small price to pay for hours of entertainment for all the kids..

Meh, i am already sweeping crumbs off the floor every day what's a few extra grains of sand.

Rookie of the year

Last night we went to the end of season banquet for Javan's dive team.
He got the "rookie of the year"award. Since it was his first year competing and he competed in one level up and placed very well in his competitions.
He is also invited to dive at the all city meet this Saturday (which is by invite only). He is working on a back flip this week and hoping he can perfect it enough to do it for the all city meet. I'll keep you posted!

Who needs a pool when you have a couple of cups and a bucket

Happy 8th Birthday!!!!

Javan's first dive meet

This year Javan joined dive team. Today was his first meet and he did really well!! He did a back dive and front flip.

One nice thing about kids close in age

...I have a built in potty trainer! Any time Coco goes potty violet wants to go too! 

Peek-a-boo

Where are vi and Cosette?  what a great hiding place...behind a screen.

Springtime and watermelon

Kansas sampler festival

It just so happens that this same weekend as his family reunion was the Kansas sampler festival and this year it was in wamego and we had gorgeous weather. 

Javan's first time DRIVING the tractor. Yikes!!!

Our future tennis stars

Painting Violet's nails

Happy birthday Dr. Seuss

Never too young to put your kids to work!

A know I'm a little behind but...

I have some pictures from Christmas time I wanted to post and have never gotten around to it.... So here goes...

December started with a little birthday party for Cosette at Lance's parent's house. Marilyn made a pretty Big Bird cake for her.

Mom came out before Christmas and we had a little Christmas/Cosette's birthday vacation in Branson.

 We had such a great time but the highlight, I think, was the polar express train ride

We bought a cupcake and some candles for a little birthday for Cosette on her actual birthday.

This year we had a lot of fun with our train set under our tree. 

There is something magical about watching the train go round in a room lit by the Christmas tree

We had loads of fun writing notes to each other and let the train deliver our messages. 

For Christmas we had our traditional Christmas Eve fondue at Shane and Shana's

Violet loved to eat Shana's decorations

and it was there we were about to get a family picture. I think it was the first time that we have had the ENTIRE family (including Violet) in a picture together 

We were able to celebrate Christmas the weekend before with Lance's whole family

All of the cousins together:

Cosette, Lucas, Javan, Isaac, Violet, and Creighton

Its been a snowy winter... but there is always fun to be had at Monty and Marilyn's house (This is Lance driving a tractor pulling the kids on a sled)

This is Violet and Isaac... just about 2 months apart. Little cuties.

For Violet's birthday, we had a little party at Monty and Marilyn's

The PA Rushiks bought Violet a bunch of pink balloons!!

Sneaking a little taste of the cake 

Meet Nora... or Dora as Cosette likes to call her. 

We have been babysitting her 3 days a week for a friend.

Cosette loves having a playmate around :-)

Violet has gotten to courage to walk around now. She's a little wobbly now but it won't be long she will be running around chasing her siblings.

Its not easy getting pics of the kids lately. Someone is crying or not looking or making a silly face or running away... ah well ...  Here are a few random pics from my phone 

Bubbles at the library storytime

Violet likes to get pushed around in the doll stroller

Hide and seek. I wonder where Cosette is....

Found her!