Spring?

Spring has sprung...kind of.  It's been a cold start to this spring, which has put a damper on some of our typical outdoor fun, but we've had a few glimpses.  The kids are starting softball and baseball practices, and tennis finished up yesterday for Elsie.  We are looking forward to nicer weather.  The weekends have been REALLY crummy lately. 

Back in March, the kids spent a few days in Boonville with Grandma and Grandpa Cas.

They had a huge dirt pile to play in.

Balloon races!

Cute!

I went down on Wednesday to pick them up, and while we were there we toured my Grandparents house.  It is on the market, so this was probably the last time I'd get to see inside of it.  So many memories...like this view!

It was quite an adventure for the kids.  As we explored the house me, Mom, and Aunt Marilyn told the kids different stories about their Great Grandparents.

One of the neatest parts of the house is that it was built over an old wine cellar.  This served as a tornado shelter when I was growing up.  I remember vividly riding out a bad storm down there with my parents and grandparents when I was little.  

The old milk chute.  Many a time when I was a kid did I enter the house through it.  Owen wanted to do the same so we sent him through!

On the way home, the kids filled out their NCAA Tournament Brackets for our family tournament.  Winner gets to pick the restaurant of their choice.  More on that later...

The next few days were spent at home enjoying the rest of spring break.  We played games (like this one where you put the thing in your mouth and try to talk), watched a lot of b-ball, played tennis, and just chilled.

Elsie really enjoyed her 2nd set of tennis lessons.  They were more challenging but also more fun because they got to play more one-on-one and doubles.  Also learned a lot more about serves.

We signed Owen up for a baseball clinic at the Spring Hill High School a few weeks ago.  It was run by the baseball team and seemed like a pretty good way to get prepared for the season.  Kind of like spring training. :)

And, he got a sweet t-shirt!

Owen worked REALLY hard in March on his reading log.  He read 700 pages!

Elsie got Student of the Month

Recorder practice has been happening a lot as well.  Elsie really likes playing it and she's shown really good improvement. 

We've only had one weekend so far this spring that was suitable for a fire pit.

And then there was Easter.  It was so cold that the Easter Bunny hid eggs inside at our house.

We went over to Grandma and Grandpa Cox's house for lunch and our traditional family Easter egg hunt.

We asked the kids to hide in the bedroom while we hid eggs inside because it was so cold outside...

...but since it was April Fools Day, we hid them outside anyway and let the kids figure it out on their own!

This was right before it snowed a couple inches.

By the time we got home, the snow was starting to let up, but it was perfect for mini-sized snow men.  Elsie had been wanting to make one all winter, so this made her day.  Afterwards, she was officially done with winter weather.  :)

Owen had his school music program a few weeks ago.  We ended up with great seats!

They were supposed to dress up like bugs, so Mommy made Owen a sweet ant costume, complete with 6 arms!

Owen had a big speaking role this time!

Hitting the cages, getting ready for the season!  Owen's league is machine pitch this year, so this is a good way to get your timing down.

Sarah ended up winning our family bracket challenge and she picked a Chinese/Japanese Restaurant for her prize.  Owen was excited because this is the place where you get to catch shrimp off the grill.  And he LOVES that soup.

He caught one!

One wasn't enough!

Baseball practice started a couple of weeks ago too.  The team is almost all boys from Owen's grade, so it is going to be a lot of fun.  Same coaches as last year too, which is great.

GO ELSIE!

And I had another birthday...
Sarah made a very yummy lemon and blackberry cake.  It was a little pink on the outside, but it was SO yummy!

See ya,

Ryan, Sarah, Elsie, and Owen