Getting Ready for Easter!

Easter Bunny Cracker Treats
-water crackers
-pretzel sticks
-carrots, julienne strips
-radishes
-white cheese
-spreadable cream cheese

1. Spread each cracker with a layer of cream cheese
2. Cut two teeth from the center of a radish and press into cream cheese
3. Place three carrot strips on each side of the cracker for the whiskers
4. Cut two circles from a slice of white cheese and place over the radish teeth and carrot whiskers
5. Cut a triangle from the radish and press into cream cheese above the cheese cheeks
6. Break a pretzel stick in half and press side by side into the cream cheese for one of the ears. Repeat for the other side.
7. Break off the tip of a pretzel stick and push into cream cheese for one of the eyes. Repeat for the other eye

Bunny Cake

I make this bunny cake every year. I think it so cute and the kids love it. This is how you make it....

1 pkg cake mix, any flavor
2 cans of vanilla frosting
14 oz bag of coconut
Food Coloring (red and green)
Chocolate chips
Jelly beans
Red string licorice

Bake cake in two round pans. See picture above to assemble.

4th Birthday Party at Chuck E Cheese

Jack had his 4th birthday party last night. It was a big success. There was a total of ten kids there.... Jack, Emma, Brodie, Dafne, Elizabeth, Kaylee, Nate, Tanner, Walker, and Salem. The kids played their little hearts out, danced with Chuck E Cheese, ate pizza & Power Ranger cake, and got some really cool gifts.

My sweet boy

Four years ago you changed our lives forever. You were born on Easter Sunday, March 27, 2005. Mommy and Grandma went to sunrise service at Airlie Garden. We then met Pop Pop and Daddy at Bob Evans for breakfast, followed by buying a pair of sun glasses for you at Walmart. By 10am, I was tired so daddy and I laid down for a little nap. A few minutes passed and my water broke. Your Daddy was so surprised and asked if I had peed on him. Ha! You were a healthy little boy that came three weeks early. Easter Bunny brought you to us... just like your Daddy was brought to MawMaw and PawPaw!

Mommy and Daddy are so proud of the little man you have become. You are smart, full of energy, fun, and super cute. You are also very sensitive to people's feeling. You show your love with lots of hugs, kisses, "I love you's", and your Daddy and I love you to the moon and back.

Stairs

This the the wall when you are going our downstairs. We try to change out the pictures every once in awhile but it gets pretty tricky with the big ladder. Lately, when I am bringing Emma down the stairs she looks at the pictures and says either "Hi" or "Doggie". It brings a big smile to my face everyday!

Spring Training T-Shirts

It is not the best picture of the kids but I had to put in on here so Uncle Marco could see them with their Yankee shirts. Thanks Dad and Marco for bringing home goodies for the kids.

Tonight is the big birthday party!

Hershey

Hershey was supposed to be in surgery right now, but I just got a call from Michael. They did not go through with the surgery after discovering a few more smaller lumps in the area while prepping Hershey. After the area was shaved the smaller lumps became evident. They were able to aspirate some blood from at least one other that came back positive for cancer too. After the vet consulted with the others in the practice, they felt that it would be better to not put Hershey through such a evasive surgery(taking out an even larger area now) at this point. Although I am extremely sad, I agree 100%. They are still going to biopsy the two larger lumps to determine which stage it is at this point. Though it is looking that it is most likely Stage 2 possibly Stage 3. We will find out more in terms of next steps when we pick her up this afternoon…

Life

I took Jack to pick out his birthday cake. We were looking through the book with all the different cakes and of course he picks out the Power Rangers cake. I ready did not like the cake. It was not very creative... a few icings designs with 3 power rangers figures stuck in the cake. But Jack looked at me with these big brown eyes and said with so much joy..."Mommmm can I pleeeeeese have this cake." It is HIS birthday and if he loves the cake, that's all that matters.

The teachers at school tell me often that Emma had her Emma-tude today. HAHA

This morning Jack with dancing to some music and his little sister started laughing at him. Either she thought he was entertaining or a bad dancer.

Grandma and Aunt Shannon took the kids to the library last week for story time. The girls sat in the back of the room while Jack sat with a bunch of other kids right in front of the storyteller. The lady was reading a book on different animals and would ask the kids what it was.
She would say, what is this? And Jack yells a bird. That's right.
What is this? Jacks yells a turtle. That's right.
What is this? Jack yells a snake. Close but it is a worm.
- So when they are leaving the library, Jack looks up at Aunt Shannon with a serious look on his face and shaking his head said, "It WAS a snake."

My little man turns 4 on Friday. He is growing up too fast. We keep telling him he is too cute at 3 and we are not going to let him turn 4! Tomorrow is the big Chuck E Cheese party with his friends. He is so excited. Friday morning we will celebrate in the morning as a little family, he will bring cupcakes to school, and then my parents are coming over for a birthday dinner.

My dad is coming over this weekend to help me (or I should say that I will be helping him as best as I can) to paint the downstairs trim.

I am thankful I have Jack's birthday to help me keep my mind from not always thinking about Hershey, loss of loved ones, the crazy banking world, and little Stellen (http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ ... I follow this blog and Stellen is in the hospital)

I have some free kids tickets to the circus. The Cole Brothers Circus is April 2-5th. Leave me a comment if you would like me to send them to you.

Update on Hershey

Hershey goes in Wednesday to get the lump taken out. Please say a prayer for her and us that everything will be ok. Please pray that the cancer is not throughout her body and that once the lump is removed she will live many more years.

Family

Kate, Emma, Jack, Madison, Grandma in front of the aquarium

Jack and Emma

Grandma reading books to the girls


Having a snack


Maddie and Em riding in the stroller to the park

Emma and Aunt Shannon

Madison blowing me a kiss

Holding up the box with all the books Uncle Lee got Jack

So happy to get "Hulk" presents

Madison

My niece, Madison, is here for a visit. My brother, sister-in-law, and Madison arrived late Wednesday night. Yesterday morning my brother and dad flew to Tampa to see the Yankee's spring training. Lucky them!
Jack and Emma played hookie from school so they could go to a library book reading and the park with Madison. All three kids had a fun time playing with each other.

Cancer

I write this with tears running down my face. We found a lump on Hershey last night, so off to the Vet Michael went with Hershey today. We have found out that she has cancer. We will know in the next few days if it stage one, two or three. Please pray for it to just be stage one and Hershey will live many more years with us.

Leprechauns came to our house!

The Leprechauns came and made a mess.

They left us a pot of gold and some gifts.


Happy St. Patty's Day!


The chocolate gold is so yummy!


Green eggs, green grapes, and a green muffin for breakfast.

Emma looking cute in her shirt that reads, "Mommy's lucky charm."

My Tri-athlete husband

Michael completed his first triathlon(sprint distance-300 yd swim, 10 mile bike, and 3.1 mile run) over the weekend and did awesome. He actually said that he had fun and would like to do another one. The kids held up signs to cheer daddy on during the swim, bike, and run.

Prizes

There are some really good prizes out there for just donating to some really good causes.

Seth was born without hearing. The family's insurance will only cover a portion of Seth's surgery, so they are trying to raise the money for Seth. The giveaway includes two digital cameras, camera bag, memory card, camera strip, and many other prizes. Please go check this family out
http://www.profoundlyseth.com/2009/03/profound-pictures-prize-package.html

Kayleigh was born months early and has been in the NICU for 8 months. The family is about to lose everything, house and all.
http://www.give4kayleigh.blogspot.com/
Read about their story at
http://kayleighannefreeman.blogspot.com/

The last family that is in need here in Wilmington is
http://www.ethiopiatowilmington.blogspot.com/
They are hoping to adopt a baby from Ethiopia. They are having a huge yard sale April 26th so you can donate your stuff or stop by the yard sale and spend your money. They are also having a photo session if you are interested. Go to this site to check out Julie Mixon http://jsmixonphoto.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/ethiopia-to-wilmington/

No more training!

Michael has wrapped up his training for his triathlon this Saturday. It will be his first(sprint distance). Come support Michael this Saturday at the campus of UNCW. The kids and I have our signs ready to cheer him on.

Lilly Pulitzer

Doesn't Emma look so cute in her Lilly Pulitzer dress while playing hockey?!?! Thank you Miss Ali for all the hand-me-down dresses. The hot air balloons on her dress are getting me excited for our trip in October. We are going to the mountains of NC and one of the activities we are going to go to is a hot air balloon festival. I know it is going to be just beautiful!

My niece, Madison, got tubes put into her ears this morning. Just got word that everything went well and she is going great. Super news!

Cousins, Grandparents, and Great-Grandparents

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

We headed back to Pennsylvania for my Uncle Lee’s funeral this past weekend. It has been 5 weeks since his passing, so it made it a little easier on everyone. Don’t get me wrong, there were still plenty of tears. Friday, we were lucky enough to spend the entire day in Camp Hill with Michael's family. Michael and Jack went to Hershey Chocolate World and then to a wrestling match, while Em and I went to my grandparent’s house. Em ran right to my grandma and you can see in one of the pictures, Emma’s great-grandma is kissing her nose. So cute!
We had a wonderful surprise from Michael's sister and her children Friday night. They drove the 1.5 hours to spend a few hours with us and celebrate the five March Snyder birthdays. Mrs. Snyder made Jack an awesome birthday cake and we sang Happy Birthday for Morgan (March 9th) Mr. Snyder (March 11th) Ellen (March 17th) Jack (March 27th) and Owen (March 28th). As you can guess we had a great celebration.

Cat in the Hat

Here are the kids at school sporting their new hats. Today they are going to try green eggs and ham!

Made the Magazine

Do see someone you know?????

That's right. Jack made the Wilmington Parent Magazine for having his birthday in March.

Dr. Seuss

It was March 2nd, 1904 that Theodore Seuss Geisel was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. Today we pay tribute to Dr. Seuss' 105th birthday. Donna (teacher at school) said that everyday this week they will be doing a Dr. Seuss special activity.