A Trip to the Zoo in March...

Al's sister and family lives in Kansas and we were able to take a trip mid March to go and visit. We met at the Kansas City Zoo and it was 80 degrees on March 15!!! We wore shorts and flip flops! What a nice little get away! It was our own little Spring Break! And even if it wasn't a beach resort kinda place, it sure felt good to get away from the snow in Iowa, see family, and wear tank tops and flip flops! If only for a little while :).

This polar bear was fun to watch swim.

Casey's favorite animal were these monkeys...

You have to have the picture of taking a picture don't you?

Casey convinced Al to pose.

The elephants were Carter's favorite.

We did find one little spot of snow and had an impromtu snowball fight because we were so Hot! Go figure! Only in the Midwest. I would say Only in Iowa, but we were in Kansas :)

The Hippo was cool too.

Cousins who totally wanted their picture taken. Can't you tell?

Back at our cousin's house, Casey is all about tying stuffed animals (and really, if I am being honest, people) up...We had a campfire and roasted hot dogs and made peanut butter s'mores for dessert! Yummy! Such an enjoyable time.

Playing Jenga Boom and checking on the Ipad while the kids are busy :) cause you know the adults never get to play if the kids are around...

Later in the weekend we played a game of Apples to Apples and had a blast!! Sorry to our nephew Blaine, but you just never know about those Leerhoff's and what they are going to pick!:) Love you guys!

More birthday fun!

I seem to be struggling with getting our lives documented, but that doesn't mean that I'm not loving every crazy minute!! Carter's 11th birthday was March 13. Casey wanted to make Carter a picture frame and this is the photo he requested I take to put in it. Love my boys!

Even though part of Carter's gift this year was an Ipad mini that he also partially earned on his own, we still had fun with some other gifts like a mini remote control car that he can drive with his Ipad mini...

And the traditional birthday hunt!

Here's Emily helping with his birthday cake. He said surprise me Mom. Emily thought we should do Hello Kitty. I went for crazy! 

Carter had 3 friends overnight and we went to the movie, The Great and Powerful Oz! A fun time was had by all. They didn't quite make it staying up all night, but they gave it their all!:)
Love you Carter!

Birthday Party Fun!

     I haven't done much with the blog lately, but I think about it...I need to work on scheduling my time better. When I have a good book to read, everything else seems to go by the wayside. Including my housework!:)
     I read a facebook post of a friend the other day and she said she no longer had a baby because she turned one. Well, my BABY turned 7 recently! And then my mother in law said, think of me, my BABY turned 40! I guess
      Casey will always be my baby!!! For his birthday, we had 6 friends spend the night. We played in the snow, played funny games, watched movies, popped popcorn, built forts and had nerf gun fights! It was a great time!

An analogy...

     Al stopped in to say hello while I was working the other day and one of my favorite patrons happened to be visiting with me, so I introduced them. This particular gentleman is older and retired, been married more years than I am old and has had many different careers in his life. One in particular was a pastor. He is always happy and full of little bits of advice and stories. This afternoon he shared a marriage analogy with Al and me.
     It goes like this...
     Men are like dogs and women are like cats. Men need to run and play, eat good food. and be petted once in a while and told good job. Women need love and their freedom.
    Funny and quite true don't you think?

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Something to get me started again....

That's my girl!!! I was looking for Emily the other night and this is where I found her! This is something I would have been caught doing at her age...heck even now you could catch me in this position! It's so fun to see some of your favorite things take root in your children, don't you think?

Totally random and non related.... Any guesses as to what this is a picture of?

My Princess

My first baby...my baby girl had a birthday recently, too! We officially have a teenager in the house!! And she is counting the days/years until she will be driving...Oh My!! Now time really does seem to be just flying by! Seems like just yesterday my Ems and I would sit together in Daddy's recliner and watch ER. Now, I get the comments about how I should never dress this way or that. You know, I am embarrassing!

We, of course had a birthday hunt for Emily's 13th birthday! Her clues this year were pictures of where she needed to look. What I thought might be too hard apparently was easy for her, so next year I must step up my game. :) Watch out Em!!

Such a big girl...

I don't know what was soo funny here, but I love the big laugh and smile!

Emily celebrated her birthday the weekend before and she and a friend and I went to Bead Happy and they made bracelets and we had lunch at Subway and went purse shopping!! They came home did their nails and had popcorn and a movie!! Some good girl time!!

Your dad and I are soo proud of the young lady you are becoming!! We love you Ems!