HAPPY BIRTHDAY GOMMIE!

Gommie,
We wish we could all be there to help you celebrate your day! We are sending lots of love, hugs and kisses to last throughout the day! XOXOXOX Nikki, Todd, Cole, Gavin and Isabelle too!

Easter

We kicked off our Easter by decorating some eggs. We dyed them first, then the kids put Transformer stickers on them.

I had to work the day before Easter, so when I got home it the morning around 8:30, the kids were jumping out of their pants waiting in anticipation. Todd said that Cole peed his pants in the morning because he said he didn't want to get out of bed and go the bathroom because he was afraid the Easter Bunny wouldn't come if he was out of bed! Todd had hidden Easter eggs filled with candy, the dyed eggs and their Easter baskets downstairs. When I got home we gave them their Official Easter Egg Hunting License and turned them loose!

Armed with the necessary tools they are ready for the hunt!

Quite satisfied with their finds we all went back up stairs, and I went to bed. (At last!) 3 hours goes by quicker than you think, and before I knew it it was time to get back up! Todd and I had a light lunch and I put in a little time studying. I got lazy and put down the books and lounged on the couch while Todd headed to the store for some groceries. Being too tired to make a big meal, and being in a time crunch since I still needed to get ready to head back to work, we settled on Gyros for dinner. Todd got his "leg of lamb" for Easter and I got quick and easy! Another Easter in the books, it seems like we just celebrated Christmas only yesterday!

...Another one bites the dust....

I got an A!!!! One more down and 3 to go! I'll be so glad when school is OVER!














I was so proud of myself, I bought me some flowers!

Fear Factor- Armstrong Style

Gavin and Daddy playing Fear Factor at dinner!

Spring Training

Well, it most certainly isn't "Spring", but the sun was shining and the boys have cabin fever. For the first time this year we headed outside to play, no hats or gloves! The weather wasn't too bad, but a bit windy. We lasted about an hour before I called it quits. Gavin got to ride his brand new bike, Cole took a spin on his scooter and played baseball with Gavin and Nicholas. They really had a great time and it's the first of many more days like it to come!

Gavin riding his new bike for the first time!

Cole and his buddies playin' some ball.

Getting a jump start on the lawn for Daddy!

Breakin in the ol' scooter.

Happy Birthday Grandma

My mom's birthday is this week. It worked out perfectly she was in town for her treatment. I made some very "spring" like cupcakes which I decorated with flowers and butterflies and we got her a wooden wind-chime. She's so busy when she comes into town but the few hours we got to spend with her were wonderful!

Grandma opening her birthday card from kids

A wooden wind chime the kids picked out, this way everytime it chimes she will be reminded of them!

Blowing out the candles and making a wish!

Her birthday cupcakes!

The coolest kids on the block

My mom came into town for her treatment. Despite the fact that it was HER birthday this week, she brought gifts for the kids. For those of you that follow NASCAR Dale Earnhardt Jr. is with a new team, which means new number, new colors etc... Little E is Cole's favorite driver so he has tons of Dale Jr. stuffbut none with his new number. My my brought him a new Dale Jr. shirt, hat and sun glasses! He was smiling from ear to ear!

Gavin's birthday was back in January. Last time my Mom was in town she was going to take him shopping for his birthday but due to winter storms was unable. So, she brought his gifts with her this time! Gavin is so much like his big brother and loves anything Cole does. She brought him a new Brewer's shirt, some sun glasses, some framed pics of Lilly, and a gift certificate to go get him his own baseball glove. (Lilly is my mom's dog. Gavin talks about her all the time!)

Luck of the Irish

Gavin hard at work decorating cookies for St. Patrick's Day

*there are no pics of him using the sprinkles- I'd be crazy to taking pictures while he's "sprinkling"

I'm a big kid now!

Gavin came into the living room the other day and announced he was wearing Cole's underwear now. He had put them on himself. They looked a little uncomfortable to me but hey what do I know.....

I wear my sunglasses...

On the way home from school today the kids insisted they needed to wear my sunglasses... luckily I happend to have two pairs with me!

Girls night out!

A couple weekends ago my friend Desiree and I hit the Windy City for a little get away. We left bright and early Saturday morning and got there before 10am. We dropped our luggage off at the hotel, which was conveniently located just 2 blocks off Michigan Ave (aka The Magnificent Mile), and hit the streets despite the cold to do some shopping. We hit all the stores and I was pleased to be able to stop at Tiffany's and thanks to my in-laws add another piece to my collection.(Thanks favorite father and mother in-law!!) A pair of beautiful heart shaped earrings to match the ring Todd got me for Christmas.

My new earrings!

We headed back to the hotel late in the afternoon and got gussied up and went out to eat at an excellent sea food place, The Frog Bar. If you have to chance I highly recommend. Everything we had was EXCELLENT! After dinner we ordered 2 pieces of Key Lime Pie, thank goodness our waiter suggested splitting one! The piece of pie was almost as tall and wide as my head!

Yes. That is a steak knife.

After dinner we headed to the famous Oriental Theater to see "Wicked" the musical. Desiree and I are both huge fans of the book. We had an awesome time!

Desiree and I freezing our buns off after the show! Me, outside the Oriental after the show

We slept in till 8am (believe it or not, that's sleeping in these days!) and got ready to head out. No trip through Chicago in the AM is complete for me without stopping at Ann Sather, a local Swedish restaurant, known for their cinnamon rolls. We headed cross town for breakfast and indulged in a great breakfast and some cinnamon rolls. I brought the boys some rolls home, which they loved. Desiree brought a couple home for her daughter but confessed to eating them all before her daughter got home from school!

Todd spent the weekend hanging out with the boys playing with his old Construx, doing guy things and even braving a trip to the book store to let the kids pick out some books. When I called Sunday morning before coming home he was showing off his culinary skills by making the kids pancakes and sausage. Hmmm... how come I never get that???????

Amber turns 24... and breaks my camera!

March 1, 2008 my little sisters birthday! Hard to believe she is already 24.. where did the time go? It feels like just yesterday we were sharing bunk beds and racing to be the first one to tell! We all pitched in to make Amber a Lemon cake with Raspberry preserve filling. Todd and the kids baked the cake. I added the preserves and frosted it. It really turned out nice. HOWEVER, once Amber came over (at 5:00 pm) in her pj's and saw my camera she made her birthday wish outloud "I wish I didn't have to be in any of the pictures." Well guess what-- my camera went on the fritz! After that none of the pictures I tried to take would turn out!!!!! So, she opened her gift and had dinner with us. We all sang Happy Birthday, ate some cake, Amber went home.. the next day my camera worked just fine-go figure.

.... Happy Birthday dear Amber... Happy Birthday to YOU!