Easter weekend

We had a wonderful Easter with family this year.  Tobin had Friday off and we spent the day together playing in and outdoors along with getting our patio furniture set up.  Then on Saturday we headed over to Gramma and Bapa's for their traditional Easter Saturday dinner, complete with ham, kiełbasa, home made bread, and hrudka (a Slovak cheese egg).  The kids colored and decorated the eggs (this year making "mini-monsters"), played with their cousins, and had fun during their Easter egg hunt!

 Displaying our fun Easter eggs!

 

 

At our Saturday Easter dinner Damian presented Tobin with his award for the family and friends bracket challenge.  Tob was more than excited to win this, and on many occasions really hoped he would get "the award he was always meant to win!"  We aren't big sports fans in our household (even though we do enjoy lots of outdoors games).  So it was fitting that Tob was the lowest point getter in the family bracket challenge!

Sunday was wonderful as well.  The kids woke us up to let us know that they saw bunny eggs left by their doors and leading downstairs.  Off they went in search of their Easter baskets!  The excitement and giggles were contagious!  Once they all found their baskets they sat down to explore them!  They were so fun to watch!  Gabi was particularly funny... with every new thing or egg she found she would exclaim "woooow!"

 

 

We then put on our Easter outfits and headed to Mass with the Sikora clan!  The service in the "gym rocked".  The kids did surprisingly well and all looked so cute together!  After Mass we said goodbye to the Columbus group and then to the Vincents a little later and enjoyed the afternoon with those left.  

Spending this time with family feels great and I am glad our kids are able to experience so many occasions with our family near and far.  Growing up we were raised "in a village" (the Hispanic way).  Even though my immediate family was small (just my sis and mom) our "family" was always so much larger.  It was shared with cousins, aunts, uncles, and family friends!  Every holiday was always joyfully loud!  Being able to have our kids grow up with family in an equally loud and joyful way warms my heart!

We ended our Sunday with a trip to the park... which WILL RODE HIS BIKE on 2 WHEELS the WHOLE WAY!  We met Bapa, Gramma, Eddie and Jona at the park for some kite flying, some playground playing, and a little b-ball lesson for the kids... perfect ending!

  

 some of our videos =)

Easter fun has begun

 We hope everyone has a wonderful and blessed Easter weekend!

Today the kids and I met up with a couple of our dear friends for an Eggstravaganza!  They kids went on an egg hunt at the Nature Center.  This set up was real nice.  They had it limited to only 20 kids per group and they kids could collect as many eggs as they wanted and they traded them all in for a treat bag.  Will and Gina found the 2 "golden" eggs and were allowed to pick an additional little treat!  we love our friend family and all the fun we have with them through the years! 

can you tell Will was excited about finding the golden egg!

Spring Days

Since our return from Florida we have enjoyed unusually warm and wonderful Spring days.  One of the best parts of Spring (aside from being outdoors) is the nature around us.  We love watching and identifying all the birds that have returned to our feeders.  The kids are also enjoying the new flowers in our gardens! 
We are having so much fun and can't wait for more outdoor adventures.

 We also love our time with friends and family.  As you know... we love our dance parties.  The girls have been into dressing up so much more and they are getting little C into the groove too!  oh what fun!

Riding Bikes

The unexpected warm days here have inspired the kids to get out and ride their bikes.  More significant has been their interest in trying to ride their bikes on 2 wheels!
Will has been doing great.  His bike is a little too big for his height (which wasn't a problem with training wheels).  However, he is showing great progress riding on his own.  He only needs a little assistance getting started.  It will be no time until he figures out how to get started and turn on his own! (he is mastering his stops too =)


Isa decided she wanted to try too.  Insisting she wanted a turn every time we took Will out to practice... so she got a turn.  Although her interest has quickly diminished (she is a little more scared) she did great her first time out!!!


Ah... and little Gabi Rose won't be left behind.  She is working on her pedaling skills so that she can join our cycling family on our next outing!  Here she is... with some assistance from the gentle down slope of our driveway!  Go Gabs!

a look at our week!

We have been home a little over a week now and it sure has been a BUSY one!  Surprisingly we arrived back to Ohio to Florida weather. We had a week of days in the high 70s.  This "winter" was extremely mild.  It seems like we went from Fall to Spring to Summer, crazy.  The kids have been outside playing, riding bikes, drawing on the sidewalk. 
Tobin and I went to our FIRST Kindergarten information night.  It's amazing to us to think that our little boy is getting ready to REALLY start the school system.  Crossing our fingers he is ready emotionally... academically, he is doing great!
Here is our week...

Happy 26th Birthday Jen!

 The girls got back in their "little gym" groove!  Gabi sure does love this time.  It's amazing how well she does with all the activities and how she blossoms during this one on one time with us.

 Upon our arrival from Florida, we were surprised at the how much the roofers had completed on the home.  We love the way it looks!

Isa had her 1st ever friend sleepover this weekend as well.  The girls made their "princess popcorn" holders, watched a little show, had a dance party, and sang to one of Rapunzel's songs!  After being tucked in, both girls eventually fell asleep!  It was a great start!

Today Gabi said "byebye" to her pacifier as it flew away to "another needy child".   At first she shed a few tears on our way outside, but once she let the balloons go, she was captivated with waving goodbye to her paci.   So far, so good (it's a little after 11pm).  We will see if she naps tomorrow!

 

 

  our 3 little rascals =)

stay tuned tomorrow for some bicycle news. =)