Devin's Graduation from Cedarville, May 3rd, 2014

 Shaking hands with Dr. Thomas White, president of Cedarville University.

 Devin and Becca.

 Lance showed up as a total surprise to all but Devin:)  It was so fun to see him walk in on Friday night to Kyle and Meg's where we were hanging out.

 Proud parents.

The gang.  I wore my regalia and walked this year as faculty. Kind of a special memory for me as the first time I walked as a faculty and Devin's big day!

Cedarcliff Spring Concert, May 1

 The concert was made of singers from K-3 and two bands of 4th and 5th.

They sang 5 songs from musicals.  It was fun and Elli really likes to sing.

Kids Praise, April 27th

 They led worship for the whole service in church Sunday morning.  They sang lots of songs, learned sign language, and truly praised Jesus.

Elli did "movement" with sign language and a little dance for two songs.  Great morning of watching these kids.

April 26th, Elli's 8th Birthday Party

 The decorations. fro an American Girl party.

 Elli with her American Girl wearing the dress that Linda made for all the girls.

 The girls loved jumping on the trampoline.

 We made barrettsefor the girls and their dolls.

 The girls also chose their dresses for their dolls.

 I made an American Girl box for them to get their picture taken in.  Turned out so cute.

 Elli got a few presents!

 I had a few tears watching Elli read each of her cards to her friends showing them like a book.

 Each of the girls was so sweet.  She had a lot of fun with friends from church and school, as well as her cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents:)

 She loved this new bean bag chair from Gonga and Papa.    She got adorable clothes, the headbands game, some candy, American girl clothes and outfits, a kite, books, a couple of different craft items, and a karaoke machine with the Frozen Cd for it!

 Blowing out her candle.

 Yes, Micah was there and loved the cake:)

 She had a puppy pinate and as you can see, the kids devoured the candy!  We ran out because you cannot put it all in the pinate and I forgot to grab the bag with the extra! I ran in and got it and the tears were soon gone:)

 Karaoke time!

We got pictures of the family that was at the party, but not each of her friends.  The Masters and Raymonds were there (the girls anyway) as well as Emilee our neighbor, and several girl from school (Sydney, Hannah, Megan, Grace, Taylor, and Savannah)
Such a fun celebration

April 25th, Elli's 8th birthday

 Her last night going to sleep as a 7 year old.

 Good morning, silly girl:)

 He adorable shirt made by Jeni.  Elli wanted and American Girl party so we had Jeni make a shirt to go along with that theme.

 I was the guest reader in her class and they all sang happy birthday to her.  Here is Mrs. Carolyn Baker  her teacher.

 We stopped by Stony Creek for a smoothie.

 Once at home, we waited for Brent and then let her open her parents.  She got the movie Frozen.

 She got two miniature American girl dolls, Marie Grace and Cecile.  Elli has the full sized Marie Grace and wanted to get her best fiend, Cecile.  She was so excited to get them both.

 She also got this black and pink dress, a blue dress with a matching doll dress, and an orange shirt with matching paisley shorts.  Great birthday!

 4:31.  Officially 8!

 She chose Red Lobster for her birthday dinner.

 Nana met us there.

Micah had a major blow out diaper right when I placed him in the car seat.  So, I stripped him down to nothing, gave a wipes bath to him as Brent wiped the car seat, and then wrapped him in Elli's sweater!

Ellianna has been such a joy to parent over these last 8 years and I cannot wait to see her continue to grow.  She is amazing.  She is a bright, funny, silly, imaginative, helpful, well spoken, girl, whom we love.  Happy birthday, baby girl.

Easter, April 20th

 The baskets full of goodies.

 Elli's was hidden by the "Jon".

 She got some fun things, but was super excited about the de-tangler brush.

 Micah's was hidden by the tree.

 "ornge"  he says.

 The kids eating Easter dinner at mom and dad's.

 Now, all the kids:) Sorry Leah!

 Family picture.

 Hugs for grandma.

 Baskets for the kids.

 Micah getting caught in the net.

 The mahem!  All kinds of fun.

 The bunny hid my basket under the foot step of the elliptical:)

 We celebrated dad's birthday after the Easter celebration.  Notice he has a few helpers.  They could not wait for him to fly his helicopter!  Micah calls it a "helicocky."

 And not it is time for dessert.

 Micah was pushing the boys around on the car.

 Then tried to snuggle up for a nap with his daddy.

 Playing with Grandma's necklace.

 Kiss from grandma

 Kiss for Grandma

 We got Elli a trampoline for her birthday and it arrived early.  We left my parent's house and put it up.

 Seth and Rayna enjoyed a little time on their own after watching Elli.

 The big kids waiting to get back on.

 There we go!  Elli was so excited.  She couldn't believe it!  She saw the boxes in the garage and read it wrong.  She thought Brent had ordered some kind of tile for the deck? We got a kick out of it and then loved her face when she realized that the tile looked a whole like like a trampoline!

Micah needed to be in bed as it was late.  he also had a stinky diaper.  So, Brent took him upstairs to change him and wash him up.  He was crying and begging, "Peease, daddy.  I dump."  So, Brent brought him back down to "dump" a little more:)