Egg-cellent Eggs!

Sam showing off one of his egg creations

Ella halfway done dying an egg

Everyone is hard at work

This was my favorite.  Ella was trying to glue sprinkles on this one but was getting holes since she didn't use enough glue.  I tried to wash them off and this was the result.  A very cool mistake! 

The finished products

Having fun decorating eggs! 

Yesterday we decorated our Easter eggs.  We all decorated this year and enjoyed watching each others decorating ideas.  This year we did try something new.  We used sprinkles and glued them on a few of the eggs.  Those eggs we won't be eating but we never eat them all anyway.  I am already thinking of ways to improve the sprinkle technique for next year.  We also used some of our tried and true decorating techniques; rubber bands, crayons, olive oil, etc.  I think they turned out well and we enjoyed making them.  

Easter... Grocery Store Style

Ella showing off the rabbit she made at Hy-Vee

We normally never grocery shop on Saturday.  But since I worked every day this last week and snow was coming Saturday night we headed to Hy-Vee.  The kids debated if they wanted to go with me or not but when we got there they were happy they did.  Hy-Vee was having a little Easter hunt throughout the store.  They got a bag and were able to go to stations set up around the store to collect goodies.  They got yogurt, string cheese, candy, pencils and more.  They made a rabbit craft and they also got a picture with the Easter bunny.  They thought it was pretty cool.  Fun little surprises are the best! 

Tag, You're It!

Sam and his friend Jonathan in the party room

Sam with our neighbor friend Stephen getting ready for laser tag

Sam playing a game with his friend Ella

Sam wanted to have a laser tag party with his friends this year to celebrate turning ten.  So we headed to a place here in town called Lazer Lanes.  It has a large arcade, laser tag and bowling.  For Sam's party the kids each got tokens to play in the arcade and got to play two rounds of laser tag.  They all had a lot of fun running around and playing.  The laser tag was a big hit!  After that we went to the party room for cake, ice-cream and presents.  It was a fun way to celebrate birthday number ten.  

Double Birthday!

Since everyone was going to have to travel to Columbia for our kids' birthday parties we decided to have one party to make it easier on our guests.  Luckily, their birthdays are pretty close together so we picked a date in the middle to celebrate.  We got some bar-b-que from a local restaurant and had a big lunch.  Then of course cake, cookie cake and ice-cream.  We enjoyed spending time with everyone and got to show off our house to a few that hadn't made it for a visit yet.  Our kids are so spoiled and lucky to be loved by so many people!  

My six year old! 

I can't believe he is double digits now! 

Kylie found Ella's bracelet collection and decided to put them all on at once!

Smiling before opening her gifts

Sam excited to show off his Kindle Fire

Unfortunately, I didn't get any good pictures of our guests except one of Kylie.  I will have to do a better job next year.  

Senior Night

Sam watching Senior Night at Mizzou Arena

While Mizzou hasn't quite had the season that we had been hoping for, their home record was flawless.  We enjoyed going to the Tiger games and have plans for renewing our tickets next year.  Sam and I were the lucky ones that used our tickets for senior night.  We demolished the Arkansas Razorbacks and it was fun booing former coach Mike Anderson after his comments earlier in the week that he would have taken last year's Missouri team to the Final Four.  
I think Mizzou's new rivalry has been born in Arkansas.  At least is still has kansas in its name.  Here is to hoping Mizzou can figure out how to play together and win games in the last few minutes as March Madness begins next week.  

RBE Showcase

The kids have an afternoon at their school that they call the Showcase.  It is a day for parents, grandparents and other family to come in to the school and see what you have been learning.  Ella and Sam were very excited that Grandma was able to come from Kansas City to see their classrooms and projects.  Mom and I spent some time in each of their classrooms and Sam was even able to leave school early to spend a little extra time with Grandma.  

Ella's class wrote animal reports that they shared.  Ella's was on a dog.  Since kindergarten reports are so short she also got to read us quite a few books when we visited her room.  Sam's class had been working on famous Missourian reports.  Sam's report was on Jesse James.  He and I had been working on improving it all the previous weekend.  It was really an interesting subject and Sam enjoyed learning about him.  It was a great way to show off their hard work! 

The Party Continues...

Ella was not done celebrating her birthday when her gymnastics party was over, she wanted to keep going.  Grandma and Grandpa came into town for her birthday so we all headed bowling.  None of us, with the exception of Sam, had bowled in a long time and it definitely showed.  We had a good time though.  The birthday girl was a little disappointed not to get any strikes or spares but still enjoyed the time together with everyone.  
After bowling, it was almost time for the Missouri Tigers basketball game.  John and Sam went to pick up some Shakespeare's Pizza and we headed back to the house in hopes of watching a Tiger victory.  The Tigers lost in overtime but Ella wasn't even watching by that point so no worries.  

Grandma and Ella at the bowling alley

Posing while her ball slowly makes its way down the lane 

Hanging out with the birthday girl

Out for Ella's birthday lunch

A birthday treat! 

The next day after church and before Grandma and Grandpa headed back to Kansas City we went to lunch together.  The birthday girl's choice was Fudruckers.  She soaked in the birthday attention and love and had a great day!  She is of course ready to celebrate one more time in a few weeks with the rest of the family.