Marley

 Well we have had this guy for about 2 months now which means he is about 4 months old.

We have had a wide range of feelings for this guy.

 Sometimes we think he is adorable.

 Sometimes he is a real pain in the butt and plays just a little to hard with the kids. They usually end up crying because either dear Marley put holes in their shirt or skirt or scratches on their skin.

 Sometimes he is really good and a lot of fun to be around.

Sometimes he is just SO DARN CUTE!!!

 Sometimes we don't know what he is thinking or what his intentions are.

 We do know he has taken a liking for baby toys.

 Again he likes to bite (or what he thinks is playing)... but let me tell you those little puppy teeth are sharp!

 But then again he is so GOSH DARN CUTE!

 A few times (maybe more than a few times) Marty has threatened to sell him or give him away.

But then sometimes I think Someone is starting to be Mans Best Friend.

Easter 2012

Easter 2012.

The annual coloring of the eggs.

Then the Easter Egg Hunt Saturday morning at the community center in Redwood Falls.

Gracie and Zach had so much fun. It literally only lasts for about 30 seconds.

They both did pretty good.

The Malecek Family was around for the weekend.

Uncle Mick tuckered Jared right out!

Princess Gracie

Gracie and Sebastien

Then the day after Easter (Easter Monday) we had the pleasure of having my friend Tara who lives in upstate New York come to our house for a visit. It was such a treat. We went to high school together so she was home visiting her family and offered to come to our house to visit for the day. It has been about a year since we have seen each other. It was so nice to see her and to talk for awhile. The kids made her play musical chairs and duck-duck-grey-duck. We has so much fun and I truly enjoyed getting together. She is one of those friends that years can go by between visits, but is always just seems like yesterday since we were seeing each other everyday in the halls of high school. Never an awkward moment. Those are the best kind of friends to have!!!!!
Thanks so much for coming over Tara!!!!

Adventure hike.

So on Gracie's birthday one of the activities was going on an "Adventure Hike"

aka: a walk in the valley below our house

Here are some snapshots of the fun we had.

It is hard to believe we had such nice weather for the end of March.

Above is a picture of all the Sohre cousins.

Carter and Spenser

Maesee and Maddy

Marty and Zach.

We even managed a family picture.

Zach, Marty, Me, Jared, and Gracie

Crossing the creek.

Margoe

All the kids surrounding Grandpa to get some bubble gum.

Jared, Me, and Grandpa Sohre

Zach giving Grandpa a kiss so he can have some bubble gum.

Auntie Shelly

Uncle Ted

Grandma and Grandpa Sohre

Gracie turns FIVE!

My Princess turned 5 this year. One of her many requests was to:

 "have a birthday party with kids and adults" 

So we did just that. We invited all the cousins. All the Sohre cousins came on March 31st. It was a lovely day. Auntie Shelly did her specialty and made a "Princess Cupcake" display.

Gracie loved it. She loved her party and being the center of attention for the day or I guess I could say the week.

We had BBQ's for supper. Above it the table full of cousins.

Gracie with her princess crown.

Below we have singing the birthday song.

Opening presents... always a highlight!

The boys blowing bubbles.

Then the weekend after we had another birthday cake as it was Easter and the Malecek family were all around for the weekend.

More birthday cake and some more singing.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART!

Gracie's Activities for year 4-5:

*Writes her name very well

*Knows all the letters of the alphabet and is able to recognize them and write most of them

*Can count to 100 (missing some numbers, but gets the pattern)

*Can say the Lord's Prayer from memory, also common table prayer and bedtime prayers

*Knows manners (thank-you, your welcome, please), doesn't always use them, but knows them =)

*Can dress herself, zip a zipper, put on own shoes

*Loves princesses and barbies and dollhouses

*Can run really fast and can skip

*Can swing by herself (pump with her arms)

*Hold a baby (baby Jared)

*Continues to be a "mother hen" her little brother Zach and Jared

*Second year of pre-school at St. Johns, goes Monday, Thurs, and Fridays

*Second year of Sunday School at Gloria Dei

*Had her first year of Swimming lessons last summer and passed!

*Second year of Ice Skating lessons

*Still loves her "blankie" and needs to rub it for comfort

*Still Momma's little sweetheart =)