Lake Arrowhead!!!!

And I'm finally catching up!! The whole reason for our trip to CA was for a week long family vacation at Lake Arrowhead. Dad and Carol found a GREAT cabin for us to rent, and we had a BLAST!!!! What could be better than 5 cousins hanging out and exploring together?!?!

 We started the week with some serious girl-time. Danielle and Ashley were treated to mani-pedis from Gramma Carol.

Ashley sporting purple fingernails and pink toenails...

Danielle imitated Gramma and got a different color on each nail.

 Beth and I took the kids to the lake 'beach' one afternoon...

We saw a cute mommy duck and her chicks....

 The beach club had floats and buckets for the kids to play with....

 And they thoroughly enjoyed themselves!

 Danielle got in some swimming...

 And that evening the kids were all tuckered out. We went out for pizza and then wandered around the village. By the time we got back to the car, we tried to take a picture.....but NONE of them wanted to cooperate....

 I don't remember the story behind this one, but I'm sure there was one!

 Gramma Carol also had a birthday party for Danielle on the 4th....since Julie and Jeff and Linda were coming up, we decided more party would be good!

 How awesome is this cake?!?! Carol is amazing!!!!

 Each day Gramma and Grandpa took one of the kids for some one on one time. We called it their special day. On Ashley's day, Carol had tons to do for everyone coming up (it was the 4th), so I got to fill in! She fed the ducks with Grandpa...

 ...rode the train ride at Lollypop Land...

 ...and here she is showing off her "free-B" that the ride operator gave her.

 Then back to finish up with party prep! The girls helped make cake pops!!

 Happy Birthday to YOU!!!

 I don't remember the story of this one either, but with the face Beth is making, I had to include it!

 Carol also got us all "My Family Rocks" t-shirts. We wore them into town one morning and took Dad and Carol out for breakfast for their 5-year anniversary!

 Love you, DLS!

 Grandpa with his grandkids!

Gramma with her grandkids!

And Gramma with silly goof-balls!!

Disneyland!!!

Once school ended, we packed up and flew across the country for some fun with family in California! The girls LOVED how our CA adventure started off -- at DISNEYLAND!!!!

 Had to get the family picture in front of the castle...

 Waiting for the Carousel!

 Say cheese!

Super excited going on Dumbo!

 Daddy showed them how to make the giant marble roll...

 This was also our only time with Grandma Sweetie and Grandpa Curt -- and the train was a nice little break for us adults....

 Back on the carousel!

 Frozen strawberry bar -- YUM!!

Going on the 'big-kid' rockets ride...

 Ashley decided it would be ok if she rode with Daddy....

 G&G brought a stroller for Ashley.....and it was AWESOME when we decided to stop and have the girls take a nap!

 We found a little out-of-the-way spot (the old dock for the motorboats) and had Danielle lay down on a towel while Ashley snoozed in the stroller. Mommy and Daddy enjoyed a cup of coffee, and the adults got to enjoy a bit of quiet visiting!

Then we were up and off to the Autopia -- I asked the ride attendant to take our picture. I didn't know Ashley made a face until we looked at these later....

 On the whole, we made lots of silly faces all day....

 Our last attempt of the day to get a family picture. It almost worked.

Our trip to New Hampshire!

We piled into the mom-car bright and early.

 Mommy and Daddy NEEDED coffee....

 And the girls needed some more sleep...

Our drive was nice, and the next morning we had plans for all the cousins!

First stop was to a story telling time, and the kids got to meet Piglet!

Bob decided to show off....

 And then we took a hike through the woods to read another story. Every so often there was a spot to stop and each kid took a turn reading part of the story.

 Daddy and Ashley were being goofy....

 ...not to be outdone, everyone decided to be goofy! After all this fun, we piled back into the cars and headed on out to the bike safety fair!

 Where the girls got to meet Tigger!! (Aren't they adorable in their bike helmets?!?!)

What a good-looking man!

The safety course was awesome. A group of 10 or 12 kids were sent in at a time....here's everyone waiting to hear "GO!"

 The course was extensive....and Ashley got tired of riding her trike, so she solved the problem and pushed it! Just outside the bike safety fair was TRUCK DAY!!!

 Danielle exploring....

 Ashley gets a turn....

 Sharing! (quick, take a picture!!)

 Ashley was super excited to go on a school bus....poor girl, she still has 2 more years at home before she gets to go on one for real.....

...and old fire engine (yes, it was my favorite)...

 2 girls on the John Deere....

...and all the cousins together in the Ambulance!
And that finished us off for the day.....we then went back to Marc and Sonja's and I think EVERYONE took a nap before dinner.

The month of May....

...brought warmer weather....

 ...dandelions....

...running in the yard...

 ...more dandelions...

...and another lost tooth!

Happy Easter!

He is RISEN!!!! We had a wonderful Easter! The sun was out, it was warm-ish, the kids were able to run outside for their egg hunt, and most importantly, Jesus is ALIVE!!!!

 Daddy with his princesses....

 Mommy's turn!

 ....and Ashley's off looking for eggs!

 She found some in silly places! (that she couldn't quite reach on her own....)

 ....really, are there any words?

 ....and now Danielle is off and running....literally...

She found two eggs here and is sharing one with her cousin Mary.....how cute is that?!?!?

 Hunting for more!

 Back inside to the opening-the-eggs mayhem. Seven kids. Lots of crazy!!

2 teeth lost!!!

So.....I'm a bad mommy and forgot to post a picture of Danielle's 1st tooth being lost. (My camera was hiding that day....) Well, one week later -- tooth number 2 came out!!!! She was super-excited for both of them; I think Mom and Dad were a bit relieved as she'd been wiggling them for a couple of MONTHS! Yes, she pulled them both out by herself....after she had gone to bed each time. (Apparently the thing to do right before falling asleep is to pull on and wiggle your loose tooth!)

 So here's my BIG girl with two missing teeth -- the front 2 on the bottom!