Easter 2009

We had a great Easter weekend this year in Clinton despite the weather Sunday not being so "springy". Saturday, we took the kids downtown to the Easter Egg Hunt on the Clinton Square. The weather Saturday was AMAZING! The boys played most of the day outside in the backyard and later, went to the Huenfeldt's Farm with all the boys in the family to see farm animals and drive "Tug" the tractor. Saturday night we enjoyed the company of cousin Lydia, Allen and little Alexandra. Sunday morning, after the kids woke up to their Easter baskets from the Easter bunny, we attended Mass at Holy Rosary (well...we tried. The kids were a handful...we didn't walk away feeling very fulfilled!). We were joined by extended family & friends for Easter dinner and had a cold, wet Easter Egg hunt in the yard. Despite the disappointing weather, it was a wonderful Easter with family. Baby Kate

Nick loved Easter dinner...Turkey, Ham, Brisket, Potatoes, Rice, fruit, beans...yeah, it was a FEAST!

The Cousins (Nick, Daniel, Kate & Jonathan)

Kate with a duck.

The Easter Egg hunt (cold and rainy) at the Miles house.

Wow...none of them are crying?

In our Sunday Easter best.

The boys were lucky enough to go to the Huenfeldt's (Cousin Miles' family) farm to see animals and drive a tractor!

Kate and Jonathan with ducks...Jonathan LOVED the ducks...as did Kate, but Kate was not so gentle!

The mad scramble!

It didn't take Kate long at all to figure out what to do do with her bucket and eggs!

Cousin's (Daniel, Miles, Jonathan, Kate & Nick) at the Easter Egg Hunt (Downtown Clinton Square)

Trying to Catch-up!

Okay...I've been SOOOOOOO busy lately I've once again neglected my blogging. Blogging is my form of scrapbooking...and I have just turned my 2007 and 2008 blogging into a blogbook on blurb! I'm so excited to receive the finished product in the mail.

Okay, so what has been going on? Well, Jason bought a new car. His 11 year old black four door Honda Accord served us well for the last 10 years. It went to NY & back with us and commuted through downtown from Olathe to N. Kansas City and N. Kansas City to Olathe for many years. He went car shopping on his own...and what did he come home with? A new BLACK FOUR DOOR HONDA ACCORD. I had to laugh...not much of a departure for my man of habit.

I ran the Olathe Half Marathon last Saturday morning. It had been originally scheduled for March 28th, but the nasty weather postponed it for a week. It was a VERY windy and cold April morning and I ended up finished about 14 out of 400 women, 3rd in my age group with a time of 1:42 (7:49 per mile). You can see some pretty painful looking photos at: http://www.backprint.com/view_user_event.asp?PID=bp%18yG&EVENTID=48968&BIB=2479&S=230&PWD=

With as windy as it was, I was surprised. This was the first time I've run a 1/2 since having three kids and it was my 3rd fastest 1/2 time out of the 11 I've run. I just LOVE my neighborhood running ladies for helping to get me out of bed to meet on the corner at 5am every morning of the week...I know I wouldn't have the discipline if I were flying solo every morning. We have all decided a ladies weekend & the Chicago Marathon is next on the list!

We spent last Saturday afternoon at Villa Ventura with my Grandpa Mac and enjoyed an easter egg hunt. We also had a visit in Eudora & spent a little time with Jason's grandparents.

I've been working on my photography A LOT lately. I'm so excited about how quickly business is picking up. I have 5 sessions already scheduled over the next 6 weeks. I recently took photographs of a six week old cutie, Bradley! (http://www.emilykazmaierphotography.com Proofing, Password: Bradley) In preparation for the session, I cleared my memory and sadly lost pictures of my kids with Grandpa Mac at the Easter Egg Hunt at Villa. :-( Very sad.

Okay..that's the best I can do in making up for my lapse in posting. Our family is excited to head to Clinton for Easter festivities tonight! I'll try to to better and get blogging about that early next week! :)

Hop-A-Thon

Jonathan is participating in the MDA's (Muscular Dystrophy Association) Disability Awareness Program at Liberty Montessori. He and his classmates will hop during a two minute time period. Each students is hoping to get support through donations for each hop, a pledge or a flat donation! This will occur on April 15th! If you wish to support Jonathan and his hops, please let us know! He's practicing....and practicing... :-)

Can you really deny this face?

New Adventure

Over spring break, I interviewed for a full-time position working for the eMINTS program through the University of Missouri (As a Jayhawker...I should be ashamed) teaching for the Missouri Virtual Instruction Program (boy, that's a mouthful). I found out on Monday that I was offered a position starting August 10th. It's been a bitter sweet acceptance as I have been happy with the North Kansas City Schools. The thought of leaving a place that has been so good to me over the last 7 years makes me invariably sad. I am excited, however, about this new adventure not only because I believe in this program (as I have worked as an adjunct instructor), but because it will also afford me the flexibility and opportunity to spend more time at home with the most important people in my life (Jon, Nick & Kate).

So Patriotic!

A few weeks ago Jonathan kept pointing out American and Missouri flags while driving in the car. Jason and I randomly asked him if he knew the Pledge of Allegiance and he immediately rattled it off starting with telling us that you "put your heart on your hand"...I guess you just need to know to ask the right questions! We are so grateful for all he is learning at Liberty Montessori Center!

Spring at the Kansas City Zoo

We had a great little short adventure to Africa at the KC Zoo today with friends and neighbors, Marie, Emily & Mason. The weather was perfect for late March!

And they all crashed even before we got out of Swope Park!

OUCH!!!

We've always been amazed by how steady Nicholas is on his feet...he's never been clumsey like his older brother and has escaped injury from falls. But not today! At break-neck speed, he runs only to fall onto his knees and the momentum of his body threw his head and face straight on the driveway! Got a big bump on the head and some road rash on his nose. Poor baby...but one tough little guy!

Spring Break & St. Patrick's Day

Ahhhhh.....spring! My FAVORITE season!My two littlest one's discovered that the cabinets (where we house the toys) serve as a great place to play!

Who says a woman can't do a man's job?

Jonathan and Jackson dancing to the Irish music and marching bands.

Jonathan and I made green cupcakes!

We celebrated early on Saturday by attending the Snake Saturday Parade in North Kansas City. It last over two hours, but the boys had a GREAT time. Kate stayed behind with Daddy to catch her morning nap....I've also had spring break with the kids and have enjoyed (almost) every minute of it. It's been a lot of fun having playdates with friends and doing special things with each one of them.

Photography

Okay...I have a photography blog, but It's been so long since I've actually posted, I've fogotten my username and password!!! I recently upgraded my camera so I was really excited about this recent photography opportunity with newborn, Max. Max is six weeks old, but was born several weeks early. These are a few of the final products...newborns are tough.

As we expected...

Kate's stint removal was postponed until the 24th of March. Jason took her in only to find at that she was indeed too sick to allow for the anesthesia needed for the procedure. So we wait some more...