C & R Meet the Dentist

Cade and Reese's first dental appointment was a family affair!

Cade was the brave one to go first and show Reese how it's done.

While I was impressed with the kids' reaction to the whole experience, I couldn't help but think God bless this dental hygienist!

Reesie was a bit unsure about this business, but warmed up to it after seeing Cade.

Cade looked on intently, cheering Reesie through!

Dental chair full of cuteness!!!

Dr. B has become famous in our household now.  He instructed Reese not to suck on her two fingers anymore...and Cade has made it his personal mission to remind her of that now!  (I figure orthodontia is inevitably a part of our future...if you knew Matt and I in middle school and high school...you'd probably agree.)

Happy to report healthy teeth and an even  more amped up enthusiasm for brushing resulted from this appointment.  The kids are obsessed with brushing and now they have these timers to help you remember to brush for a full two minutes.  LONGEST two minutes ever!!!

Cade's Birthday Bash

This little cutie turned four years old on May 5th and after much thought (the four-year-old party themes and venue options are endless you know) he decided he wanted to celebrate with friends and family at Chuck E. Cheese.

What a great bunch!!

I was a bit skeptical of a Chuck E. Cheese party...I mean...are we those people?  But the kids had a blast, the food was better than expected, our party hostess was really great, and the mess and clean-up were left to them!

They make you feel like a Rock Star at Chuck E. Cheese!

And...bonus!!  When it's your birthday you get to go in the ticket tunnel and grab as many tickets as you can!  Clearly, Cade picked the wrong parent for this adventure, but it was really fun.  

We just didn't end up with nearly as many tickets as if Matt would have been in there...but don't worry folks.  We still had plenty of tickets to purchase a variety of pencils, plastic and rubber junky toys, etc.  

Obligatory birthday banner pose.  Four years old.  Can't believe it!  It's has been so fun to see Cade branch out into preschool this year and begin to make his own friends and pave his own path, a bit.  He loves all super heroes, waking up early, watching movies, coloring with markers, coming up with a "plan" for the day, and playing with friends.  He has such a sweet, caring heart and I'm so thankful I get to be his mom!

Birthday bash of 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 (birth story)

The Big D...

...and I do mean Dallas.  Got to enjoy a trip to Dallas with Matt and his parents where we rendezvoused with Beth.  We took in some events associated with the NABC Convention (National Association of Basketball Coaches--also known as the logo-ed polo mecca) as well as the Final Four games!

Yeah, kind of a big deal.

"Jerry's World" the Dallas Cowboy Stadium

Where Charles Barkley hangs out

NCAA Tournament trophy which now lives at UConn

This is one of those cameras on the cables that can capture crazy angles during sports events.  I was engrossed with watching them fix it.

During the open practices we got to go down close, not so much for the actual games.

This place is huge!!

Iconic ball of Dallas captured in the less-than-flattering selfie

We got "invited" to attend this "private" party for schools sponsored by Adidas.
  

Complete with swanky ice sculptures, free food and drinks, and awkward Adidas models who were paid to be there.

Game time!

This screen is ginormous!

Matt and I had so much fun thanks to these guys!

It really was such a nice trip and we had a great time with Mike, Jan, and Beth.  I'm thankful for all that we got to do and see!  Also, very thankful to Peggy for staying with the kids a couple nights and Cindy & Erin for taking them on for the weekend!

Matt tries to go to the Final Four every year to attend the convention and the games.  I hope to attend again some time...but I seem to have very few sick days left come April usually!

Sweet Reesie is 2!

We celebrated Reese's second birthday with a somewhat impromptu get-together of family in town for the National Tourney at the end of March.  Although we were happy about the success of the Pioneers, that did mean we had to party without Matt.  We face-timed he and Aunt Beth in for a bit.  

We thought we'd gear up for our trip to Disney World this June by having a Minnie-themed lunch party.  I figure Reese can wear the shirt and bows again on our trip this summer.  (I'm making a polka dot elastic waistband skirt for her to wear with it then.)  

Birthday Suit

        

Decor was a bit experimental...not really how I wanted this to turn out, but it worked.

I was happy with how the banner turned out.  I've used these letters for several different occasions now.  I just trimmed them down and glued them to a banner that purchased at Hobby Lobby that was made to match a lady bug themed party kit.

I never remember the "before" pics, this was after the lunch but before the dessert.  We served a simple lunch and some cupcakes and sugar cookies.  I love our letters and numbers cookie cutters although I'm still working on not making the frosting too runny.

Spoiled by these grandparents!

It was special that Grandma Sauder got to attend.  I think this pic is hilarious.

Sauder sisters love desserts...I feel like that's the message of this pic.

Make a wish!

Cousins and best buds.

Reesie was thrilled to receive plenty of girly toys!                                    

Happy Birthday, Sweet Reese!

Easter Weekend: Wichita Style

We traveled to Derby over the weekend for a quick 24-hour Easter celebration with Gentry and Scott.  It was fun to get to attend their church and participate in all the festivities they had planned for us!

A big thank you to Scott for letting our crew stay at his house.  He was an excellent host and Gentry did such a nice job of planning out meals and having things for the kids.  Great work!  You can host Christmas next year!

They had a picture spot all picked out for us.  Worked out perfectly!

Sweet Reese, you see how she gets that nick name, right?

They had Easter eggs ready for hunting...

...which were filled with enough jelly beans to cause one sweet little girl to lose her lunch--and I will totally take the blame for it.  Note to self, do not let Reese carry around her Easter basket with her all day. Motherhood FAIL.  

Lesson learned.  By all involved.

Creative egg-hunting.

Egg dyeing was on the docket as well!

Looks like a professional to me!

Quite the artists!

Cade loved it!  In a short, five-minute bouts of attention kinda way.  

Where's Reesie?

Easter: the holiday where you stand in the yard and take pictures, right?

Matt and I have started doing this thing where right before we take a picture one of us says "Suck in!" reminding us both to suck in our less-than-toned bellies so we don't ruin the picture. It's proving to be a great system.  Just gave our secret away!  You're welcome for the tip!

Wearing Cade out is not an easy task.  Sign of a great weekend!

  

We made it home to see our "neighborhood Easter Bunny" had returned with candy-filled eggs again this year.  (Go easy, Reese.)  The kids were so excited to have a bonus egg-hunt!

We are always thankful for our time with family and most of all thankful for God's gift of Jesus.  He is Risen, indeed!  By the grace of God, we have been set free!

Past Easter entries: 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010

(Fun Fact: There may be older entries out there, but that was prior to my use of the labeling feature.)