May Day and Tulip Time

Major catching up here!    Back to May 1st we go.  WE LOVE MAY DAY in Clive!  It is a huge perk living in a neighborhood full of friends...... the only downside is we have to make A LOT of May baskets every year :)

I use to try and get really creative and cute with our May baskets.  I even pulled out the hot glue gun a few years ago!  Now it's all about he assembly line and how quick we can get through it. 

I had it all set up for the kids to tackle when they got home from school and it actually went pretty smoothly.  I was impressed!

By the time we were ready to leave for school there was already many rings of the doorbell from our friends with lots of tasty treats (aka sugar at 8am!!) to tempt the children before school.   Kate and Will were so excited to give Ms. Patty her basket when she pulled up the bus.  

My parents called me and asked if we wanted to go to Tulip Time with them this year.  We hadn't planned on it, but the Germans really wanted to see what this Dutch party was all about :)   We were a bit late on our arrival, but actually managed to snag front row seats for Nana and Papa's parade experience.  

It was a beautiful day with many fun kids activities for the kids to do. 

We haven't been to Tulip time in a few years.  We were really excited to see all the additions for the kids to do. 

Will fell in love with this race car track in the park.  He played and played and played and never got tired of it. 

We enjoyed a lot of yummy food and the kids loved playing in the park with all the other kids.  I think the Germans really enjoyed themselves :)

April 2015: Easter Fun

Easter 2015 was a little more low key this year.  Brett and his mom took a long weekend and drove to Washington D.C. to deliver some wedding supplies to his sister Jillian.  So, the kids and I spent the Easter holiday with Nana and Papa.

Nana always comes up with fun things to do.  This year she found these crazy Bunny hats to wear as we decorated our eggs.

I decided to go out on a limb and make my deviled eggs look like baby chicks hatching from their shells.  They turned out pretty adorable, BUT were A LOT more work!  I think I will go back the classic presentation next time.

The weather was great for the annual Easter Egg hunt.  With Kate and Will being the only grandkids on my side, they usually end up feeling like it's Christmas by the end of the day.   Maybe that's why Nana kept her Xmas tree up?
 (see previous photo!!)

Kate's baskets keep getting higher and higher each year.



Will was SO excited for "The Feast!"  My mom sets up a big long table for everyone to gather for holiday dinners and Will absolutely LOVES it!   And Papa caved and let Will have one of the turkey legs this year!  Will was in HEAVEN! 

He chopped on that turkey leg for quite awhile.  Kate just stuck to her sliced turkey and mashed potatoes :)

Finally,  we had the swim team banquet in April.  This was our first year and really didn't know what to expect.  The event was formal with great food and wonderful awards and recognition.  It was so fun seeing how cute these swimmers look all dressed up without a swim cap and suit on!!