NY Adventure- Spring Break Part #1

Spring Break started with loading up the van and heading to NY for a long weekend!  This was the first trip we have taken the Little Kids on- and we were excited for them to meet Poppy, Nonnie, Uncle Frank, Aunt Jen, and Nate. We left after dinner on Friday, and arrived in NY around 1am.  The kids did great in the car- most slept for most of the ride- and when they were awake, they happily looked out the widow.

Saturday we headed to The Bronx Zoo- the weather was perfect and we saw lots of animals and had a great time!  The Littles were amazed by the animals- and it was great to see Addie and Alden showing and explaining.  It was a great family time!

Sunday, Jen, Frank and Nate came over and the kids had a blast together!  We had an Egg Hunt- Asher and Annalise quickly picked-up on what to do, and had a blast!  Although, Asher was just as happy to find 1 egg with some stickers in it, and then proceed to play with a stick in the bird bath...

Monday Al and PopPop worked from home and MarMar worked at her office.  I took the kids to 2 different parks to let them play to their hearts content!  The 2nd park- it was extra special since it was the park 16months earlier that Al and I were standing in when we decided to start our adoption journey!

It was a great time- and we are all happily exhausted by all the fun we had!  Now to have more fun on the rest of our Spring Break!!

Happily ALL sleeping thanks to Melatonin and Dramamine 

Everyone bleary-eyed in Delaware...

NY BAGELS!!

Ready to take on the Bronx Zoo!

Sea Lions being fed/putting on a show

Feeding my little animals!

Butterfly Garden!

Navigation and more animals!

Meeting Poppy and Nonnie!

Egg Hunt Prepping- decorating bags while eggs are hidden

Finding Eggs!!  Asher happily playing in the bird bath

Showing off treasures- once Asher and Annalise realized there was stuff INSIDE- they went nuts!

Family photo fun...

Cousins!

MarMar made everyone a super special Easter Basket!

Park Fun!

Sweet and Spunky

My 4 Blessings by the playground were we decided to add to our family

2 Answers to Prayer

Hanging out together....

Surrounded by love!

Annalise's Kindergarten Test

Only in the US for 3months and 1 day, it was time for Annalise to take the Kindergarten Test.  I wasn't sure taking it would reflect what she actually knew since we just overcame the language barrier!  The Principal of the school she will be attending wanted her to take the test- and this way she would qualify for free summer school.  Ironically, the County isn't offering free Summer School this year- but we will pay for it since she needs it!

Annalise was SO excited to go to The Big School as she calls it.  In honor of the day Annalise and Adeline dressed alike.  I picked-up Annalise on my planning period- and off we went!  She was not in a good mood- and flat-out refused to do the physical part of the test- stand on one leg, walk backwards...  Still, once the teachers who tested her realized she was THE Lithuanian they had read about, were impressed that she could recognize a few letters, colors and shapes!  She has a long way to go, but she is a smart little lady and I fully anticipate she will be ready for kindergarten come September!

Matching Sisters

Annalise by her school- holding the important enrollment papers

So excited to officially be a kindergartener!!

Some Spring Time Fun

We have been trying to soak-up all the perfect Spring weather- before the pollen gets too strong and forces some of us inside...  It turns out that only Alden and Al may be impervious to allergies....

We have played at local parks, Addie and Alden have gone on training run with Al (their school is sponsoring a 5K that they will all run in!), and lots of time has been spent enjoying each other and our dear neighbors!  Each day the Littles love the fact that they are spending LOTS of time outside- they are tanning right up and developing muscles and increasing their coordination!

Running for the big kids and feeding ducks for the little kids

Running and more ducks

Sweet Sisters playing together- Annalise adores Adeline

Silly faces...

Going to a middle school soccer game to cheer for their favorite player, Abby!

Monunmet 10K

This year, our good friends the Ws and Vs came into town for the Monument 10K.  The men all met in college and have remained friends for over 18 years!!  Together, we were a group of 22- 9 adults and 13 kids.  It was a little loud at times, but it was an amazing time!  The kids all had a blast together- 10 girls singing and acting out Frozen, and 3 boys playing with Nerf guns- and the adults all enjoyed swapping stories about kids and our times in college.  It was great fun!!

Friday evening we all hung out at the W's and enjoyed a yummy dinner.  It was great getting to catch up with friends and see our kids start having fun together!

Saturday morning we all loaded up our various cars and vans and made to the race in record time.  5 of the kids were running the 1 mile kids run and several parents were running with them.  After the kids run, the dads all made it to the start of their race.  Since it was drizzling, all of us moms and kids stopped  in Panera and enjoyed a bucket of bagels and then made it back to the finish line in time to see all the dads finish!  

After naps for the little kids, the big kids toured the state capital, we all met at our house for dinner.  It was lots of fun and many memories were made!  We were even privileged to help the youngest, Rebecca, celebrate her 2nd birthday!  We learned that Asher knows the Happy Birthday song- who knew?!

Sunday morning we all enjoyed a brunch at the W's- the kids were playing together so it was nice to actually be able enjoy great conversations!

It was a great time and the kids are already asking when they can get together with their "college friends" again! 

Enjoying the swing set together!

Runners prepping Sat morning

Runner and their cheer leaders!

All-Star Dads!!  Sorry we didn't get Mike- he was too fast!

The kiddos having fun!

So many kiddos- such happy memories!

5 guys- friends for 18 years!

Singing Frozen

Boys enjoying the guns...

Thank you Ws and Vs for traveling to us- we are so thankful for that!!

Spring Pictures

All four kids had Spring Pictures come home this week.  They all turned out adorably- We are so happy that our kids are so stink in' cute!

The is proudly hanging in the living room- I just adore that Asher is holding Annalise's hand!

She LOVED the bunny!

So sweet!! 

Handsom Little man!

He kept talking about this bunny.... 

Beautiful Big Girl!

He looks SO grown-up!

Happy Birthday, Hannah!

Our sweet friend, Hannah, turned 6, and all Perreca kids were invited!  Adeline and Alden already were committed to their Champs Swim Meet, but Asher and Annalise were super excited to attend their very first American-style birthday party!

It was a blast- a total blast!  The Little Kids love Hannah, they love bouncing, they love pizza and cake- so it was perfect!

Bouncing!

Asher, usually timid, really jumped out of his shell and LOVED climbing and bouncing!

Annalise- was spunky and loved it!

They LOVED it!!

Spring!!

Spring has finally sprung here!  We have enjoyed being outside whenever possible- riding bikes, exploring the creeks behind our house, climbing trees, and spending lots of time with friends!  All four kids LOVE this- and Asher and Annalise still act like they have won the lottery when they have spent lots of time outside!!  Here is to a super fun Spring and Summer!!

Can you spot Alden?  He loves to climb and scare me...

Alden is an awesome teacher- Asher loves his bike and is slowly getting the hang of it...

Addie and our sweet neighbor Jackie, helping Annalise

And sometimes it rains- so we play board games...

And there are lots of kisses and hugs