Happy Easter to Everyone!

Our Easter weekend will be split a little bit. Sarah has to work all weekend so the girls and I are heading to Boone with Keith, Belva (Grammie and Gramps), Mark, Jane, Shawna, Hunter, and Brady. You can see two that are missing. Sarah will be sleeping for work and Brad is recovering from surgery that he had on Friday. The grandkids will be having an Easter egg hunt and then we will have dinner. It is hard to beat Belva's Easter dinner with all of the homemade goodness, especially the desserts. I will have to make sure to not wear a belt when it is all said and done!!! Today (Saturday) the girls and I cleaned out the garage. It is amazing how much "stuff" you can gather with two little girls. But it looks better and it all fit back inside. We also had our first of many lunches on the patio. Ava wanted to eat out at the table to we had hotdogs and mac 'n cheese. It was nice to relax outside in the beautiful weather.
I hope that everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend with good food and time with family.


Ella in her rock star sunglasses.


Ava getting ready for lunch outside.

The girls using the box for our end table as a club house.

Turning the Big 4!!!

Today is the day the our wonderful daughter Ava blessed us and came into this world. As I sit here and think of the last 4 years it is amazing how time can go by so fast. She is an absolute joy and her excitement and wonderment never siece to amaze me. We made a DVD of her last 4 years to show all the family and it was sad thinking that she will never be the little girl that loved to cuddle for hours in the chair. She still does a little, but not for very long. Watching her learn new and exciting things all the time is a wonderment to the innocence of a little child. I am not that much of a religous man but I know that God has blessed Sarah and I with two wonderful children that we so love and adore.
So here's to you Ava, Happy Birthday. Your mom and I love you very much and you are a very special little girl.

Lance

Almost 4

Tomorrow (Tuesday) our little girl turns 4 years old. It is hard to imagine that she has turned into a young lady and not a little girl. We had probably our last family birthday party for good as Ava kept telling us she wanted all of her friends there. On Friday my parents came down to decorate the cake, Disney princess of course. Sarah and my dad decorated the princess cake and as you can see from the pictures below they did it with a bottle of wine and it turned out wonderful. The theme of the party was Disney princesses, with cups, plates, balloons, table cloth, etc. Ava had a wonderful time and she received many wonderful presents. Tomorrow Sarah and Jane are taking Ava out for breakfast and a pedicure for her birthday. Tomorrow night Ava gets dinner out of her choice and desert. It should be a fun day for her and everybody else.


Ava before the party.

Opening one of her many Disney princess presents.

Ella, Sylvie, and Ava posing with her Ariel cake.

Don't they look like they love each other.

Ava and her cake.

Papa Jim decorating the cake.

Sarah decorating the only way she knows how, with wine and frosting!

Click here to see more birthday pictures.

Preschool and Parties

With a busy weekend behind us we look forward to another this weekend. We are celebrating Ava's 4th Birthday this weekend with all of the family. If it is any prediction this will probably be the last family birthday party for Ava. She as been asking for a princess party for her and her friends. She is also asking to go to Disney World this year for her birthday (boy is she going to be disappointed).
On Sunday Ava had a birthday party for Taylor, one of her friends from dance, at Dance Vision. They ate pizza, opened presents, and learned a dance. We then got to go in and watch the dance that they learned. The dance was to "Dancing Queen" by ABBA. She loved every minute and didn't want to leave. The video below is of her and Taylor during the dance.
The beautiful train is a picture that Ava made a preschool. We are trying to take pictures of all of her artwork and then are going to make a photo book of all of her projects. This way we will not feel bad when we throw things away.
Look back next week for pictures of the party and all the fun that goes with it.l

A Busy Spring Break

It was a relaxing week being at home with all the girls and it makes me look forward to summer with everybody. We kept busy by going to Williamsburg to do some shopping for summer clothes, and playing around the house. Sarah had a few photo shoots and we got the business squared away. Ella and I also made Obleck (thanks to the Rudens). She loved it and kept putting her feet in it. I also watched TONS of basketball (thanks to Jon S. a little too much maybe). At the bottom of the pictures is a video of Ella jumping in the Jumparoo which is hilarious. Have a good Spring and keep wishing for that warm weather.



Ella and her Obleck.



Outside blowing bubbles.

Ava and Ella blowing bubbles.

Brand New Business

This is an update into what has been going on with Sarah's "hobby." Well, we have finally made it official, we are a business. The name of the business is Sarah McConnell Photography, LLC. I know that looks that same as it has been in the past. It is and it isn't. The LLC is the key part of the official business. It is for liability purposes and well has tax purposes. We have meet with lawyers, thank you Mike and Meredith, as well as a CPA, thanks Kevin, to get it all set up. It was a lot of complicated wording and legal stuff but it is all figured out and we are up and running. Sarah has been doing a wonderful job with the pictures and she is staying very busy. She loves taking pictures and doing the editing. We don't know where this is going to lead but we have faith on wherever it takes us. So, being the good husband I am putting in a plug for anybody that needs pictures taken; kids, graduations, etc. Let Sarah know and she will get you set up. Stay tuned for updates on the children.

I know, I know, I know... Update All Ready!

With everything that has been going on over the past few weeks it has been hard to get time to update the blog. So get ready for a deluge of pictures and posts. It was one of the longest weeks around our house. Ava and Ella were both sick for over a week, Ava with pneumonia, and Ella with a really bad cough. They are finally over it and back to normal (normal around this house is Ella taking Ava's toys and running and laughing while Ava has a meltdown). Sarah has been keeping busy with her photography and we are going to make it official with starting a business. She had engagement pictures and her first Senior pictures, which turned out really well. A little plug for Sarah's website (link off to the right). Spring Break is coming up and we are all ready for a little relaxation. I hope everybody has a great spring and makes sure to check back as I will get better at the whole post thing.


Ella with her nebulizer treatment.

Ella licking off beaters after making me a cake for conferences.

Ava having her share.

Mixing a cake for daddy, who was at conferences.

Mixing the cake.