First Fitting

 
My father-in-law works in the shoe business. Is this not every girl's dream to marry the man of her dreams AND get free shoes? Bob, and his brother Dave, have run Buzzard's Family Shoes for more than 25 years (check out their website here). The boys grew up in the shoe business, founded by their parents, Leo and Mary Jane. In the midst of a failing economy, their shoe store has thrived. It's because they care more about the people they serve, than just making a sale. I couldn't be more proud to carry the Buzzard name!


So, it is only fitting (literally) for me to want to photograph my children getting fitted for shoes by their Grandpa, for the very first time.  Precious moments...

Grandpa sizing Mackenzie, 1 year

Grandpa sizing Caleb, 1 year

 

                                                     High 5 for the great service, Grandpa!

Easter 2011

It's hard to believe how quickly Easter has come and gone.  It is also hard to believe how much things have changed within the last year.  For instance.....

Then (2010)

Now (2011)

As is the case with any holiday/celebratiion, there was lots of excitement leading up to Easter.  We had daily egg hunts around the house, filled close to 100 easter eggs for an egg hunt we co-hosted with my high school friends, enjoyed the first egg hunt at the new church building with friends and family, made and dyed dozens of hard boiled eggs, attended easter services with the Buzzard family in Wooster, and did our annual picture with the Easter bunny.  It was an action packed few weeks for sure, but we wouldn't want it any other way!

                                 Waiting patiently at Beth's house to hunt eggs (annual egg hunt with h.s. friends)

ready, set, go!

kenzie and ian

the best group shot we could get :)

eating pizza with Lauren

hanging out with Avery

Family pic at Church Egg hunt

Caleb collecting as many eggs as his little hands could hold

Kenzie with her basket full of eggs

hanging out with best buds Connor and Peyton

this one cracks me up.  I love our expressions, and Jeremy's left hand  :)

best hubby ever, helping out with the ring toss

Like Father, Like Daughter

me and the kids

caleb running up and down the ramp outside of church

sweet smiles

Easter Pic outside of Church

                                                           Celebrating Easter in Wooster with the Buzzard clan

Opening baskets that the bunny left at Grandma and Grandpa Buzzard's

Owen and Caleb bird watching

sweet cousins

Grandma's Boys

sharing their easter treats with neighbor's

Easter Morning at our house

Opening their basket of goodies....Caleb is a huge fan of suckers, if you couldn't tell!

Mmmmm, Easter treats

tickets to the Ringling Bro's Circus

easter smiles

Loving their baskets and goodies

The bunny even hid eggs for our own egg hunt

sorting eggs

still loving his easter basket, clap, clap!

Thank you note to the bunny!

Happy Easter! 

Happy Bday, Michael!

13 years ago today, I was given one of my most treasured titles...becoming  Aunt Jill.  Thank you Michael for that amazing gift!  I am so proud of the teenage boy that you have become.  I still cannot believe that you are a teenager!  You are such a good role model to your 4 siblings and 4 cousins.  We are beyond proud of you!  You are such a smart kid, full of love, laughter and curiousity about the World around you.  Your outlook on life has always been so positive, and you have such a fun personality.  Happy Bday, sweet nephew.  We love you!

....and although we typically seranade you on your birthday, here is a little video of you seranding the family several years ago during the family talent show at the Outer Banks.  (Don't forget to pause the playlist to the right, so you can get the full "Dale Ray"rock star treatment:).  

COSI

Every weekend, we try to plan some "family fun time."  Lately, I have been struggling trying to find fun and original things to do.  After a never ending Winter, we are pretty much running out of indoor playgrounds, mall play areas, kid friendly restaurants to eat at, and other activities that get us out of our house.  This weekend, while looking online for things to do in Columbus, Ohio, we saw that the Children's Theatre was performing small excerpts of Cinderella, at COSI (Center of Science and Industry, a hands on science center for all ages located in downtown Columbus). As soon as we saw the word Cinderella, we knew we had hit the jackpot.  Although we paid a small fortune, we all enjoyed a wonderful time.  Mackenzie learned a lot, and they both loved all the hands on activiites and exhibits.

waiting for the Children's theatre, and of course, Cinderella!

Cinderella and Prince Charming

Mackenzie and the evil step-sister's, Anastasia and Drizella

Making her own princess crown

So proud!

The Kid's Zone

Caleb learning about force and motion...

...his favorite exhibit!

Lego Land

We loved the large size and soft feel of these!

Finally a sink just Caleb's size.  He loved turning it on and off.  Big fun!

Yes, there were even light switches his size.  He was in heaven

Learning about electricity never looked so fun!

Playing around with computer graphics

Daddy and Caleb on the trampoline

teaming up to build a tower

Learning about clouds and the water cycle with Daddy

My favorite exhibit....watching my sweet boy roaming around in

his first pair of Levi Jeans, ridiculously cute! (thanks Aunt Sari!)

optical illusion experiment

l

climber boy...he could have done this all day

Fun at the Splash Zone

If he could have climbed into the table, he would have!  He loved the water!

settling in with movie theatre treats to watch a documentary on dolphins.  Surprisingly, Caleb

lasted almost the entire 45 minutes!

It was the perfect way to spend a cold day.  Lots of learning, lots of laughter, lots of family fun!  Hopefully our last "indoor" weekend though.  We are ready to be outside!  Come on, Spring!