the best kind of birthday present...

i love sunday mornings....

even though there are parts that we regret (matt and i have been horrible in our efforts to find a new church - nothing seems to fit and so i must admit, prayers in this area would be great!) there are just some parts of it that are perfect.

sunday is really the only day of the week that we are all home and awake! i know this is true for many of us, but isn't there just something special about any day when you can all be together just being...you know...just enjoying each other.

today was especially great because for the first time since...hmmmm....october...it is warm out!! well, maybe not warm...but warmer!

we spent the morning out in the front yard. we got the bikes out, the trikes out, the stroller out...it was the first time that i felt like we might actually make it through this LONG winter! the first taste of spring is the sweetest! what a reminder of God's gifts - from the singing birds to the sunshine. so many blessings.

tomorrow i will turn 31 and i could not have asked for a better present than a day like today.

cheers to spring and a new season of hope!

happy 4th birthday sophie!!

today was fantastic...sophie was the star and was even willing to share the spotlight with her siblings...what a grown-up 4 year old!!! so many times today i said to myself - i cannot believe she's 4....there's just something about her being 4. 3 seems little...still a baby - or at least a toddler! now that she's 4, i know that her 'kid' years are upon us! slowly but surly, i know that she is building her own little life and although we will remain big pieces of that puzzle, slowly...slowly?...we are watching her become her own little person. her own thoughts, ideas, opinions, personality and gifts. she is such a blessing and we feel so lucky to have her.
below are some pictures of the day. some shots of us making her pinkalicious cupcakes, then decorating the cupcakes, then eating the
cupcakes....did i mention the cupcakes....
she got some wonderful new gear - some great clothes and art supplies and even a big-girl bike. man oh man...life is good.

a big day for our little man...

finally! he gets it!
this is a momentous day in the schans house as casey has finally learned to wave 'bye bye' and even better yet, i got it on video!
i know, i know....but better late than never!
enjoy....

a fun weekend and lots o' pictures

The weekend was filled with fun as we embarked on a trip to the children's museum! auntie heather, grandma judy, mom, sophie, casey and ellee all headed out - what a trip!

we had a blast - it was amazing to see the girls run and play and enjoy all the exhibits! the museum was amazing - we will definitely want to get back there sometime soon!

below are some pictures of our fun museum adventure along with a couple random shots. so fun!















cody the super-dog...taking a break...or just hiding from the kids...who knows...















casey's 'after bath' hair...what a stud















grandma judy and the girls...tired after our outing!















sophie the turtle!















mom and all the kids at the children's museum! i needed a serious nap when we got home!















sophie concentrating so hard on building an 'ice tower.' you should have seen her face when a little boy came over and knocked it over...if looks could kill....




















ellee being athletic...by the time we left this area, she could climb up on her own!




















casey had just as much fun as the girls...here he is at the 'hobitot' exhibit.















more in the 'hobitot'















sophie at the strategically placed mcdonalds right outside the entrance of the museum....curse you ronald!!!

here is casey on the move...he's a fast little guy!