on the road again...

last year we went to visit john & selena for the easter holiday and decided we'd try to make it a tradition that the kids could look forward to. fortunately we learned our lesson with the easter eggs last year...

1. make sure that the easter bunny doesn't hide the goodies before the lawn guys come, and

2. make sure lauren finds the last egg or she'll flip out!

so with easter baskets in tow, we headed north to visit grammy and grandpa! the trip wasn't too bad. we stopped and ate at dairy queen halfway between here and dallas. the kids were rowdy, but they ate well. there was a scolding in the parking lot. what would a roadtrip be without one of those?!?!?

anyway, we safely arrived at grammy and grandpa's! they were happy to see the kids as usual! brandon was all smiles. boy, he is on the verge of a real laugh!

an adoring grandpa and daddy

talking to his grandpa dallas

(it's blurry but still one of my favorites)

giving sweet eyes and sharing coos with grammy!

a silly face!

big hugs from grandpa!

i'm so happy to see you grandpa!

because the kids had been cooped up for several hours in the car, we took them outside to play basketball and play with the driveway chalk. just from christmas, jared has really gotten good at making baskets. when he and jonathan played in december, he barely made four baskets. today he was almost making every basket. go jared!!!

daddy, grandpa, and jared playing h-o-r-s-e!

the three stooges pause so i can snap this kodak moment!

is he going to shoot for three or dribble closer for two?

and he scores! 2 pointer!!!

miss thang is showing off her chalk skills!

she really is too much! i just love her personality!!!

the kids also had fun drawing around me with the chalk!

i ask james to take some pictures. this was pretty much the only one rated g. that man needs help!

after dinner, we celebrate my birthday! i always tease james that i get a month-long birthday party. selena asked me a few weeks ago what i wanted to eat for my birthday dinner. i told her the shrimp bruschette that she made while i was in town last time. she came up with the idea for a lemon cake since i'm supposed to be watching my girlish figure. even though i'm sad to be turning 31 (although it's better than the alternative)...

i was excited to see this:

and to eat this afterwards:

yum!!!

i'm stuffed. the kids are in bed, and i'm going to enjoy some peace and quiet! looking forward to what john and selena have in store for us tomorrow!