Snapshots

I find I often take random, cute, or endearing pictures, but then they get forgotten about and live only in the "Photos" icon of my phone.  Sometimes I post them on Facebook, but most I don't.  So I thought I would gather and share a few of these random moments.  
These are some snapshots of our life right now :) 

Tanner having fun in the potty.

The dreaded exciting seasonal wardrobe change

Welcome to the Niemeyer Styling Salon :)

The book says it all.  And Tyler is a shoe-in for a circus performer.

Awwww!!!

Dressing Up is FUN!

~Tyler, Tanner, Hannah & Lauren~

Jenna with a handful of frogs= one happy girl!!!

Jenna hunting in our backyard swamp for critters

Lauren likes the outdoors just like Jenna (and YES, she is wearing white pants in a mud puddle...)

A rare sight:  Tyler sleeping (with doggie in his mouth, of course...)

This is the most use my treadmill has gotten yet.  Sigh.

Going on an outing during the day!

A play date with my friend Stephanie and her 2 boys.  

Our beautiful Hannah is full of life!

Pretty Lauren having a blast with shaving cream!

I took the boys to Frederick Meijer Gardens to see the butterflies yesterday because they kept on asking to go again since we went with grandma & grandpa.  

It was fun having a date with just these guys & they LOVED the attention from mommy!

You know you're a penny-pinching mom of little people when chair covers are made from Press-N-Seal!

Stickers are awesome- Frozen stickers even better!

Ahhh, enjoying the fresh outdoors on our awesome new deck!

I only include this picture of lunch the other day because it was an epic fail.
I felt artsy, crafty, and downright Pinterest-y.  Do you think they ate this???  Heck no.
Moms, don't waste your time!!!

A sweet moment of all four playing pretend together so amazingly well...

...And literally one moment later.  It all falls apart.  Calling referee mom!

The kids all snuggly after naps

There are so many more moments that cannot be captured by photo, or times when I forget to take photos.  This stage (people tell me) is very fleeting.  Some day (people tell me) I will not be as needed.  So I need to remember these everyday moments and savor them.  

Oh, these sweet, sweet snapshots!

Hugs!

Becky

Butterflies!!!

Last week was our Spring Break, and HURRAY!  Grandma & Grandpa Staudt came back to Michigan just in time for Easter.  While I am sadly lacking on Easter pictures, we did get good group shots of the kids with Andy's and my parents.  

Andy's parents with the kiddos L-R: Jenna, Tanner, Tyler, Hannah & Lauren

Grandma & Grandpa Staudt with the Michigan grand kids :)

One of the things I love to do each Spring is go see the butterflies blooming at Frederick Meijer Gardens.  However, I was wary to go without extra hands- so Grandma & Grandpa gladly accompanied us over Spring Break.  The kids are still talking about the butterflies and ask every day when they can go see them again!

Tanner & Tyler really enjoyed this so much!

Looking for caterpillars

Tyler found one!

Hannah, Tanner, Lauren, Jenna, Tyler & I get a rare photo together.  Andy was working, of course!

My pretty Jenna is getting so old!

Only kids from Michigan would gawk at all those cacti!

Tyler probably touched every cacti.
Because he is all boy.

Me & my Tanner buddy

BUTTERFLY!

Afterwards, Grandpa & Grandma treated us to Lunch at Applebees.

When I see pictures like this, I am still amazed that I have 5 kids.  I mean, who knew some day I would have enough kids to fill up an extra-large booth?!?
I feel so, so very blessed!

Hope you are enjoying Spring, my friend!

Hugs!

Becky

Kids at Work

The work of a child is play.  That is how they learn!  It doesn't take my Occupational Therapist degree to know that--- anyone who knows a kid or was once one themselves can tell you that!

This Spring, the kids have been very, very hard at work.  Motor, imaginative, social, emotional, and don't forget brain work.  Work, work, work.  So hard... ;-)

Toddler Tumbling with Ms. Tammy-  Thanks to my sister Cindy & Niece Kayden, I was able to have the kiddos do a parent-participation tumbling class all year.  Their final class & "Awards Ceremony" was last Friday.  It was so cool seeing their skills develop as the year progressed!

Hannah, Tyler, Tanner & Lauren.  Look at the height differences!

The Teacher, Ms. Tammy, is phenomenal!  Jenna took this class in her preschool years and fondly remembers Ms. Tammy.  She was bummed to now be in school & too old for this class!

Going to the Ballet!
Jenna and I went with neighbor friends to see the West Michigan Youth Ballet perform of Cinderella.  Then girls did great in the audience and the performance was superb!

Beautiful Princesses Belle, Cinderella & Elsa.  Thanks to the Schmidts for such fun dresses!

Love this girl!!!

As we were walking in, I saw this photo hanging on the wall.  The performance was at my old High School, and believe it or not, I drew this Charcoal picture my Senior Year!  It is my grandma holding my brother.  I am honored they still have it up!

Playing OUTDOORS!!!
As the weather warms, it is so fun getting outdoors to play again.  Yesterday was downright awesome sunny warm weather, so we had fun playing and snacking on the new deck.  This morning, before the rain really came down, I took the kids to a playground & we were the only ones there.  It was nice because I could keep tabs of everyone better that way!

Love this warm weather!  The kids literally spend all day opening & closing the doors and running in & out of the house.  I gated the front stairs, so they stayed contained and everyone enjoyed the new freedom & fresh air!

I think I need this at my house.

Don't you wish our work was even half this fun???

Hugs!

Becky