On an Easter egg hunt. 

Spring Break, 2005

We spent Spring Break in hopping Las Vegas. We arrived on a Monday night and spent the next 3 days playing tourist in this very busy city. We walked the strip, visited the M&M Museum and marveled at Hoover Dam. We also made use of the hotel's arcade, pool and bowling alley. All in all, the girls had a good time, but Jeff and I would prefer to visit Sin City on our own. The town wasn't as family friendly as I had hoped (and it's not that I had high expectations) and people in general were just rude. The people on the street corner handing out advertisements for strippers didn't help and it was just all around a chaotic state. But, we got some sun and spent some quality family time together.

Hoover Dam is in the background.

Emily and Reese in front of the Bellagio Hotel. 

The girls in front of the M&M racing car. 

Happy Birthday, Emily and Grandma Mulder!

Today, we went to Uncle Paul and Aunt Judy's house to celebrate Emily and Grandma Mulder's shared birthday. Grandma's 93-year-old brother, Hank, was also able to join in the celebration. We will be in Parker one or two more times before Grandma and Grandpa leave for Florida. Renee and Erica are expected next Saturday and we may be able to see them before they go home to Wisconsin.

It's hard to believe there's only 70 years between them. 

The girls with their Great-great Uncle Hank.

Whipped cream party. 

Notice the smoke from all of the candles? 

Denied for a kiss. 

The happy couple. 

Dad and two of his chicks. 

Reese's redecorated bedroom

Here are some pictures of Reese's newly decorated bedroom. I painted the walls a cheery yellow and a sky blue. I made the curtains and ordered her a new bed. She is very excited and happy that her room is finally done. You will notice on one wall that there is not a border. I had purchased this wallpaper border about 5 years ago when we lived in our last house. The bedrooms in that house were much smaller and alas, I did not have enough to do the entire room. Jeff made the suggestion of placing a shelf on that wall, which I think will work out beautifully. Her room also will not look so cluttered because I do plan on doing some rearranging. The toys were placed up against the wall so that the furniture guys could get the bed in and set up. Now, I am off to do Noelle's room!

Reese's bedroom

Corner view 

The new bed. 

Happy Birthday, Emily!

Miss Emily celebrated her 10th birthday with a fun-filled "Girls Afternoon Out". They started the day with manicures in wild shades of purple and blue. Next, they enjoyed lunch at one of Emily's favorite restaurants-Macaroni Grill. Emily made out with some great gifts and even had "Happy Birthday" sung to her in Italian-much to her chagrin. Next week, we will be joining Grandma and Grandpa Mulder at Uncle Paul and Aunt Judy's house so that Emily and Grandma can celebrate their shared birthday.

Everyone in the whole restaurant knew it was Emily's birthday!

Purple nails, complete with butterfly decoration. 

Emily and her girlfriends celebrate her birthday. 

Afternoon at the Duck Pond

Here ducky, ducky, ducky... 

Across the stone footpath. 

Up close and personal with the goose. 

Emily feeding the fowl. 

Emily and Reese 

Vegas, Baby!

For spring break, we are heading to Las Vegas! The girls are very excited and ready to get on the road. We plan on visiting Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam as well as taking in a few other yet-to-be-determined attractions. Although Las Vegas may not seem like a logical family vacation, we do have our reasons. The rooms are cheap, there is plenty to do, it's only a days drive and who doesn't want to go to Vegas?

We'll be sure to post pictures when we get back!

Update...

Here are some pictures of the girls. They are keeping themselves and their mother busy. Emily's church choir is starting a big production for this spring and we have recently been informed that there will be 3-hour long Saturday rehearsals. She also joined the school choir and they have a few performances scheduled for this spring.

Reese is participating in choir at church and there will be a performance this spring. She is counting down the number of days until her birthday and our yearly Sand Dunes camping trip.

Noelle is a cutie pie and is becoming quite the little helper. She "helps" me with the dishes, laundry and general cleaning up. She runs her toy vacuum right beside me when I am using the grown-up version. She keeps her room cleaner than her two older sisters and likes to dust.

Jeff is traveling often and racking up frequent flyer miles and hotel points for me. I plan on joining him for a weekend in Seattle some time this spring and will use the hotel points when I take the girls to Minnesota.

I am proud to report that I have lost 5 of the 40 pounds I hope to shed by the end of the year. My motivation is the upcoming wedding of my baby brother. He and his wife-to-be, Sara, have set a date of June 11, 2005 for their upcoming nuptials. We are very happy that he has found someone willing to put up with him. :)

A little blurry, but still a cutie!

The supermodel's supermodel sister? 

Future supermodel?