The front porch--their new playroom

With the coming of spring the porch finds itself to be the playroom. When the weather is nice, I think the kids could go all day without food and not realize they're missing it because they are having so much fun.

A weekend away

This past weekend, Jeff and I were able to get away for the first time since Kate was born. We always end up back in Philadelphia--it's a city we love so greatly. We met there. Jeff proposed to me there. We lived our first 5 years together there. We had Joost and Grace there. We had a wonderful church there. And, we made some life long friends there.

We were especially glad to be able to spend an evening with some of those friends.

Random, at best

I know there are some of you that check this blog regularly. And I know that I have been lax in my posting lately. Winter is a wonderful time, but it is not packed with unique things to post about. Here are a few random pictures from over the past few weeks.

Thanks for checking in.

Ever since I bought this hat for Grace, I have loved her in it. She and Kate got matching spring jackets this year. Both yellow. I'll have to try and get them in a picture together wearing them.

Joost will ride his bike, no matter what the weather is like.

Kate looks cute in the green hat, too. Unfortunately, by the time I was able to pull out the camera, she was in tears and just wanted Daddy to hold her.

This is true Grace--always loving the chance to make people laugh.

And finally, dear sweet Kate asleep with her favorite blanket.

50 years

On Monday night, the whole Rhoades clan was able to celebrate my Uncle Alan's 50th birthday.

It was a happy evening together.

(If you're looking for Jeff and I--he was on his way from work and I was taking the picture. We really were there to celebrate, although there is no evidence to support that claim.)

50 candles create a lot of fire to blow out!

This is a picture of Uncle Alan with his two loving sisters--my mom and Aunt Dee. How blessed we all are to have Uncle Alan in our lives.

Happy 50th birthday, Uncle Alan!