The Box

This morning I pulled out a big box I stored in the attic a couple years ago. I am not even kidding when I say the kids have played in it all day long!!! I got it out around 8:30, they played all day until we went to church at 4 and then we went out for dinner, got home around 7 and it is almost 9 and they are still in it.....attempting to sleep in the box!
All smiles this morning!

Going down the slide

They moved their chairs in for a bit....

Doing some reading

We ended up taping up the other end and Mike cut a door in the side with a little hole for a door knob, they loved having a working door.

Having a snack

Rex checking things out.

When I went grocery shopping, I got home and they had filled the box with tons of pillows and were playing that way. You can see Porter is upside down in this photo.

Trying to get a shot of how sweaty Porter was from playing in all the pillows!

Right before church they moved The Box to the railings to jump off into their "pillow pit", I think this was the big hit of the day! :)

Getting ready for bed in The Box.

Sleepy time, now we will see if they actually fall asleep in The Box.

Stella is 6!

Yesterday was Stella's 6th birthday. She was SO excited!!! She had a great day and loved all the phone calls, cards, and gifts! It took her forever to fall asleep the night before her birthday b/c she was so excited! :) I really thought she would sleep in.....yeah, right! She was up before 7AM ready to go!!!
Birthday girl! Ready to tear into her gifts....sporting her "bed head"!!! With her "light up shoes", the only thing she asked for for her birthday. They are ALL the rage in her kindergarten class!! Grandma and Grandpa got her these, was so STOKED!!!!!

With the necklace Grandma and Grandpa gave her, it has her name on it and a few charms hanging from it.

She had 10 friends at her party. We hired a magician to perform at the party. He was a really nice guy, a high school student from Ames (go Cyclones!). The girls (and Porter) loved his act! Here is one of Stella's friends helping with a trick.

A shot of most of the girls at the party.

Stella and Hannah doing a trick.

Porter enjoying the show!

Singing Stella "Happy Birthday", she is a donut freak, so instead of a cake or cupcakes, she wanted glazed donuts. :)

Opening gifts from her friends. This was pretty funny to watch, the kids were very into the gift opening!

After the party was over, Stella opened her presents from mom and dad. She received a lot of great spring/summer clothes and a gift card to Auntie Ann's Pretzels (her favorite thing!). We had to go to the mall today to use part of her gift card. :)

Stella with the 6 balloons that were in her room waiting for her when she woke up on her birthday.

Kitty Kitty

We've had a pretty low key past few weeks. Although last Friday my parents got a room at a local hotel that has a huge water park inside it and the kids spent the night with them there. That was a lot of fun! The water park was great, I am bummed I forgot my camera! Other than that we are getting excited for Spring Break which starts this Friday and Stella's upcoming 6th birthday! The kids are still 110% obsessed with Rex, the poor kitty doesn't get a moments peace when they are around, but I do think he loves all the attention! Here are a few shots from the past few weeks.
Rex sound a sleep, nestled in between 2 couch cushions.

Since the first day of March, Stella has pretty much been talking about her upcoming birthday nonstop! We made a paper chain to hang in her room to count down the days! She also thinks she needs to show off the fact that she has lost her two bottom teeth in all her pictures these days! :)

Her two bottom teeth grew in SUPER fast!! I look like they are almost completely in. She lost the second one when we were in AZ, so it wasn't that long ago.

Rex loves warm places. Today after I ran the dishwasher I opened it up to let the dishes air dry. The next thing I see is Rex curled up on the dishwasher!! I think he liked it b/c it was still really warm from being run just a few minutes before!

And here is how we spend most nights, playing Trouble. Stella LOVES this game and has crazy luck with it, you have to "pop" a 6 to get your man out on the playing field and she always gets like ten 6's in a row.....which is why she loves this game! ha ha! :)