M- Just a picture

Uncle Mike took this picture in McAlester.  I wanted to share it because I think he actually looks sweet instead of incredibly ornery.

M- Birdbath fun

Our backyard lacks what Aunt Dana's does not... TOYS!  I know that over time we'll accumulate a lot of them so I'm not worried about it.  Plus, Dana lives down the street so any time we feel like playing outside, we just go down there.  Ironically, while there are a lot of toys to play with, Joel's favorite is the birdbath.  On a bright note, we've never seen a bird use it, but Joel on the other hand leaves soaking wet often.  Here are a couple of pictures that Uncle Mike took.

M- Such a boy

I don't know how to describe this kid as anything other than "all boy". He's always dirty, getting into trouble, being stubborn, and getting hurt. Here's a classic picture of him with two black eyes that his uncle Mike took. This was after a couple of days, so they had both started to heal at this point. He got them by climbing on things he shouldn't have been climbing on like bowls and coffee tables, and by running into a column he didn't see because he was too busy looking behind him as he ran. Just had to share.

M-Mowing like Daddy

We decided Joel is getting old enough to start earning his keep.  So, we told him to mow the yard.  He wasn't sure how to do it, so this time he followed Daddy around, but next time he's on his own.

M-Easter

This was Joel's first time to participate in the church's Easter egg hunt.  Unfortunately, it was raining this year, so it had to be held indoors.  Joel and his buddy, Dax, didn't seem to mind though.  Aren't they cute?  They're going to be such great friends.

M-Baby Dera

The day after we got home from spring break, we had a surprise phone call from Neil's sister Diane.  She and Matt had baby Dera.  She's so sweet and beautiful!  Here are a couple of pictures of Dera on Easter and one of the new family in the hospital.  Welcome to the family, Dera.  You are loved and will soon be spoiled.

M-Spring Break in Kingwood

Over spring break this year, my sisters, grandmother and I went to Kingwood with all the kids in tow.  We had a great time at Jesse Jones Park.  We played on the playground and then went letterboxing (a type of scavenger hunt).   Below are a few pictures 

Aunt Dana helping Joel slide

Katie, Nick, Noah, Joel and Dana 

Grandpa with Katie and Michaela

Noah loves his little cousins.  He is SOOOO good with them.

On Thursday, we went to the church and had a picnic on the playground.  Afterward, we had an easter egg hunt.  Joel got into this a lot.  He especially loved emptying his eggs out and putting them back in his bucket.  After this, we found easter eggs all over the house and even in our luggage.

Grandma, Katie, Joel and Noah swinging on the porch swing