Crafts, Papa and Jesus!

This is why Christopher doesn't eat muffins very often... he tends to pulverize them. But look how proud he is!

Kiki never falls short on surprised for boy #1!  She sent foam swords that were an instant hit, quite literally.  

I decided to continue with the "year of homemade gifts" with leis for Papa and Melody!  I learned to make them about 5 years ago when our FRG decided to make leis for every soldier in Matt's unit returning from Iraq.. after 300, I got pretty proficient at it!

Christopher decided to make leis too, with a little help from mom.  Hank did an excellent job of watching!

 They were very surprised! 

Papa and Henry's first time meeting!  Needless to say it was love at first sight!  

Henry had to sleep in our room the week Papa was here.  He is very much a cuddle bug and loves the frog his aunt Allison gave him.  Every morning I would wake up to find him like this.  Silly kid. 

Last November Jenna, Jeremy, Courtney and I made a trip up to North Shore and we wandered into Ron Artis studio.  The family was nice enough to give us a live concert!  As soon as the music started Henry went crazy in my belly!  So I decided that we would bring him back when Papa was here.  They scooped him up and let him explore the instruments!  He loved the piano the most!  

 Papa being... well... papa.

Christopher showing off his AWESOME tattoo! 

 They found fish! 

I don't think this kid will every get tired of going to the beach!

Henry seemed to have a fine time watching everyone!

His first time putting his feet in the water!  

He love it!

They filmed Pirates of the Caribbean here, and the Black Pearl is still docked at our favorite beach!  So cool!

We took them to Bucca Di Beppo, and sat at the kitchen table!  Afterwards we introduced them to Dave and Busters!  It was so so so fun!

The next day we went to the USS Missouri.  But first papa needed a little early morning snuggle time!  I don't think Henry minded one bit.

Papa and Christopher played games the whole time they were here.  It was either coloring, or matching or dominoes!  I am so happy that they got to spend that time together!

I also got the privelage to teach VBS this year!  It has been a few years since I have and it was really nice to get back to it.  The theme was Big Apple Adventure and I taught 1st grade with my friend Pam.  He is our classroom!

Our kiddos!

 Me and Pam

Paster D and Mrs. Kathy set a goal of $400. And if we could raise that much money, Pastor D said he would shave his head in front of everyone!

We blew that goal out of the water!  So Pastor D had to pay up!  The kids love it!

April in a nutshell...

We had a very busy April and I am sad to say that I didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked to.  I did get some great videos, which I will post later, of Henry rolling over for the first time.  It seems most of the videos here lately are of Henry, but I do try to get ones of Christopher.  He seems to have entered a "no camera" phase.  Kids. 

 Henry started baby food and let me tell you, he was not that into it.  Christopher seemed to dive into food, literally, but Hank... NO THANKS!

 Christopher's first official Easter egg hunt was for lack of a better word chaotic.  But we tried to make the best of it.  Somewhere in that jumble of people Matt is standing over a small stash of eggs so Christopher can get a few before all of the older kids wiped the place clean. 

 He did not seem impressed.

 His "loot"  We don't do a lot of candy in our house so the eggs were prize enough for him.

 Henry with the Easter bunny... Matt and I are in agreement that this bunny is slightly on the creepy side. And we don't blame him one bit for refusing to sit/stand close to him.

 This is as close as he would get and that was just to give him a high-five on the way out.  I just happened to reach back and snap a photo.

 We also had quite a few friends from the last time we were stationed here come to visit.  This is Hank hamming it up with Jean.  She was quite commical in her continuous questions about how I know what to do with babies.  Sadly, we didn't get a picture of when Jim, Susan and Wyatt came to visit.  We did have a lovely dinner down town on the beach though.

 Christopher being... Christopher.

 Henry still falls asleep everywhere and I love it!  I know that if he is ever quiet for more than 30 seconds he is probably conked out.

 And my sweet Christopher still loves to help me cook whenever possible.  I do hope that my love for cooking rubs off on him!