Spring Abundance at Duke Gardens

I used to think that fall was my favorite season. I must admit that spring time is doing a great job of competing for my affections. Especially when I live SO close to Duke Gardens. Last week I took the kids on our annual trip to wander around the beautiful garden and just to simply soak it all in. I love seeing my kid's appreciate God's wonderful creation and it is hard not to here.












This little duck was SO close to Lindsey and just quacking away at her...








I'm not really feeling this 'pose', Mom. Well....Reece, you picked it. Reece: "Austin, Lindsey.....get on top of me for a picture!" Yes....you did say that Reece!

Trouble Makers.......

A-ha! You thought I was talking about my kids, didn't you?? Actually this time it was the Grandparents that were being the "stinkers" when it came to getting a picture of them. I think this is how it went down. GrandDad wanted a picture of them kissing and PDA (public displays of affection) didn't go over too well for GrandMom.

The photographer and us kids and grand kids didn't really know what to do with them. Bribe them with candy? Loose change in your pocket? Ice cream or McDonalds if they smile for the camera? What would you do? I just decided to keep snapping pictures in the hope that things would settle down.




And you wonder where the Grand Kids get it from......

Meeting Isaak and Jakob...

This past weekend we were able to travel to Philadelphia and meet Isaak and Jakob. They are twins that were abandoned in the DR and Brian's sister, Sharla, has been taking care of them the past 3 plus years. Because of the Haiti earthquake she was allowed to bring them to the states on February 11th. Sharla is now able to do all of her non-profit work in Austin, TX while the twins are able to take advantage of all the opportunities here in the US. Isaak is deaf and so he is now able to be in a deaf school. We all met up at Brian's parent's home for a fun weekend.
GrandDad took us to the Adventure Aquarium and we loved it. Went through the entire place twice in fact. Lindsey was a big help with Isaak and Jakob and they sure seemed to enjoy her as well.
Here is Reece petting a shark.





I was trying to get a picture of all 5 kids and didn't know if I'd be able to get them all to cooperate. Well..as you can see the kids did great - it's the GrandDad we had 'issues' with. :)
The animals were amazing, but the workers were just as fascinating to the kids. Here is Lindsey watching a scuba diver cleaning the glass.


Back at the grandparents, we went on an Easter egg hunt.
Isaak wanted to open each egg immediately and didn't quite get the fact that he would have so much more if he just kept searching for eggs. Gotta love a 4 year old and 'immediate gratification'.

These next two pictures are so funny to me, because the kids were in their p.j.'s and settling in to watch a movie. Jakob saw my camera and kept asking me to take a picture of him. Obviously the others didn't even notice me in the room.

All the kids together for some pictures.
Here's Sharla standing behind the photographer using sign language to get Isaak to smile.
Sharla, Isaak, and Jakob....