The Zoo!

We were able to enjoy a trip to the zoo over the Memorial Day weekend. The weather was beautiful. The kids enjoyed their first ever ride on the camel and touching the stingrays and sharks. The girls love being out and seeing the animals, too - although sometimes we feel like our own exhibit! At one point they were even referred to as a "litter" by some obnoxious, but well-meaning passer-by. Good grief!

Easter (in May)!

Happy Easter!

I've been getting extremely behind in my blogging lately - so don't mind me as I catch you up to speed on the past few months! Easter was a ton of fun this year! Emma and Luke always look forward to dying eggs, getting out their baskets, and the neighborhood Easter egg hunt each year. The girls were able to participate in the hunt at Grandma and Grandpa's this year,too! Boy were Emma and Luke thrilled that the girls don't eat candy, which meant more for them (and mom and dad!). They had fun telling the real meaning of Easter with their Resurrection Eggs - some of which were missing because they've told the story over and over again! What a wonderful time of remembering and celebrating that our Savior has Risen!

"Is there candy in there?"

Addison is not so sure...

I cant...get it...open!

Grandma's Easter Egg Hunt!

Neighborhood Egg Hunt

Luke in action!

Hey,HAY, hey

Cheese!

Addie's not so thrilled about the dorky ears!

Ava

Annual Easter Egg Dying

New Challenges with Triplets!

For those of you who've said that we make it look easy... this is for you!

And then there was this episode this morning...we caught Elaina in the act a few times earlier (when our backs were turned), and then let her try it again so we could get it on film. That way we can show her what a stinker she was when she gets older! I think I'll have my work cut out for me this summer. Say a prayer for us!

We LOVE Spring!

These pictures were taken a few weeks ago when the weather was SO fabulous! It feels good to finally be able to get out of the house again and get the girls outside. I quickly realized how this summer is going to be VERY different from last. These girls are quick! One thing is for sure.. they LOVE to be outside! Can you blame them?

Thank You!

SO Happy!




Thanks to everyone who saw my last posting and voted for our kids in the photo contest! Luke was one of the 13 winners, so he will get to have a photo shoot for the store coming up this spring. I have finally uploaded the pictures that have been sitting on my camera for a while and can share some of those with you. It's amazing to see how much the babies grow in a month or two! I can always tell by the length of Ava's hair, that it's been a while!

Her favorite place!

Elaina

Ava

Addison

Hello Old Friends!

Beautiful Tulum


I see (and hear) that 2009 has not gotten off to a good start in my blogosphere world - so here I sit to catch up on the past 2 months of life with the VanTol crew!
A few weeks after the New Year, Rich and I were blessed to be able to take a vacation to Mexico (without kids!) to celebrate our recent 10 year anniversary. We had been anxiously awaiting this trip for quite some time - and it was made possible by the selflessness of my parents, and Rich's sister and her family who watched the kids for us. We enjoyed every sun-soaked minute of our tropical getaway - and we enjoyed spending some adult time away with 3 of our close couple friends!

Ava and Elaina have started walking, and we are now just waiting for their very content older sister Addison to join them. I think we may be waiting awhile! Ava has been walking since before her 1st birthday and Elaina has really started to get the hang of it this past week. Time will only tell when sister #3 will join the ranks. We are now looking at formula and bottles as a thing of the past - and can barely believe how fast our girls have grown. Thankfully for our older two - we know to savor each of these precious moments because they go so quickly!

We have enjoyed a winterfull of watching Emma play basketball on Saturdays. I never knew how much I could really get into and enjoy sports when they are your own kids playing. I was always the cheerleader on the sidelines who really had no clue what was going on! Leave it to my second grader to teach me a thing or two!

Luke is looking forward to soccer and T-ball in the spring. This will be his first year for t-ball and he can't wait! Not much else to report here on the home front, so I will end with a few pictures of the past month or so!

My main squeeze

With friends in Riviera Maya

Emma and her basketball buddies

Luke and Ava

Elaina

Addie Roo

Ava

Addison

Birthday Girls!

The girls had so much fun at their parties ! I think after the third time around, they were getting used to the idea that cake might be one of their daily meals! We sure didn't have to force any of them to eat it (as you can see in the pictures!). What sweet blessing these girls have been to Rich and I (and Emma and Luke)! We are overwhelmed with gratefulness to all we have been given!They love their gifts! Although I think wrapping paper would've suited them just fine, too!
Addison
Elaina
I think she liked it!
Ava - stops to say hello!
Addie's a big fan of cake
Ava's cupcake cone